Released in 2007, Donkey Xote is a Spanish-Italian animated adventure that takes a cheekily revisionist look at Miguel de Cervantes' classic literary masterpiece, Don Quixote . Directed by José Pozo and produced by Lumiq Studios and Filmax, the film attempts to blend traditional Spanish heritage with the high-energy, pop-culture-heavy style made famous by DreamWorks’ Shrek . While it serves as a "sequel" of sorts to the original novel, it flips the script by telling the story from the perspective of Rucio, Sancho Panza's donkey. The Story: A Donkey's Perspective
In this version, Rucio (the donkey) insists that the legendary Knight of La Mancha isn't actually mad. Instead, he portrays Quixote as an intelligent, passionate dreamer whose true story has been distorted by others. The plot follows Quixote, Sancho Panza, and their trusty steeds—Rucio and the skeletal horse Rocinante—as they set out on a final journey to the Knight of the Crescent Moon tournament in Barcelona to prove Quixote's existence and win the hand of the fair Dulcinea. A Controversial "Mockbuster" Legacy Donkey Xote (2007)
: Depending on where you live, you might find it under titles like Donkey X (North America), A Donkey's Tale (UK), or Les Folles Aventures De Rucio (France). Released in 2007, Donkey Xote is a Spanish-Italian
: On IMDb , the film holds a rating of 4.6/10 . While some praised the decent animation quality for a non-Hollywood production, many found the plot convoluted and the humor forced. Fast Facts The Story: A Donkey's Perspective In this version,
The film is perhaps most famous today for its blatant visual and marketing similarities to Shrek . Critics and audiences alike noted that Rucio bears an uncanny resemblance to Eddie Murphy’s "Donkey," and the film's promotional materials even boasted the tongue-in-cheek tagline "From the producers who saw Shrek".
: Reflecting its Spanish roots, the DVD release included dubs in Catalan, Galician, and Basque.
Despite its flaws, the film remains a curious artifact of early 2000s animation—a bold, if somewhat messy, attempt to bring 17th-century Spanish literature into the age of 3D snark and slapstick.