3:57pm UK, Wednesday August 18, 2004

Shrek 2 has become the UK's most successful animated film of all time. 

The movie has set a new record by taking £45.6m at the box office so far - outstripping the previous record holder, Toy Story 2, which took £44.3m.

180 Cameron Diaz sultry headshot

Shrek 2 star Cameron Diaz

The sequel looks set to rake in millions more as it is still playing at more than 400 screens around the country.

The film, featuring the voices of Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers, opened two months ago. 

It is already the UK's highest grossing film of the year and took a record-breaking £10.6m on its opening weekend. 

Diaz, Myers and Murphy each picked up £10m to appear in the sequel to the monster hit of 2001. 

The movie also features Antonio Banderas, Rupert Everett, John Cleese and Julie Andrews. 

Film giant Dreamworks is already working on plans for a Shrek 3 and 4. 

The company is hoping for another animated hit this year with Shark Tale, which gets its UK release in October. 

Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro lend their voices to the underwater story, billed as a cross between Finding Nemo and The Godfather.