Whenever any animated movie has a sequel, people are always split on how they feel. However, these feelings of uncertainty intensify when the sequel takes place more than a decade later. Such is the case with the latest installment of the “Shrek” franchise with the recent release of the “Shrek 5” trailer which features a different animation style and potentially different humor than the previous films that the “Shrek” fandom know and love.
The trailer for the newest film is 15 seconds, and starts with Shrek, Fiona, and Felicia, their daughter, asking the magic mirror “Who’s the fairest of them all?”. TikTok-style videos of Pinocchio as well as a handsome Shrek play on the mirror as they watch. Then Shrek, Fiona, and their daughter Felicia slide into frame in front of the mirror. Felicia, voiced by Zendaya, says “Gross” in response.
Critics have responded harshly to the trailer, especially the animation. One critic has said, according to Igna Parkel, writer for the Independent, “Why did y’all change the animation? it looks cheap.” The characters are more smooth, expressive, and bigger-eyed than the animation style of the previous films.
Alyssa Danish, OCSA 11th grade creative writer, says that though she hasn’t seen any previous “Shrek” movies, she attributes most of the fan’s despair over the new animation style to nostalgia. She says that animation has evolved in the 15 years since the last movie, so some of those who grew up with the old “Shrek” movies, and the old style of animation, will experience uncanny valley at seeing the character’s changed. She also commented on how Felicia, Shrek and Fiona’s daughter in the newest upcoming “Shrek” movie, resembles modern teenagers with her haircut, saying how she used to wear the same top knot half-down style in middle school.
It should be borne in mind that the first “Shrek” movie released 25 years ago, and animation has evolved majorly since. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” has a massive upgrade in animation compared to its predecessor, and people were supportive of it, as Game Rant writer Adam Brown notes.
Another major complaint was that the characters have visually aged. However, “Game Rant” writer Adam Brown says, for movies, “Aging in real time can actually be a refreshing shake-up that allows for more growth.” With new characters and a new family dynamic, now including a teen, there’s room for more.
Some wonder if the humor will remain the same. Some judged the use of Tiktok in the trailer, but “Shrek” has always focused on the pop culture of its time, with the 2nd movie’s chase scene parodying the O.J. Simpson Chase. Just because memes are present in the film, and to a degree always have been, doesn’t mean they’ll be a part of the main plot.
Whether the humor will still be the same is also debated among “Shrek” fans. “Shrek” relied largely on physical humor, catering to a largely child-based audience. “Game Rant” writer Matthew Wilkinson points out how “Audiences will expect a certain style of tone and jokes that are brought into the previous movies, but that doesn’t mean things can’t develop at the same time.” With a new family dynamic, now including a teen, there’s room for possibility of more situational humor, or humor just regarding being a teenager, which briefly was covered in the movie Shrek the third.
With only a teaser trailer out so far, there’s still much unknown about the movie. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, the original voice actors for Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey, will be reprising their roles in “Shrek 5”. More teasers will be releasing up until its release on Dec 23, 2026.
