• A teaser trailer for Shrek 5 was released on 27 February
  • Fans thought the characters looked noticeably different
  • Reactions to the characters’ appearance were divided online
The logo for Shrek 5 - a number 5 featuring Shrek's ogre ears
The logo for Shrek 5 Credit: @dreamworks/X

It’s not October yet, but fans felt like they were living in a horror movie after seeing the new look of the characters in Shrek 5. On 27 February Universal Pictures released a Shrek 5 trailer for the upcoming movie releasing in December 2026. The excitement for Shrek 5 was overshadowed by the apparent differences in the characters’ appearances, especially Shrek and Donkey.

Many fans were also surprised by the appearance of Shrek’s daughter Felicia. Zendaya will voice the character.

You can view the trailer below and decide if the characters look different.

Shrek first hit cinemas in 2001 and became a massive success for DreamWorks. The film made almost $500 million at the box office and received a sequel (and the best movie in the franchise) in 2004, Shrek 2. Three years later came Shrek The Third, and in 2010 number four, Shrek Forever After.

Read More: All we know about Shrek 5

A sequel has been long-awaited by fans, but something that hasn’t changed over the years is the art style of Shrek. Some fans think that the style of the new movie has changed drastically, while others don’t see the change at all. Regardless of our opinion, here are all the best reactions to the Shrek 5 trailer and the character’s appearances.

Why could the characters in Shrek 5 look different?

Shrek 5/ Shrek 5 trailer
Many fans thought the characters looked different in the Shrek trailer. Credit: Universal Pictures/ YouTube

One of the key changes that could’ve inspired the animation is the fact that after Shrek Forever After, DreamWorks ceased involvement in Shrek 5. This could be why Universal Pictures changed the art style, maybe they had more say in it. Also, DreamWorks closed in 2015 so they may not have been involved in the movie anyway.

NBCUniversal acquired it in 2016, a year after the formal studio closed. So although DreamWorks is still making movies, it is safe to assume a new team is behind their more recent movies like The Wild Robot.

In 2023 Shrek 5 was confirmed to be in development with original cast members Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Mike Myers returning.

Another simpler explanation for the supposed animation style change could be to do with the fact that the last film was released 14 years ago. Each of the Shrek films had a three-year gap until Shrek 5. In three years not much may’ve changed in style and animation, but more would in 14.

How did the internet react to the Shrek 5 trailer?

The trailer and the characters were divisive, to say the least. Many users made jokes about the animation style, asking what the studios had done to Shrek and Donkey. I mean, it is a valid question!

Fan confusion around the Shrek 5 trailer

One user on X posted a cursed GIF from Scooby Doo 2 to express their anger at the new look. They wrote: “Just saw the new animation for Shrek 5 just cancel the whole thing at this point.”

Bit dramatic, but if you grew up with Shrek seeing the fifth movie’s trailer does show a difference.

Another user posted a screenshot from the trailer and claimed that Universal had “ruined” Shrek.

Jokingly one user referenced a Spongebob meme where Patrick asks “Who are you people”, directing the question at the trailer.

Memes were a common theme for fans, expressing their disbelief towards the Shrek 5 trailer and the characters’ looks. A user referenced the viral Keke Palmer “I don’t know who this man is” to express their feelings.

Meanwhile, another user was definitive it was “NOT Shrek” in the trailer.

Other fans didn’t care

While many fans were up in arms about the animation style, many other fans didn’t care. In a post on X, one fan posted a side-by-side of the Shrek character Puss in Boots, pointing out the animation style change that happened to his character.

The user said: “Y’all act like the new design is the worst thing ever when they’ve done it once 3 years ago and y’all LIKED IT.”

The look of Puss In Boots in the 2022 movie Puss In Boots: The Last Wish does show a change from the 2011 movie, so the user isn’t technically wrong.

Another fan disregarded the animation style sand aid they’d “still be seated for Shrek 5”. Most of us Gen Z and millennials will too!

The conclusion to the reactions online by one fan was that Shrek 5 was just “adapting to the new animation style” in modern times.

And that is it, things change with time. Speaking of time, time will tell us if there are any key updates on Shrek 5. Stay tuned for any news on the upcoming movie.

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Sophie Humphrey
Sophie Humphrey is a freelance writer and journalist. Sophie has seven years experience in journalism and has a keen interest in pop culture and entertainment. Sophie has worked for the likes of Time Out London, The Upcoming and Screen rant.
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