The first teaser for Shrek 5 has dropped to a mixed reception. While fans are excited to see the beloved characters back on screen, the updated animation style has sparked debate, with some praising the advancements in CGI while others criticise the character redesigns.
A First Look
The 27-second teaser reintroduces the franchise’s central trio—Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona—alongside a grown-up Felicia, one of Shrek and Fiona’s children. The clip also confirms that Zendaya has been cast as the voice of Felicia, joining returning voice actors Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.
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The teaser takes a playful approach, featuring the characters gathered around the magic mirror, which responds to the famous “Who’s the fairest of them all?” question by declaring Shrek as the fairest. The clip then showcases a series of Shrek-themed internet memes, with the titular ogre striking dramatic poses, donning glasses, and even appearing in a skintight catsuit.
A Divisive Redesign
While Shrek remains one of animation’s most iconic franchises, change has not come without resistance. At the time of writing, the thumbs up to down ratio on the YouTube video, under Universal Pictures’ official channel, is certainly indicative: 173 thousand up and 447 thousand down. Comments have also been turned off.
The character designs have undergone noticeable updates, with some fans expressing disappointment at the altered facial features and overall aesthetic. Critics of the new look have described it as “disrespectful to the original art style” and likened it to an AI-generated interpretation of Shrek 5. Others have drawn comparisons to the backlash over Sonic the Hedgehog (2019), which led to a redesign following fan outcry.
Animation expert Oli Hyatt, head of UK studio Blue Zoo Animation, weighed in on the discussion, pointing out that there’s often an “instant reaction” from fans when beloved franchises evolves. “The generation of children that watched Shrek back [when it was released in 2001] are now adults,” he said to BBC News. There’s usually a feeling of ‘this isn’t what I knew’ or ‘I want the old show I remember back.'”
He added: “Shrek has never been about looking cute or beautiful, it’s about being gross with all the jokes and silliness. If they [the producers] have got the script right and the characters right, then people will still love it, it’s still a great franchise.”
And Now, We Wait
There is still plenty of time for DreamWorks to reveal more about the highly anticipated sequel. Whether the animation style will continue to be a sticking point or fade into the background once the film arrives remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Shrek’s return is already making waves, proving that the franchise remains as culturally relevant as ever.
Shrek 5, directed by Walt Dohrn (Trolls), Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2), and Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru), is lined up for a U.S. theatrical release on December 23rd, 2026.
