Shrek 5’s teaser trailer, which revealed older versions of Shrek, Fiona, and their daughter, sparks wild fan reactions on social media. Since its original movie in 2001,Shrekhas grown to become a major franchise, and it will soon be revived on the big screen. Featuring the returns of original stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, the new movie will revisit the beloved characters years after their last cinematic adventure in 2010’sShrek Forever After. Set to premiere in December 2026,Shrek 5just revealedits first glimpse at the main characters.
On X/Twitter,fan reactions to the trailer have been divided, with many questioning and even mocking the redesigns of Shrek and Fiona. The new animation for the characters looks noticeably different from how they previously looked, mostly likely due to changes in animation styles over the years. Check out some of the reactions below:
@lightuptheskyreacted with strong disbelief, writing alongside several crying emojis, “what did they do to him,” while putting images of the previous Shrek alongside the new one.
@yggdrasilsaltaradmitted they hadn’t really consideredShrek 5"having more updated animated compared to the originals lmao," which really puts emphasis on how much time has passed.
@Angeringladyadmitted that while they are “Living” for the idea ofShrek 5, they expect DreamWorks to fix the animation somehow, including a GIF of Kyle Richards fromThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hillssaying, “That’s now what I want.”
@mancakefortposted an awkwardly-edited meme suggesting Shrek and Fiona now have a very Millennial family, joking that this is essentially what the new movie has become.
Meanwhile,@AleksPhoenixmade a comparison toThe Simpsonsby posting a screencap of a moment where Lisa suddenly appeared with very different hair.
In a less-joking way,@Vtuber94077criticized the animation inShrek 5by comparing it unfavorably toShrek 2, which was released over 20 years ago.
@NAESlNTERLUDEwas succinct in their dislike of the new design, outright calling it “a f*cking mess.”
Finally,@sammyfabelmen, clearly disappointed by the new animation inShrek 5, simply said the whole movie should just be cancelled.
What This Means For Shrek 5
It’s To Be Expected, But Could Impact Audience Reception
TheShrekmoviesremain among DreamWorks' best and most popular offerings, with the four main installments earning over $2.9 billion worldwide.Shrek 5has been in development for years, and each new update has elicited fierce excitement online. The movie is highly anticipated, andthat also means it will be closely scrutinized. Shrek and Fiona’s visibly older appearance makes sense, as the new movie will take place years after the previous installment. They’ve grown just as the audience has.
The time jump isn’t quite what viewers are frustrated by, though. Coming close to 25 years after the original movie,Shrek 5has inevitably adopted digital animation techniques that weren’t available when the franchise began. Animated sequels can often look different from their predecessors, especially if there are large gaps between their creation. For example, the characters of 2010’sToy Story 3were sharper and cleaner than they were in the 1995 original. The same is true forShrek 5.
Differing animation styles are also already present within theShrekuniverse.Puss in Boots: The Last Wishintroduceda new animation style,which initially raised concerns but ultimately received widespread praise.Whether this change will impact audience reception remains to be seen forShrek 5, but the initial response isn’t promising. Luckily, though, there is still more than a year before the movie releases, giving DreamWorks the chance to win over critics with other elements.
Our Take On The Shrek 5 Redesign Debate
Fans Have Time To Ajdust Before Shrek 5 Arrives
Aging Shrek and Fiona is a bold move, but it makes sense for a sequel arriving nearly 15 years after the last film. They needed to look a bit different to maintain continuity, and DreamWorks can’t just avoid using new tech, butgetting on fans' bad side isn’t the best way to kick off marketing. While some will adjust to the new look, others may find it distracting. As new details aboutShrek 5are revealed, the overall reception towards the updated animation could change. If the film recaptures the humor and heart of its predecessors, it might be okay.
Source: Various (see above)
