Shrek 5 Teaser Trailer Leaves Fans Unsettled by Bizarre Detail
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"Shrek 5 Set for Christmas 2026 Release, Universal Pictures Confirms Official Date" |
Shrek 5 Release Date Announced in First Teaser – Fans React to Unusual Animation Change
Universal Pictures has officially announced the release date for Shrek 5 in a brand-new teaser, but an unexpected animation detail has left fans puzzled.
The first trailer, released on Thursday, confirms the return of beloved characters, with Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy reprising their roles as Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey. The film will also introduce Zendaya as Felicia, one of Shrek and Fiona’s triplets, who were first introduced in Shrek the Third (2007).
In the clip, Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, and Felicia gather around a magic mirror and ask, “Who’s the fairest of them all?”
The mirror responds, “Why, Shrek, of course,” before displaying a series of humorous images: Shrek wearing glasses and making a duck face, dancing in a skintight bodysuit, and even a doctored image of him with abs.
“Oooh, mama like,” and a humorous moment where Shrek questions, “Who’s making this stuff?”—prompting Pinocchio’s nose to grow as he denies involvement.
Marking 15 years since Shrek Forever After (2010), the franchise’s revival has thrilled fans. However, some were unsettled by noticeable aging details in the animation, such as Shrek’s forehead wrinkles and Donkey’s greying fur.
“Eyo why does Shrek look so old?” one fan questioned on X, while another asked, “What’s up with their faces?
The Shrek 5 traile their faces?
r has sparked a wave of reactions, with some fans commenting on the characters’ new looks. Donkey’s weary expression didn’t go unnoticed, with one fan joking, “Bro has seen enough.”
The updated art style, which gives the characters a more rounded appearance, has also drawn criticism. “Did they get Botox? Why do they look like that?” questioned one viewer, while another expressed disappointment, writing, “Why did y’all change the animation? It looks cheap.” “Please change the animation style,” one fan pleaded. “Don’t make us Sonic you,” they added, referencing the redesign of Sonic the Hedgehog in Paramount and SEGA's 2020 movie following fan backlash.
“Wtf is this art style?” another user questioned, while someone else argued, “I can't even tell if this is real—this looks strange as hell.”
The long-awaited Shrek 5 sequel has been in the works for months, as revealed by Eddie Murphy in a June interview with Collider. Murphy confirmed that recording for the film had already begun, saying, “I recorded the first act, and we’ll finish it up this year. Shrek is coming out.”
Set to hit theaters on Christmas 2026, Shrek 5 will be directed by Walt Dohrn, a longtime collaborator with the franchise. Dohrn previously worked as a writer and artist on Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, and as head of story on Shrek Forever After. He also voiced Rumpelstiltskin in the latter film.