The Shrek movies have always been self-aware, but Shrek 5 has gone even further by incorporating memes. Shrek is one of the most unlikely movie success stories of the past few decades, with even DreamWorks studios reportedly expecting it to be a low-budget failure. In a surprise move, Shrek made more money than you realized, sparking a franchise that has remained successful for many reasons. The Shrek movies tell simple stories in complex ways, turn character stereotypes upside down, and incorporate elements of pop culture, all of which are risky approaches that ultimately worked.

Using cultural references can often lead to a movie feeling extremely dated, or it can keep it as a beloved time capsule of the culture of the time. Pop music has always been a huge part of the franchise, which was a new approach when the first movie came out, even though the Shrek soundtrack has aged well. Shrek 2, with its references to Pop Idol and Simon Cowell, is firmly placed in the early 2000s, but the movie still feels retro rather than dated. Now, 16 years after the last movie, Shrek 5 has caught up with the current age.

Shrek 5’s First Teaser Sees The Characters Looking At Shrek Memes

The First Look At Shrek 5 Is Very Meta

The first teaser trailer for Shrek 5 begins with Shrek and Donkey looking into the Magic Mirror from the original movie before Donkey asks, “Who’s the fairest of them all?” The mirror then shows Shrek’s hand swiping through three different Shrek memes, using the mirror as an app. There’s a relatively tame sunglᴀsses filter with the obligatory “duckface” expression, a filter with Shrek dancing in a shiny latex catsuit, and a “buff” filter, which horrifies the pair. They are soon joined by the first new character in the movie: Shrek’s equally-horrified daughter, played by Zendaya.

From the original movie’s first scene, which parodies Disney’s storybook opening scenes, the Shrek movies have used traditional fairytales for inspiration. The trailer shows Shrek 5 doing the same, using the famous question from Snow White as a starting point, before giving the viewer an unexpected response. This is an encouraging start for longtime fans of Shrek, showing that the tone of Shrek 5 is likely to stay the same as in previous movies. The Shrek movies have always included cultural commentary, but Shrek 5 using memes in the marketing is surprising, nonetheless.

How Memes Have Helped Keep The Shrek Franchise Alive

It Is Not Surprising That Shrek Would Include Meme Culture

With some hilarious Shrek memes summing up the series, the legacy of the franchise is fascinating. As the movies have aged in the years since their release, becoming insights into the culture of the time, many began to appreciate them ironically. The resulting Shrek memes ranged from reactions and parodies to the most absurd content, which is then parodied in its own right. The memes have kept the franchise alive because Shrek ​​​​​​ultimately pokes fun at itself and the industry. This is a theme that has not aged, even if the animation has.

Rewatching Shrek as a child and as an adult are completely different experiences, with all of the Shrek movies including adult jokes that only become obvious years later. The best jokes in the franchise work on several levels, and many Shrek references get missed on the first couple of watches. Shrek 2 is one of the more on-the-nose entries in the franchise, repeatedly satirizing Hollywood culture, and Shrek 5 may return to this style of humor. There is plenty to laugh about in meme culture, so Shrek 5 will not be short of material.

Will Shrek 5 Actually Include Memes?

The Teaser Could Indicate The Tone Of Shrek 5

The Shrek teaser trailer may simply be a clip designed to appeal to audiences of many ages and introduce Shrek’s grown-up daughter without being part of the actual movie. This seems likely, based on Shrek’s meta question, “Who’s making this stuff?” which reflects the questions asked by many people who stumble on certain memes. That said, the next Shrek could include memes as a part of the story, or at least a side joke. As memes are everywhere, Shrek 5 might be missing some easy jokes by not including them.

Many have noticed that Shrek 5 looks different from the previous movies. It is not just a matter of the character aging, which is inevitable, but the style of the animation itself. The Shrek 5 teaser looks more pH๏τorealistic than the previous movies, raising the question of how different the sequel will be compared to everything else that came before. Regardless, I’m very curious to see which pop culture references Shrek 5 will incorporate this time, even if some of them are dated memes.