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, Shrek has 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’s Shrek Forever After. Set to premiere in December 2026, Shrek 5 just revealed its 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:

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@lightupthesky reacted 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.

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@yggdrasilsaltar admitted they hadn’t really considered Shrek 5 “having more updated animated compared to the originals lmao,” which really puts emphasis on how much time has pᴀssed.

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@Angeringlady admitted that while they are “Living” for the idea of Shrek 5, they expect DreamWorks to fix the animation somehow, including a GIF of Kyle Richards from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills saying, “That’s now what I want.”

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@mancakefort posted 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.

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Meanwhile, @AleksPhoenix made a comparison to The Simpsons by posting a screencap of a moment where Lisa suddenly appeared with very different hair.

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In a less-joking way, @Vtuber94077 criticized the animation in Shrek 5 by comparing it unfavorably to Shrek 2, which was released over 20 years ago.

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@NAESlNTERLUDE was succinct in their dislike of the new design, outright calling it “a f*cking mess.”

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Finally, @sammyfabelmen, clearly disappointed by the new animation in Shrek 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

The Shrek movies remain among DreamWorks’ best and most popular offerings, with the four main installments earning over $2.9 billion worldwide. Shrek 5 has been in development for years, and each new update has elicited fierce excitement online. The movie is highly anticipated, and that 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 5 has 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’s Toy Story 3 were sharper and cleaner than they were in the 1995 original. The same is true for Shrek 5.

Differing animation styles are also already present within the Shrek universe. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish introduced a new animation style, which initially raised concerns but ultimately received widespread praise. Whether this change will impact audience reception remains to be seen for Shrek 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, but getting 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 about Shrek 5 are 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)