Shrek 5 will soon be upon us, so to build the hype, we've been blessed with a brand new teaser trailer. With all the beats of a traditional Shrek movie, most fans seem pretty excited, but there's one detail that's still dividing them – the new animation style.
As someone who considers the first three Shrek movies pure cinematic perfection (I refuse to acknowledge the fourth), I admit I've also got some reservations about the new movie. Be it the childlike animation style or simply the fact that I'm no longer the target demographic for Shrek movies, I feel as if I've lost an old friend.
The teaser begins with the storybook opening of the original movie – a touching nod for jaded elders such as myself. Following Shrek and his family on an adventure to 'Further Further Away', the short trailer gives us a flavour of the silliness to ensue, from Gingy's gumdrop booty cheeks to... a weirdly seedy Frozen reference? (Over a decade too late there, but I'll let it slide.)
But on to the elephant in the room – the animation. A far far cry from the original '00s aesthetic, the soft lines, exaggerated expressions and clean appeal lean heavily into a cartoony vibe. While there's nothing wrong with this stylistic switch-up, for many (myself included), the new look loses a certain charm and contrast created by the old realism animation style. In short, Dreamworks has gone full fairytale, and it just doesn't hit the same.
"Shrek was built on realism with a touch of fantasy, which contrasted with Disney. It lended itself to the satirical fairytale world they built. Making Shrek bouncy and cartoony feels like the antithesis of what Shrek is," one X user shared. "The new style feels polished, but it doesn't have the same soul. The old Shrek had a grounded, lived-in look that made its fantasy world feel real," another agreed.
For more movie news, check out the movies and series that will make 2026 a big year for animation, or take a look at our roundup of the most influential animated films of the 2000s.
