DreamWorks Animation has released the first glimpse at the highly anticipated filmShrek 5, and the footage reveals that Shrek and co. have a whole new look. The upcoming animated fantasy comedy serves as the seventhmovie in theShrekfranchiseandcomes more than 15 years afterShrek Forever After.A lot has changed in Hollywood since then. So, it makes sense why DreamWorks' production studio would make some alterations and updates to the franchise’s animation style.
Shrek 5is scheduled to be released in theaters on August 06, 2025 — 16 years afterShrek Forever After’s premiere and four years following the debut of the franchise’s last film,Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
As previously announced, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz will all reprise their roles as Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona, respectively, inthe cast ofShrek 5. However, not much else was known about the 2026 sequel before the release of the aforementioned video in February 2025. Thanks toShrek 5’s teaser trailer, though,a new cast member has been announced,and we now know what the movie will look like.
Shrek 5 Has A Different Visual Style From The Previous Movies
The Upcoming Film’s Teaser Footage Previews Shrek’s New Look
ThefirstShrek 5trailer revealsthat the franchise’s animation style has changed drastically sinceShrek Forever Afterin 2010. It’s slightly more photorealistic, falling more in line with visuals in modern movies. Animation styles have been altered and reformed in the years since Shrek last graced the big screen, andDreamWorks Animation is seemingly keeping up with the times while developingShrek 5.Technology has simply improved since the 2010s, resulting in Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey’s new look.
DreamWorks Set The Bar So High 2 Years Ago, I’m Convinced There’s No Way Shrek 5 Can Beat It
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the highest-rated film in the Shrek franchise, and its levels of success will provide Shrek 5 with a major challenge.
In the first glimpse atShrek 5’s updated animation style, Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and Shrek and Fiona’s daughter, Felicia (voiced by newShrekcast member Zendaya), stand in front of the Magic Mirror. Donkey asks the enchanted object who the fairest of them all is. The Magic Mirror responds, “Why, Shrek, of course,” andstarts showing them memes of Mike Myers' popular character.One is a photoshopped picture of Shrek’s head on a muscular body, which grosses out Felicia and entices Fiona. When Shrek ponders who would make these images, Pinocchio appears and says, “Not me,” resulting in his nose growing.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Is The Only Outlier
The first fourShrekmovies —Shrek,Shrek 2,Shrek the Third, andShrek Forever After— all shared the same animation style. However, the uniform appearance ends in the fifth film. At least, in the main series as opposed to spinoffs. Theupcoming animated fantasy comedy isn’t the only installment in theShrekfranchise that leans more into photorealism.Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which premiered in December 2022, also utilized the “3D that looks like 2D” method.
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Shrek 5doesn’t appear to be completely copyingPuss in Boots: The Last Wish, but it will be inspired by it. According toForbes, theShrek 5trailerusesMoonRay, a newer animation engine designed by Dreamworksthat was introduced inPuss in Boots: The Last Wish. The 2022 movie received praise for its animation style (along with many other qualities). So, it’s understandable why the production studio would want to take what was successful inPuss in Boots: The Last Wishand apply it toShrek 5. The sixth installment in theShrekfranchise was nominated for an Oscar and was a box office success, after all.
It Might Take A While For Us To Get Used To Shrek 5’s New Look
The Change From Shrek Forever After To Shrek 5 Is Jarring
Given that DreamWorks released four films featuring Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and the otherShrekcharactersin the same animation style, watching theShrek 5teaser trailer is a bit jarring. We are used to seeing this fictional world in one light, and that old interpretation will be abandoned going forward.It’s understandable why DreamWorks is alteringShrek’s design,though.
Nevertheless, the premiere ofShrek 5is still more than a year away, and we have only seen a 30-second glimpse at the movie, meaning things (like animation styles) can change.
The film industry has changed and adapted to new technologies,resulting in more realistic animation. Still, it will be an adjustment. Nevertheless, the premiere ofShrek 5is still more than a year away, and we have only seen a 30-second glimpse at the movie, meaning things (like animation styles) can change.
