The upcoming release of Shrek 5 has caused quite a stir, especially because of the film’s updated animation style. The teaser trailer, released on February 27, 2025, showed a more modern and polished look for fan-favorite characters like Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and a new character—Felicia, Shrek and Fiona’s teenage daughter, voiced by Zendaya. While some fans are excited, others aren’t too happy with the changes.
Fans Are Split
The new animation style has left fans divided. Social media is full of mixed reactions, with some fans loving the fresh look and others feeling disappointed. One fan tweeted, “What did they do to him?” while another joked, “Me veo tosco” (which means “I look rough” in Spanish), poking fun at the character redesigns.
This reaction has reminded many of the backlash against the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Back then, fans were so upset with Sonic’s original design that the studio went back and changed it before the movie came out. The official TikTok account for the Sonic movie even joined the conversation about Shrek 5, jokingly commenting, “Take notes!”
Why the Change?
Animation experts think the new look for Shrek 5 might be an attempt to modernize the franchise and appeal to today’s audiences. However, this has sparked a debate about whether it’s better to stick with the original style that fans love or try something new to keep things fresh.
What’s Next?
Despite the mixed reactions, excitement for Shrek 5 is still high. The movie is set to hit theaters on December 23, 2026, with the original voice cast—Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Fiona, and Eddie Murphy as Donkey—returning to their roles. Zendaya’s addition as Felicia is also bringing a new energy to the story.
As the release date gets closer, fans are curious to see if DreamWorks will make any changes based on the feedback. Will they tweak the animation style, or stick with their new vision? Only time will tell if Shrek 5 can find the right balance between innovation and tradition—and whether it can win over fans who aren’t sold on the new look.