Shrek 5 Release Date and Trailer: Fans React to New Animation Style
Image credits: Universal Pictures
The long-awaited first trailer for the new Shrek 5 film has been released, and it has sparked a mixed reaction from fans due to the new animation style. The 27-second clip features recurring characters Shrek, Donkey, Pinocchio, and Princess Fiona, alongside Felicia, one of Shrek and Fiona's now grown-up children, played by Zendaya. The trailer announces that Zendaya is joining the cast as Felicia, while also reintroducing Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy, who are all reprising their roles.
Some fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment with the new animation style, describing it as "disrespectful to the original art style" and "an AI interpretation of what Shrek 5 could look like." Others have compared it to the film animation of video game character Sonic the Hedgehog, which Paramount Pictures changed after fan backlash in 2019. However, not everyone is unhappy with the new look, with some praising the animators for aging the characters with greying hair and wrinkles, and others saying the updated animations are just a symptom of CGI improving.
Oli Hyatt, who runs Blue Zoo Animation, believes that the criticism of the trailer will be forgotten once the movie is released. "Shrek has never been about looking cute or beautiful, it's about being gross with all the jokes and silliness," he says. "If they [the producers] have got the script right and the characters right, then people will still love it, it's still a great franchise." The movie is slated for release in December 2026, following on from Shrek Forever After in 2010, and will be directed by Walt Dohrn, who has a long history with the franchise.
The Shrek franchise has collectively grossed $2.9 billion worldwide and spawned several attractions, as well as an award-winning Broadway musical that earned eight Tony Award nominations and one win, for best costume design. The Christmas-time release of the upcoming Shrek 5 coincides with the 25th anniversary of the hit DreamWorks franchise. Some of the notable releases in the franchise include:
- Shrek (2001)
- Shrek 2 (2004)
- Shrek the Third (2007)
- Shrek Forever After (2010)
The reaction to the trailer has been mixed, with some fans excited to see the return of their favorite characters and others disappointed with the new animation style. However, with the release of the movie still several months away, it remains to be seen how fans will react to the final product. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the Shrek franchise remains one of the most beloved and successful franchises in movie history, and its return is highly anticipated by fans around the world.
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