Shreak 5 Animation Complains Make No Sense, Last Movie Is 15 Years Old

The return of the Shrek franchise has been teased and talked about for a long time, but Universal Pictures has now released an official teaser for Shrek 5. The initial clip confirmed that the movie will be released on Christmas 2026 and already has over 10 million views, showcasing how excited audiences are for the upcoming Dreamworks project.

However, the Shrek 5 trailer has brought a lot of negativity from people who have complained about the fact that the animation style has been changed as the franchise returns. It’s something that has led to some people claiming they’re not interested in the movie, but the changes aren’t necessarily a bad thing.

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Shrek 5’s Teaser Trailer Has Proven To Be Divisive

The teaser trailer for Shrek 5 didn’t give anything away in regard to what the movie will be about. However, it confirmed that Zendaya is joining the cast as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter, revealing that Donkey, Pinocchio, and the Magic Mirror will all be returning to the franchise. The casting of Zendaya has proven to be a popular decision, which isn’t a surprise considering her star power and popularity on a global basis. However, the teaser clip did receive a lot of attention due to the new animation style, which is very different from the previous Shrek movies.

Audiences quickly point out that Shrek and the other characters in the clip look slightly different from how they did in previous installments. Those comparisons have taken place, and it feels like they’re simply fueled by nostalgia, with people longing for a return to something that proved to be a hit in the past. However, the movie industry cannot survive on nostalgia alone. The fact that Shrek is returning in the first place is ticking that box, but outside of that, the industry still has to move forward, even with familiar characters.

Dreamworks Has To Move With The Times

Dreamworks is one of the biggest animation companies in the world. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that the animation style is slightly different. It feels slick, updated, and modern, which is going to be crucial for Shrek 5’s success. While there might be adults longing for Shrek to look like he did in the original movies, this film is ultimately aimed at the children of today, and they’re used to a totally different style of animation. Going back to how things were in Shrek Forever After, which was released in 2010, would be a massive mistake on Dreamworks’ behalf. It would risk alienating the core audience that they’re trying to attract and would potentially damage the box-office success of Shrek 5.

There have been some calls for a similar situation to that of the original Sonic the Hedgehog movie to take place here. When the trailer for the first Sonic film was released the complaints were so loud that the lead character ended up being completely re-animated to look a different way. But that’s not going to happen here, and nor should it. With Sonic the Hedgehog, it was the first ever film, and the complaints were justified because Sonic didn’t look good. In the case of Shrek 5, there is nothing wrong with the animation at all. It looks modern and crisp, with tons of detail being pumped into it. Therefore, it’s just going to be something that people have to get used to.

The animation style feels more in line with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish rather than previous Shrek movies. The 2022 animation was a huge hit, earning a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score while grossing over $485 million worldwide on a production budget of $90 – $110 million. It generally brought a lot of love and excitement back into the Shrek franchise and is likely one of the reasons why Shrek 5 is happening in the first place. Therefore, the decision to push the animation style like this does make sense, as it’s the freshest installment in the franchise.

Shrek 5 Won’t Be Judged On Its Animation

Even though there are plenty of question marks about the animation choices made for Shrek 5, it isn’t something Dreamworks needs to worry about. The franchise is so strong that it’s bound to bring in a huge audience when it’s released, especially since it’s happening over the festive period when many families want to view films together. From that point on, it will all be about the quality of the movie, as the animation style will be thrown out of the window.

When audiences sit down to watch Shrek 5, they will be hoping to get lost in a fun story that entertains people of all ages and gives the franchise another lifeline to continue. While fans might notice the animation style is different, to begin with, the focus will soon shift to the plot and whether it has the same loveable charm as the previous four Shrek movies. That is why Shrek 5’s animation argument is pointless and not something that will cause much concern to anyone involved at this stage.

Shrek 5

Release Date

December 25, 2026

Director

Walt Dohrn, Brad Ableson

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  Cameron Diaz

  Princess Fiona

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