Shrek 5: First-look trailer divides fans over new animation style

In the film, our favourite ogre family travels to unfamiliar urban environments but soon enough find themselves thrown in jail.

The DreamWorks Animation even takes a cheeky jab at Disney’s Frozen in the trailer by featuring a shady, Olaf-esque snowman in a dark alley who propositions passers-by with “Wanna date a snowman?” – a seedy variation of Olaf’s classic catchphrase, “Wanna build a snowman?”

Fans have asked for the original Shrek to make a comeback, calling the new animation “AI slop”. Image / Universal PicturesFans are not loving the slicker, more modern-looking Shrek. Image / Universal Pictures

However, it wasn’t the plot or even the Disney dig that some fans took issue with, but rather the apparently glaring stylistic difference from the 2001 original and its three subsequent films.

Fans claim the original characters they’ve grown to love have been given a more cartoonish look with smoother, modern features and larger eyes.

Some diehard fans have even claimed the new-look characters are the handiwork of “AI slop” that has “stripped all identity” from the magic of Shrek and his swamp mates.

How Fiona looked in the first four movies. Image / Universal PicturesThe new Fiona for Shrek 5 has had a glow-up. Image / Universal Pictures

“Years of waiting for this crappy animation that looks like AI?” one commented on Instagram, as another wrote, “Bring old animation back cause this isn’t it”.

“Why did they have to mess with the animation?! It’s what made Shrek so special and unique,” another wondered, as one fan was adamant, “This is not my Shrek”.

With the film still one year away, some fans have pleaded with the studio to revert to the franchise’s original look.

“Please consider changing the animation style and make it more like the first 4 Shrek films,” one asked on the platform. Another said: “Why does everything look like Disney now? That gritty, uncanny, realistic style was what made it so charming and original.”

The original Donkey from the hit animation. Image / Universal PicturesDonkey has a new look for 2027. Image / Universal Pictures

Aesthetics aside, other fans have defended the franchise, which was the first film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2001.

“It’s really not that bad guys,” one fan said of the glow-up Shrek.

“I love that everyone is only bothered by the actually good looking animation and hasn’t said a thing about the jokes being solid and funny,” another said.

“I’m just excited that we are actually getting another Shrek movie,” one concluded.

Shrek 5 is scheduled to premiere in June 2027.

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