Should we be AFRAID of the new SHREK because it’s DIFFERENT?

Shrek (2001) is an extremely important production in the history of 3D animation. Maybe not as groundbreaking as Toy Story (1995), but who knows—among audiences, it might even be more iconic due to its script and dubbing. Shrek has shaped several generations, and its subsequent installments—perhaps except for Shrek Forever After—remain popular. They entertain, educate, and introduce not only children to the world of animation.

It’s been 15 years since the last Shrek movie. That’s long enough for a complete generational shift among potential viewers. It’s also enough time to notice differences in animation styles—something that has sparked the most controversy among older fans of the series. Cultural references have also stirred emotions, but is it really worth arguing at this stage? After all, the teaser for Shrek 5 is only 27 seconds long.

Shrek, along with his family, seems to be searching for his place in the world once again. We see Pinocchio, Donkey, Fiona, the magic mirror (most memorable from the first movie), and… Shrek’s now nearly adult—likely rebellious—daughter. It’s clear that the creators are relying on nostalgia, which isn’t necessarily bad, but how much is too much? That’s why iconic series should conclude before they become overused—each new sequel, especially one made years later, rarely adds anything new to the franchise’s unique style. And that seems to be the case with Shrek 5.

On one hand, there’s no reason to be as emotional as some fans online, claiming that these few seconds ruin an artistic, cinematic legend. The teaser’s visual style references the painterly look of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, though with lower quality. However, we still don’t know how the final animation will turn out.

More concerning than the animation style, though—something fewer people are talking about—is the pop culture and social references woven into the teaser.

Let’s start with the mirror. Its face has changed—it’s smoother, more plastic, more “cartoony”—which may appeal to younger audiences and aligns with evolving animation styles. But that’s not the issue. The real concern is what the mirror represents—it has essentially become TikTok. It shows Shrek in various forms, though the animation looks rather unimpressive. Shrek, his family, and friends stare into it as if it were their entire world. This pop culture reference has clearly seeped into the teaser, suggesting it might dominate the entire movie.

Was there really no better idea for a teaser—something that would showcase the film’s uniqueness, especially when it competes with an animation legend? There surely were, but the producers took the easiest route, leveraging what’s currently popular. This reflects a numbers-driven approach—aiming for the widest audience possible, which wasn’t the case with the first Shrek. The original film broke the rules, used humor as a critical weapon, and paradoxically taught younger viewers about the real world rather than just a fairy tale one. The new teaser seems to shift that boundary—toward a more superficial, social-media-driven perception of the world.

The magic of Shrek feels absent here. He seems to fade into the background because his daughter (Zendaya) takes the spotlight. And that’s the biggest risk—Shrek might no longer be the central character but instead follow some modern, “safe” comedy formula that adds nothing meaningful to the story. Instead of enriching the franchise, it could become just another forgettable sequel, relying solely on nostalgia.

Overall, though, I don’t think the new Shrek is something to fear—or worse, to hate. It’s too early for that, and outright hate should never be the reaction. However, it’s worth approaching it critically. Too many years have passed since the last movie to maintain the series’ uniqueness, especially since Shrek Forever After was already weaker than its predecessors. That film relied on nostalgia, just as Shrek 5 likely will—though probably to an even greater extent.

So let’s forget the Shrek of the past. A new one is coming… and he’s the father of a teenager. Will Maciej Stuhr’s potential dubbing help? That would be a battle with a legend in itself.