The Shrek 5 animation change has sparked intense discussion among fans ever since the teaser dropped. While audiences eagerly anticipate the return of Shrek and his companions, many have noticed a major shift in the film’s visual style. The Shrek 5 design appears changed, with noticeable modifications in Shrek’s facial features, lighting, and textures. But why did DreamWorks make this change?
Here’s everything you need to know about why Shrek 5 changed its animation style.
Here’s why Shrek 5 changed its animation style and designs
DreamWorks opted for a Shrek 5 animation change to modernize the franchise using cutting-edge technology.
Since Shrek Forever After was released over 14 years ago, animation techniques have significantly evolved. Thus, the Shrek franchise might have also decided to move on from its traditional animation style.
Shrek 5’s production company, DreamWorks Films, has given a modern touch to the animation, especially its cutting-edge open-source rendering machine known as MoonRay. This technique results in bright lighting, polished looks, and improved physical features of the characters in the film. In the teaser, fans can make out the noticeable changes in Shrek’s mouth, ears, and nose. For the unaware, MoonRay was first used in the animated flick How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, released in 2019.
Not all fans are thrilled about the Shrek 5 animation change. Many took to social media to express their concerns, comparing the new style to other DreamWorks films. One user wrote, ”Just saw the new animation for shrek 5 just cancel the whole thing at this point.” Another one stated, “What happened to the animation? The animation was fantastic with the previous versions. Hopefully they improve it before release.” One more fan expressed, “Why does the animation look like Madagascar?”
Some fans are hoping for improvements in the animation for Shrek 5, similar to what happened with Sonic the Hedgehog. When the initial realistic designs received intense backlash, Paramount Pictures chose to delay the film’s release in order to revert to its traditional designs. It will be interesting to see if Shrek 5 follows a similar path to meet fan demands.
Shrek 5 is slated for release on December 23, 2026.
