Summary
Dreamworksrecently dropped a tease trailer forShrek 5to confirm thatthe movie will be released on Christmas 2026, with Zendaya joining the cast.Given the popularity of the animated franchise and the fact that people had given up expecting more content, considering the last release took place over a decade ago in 2010, it instantly had people excited.
However, withtheShrek 5teaser boasting over 10 million YouTube views already, it’s clear that there is still an audience for the popular Ogre. It’s a franchise that is deep-rooted in the world of cinema at this point, but the animation genre has moved on a long way since Dreamworks last took people to the swamp, and there are some key lessons that can be taken from that.
Inside Out 2 Proved That Emotions Work In The Animated Genre
Pixar has been one of the most dominant and successful animation studios since it first opened, and that’s something that has only continued in modern times.The success ofInside Out 2has showcased that, withthis incredible sequel having earned $1.699 billion worldwide at the box office. It became the highest-grossing animated film of all time until February 2025and shattered all expectations of the movie heading into it, particularly since it was a sequel. However, the vibrant animation, charismatic characters, and genuinely heartfelt story proved to be a cocktail for success.
Pixar has never shied away from tackling serious topics in its movies, butInside Out 2took that to a new level. Deep-diving into teenage emotions and anxiety’s impact on people,Inside Out 2had a truly adult storythat was told in an understandable and emotional way to audiences of all ages. There were lessons to be taken from this movie for everyone, regardless of their age, and that’s not an easy feat to achieve. However, it did it by focusing on genuine emotions that people are impacted by in real life, tackling topics that this genre used to always avoid.
Shrek Has Previously Relied On Physical Humor
TheShrekfranchise is an example of how most popular animated movies would avoid tapping into serious emotions that might be deemed too advanced for younger audiences. These movies have typically relied on slapstick and rather childish humor to entertain people; there’s nothing wrong with that.TheShrekfilms have been incredibly successful,with this being the 18th highest-grossing film franchise of all time, showcasing just how popular the movies have been. Seeing situations such as Shrek wrestling the knights or the Fairy Godmother visiting a fast food restaurant has made people laugh, and that has
Even in the controversial teaser trailer, it was clear that the distinct humor that theShrekfranchise has been built upon is going to continue. However, that ended up being lost on the majority of people as the main focus was on thechange inShrek’sanimation style. Audiences will expect a certain style of tone and jokes that are brought into the movie based on what has happened in previous movies, but that doesn’t mean things can’t develop at the same time.
Shrek 5 Has The Chance To Develop The Franchise
After the significant gap between the lastShrekmovie and the upcoming release, now is the perfect time to make a big change in the film’s tone.Shrek 5has the opportunity to develop the franchise and provide a slightly more emotionally intelligent movie, taking lessons fromInside Out 2and how that film handled broader topics. From the teaser that Dreamworks revealed,Shrek 5will be based around family and Shrek and Fiona’s children, which instantly sets up an easy way for the film to be more emotional. Seeing how they balance life with grown-up children who have their own opinions and beliefs is an ideal setting to focus on far more mature topics.Shrek 5can still provide the same goofy moments astheInside Outfranchisehas done, but it’s also the right moment to develop the story in a bid to keep the franchise feeling fresh and with the modern times for animated films.
Shrek 5will also be interesting, considering the type of audience that will want to see this movie. The younger fans whothe originalShrekmovieswere targeting are all now adults who could potentially have children of their own at this point. Therefore, they will connect with seeing Shrek and Fiona as parents to older children. That’s where a more emotional storyline could be beneficial, as it will draw back viewers who already have deep connections to the characters, while the sillier moments can entertain younger audiences. Meanwhile, there can still be serious topics for children to start tackling within the movie if the tone ofShrek 5is right, with this being Dreamworks' perfect time to prove they can respond toInside Out 2in terms of theme and emotion.
