The Internet Won: Shrek 5 Embraces Meme Culture

The Shrek 5 franchise has unexpectedly grown into a cultural powerhouse, evolving from a quirky animated film into one of pop culture’s greatest staples. What started in 2001 as a cheeky parody of classic fairy tales quickly turned into a long-running franchise with an ever-growing and devoted fan following.

While kids still love Shrek, young adults especially appreciate its sharp wit, clever social commentary, and brilliantly crafted subversive humor that keeps it relevant. By blending fairy tale satire with well-timed pop culture references, Shrek remains iconic due to its self-awareness and a perfect balance of mature and family-friendly humor.

Now, after more than a decade since Shrek Forever After premiered, the franchise is finally making its long-awaited return with Shrek 5. The first teaser immediately confirms that the film embraces meme culture, a trend Shrek ironically helped shape through its own viral moments online over the years.

In the trailer, Shrek and Donkey stare into the Magic Mirror, which unexpectedly displays viral Shrek memes using various internet-inspired filters and effects. These include the classic “duckface” sunglasses filter, an exaggerated muscular “buff” Shrek, and a bizarrely entertaining Shrek dancing in a shiny latex catsuit.

While the meme references entertained many fans, others felt disappointed by the animation style and unexpected character redesigns that lacked their original charm. The biggest change was Shrek’s daughter, now voiced by Zendaya, whose updated appearance failed to capture the warmth and familiarity fans expected.

The Shrek films have always maintained a balance between mature humor and kid-friendly antics, making them appealing to audiences of different age groups. From satirizing Hollywood in Shrek 2 to deconstructing fairy tale clichés, the franchise consistently delivers clever social commentary wrapped in hilarious and engaging storytelling.

The teaser’s opening scene features Shrek asking, “Who’s making this stuff?”—a direct nod to today’s internet culture filled with absurd content. Some fans remain skeptical about how deeply Shrek 5 will integrate memes into its plot rather than simply using them as promotional gimmicks.

Whether memes will shape the story or remain simple references, Shrek 5 undoubtedly taps into today’s digital landscape and the humor of modern audiences. While reactions remain mixed, anticipation continues to build as fans wait to see if Shrek can merge nostalgia with a new, meme-infused identity.