Once upon a time, there came a franchise that turned the fairy tale genre on its head, completely changed animation feature films forever, and gave audiences some of the most beloved and adored characters ever put to screen. We are of course talking about the Shrek franchise, and today we are going to be ranking Shrek characters from best to worst! Shrek and his cast of side-splitting characters have quickly become some of the most treasured, memed, and recognizable figures in pop culture. thanks to each and every one of them being portrayed unapologetically funny, heartfelt, and human, even if the characters themselves are anything but that.
From the titular Shrek voiced to perfection by Mike Myers to Donkey voiced by comedic genius Eddie Murphy, to smaller characters like Doris voiced by Larry King, each character in the Shrek movies brings something magnificent and holistically their own to the films that make them stand out and resonate with audience members. Some characters stand out so much, in fact, they even get their very own spinoff films like Puss in Boots in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Shrek characters all have their own charm, style, and gravitas that make them truly remarkable.
Filled to the brim with confidence, bravado, and bravery, Puss in Boots was introduced to the Shrek franchise in the second installment, and immediately became a fan favorite and one of the most important characters in all of animation. His flirtatious demeanor with excellent swordsmanship makes him come off as the best adaptation of Zoro for children ever put to screen, and he was so beloved, he even got his very own spin-off series. Puss in Boots was the first character introduced to show that the world of Shrek was not what we thought, and was only going to get bigger and better from then on out.
My thirst for adventure will never be quenched!
Appears In: Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After, Puss in Boots, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
The peanut butter to Shrek's jelly, Donkey is the lovable partner in crime and the complete opposite of the titular characters in every way imaginable. A loving, caring, high-energy, and often side-splittingly funny staple in the series, Donkey has been the premiere sidekick in not only animation but in films as a whole! With some of the most memorable lines in the franchise and some of the most heartwarming moments to boot, Donkey is a beacon of all that is right in the world of Shrek.
This’ll be fun. We’ll stay up late, swapping manly stories, and in the morning… I’m making waffles!
Appears In: Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After
The titular character for the Shrek franchise and pop culture icon, Shrek is the curmudgeonly old ogre with a heart of gold. One of the biggest staples in animation history, Shrek has found an audience that loves and adores him for exactly who he is. He may not be the most admirable or lovable at times, but Shrek is shockingly human for an ogre, and his flaws have helped him resonate with audiences for the past decade, as we all have a little bit of Shrek in us from time to time, but just like him, our good always shines through.
After a while you learn to ignore the names people call you and just trust who you are.
Appears In: Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After
The local bartender of The Poison Apple, Doris made a striking first impression on audiences in Shrek 2 thanks to her incredibly masculine appearance, deep voice, and heavily caked-on makeup. Doris may have been played for jokes when she was first introduced into the franchise, but slowly she grew to become not only one of Fiona's closest friends in the films, but as one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in the franchise as a whole! Unabashedly herself, Doris doesn't care what the world thinks, and this is something many audience members love and choose to embrace themselves.
I know he's a jerk and everything, but I gotta admit, that Charming makes me hotter than july.
The Gingerbread Man was the first in a long line of incredible supporting characters introduced in the Shrek franchise. While he may never have the biggest roles in any of the films he appears in, Gingy always manages to make his presence known with his rebellious attitude and snarky one-liners. The perfect mix of sass, confidence, and conviction, Gingy always stands up for what he believes in, no matter what the potentially devastating consequences could be.
The only thing you're gonna be king of is King of the Stupides!
Appears In: Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After
Widely considered to be one of the greatest villains in animation history, Fairy Godmother was a ruthless, brutal, and hilarious antagonist in Shrek 2 who showed how dangerous a charismatic woman with a plan could be. From her masterful performance of “I Need a Hero” to her hilarious one-liners to her harsher-than-harsh words, Fairy Godmother oozes maniacal charisma in every scene she is in and while audiences hate her for how evil she is, they can't help but love her for how bad she can be.
Your fallen tears have come to me, so here comes my sweet remedy, I know what every princess needs, for her to live happily...
