Shrek is a great series of animated films by DreamWorks Studios that follows an ogre and his friends with various spins and stories based on well-known fairy-tale stories and characters. Here we pick our top Shrek characters!
Criteria: We will look at how much of an impact the characters have made in the franchise and individual films to make our decision and how popular they are amongst the fans.
10: Arthur Pendragon
Arthur made his first and only appearance in “Shrek the Third”, voiced by Justin Timberlake. He quickly grew on us throughout the movie and his journey from insecure, high school kid to the discovering of his own inner potential to become king of Far Far Away was inspiring to watch. Arthur or “Artie” is the heir to the aforementioned kingdom and is very reluctant at first to take this mantle. His journey with Shrek and the gang brings out some confidence and assertiveness that turns him into a leader. His growth and courage is inspiring but we feel that there are more characters that have left more of an impact throughout the franchise.
9: King Harold
Fiona’s frog king father, who had a secret identify of his own as we discovered at the end of Shrek 2. The King of Far Far Away is portrayed as a regal yet stern king who is not approving of Fiona and Shrek’s relationship at first. He can be seen as coming off as a prejudiced to Shrek and his marriage to Fiona and is quite flawed when it comes to decision-making. However, it’s no doubt that the king won’t hold back when it comes to protecting his loved ones and his character development along the second movie is warming to see when he begins to realise that his plans for Fiona and Charming are wrong, showcasing a relatable vulnerability to him. His departure in “Shrek the Third” left a legacy that brought his relationship with Shrek to an end with acceptance and guidance.
8: Lord Farquaad
The first villain of the franchise comes in the form of a very short, but ruthless king. Lord Farquaad is the rule of Duloc; which upon entering, Shrek and Donkey are met with that very memorable song… All part of the Lord’s plan to turn it into the perfect kingdom which he attempts to finalise by choosing to marry a princess to fulfil his ambition on being King. His exaggerated features and mannerisms make him an iconic part of the franchise and, in production, helped to solidify the satirised fairy-tale tropes we are all used too. By far, one of the more sinister characters with acts such as trying to kill Shrek, torturing a Gingerbread Man and expelling all the fairy-tale creatures from their homes.
7: Prince Charming
The handsome Prince Charming serves as a primary villain for both “Shrek 2” and “Shrek the Third” movies. The spoilt son of the successful Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming is anything but his namesake. He seemingly has no real talent, and is not intimidating at all; Prince Charming is often used to mock the stereotype of what we expect to see from his character archetype. Although, he does bring some humour and irony to the franchise, and in “Shrek the Third” we see how far he is willing to go, playing a much more central villain role by taking over the kingdom with force and manipulation, which is far from having everything planned for him in the previous film by his mother. His failures make him a memorable character.
6: Fairy Godmother
Not what you would expect from the traditional portrayal of a Fairy Godmother. The primary antagonist of Shrek 2 blends charm and malevolence to bring you a devious, memorable villain that brought something new to the franchise. Her status as a celebrity makes her extremely popular and well-known, as well as her persona as a businesswoman set on giving everyone happiness, for a cost – of course. Her cunning plans to rule the kingdom of Far Far Away showcase how entertaining she can be by providing comedic twists while still keeping in tune with the franchise’s take on cliche fairy tales. The close relationship with her son, Prince Charming, also brings some challenge and villainy to the franchise, which is seen for the two movies following the first.
5: Gingy 
Gingy the Gingerbread Man is a feisty piece of confectionary, who is a common character throughout the films, appearing in the first Shrek film at the mercy of Lord Farquaad. Made by the “Muffin Man” in the shape of a traditional gingerbread man, Gingy becomes more of a reoccurring character in the films where his quick wit and rebellious attitude earn him respect amongst many others, despite his small size and seemingly fragile body, Gingy is resilient and brave. A cherished character of the franchise and gave us the chance to see a giant Gingerbread Man.
4: Fiona
Fiona is a central character to the franchise who was sent away by her family to be locked in a tower. She breaks the typical stereotypical trope of a princess with her fierce personality and ability to fight, which is showcased in most of the movies. Her relationship with Shrek grows with every movie and we get to see her develop more into a caring character for both their friends. Her self acceptance of being an ogre adds depth to her character and allows her to break from her personal struggle, making her more relatable. She is voiced by Cameron Diaz, which has helped Fiona become another icon of animation that has contributed to the franchise’s success.
3: Puss in Boots
Do not let the cute picture fool you, if you have seen the movies then you will know Puss in Boots is a cat that is not to be messed with. A boot-wearing, sword-wielding cat with a Spanish background who was a rogue-turned-companion first seen in “Shrek 2” as a mercenary hired by King Harold to take care of Shrek. Voiced by Antonio Banderas, the character was also based on Banderas’ character from the film Mask of Zorro, where he was analysed by the producers and animators to bring life to Puss. A highly loveable character who builds upon the dynamic that fits in with Shrek and Donkey on their adventures and brings clever quips, humour and cultural references that all helps exaggerate his character. His success has also earned him his own spin-off film and series on Netflix.
2: Shrek
The Ogre from the swamp who found his happily ever after. Shrek has worked his way into pop culture, becoming an icon. Just the sight of him bringing joy to many generations since his release, leaving a legacy that is appealing to both adults and children alike. Shrek’s character development is unmatched as we see him transform from a grumpy and reclusive personality to a kind and motivated one by the end of the first movie. His humour and sarcasm are by far his most lovable qualities and has provided us with many laughable and lovable moments throughout the films. Shrek’s relationship with other characters who are closest to him allows him to display his fierce loyalty, and become more accepting of his ogre nature that he has always been ashamed off to find happiness within. A character we can relate too and love, but there is only one character who can topple the great hero…
1: Donkey
The first spot goes to the funny, loveable donkey, who has been bringing humour and non-stop energy to our screens for decades. Donkey has been crucial to the identity of Shrek as a franchise. His dynamic with the rest of the characters has ensured that the films remain enjoyable and entertaining for audiences of all ages. Voiced by Eddy Murphy, he has been a staple character since the first movie where his relationship with Shrek was first established and – later – solidified his place as his best friend and “noble steed”. His fierce loyalty and compassion for others often see him through many of the situations. Donkey providing commentary, and constant chatter has made him into one of the most recognisable characters in the franchise. Some of Donkey’s best moments include, his transformation into a horse, his initial meeting with Shrek, and his relationship with dragon in the first Shrek movie.
Special Mention: Dragon
Shrek brought a female dragon to our screens with the first film, which was quite rare as far as dragon depictions go. Dragon went from being an antagonist to raising some adorable, mutant, half-dragon, half-donkey babies with Donkey in the later films. Dragon quickly revealed her protective and loving side through her relationship with Donkey. Although briefly explored in the films, it was very memorable and intriguing to see build along the series. A character appreciated with a blend of ferocity and tenderness, Dragon suffered from lack of screen-time but nevertheless is one of the more memorable characters of the series.
Other Contenders
Rumpelstiltskin: The cunning, red-haired villain from “Shrek Forever After”, who changes the Shrek world as we know it.
Lillian: The Queen has some brilliant moments in Shrek, our personal favourite is the brick-breaking headbutt!
Pinocchio: Our favourite wooden puppet, who wants to be a real boy.