The highly anticipated first-look teaser for “Shrek 5” just dropped, and it has sparked a mixed reaction from fans.

One of the most beloved global animated franchises of all time is set to return to the big screen in June 2027, which marks 16 years since its last installment, “Shrek Forever After” hit cinemas in 2010.

“2027 can’t come any faster,” one fan commented of the trailer shared on Instagram, as another wrote, “Step aside kids, this is for us adults.”

“My childhood is back,” praised another excited fan as one added, “I’m readyyyyyyyyyyy.”

“Shrek 5” follows Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), Fiona (Cameron Diaz), and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) for a big-city adventure.

This next chapter includes Shrek and Fiona’s sons, Fergus (Marcello Hernandez) and Farkle (Skyler Gisondo), and introduces their daughter Felicia, who will be voiced by new cast member Zendaya.

In the film, our favourite ogre family travels to unfamiliar urban environments but soon enough find themselves thrown in jail.

The DreamWorks Animation even takes a cheeky jab at Disney’s Frozen in the trailer by featuring a shady, Olaf-esque snowman in a dark alley who propositions passers-by with “Wanna date a snowman?” – a seedy variation of Olaf’s classic catchphrase, “Wanna build a snowman?”

But it wasn’t the plot or even the Disney dig that some fans took issue with, but rather the apparently glaring stylistic difference from the 2001 original and its three subsequent films.

Fans claim that the original characters they’ve grown to love have been given a more cartoonish look with smoother, modern features and larger eyes.

Some diehard fans have even claimed the new-look characters are the handy work of “AI slop” that has “stripped all identity” from the magic of Shrek and his swamp mates.

“Years of waiting for this crappy animation that looks like AI?” one commented on Instagram, as another wrote, “Bring old animation back cause this isn’t it.”

“Why did they have to mess with the animation?! It’s what made Shrek so special and unique,” another wondered, as one fan was adamant, “This is not my Shrek.”

With the film still one year away, some fans have pleaded with the studio to revert to the franchise’s original look.

“Please consider changing the animation style and make it more like the first 4 Shrek films,” one asked on the platform, as another noted, “Why does everything look like Disney now? That gritty, uncanny, realistic style was what made it so charming and original.”

Aesthetics aside, other fans have come out in defence of the franchise, which was the very first film to take home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2001.

“It’s really not that bad guys,” one fan said of the glow-up Shrek.

“I love that everyone is only bothered by the actually good-looking animation and hasn’t said a thing about the jokes being solid and funny,” another noted.

“I’m just excited that we are actually getting another Shrek movie,” one concluded.

“Shrek 5” is scheduled to premiere in June 2027.