->''"Now ogres, they're much worse [than giants]. They'll make a suit from your freshly peeled skin; they'll shave your liver; squeeze the jelly from your eyes! Which, actually, is quite good on toast."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Mike Myers

* AbusiveParents: At least his father was. Closest we ever heard about his family is when he tells Artie that his father tried to eat him once.
* {{Acrofatic}}: Shrek isn't exactly the leanest ogre around, especially compared to the ogres in ''Forever After'', but he can hold his own.
* AdaptationalAttractiveness: His book counterpart is much uglier.
* AdaptationalHeroism: In the sense that he is inverting the traditional role of [[AlwaysChaoticEvil the ogres]] as villains in the Fairly Tales.
* AdiposeRex: When acting as regent in the third movie.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: He suffers the feelings of this when he feels that nobody likes him because he's an Ogre, not a "handsome prince." This exchange sums it up quite well:
-->'''Donkey''': What's your problem with the whole world?
-->'''Shrek''': I'm not the one with the problem. It's the ''world'' that seems to have a problem with ''me''! People take one look at me and go "AAH! Help, run! A big, stupid, ugly ogre!" *sigh* They judge me before they even know me. That's why I'm better off alone.
* AlmostKiss: With Fiona in the first movie, [[MomentKiller before Donkey ruins the moment.]]
* AmazonChaser: He clearly appreciates Fiona's ability with martial arts.
* AntiHero: He starts of as a PragmaticHero before CharacterDevelopment kicks in during the final act of the first movie. Throughout the rest of the saga, he is more or less a KnightInSourArmor. In fact, he is a KnightInSourArmor when he rescues Fiona in the first movie.
* {{Badass}}: Will do anything to protect his best interests, whatever he judges those to be.
** BadassBoast: See his quote.
** BadassFamily: He, Fiona, and their children.
* BaldOfAwesome
* BigFun: In a JerkWithAHeartOfGold sense.
* TheBigGuy: In addition to being TheHero.
* BilingualBonus: His name is a derivative form of the German and Yiddish word for '''terror''' (S'''c'''hre'''c'''k/Shre'''c'''k).
* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: Brooding Boy to Fiona's Gentle Girl.
* ChickMagnet: Becomes one after he turns human.
* ComedicSociopathy: Somewhat in the first two movies.
* DeadpanSnarker: Is he ''ever''.
* DealWithTheDevil: In the fourth movie.
* DisneyDeath: Near the end of [[spoiler:''Forever After.'']]
* TheDreaded: Is this among humans at the start of the series.
* DyingDeclarationOfLove: A genuinely [[TearJerker tearjerking]] example to [[spoiler:the alternate Fiona near the end of ''Forever After.'']]
--> "Do you know what the best part about today was, Fiona? I got the chance to fall in love with you, all over again."
* ExpressiveEars: His ears will usually show his mood. If he is happy his ears will erect if he is sad they will usually go down.
* [[FourTemperamentEnsemble Five Temperament Ensemble]]: Choleric
* FreudianSlip: "You're going to be a father!"
* FriendlessBackground
* {{Gasshole}}: A species trait, apparently.
* GentleGiant: Or gentle ogre. There's a difference.
* GirlySkirtTwirl: PlayedForLaughs in the fourth film when he crashes a wedding early on in the Alternate Universe part of the film. No points for guessing who he's dressed as in this scene.
* GoodParents: With Fiona at the end of the third film and later on.
* HappilyMarried: With Fiona, though they go through their ups and downs.
* TheHermit: Since he's an ogre, he isn't really accepted by people, and thinks that this life is better than nothing.
* TheHero: Not that he ever set out to be one.
* HeroWithBadPublicity: Due to being an ogre.
* HeroesWantRedheads: Even when they're not really heroes.
* HeroicBSOD: In ''Shrek 2''.
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Fiona is really petite compared to Shrek, even as both ogres or humans.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: Beneath his loner shell, this is what he wants. But since he's born an ogre, he will never have it, [[TearJerker so at least he requires some privacy so he can live his life in peace.]]
* InterspeciesRomance: With Fiona when she's still human.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: "[[HiddenDepths Ogres have layers.]]"
** JerkassFacade
* KnightInSourArmor
* MeaningfulName: His name is derived from the Yiddish word "Schreck", which means "fright". Given that most people are terrified of Ogres, it's an appropriate moniker.
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Even after getting married. He just wants his privacy.
* MoralDissonance: Some of Shrek's everyday actions are quite objectionable, but the movies never call him out on this issue, [[{{Gasshole}} instead]] [[ComedicSociopathy playing it]] [[RuleofFunny for laughs]].
** As an ogre, this might be a case of BlueAndOrangeMorality. To an ogre, Shrek's everyday actions are not objectionable.
* OnlySaneMan
* PapaWolf: Prominently in the fourth movie. Also acts like this towards Donkey at times, but he'll never admit it.
* RagsToRoyalty
* RescueRomance: He was meant to rescue Fiona for Lord Farquaad, but they ended up falling for each other; thus ending the fairytale how it was supposed to be when they get married at the end.
* SarcasmMode: So often that it's sort of his icon.
-->'''Donkey''': Hey, you know what I think? [[CaptainObvious I think this whole wall thing is a way to keep somebody out.]]
-->'''Shrek''': Noo...you think?
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Manly Man to Donkey's Sensitive Guy.
* StoutStrength: Incredibly strong, despite his obesity.
* TerrifyingRescuer: Until Fiona realizes he's actually a much better prospect than the prince.
* VillainProtagonist: In the first film, all he wanted to do was kick all the refugees out of the swamp by dealing with Farquaad's demands. Eventually, he grows out of this and ends up becoming TheHero.

->''"We can stay up late, swapping manly stories, and in the morning, [[MemeticMutation I'm making waffles]]!"''

-->'''Voiced by:''' EddieMurphy

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Implied when he mentions how some kids bullied him in school.
* TheAllegedSteed: {{Lampshaded}} especially in the first Shrek.
* AlmostKiss: From Dragon, but Shrek climbs down a chain and pushes Donkey out the way, making it LiteralAssKissing instead, which Dragon wasn't too happy about.
* BetaCouple: With Dragon.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He is tolerant to Shrek's insults throughout most of the movie, but he has it towards the end and calls him out on it; but it's mostly because Shrek's missing his chance to tell Fiona how he feels.
* BlackBestFriend: Subverted; he's a donkey, but speaks in EddieMurphy's ebonics.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: He becomes this usually before the ending of the movie especially the first film and the fourth one.
* CowardlySidekick: When in action. He forgets to be afraid while talking, which kicks off his relationship with Dragon.
* {{Deuteragonist}}
* ADogNamedDog: Well, he is a donkey and his name is Donkey.
* ExpressiveEars
* [[FourTemperamentEnsemble Five Temperament Ensemble]]: Sanguine
* FriendlessBackground
** IJustWantToHaveFriends
* [[GenkiGirl Genki Donkey]]: No wonder Shrek finds him annoying.
* HappilyMarried: As the BetaCouple, he and Dragon enjoy a more stable relationship than the two ogres...
* HotSkittyOnWailordAction: His relationship with Dragon.
* InkSuitActor: He was created to look somewhat like EddieMurphy and a RealLife donkey called Perry.
* InterspeciesRomance: With Dragon.
* TheLancer: Whether he's much help to TheHero often varies.
* MasculineGirlFeminineBoy: The Feminine Boy to Dragon's Masculine Girl.
* MomentKiller: When Shrek and Fiona lean in for an AlmostKiss, his head pops in between and he states how romantic the athmosphere is.
* MotorMouth
* NonHumanSidekick: To Shrek.
* ObnoxiousSnarker: He can be sarcastic at times.
--> '''Donkey''' (after Shrek roars, trying to scare him off): Oh, wow! That was ''really'' scary!
* PluckyComicRelief
* ThePollyanna: If his stories are to be believed, he hasn't been very well treated in the past. Despite this, he shows pretty much entusiasm over everything and is never put down by Shrek's sarcastic insults. This could be that he's SarcasmBlind, but the calling out he does to Shrek at the end of the first film could imply that he's fully aware of Shrek's bad demeanor; he just chooses to ignore it.
* SarcasmBlind: Much to [[DeadpanSnarker Shrek]]'s irritation.
* SelfDeprecation: As a way to insult Puss In Boots.
---> '''Donkey''': I'm sorry, the position of annoying talking animal has already been filled.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Sensitive Guy to Shrek's Manly Man.
* ShipperOnDeck: For Shrek and Fiona.
* SmallAnnoyingCreature: He is not small but he fits this trope. He lampshaded this in ''Shrek 2''.
-->'''Donkey:''' I'm sorry, the position of Annoying Talking Animal has already been taken!
* TalkingAnimal
* ThoseTwoGuys: With Puss in the third film.
* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Tiny guy to Dragon's huge girl. [[HotSkittyOnWailordAction Makes you question things...]]
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Waffles, as a result of {{Flanderization}} based on a comment he made in the first movie. Also parfaits, to a lesser extent -- he named one of his children after them.

[[folder:Princess Fiona]]
->''"No, it's destiny! You must know how it goes! The Knight rescues the Princess, and then they share true love's first kiss..."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' CameronDiaz

* ActionGirl: ''Especially'' in ''Forever After''.
* AdiposeRex: When acting as regent in the third movie.
* AlmostKiss: With Shrek in the first movie, [[MomentKiller before Donkey ruins the moment.]]
** She has this twice with Prince Charming in the second film while she thought he was Shrek, both interrupted by Fiona putting a rose in her mouth and the real Shrek barging in, respectively.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassPrincess: Possibly the definition of this trope.
** PregnantBadass: In ''Shrek the Third''.
* BraidsOfAction: Of the single braid variety.
* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: Gentle Girl to Shrek's Brooding Boy.
* CaptainErsatz: Of every DisneyPrincess. In the 4th movie, she becomes a CaptainErsatz of Comicbook/RedSonja and/or Series/XenaWarriorPrincess in the alternate universe.
* TheChick: Albeit one who frequently has an actual purpose.
* ComedicSociopathy: Somewhat in the first 2 movies.
* CuteMonsterGirl: She's still quite pretty for an Ogeress.
* DatingWhatDaddyHates: In the second film, Shrek correctly predicts the hostility her father will show him for being an ogre. He gets better, though.
* [[spoiler:[[EtTuBrute Et Tu, Rapunzel?]]: In ''Shrek the Third'', the betrayal of her and the other Princesses by Rapunzel, who was in love with Prince Charming.]]
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Both subverted and played straight. Notably, Fiona's perfectly willing to live in squalor with the man she loves, but she's got more of a sense for duty and family - and she's a strong feminist woman to boot.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: While the hairstyle change itself isn't seen in-universe, she wears her hair down in ''Shrek Forever After'''s alternate universe as part of the ogre warrior clan.
* FieryRedhead: Lampshaded.
* [[FourTemperamentEnsemble Five Temperament Ensemble]]: Melancholic
* {{Gasshole}}: Although she sometimes does try being ladylike about this.
* GirlInTheTower: First movie.
* GoodParents: With Shrek at the end of the third film and later on.
* HappilyMarried: With Shrek, even through the tough times.
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: She is really petite compared to Shrek, even as both ogres or humans.
* InkSuitActor: Somehow manages to be this in ''both'' her shapes.
* InterspeciesRomance: With Shrek when she's still human during the day.
* KickingAssInAllHerFinery: Doesn't take off her dress to do martial arts.
* TheLadette: Shrek brings this nature out of her.
* MealTicket: To Lord Farquaad, who only wanted her title.
* MoralDissonance: Worse than her husband, which is ironic, considering the movies' focus on Shrek's [[CharacterDevelopment growth of character]] ([[AesopAmnesia or not]]).
** Okay, she probably didn't mean to feed Ariel [[ThreateningShark to the sharks]] for [[DisproportionateRetribution accidentally frolicking with Shrek]]. The fairies, though... Girl, you've been locked up in a tower for years, and you're fine with [[ComedicSociopathy trapping little women in jars?]]
* MoralityPet: For Shrek.
* NonSingingVoice: Averted. Cameron Diaz does Fiona's (minimal amount of) singing in the movies.
* RagsToRoyalty: A Snow White, kept in a tower until her curse is reversed.
* RedheadInGreen
* RescueIntroduction
* RescueRomance: Shrek was meant to rescue her for Lord Farquaad, but they ended up falling for each other; thus ending the fairytale how it was supposed to be when they get married at the end.
* SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat: She had to keep busy somehow while locked away. Guess that Dragon allowed her some personal space.
* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Huge girl to Farquaad's tiny guy, before she marries Shrek.
* {{Tritagonist}}
* UptownGirl: A princess who falls in love with a commoner ogre.

[[folder:Puss in Boots]]
->''"En garde!"''

-->'''Voiced by:''' AntonioBanderas

* AbsurdlySharpClaws: Puss is often seen cutting neat holes in glass windows with a single claw.
* AccessoryWearingCartoonAnimal: He only wears a hat and boots.
** FullyDressedCartoonAnimal: In the prequel.
* AmbiguouslyBi: In the second movie, when he hears the Ugly Stepsister describe how handsome Prince Charming is, he replies with "Mmm. Sounds dreamy."
* AntiHero: When he first appeared he had no qualms about murdering Shrek for money. However, he shows a clear sense of ethics by joining Shrek in gratitude for saving him and quickly becomes a good guy for the rest of the series.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassAdorable: Well, he IS a cat...
** BadassCape: Dons one from time to time.
** BadassMustache: It's actually whiskers!
** DashingHispanic: As voiced by Antonio Banderas. Well, Spaniard, but it still applies to this trope.
* BreakoutCharacter: He now has his own movie spin-off, which has been [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel well-received]].
* {{Catchphrase}}: Pray for mercy from Puss... in Boots!
* CaptainErsatz: Of {{Zorro}}, [[ActorAllusion another character that Banderas portrayed at one point]]. In ''Forever After'''s alternate universe, he becomes a {{Garfield}} {{Expy}}.
* TheCasanova
* CoolSword: A traditional rapier.
* CutenessProximity: The common reaciton to his "kitty" mode ''is'' this trope.
* DefeatEqualsFriendship: In ''Shrek 2''.
* EasilyForgiven
* {{Expy}}: Of ''{{Zorro}}''.
** Also, ''{{ComicStrip/Garfield}}'', in ''Shrek Forever After'', plus a comment in the second film:
-->'''Puss''': [[ShoutOut I hate mondays.]]
* [[FourTemperamentEnsemble Five Temperament Ensemble]]: Phlegmatic
* [[SixthRanger Fourth Ranger]]: Joins the original trio and is there to stay.
* GratuitousSpanish: And then some.
* HitmanWithAHeart
* [[PuppyDogEyes Kitty Cat Eyes]]: ''Very'' effective; in fact it's what got him on Shrek's good side in the first place. Unfortunately it isn't quite as effective when he tries to do it in ''Shrek 3'' while in Donkey's body.
* LightningBruiser: Cats are ''very'' fast on their feet.
* NiceHat: Briefly goes without in the fourth movie, but then reclaims it along with his Badassery.
* NiceShoes
* PintsizedPowerhouse: Just as likely to use his pintsize status to look cute. Beware.
* TheSmartGuy
* ThoseTwoGuys: With Donkey in the 3rd movie.
* ZorroMark

->''"No, not the buttons! Not my gumdrop buttons!"''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Conrad Vernon

* AnArmAndALeg: In the first movie, Farquaad tears off both of his legs, crumbling one to powder. The remaining leg is grafted back on, and by the time of the second film, he's gotten a new replacement leg.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Was probably not meant as AnAesop, and merely a horrifying ghost story to scare Shrek, but in ''Ginger Bride'', he was kicked out by his girlfriend and asked the baker to bake him a ginger bride. He wanted too much sugar so she would be sweet and never leave him, despite warnings from the baker that it could have consistent side effects. When Ginger Bride later wakes up, she turns out to be pleasant at first, but slowly seems more attached to him and eventually becomes AxCrazy by [[CuteAndPsycho desperation of wanting him]], and more catastrophes are followed. This would never have happened if Gingy hadn't wished for too much sugar in her.
-->'''Ginger Bride''': [[VerbalTic We will be together forever. And ever and ever and ever...]]
* BerserkButton: Do ''not'' remove his gumdrop buttons. This warning is ''extra'' bold regarding Mongo.
* ButtMonkey: In his first scene, he's being interrogated by Lord Farquaad.
* ChewToy: Narrowly escapes becoming a literal example... most of the time.
* [[FourTemperamentEnsemble Five Temperament Ensemble]]: Leukine
* ThoseTwoGuys: With Pinocchio.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''Forever After'', AU!Gingy is a BadassAdorable gladiator who fights animal crackers with a lollipop. It doesn't actually make a difference against Shrek or anyone else.

->''"[[ConfusingMultipleNegatives On the contrary. I'm possibly more or less not definitely rejecting the idea that in no way with any amount of uncertainty that I undeniably...]]"''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Cody Cameron

* ConfusingMultipleNegatives: See quote. When asked where Fiona is in the third film, he pulls this trick so he can't lie and his nose wont grow.
* GagNose
** PinocchioNose: It keeps the tendency to grow when he tells a lie from the original tale. This is sometimes exploited by the other characters.
* PerversePuppet
* PinocchioSyndrome: He ''is'' Pinocchio, after all.
* RunningGag: He always seems to come close to becoming a real boy, only for those plans to fall short, like in ''Shrek 2'', when he does become a boy, only to immediately be turned back by accident, and in ''Forever After'', when he's about to sign a contract to be turned into a real boy, only for the interaction to be interrupted.
* ThoseTwoGuys: With Gingy.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: [[NauseaFuel All over Shrek.]]


* AbhorrentAdmirer: She was this type of character in the first film towards Donkey.
* AlmostKiss: She almost kisses Donkey in the first film, but Shrek pushes Donkey away in time which leads to LiteralAssKissing.
* BabiesEverAfter: Before Shrek and Fiona, natch.
* BetaCouple: With Donkey.
* ADogNamedDog: Like her husband, her name is what her species is.
* TheDragon: AU!Dragon to Rumpelstiltskin (in a literal sense, too).
* FemaleMonsterSurprise: She turns out to be a female, [[AbhorrentAdmirer much to Donkey's discomfort.]]
* FireIsRed: Has deep red scales and breathes fire like any other dragon. Some Chinese bootleggers even [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/ROM_hacks#Pok.C3.A9mon_Diamond_2_and_Jade_2 used her as a stand-in]] for [[PlayingWithFire Charizard]] in a ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''-rebranded pirated version of ''VideoGame/{{Telefang}}''.
* GentleGiant: Believe it or not, she is one.
* HappilyMarried: Yes. [[HotSkittyonWailordAction But the mechanics are mind-boggling!]]
* HeelFaceTurn: A rather quick turn -- all it takes is for a fast-talking donkey to woo [[{{SamusIsAGirl}} her]]...
* HotSkittyOnWailordAction: Her relationship with Donkey.
* InterspeciesRomance: With Donkey.
* LiteralAssKissing: Unintentionally invoked. She was preparing to kiss Donkey (with the latter being somewhat unwilling). Shrek knocks Donkey off her, only to end up being kissed himself, right on the place that you'd expect. As soon as she found out what happened, she wasn't happy.
** It would still be ass kissing if it were Donkey.
* MasculineGirlFeminineBoy: The Masculine Girl to Donkey's Feminine Boy.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Initially appears to be your average guardian fire-breather. Turns out she's sapient and much more developed than classic fairytale dragons, although she doesn't speak, and she can interact with society to an extent. Also, has a thing for talking donkeys.
* [[RedHeadedHero Red Scales Heroine]]: After her HeelFaceTuen.
* SamusIsAGirl: Donkey didn't realize this till he starts fast talking her. Really improved his survival chances afterward.
* {{Tsundere}}: Type A in ''Shrek''. Ditched in all following installments.
* TheSpeechless: Expresses herself mostly in grunts. Donkey does enough speaking for both of them.
** SpeechImpairedAnimal
* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Huge girl to Donkey's tiny guy. [[HotSkittyOnWailordAction Makes you question things...]]
* UglyGuyHotWife: Though no beauty queen, definitely more attractive than Donkey (and she's "hot", geddit?)
* TheWorfEffect: Used in ''Shrek the Third''.

[[folder:The Dronkeys]]

* AerithAndBob: Their names are Peanut, Cocoa, Bananas, Parfeit, and Debbie.
* AllThereInTheManual: Merchandise for the Dronkeys reveals most of them (With the exception of "Debbie") are named after foods.
** What about Little Debbie snack cakes?
* MixAndMatchCritters: They're half dragon and half donkey.
* PatchWorkKids: They have traits of both their parents.
* {{Portmanteau}}: Of "Dragon" and "Donkey".
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The ending of ''Shrek 2'' showed six Dronkeys including a red-colored one - named "Eclair" according to merchandise. Though, for some reason she never shows up in the third movie.

[[folder:Big Bad Wolf]]

-->'''Voiced by:''' Aaron Warner

* AdaptationalHeroism: He is a loyal friend of Shrek and the others creatures of the Fairly Tales.
* AmbiguouslyGay: He's seen cuddling up to, then dancing with, one of the knights at Shrek and Fiona's wedding. Take that as you will.
* CatchPhrase: [[DefensiveWhat "What?"]], almost always said when someone finds him in a bed.
* CompositeCharacter: A combination of the wolf from "Literature/TheThreeLittlePigs" and the one from "Literature/LittleRedRidingHood".
* {{Crossdresser}}: Spun off from the original story -- however, in the ''Shrek'' series, Wolfy isn't seen wearing anything ''except'' Grandma's nightgown.
* DeadpanSnarker
* DefensiveWhat: His catchphrase.
* GenderBender: Wolf's [[spoiler:cursed to become a werewoman during the full moon]] in the short The Pig Who Cried Werewolf.

[[folder:Lord Farquaad]]

-->'''Voiced by:''' John Lithgow

* AndThereWasMuchRejoicing: Everyone attending his wedding laughs and cheers when Dragon [[spoiler:smashes through the window and eats him alive.]]
* AristocratsAreEvil
* BigBad: In ''Shrek''
** [[IncrediblyLamePun Subverted at the same time]].
* ColdBloodedTorture: Inflicts it on Gingy.
* CompensatingForSomething: Shrek suspects this when he sees his huge castle.
* EatenAlive: By [[spoiler:Dragon]].
* {{Egopolis}}: Duloc is one for him.
* EvilOverlord: Though comparatively minor (ha!) compared to the next three.
* FantasticRacism: He hates all fairy tale creatures, including human ones such as witches.
* ForTheEvulz: Why he tortures Gingy and such.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Think hard about what his name sounds like. Hint: this also counts as an example of FailOSuckyname.
** Him ''getting a boner'' while lying in bed with the Mirror showing him Fiona on endless loop.
* GloriousLeader
* GoldDigger: He only wanted Fiona's title.
* HeightAngst: Is much shorter than other characters in his realm, for which he takes ridiculous measures to compensate.
* ItsAllAboutMe
* {{Jerkass}}
* [[spoiler:JustDesserts: Dragon devours him after he orders Shrek and Fiona to be imprisoned.]]
* [[spoiler:KarmicDeath]]
* KnightTemplar: Literal knight who wants to clear away people he sees as scum.
* LargeHam: It more than compensates!
* [[spoiler:LaserGuidedKarma]]
* MisterBig: About three feet tall and the evil head of a racist kingdom.
* TheNapoleon: Farquaad is so short that some posters have Fiona tower over him even when she's sitting and he's standing.
* ANaziByAnyOtherName
--> I'm not the monster here, ''you'' are. You and the rest of that fairy tale trash poisoning my perfect world."
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Quite by accident he screws up the plans of all three other villains from the other films.
* NonActionBigBad: The most violent thing he does in the movie is [[spoiler:grab Fiona and hold a knife to her towards the end, which leads directly to his death.]]
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Despises fairy tale creatures and has them all deported to Shrek's swamp.
* SmugSnake: Obviously.
* StarterVillain: He's the first villain to appear in Shrek.
* TeenyWeenie: It's a RunningGag that Donkey and Shrek think he has this, but it's kept subtle.
-->'''Shrek''': ''(Seeing Lord Farquaad's large castle)'' Do you think he's [[CompensatingForSomething compensating for something?]]
* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Tiny guy to Fiona's huge girl, before she marries Shrek.
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: A world without those pesky pests from fairy tales.
* VillainousBreakdown: Has one when [[spoiler:Shrek storms his wedding and Fiona reveals her nature as an ogress.]] He orders his knights to seize them both and starts shouting for order and ranting about how he's king.
* VillainousCrush: Has a very creepy one on Fiona.
* {{Yandere}}: Towards Fiona.

[[folder:Fairy Godmother]]
->''"Remember, happiness is just a teardrop away..."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Jennifer Saunders

* AdaptationalVillainy
* ArrangedMarriage: She and King Harold arranged this for Fiona and Charming in exchange for undoing the ogre transformation.
** Implied to have done the same with Harold and Lillian.
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: A firm believer of this. See FantasticRacism below.
* BigBad: Of the second movie.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Comes off as sweet and kind but is really quite nasty.
* BlackMail[=/=]ColdBloodedTorture: Subverted only to be played straight later on: When she first appears to Harold, she implies that she is going to torture him when shouting at him for Fiona marrying Shrek. However, it immediately shows that the thing she was gonna do that she didn't want to if he didn't tell her was breaking her diet (apparently, she overindulges on junk food when irritated). Played straight, however, when she threatens Harold with what is heavily implied to be turning him back into a frog if he didn't spike Fiona's tea with a love potion.
* CardCarryingVillain: She's not ashamed to admit to the king that she uses tricks up her sleeve to manipulate people's feelings and make them fall in love, as she plans to do with Prince Charming and Fiona.
* TheChessmaster
* CorruptCorporateExecutive
* EvilBrit
* EvilMatriarch
* EvilOldFolks: In the video game.
* EvilSorceror: She has access to powerful magic.
* [[spoiler:FamousLastWords: "I told you ogres don't live happily ever after!"]]
* FantasticRacism: An interesting example, her prejudice seems to be against people's level of physical attractiveness--sort of an extreme form of BeautyEqualsGoodness. In her eyes, only beautiful people (or people who have been ''made'' beautiful) get happy endings. If they're ugly, then not only do they not ''get'' happy endings--but in her eyes, they don't even ''deserve'' happy endings.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Also doubles as a KnightTemplar.
* [[spoiler:GracefulLoser: She takes her defeat in the video game version somewhat well ("Oh well, I guess a Fairy Godmother can't win everything."]]
* [[spoiler:[[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist By Her Own Petard]]: She gets hit by her own magic, which turns her into bubbles.]]
* {{Jerkass}}
* [[spoiler:KarmicDeath: See above.]]
* KnightTemplar: She acts in the name of her idea of a "happily ever after", and if something occurs contrary to how she wanted it to be, she is ''not'' pleased.
* LightIsNotGood: Despite her name, she's evil.
* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]
* [[spoiler:NeverFoundTheBody: She got one of her spells reflected back at her and just...turns into bubbles.]]
* NeverMyFault: She threw a fit when Harold said Charming was too late to rescue Fiona from the tower.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: "Ogres don't get happy endings!"
* SmugSnake: Though arguably the most competent one in the series.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Though it's short-lived, her final act to try and blast Fiona and Shrek shows all pretense of goodness and loving are off the table, even with the entire kingdom watching.]]

[[folder:Prince Charming]]
->''"Tell me where he is, Mother! I will wrench his head from his shoulders - I will smite him where he stands - [[LargeHam HE WILL RUE THE VERY DAY HE STOLE MY KINGDOM AWAY FROM ME]]!"''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Rupert Everett

* AdaptationalVillainy: This version isn't really very "charming" at all.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Being voiced by the openly gay Rupert Everett doesn't help. There is a huge ParentalBonus in the scene where he talks to his mother about his reluctance to marry Fiona -- apparently, he is not interested in women at all...
** He has, however, shown revulsion towards the wolf when he sees him in what is supposed to be Fiona's bed, and it is also implied that he has some reciprocation of romantic feelings for Rapunzel.
* BigBad: In ''Shrek the Third''.
* BlondGuysAreEvil: Since he's not that Charming.
* TheCaligula: Far Far Away becomes a WretchedHive under his rulership.
* CampStraight: Although there has been speculation...
* DistaffCounterpart: He's essentially Fiona prior to her CharacterDevelopment -- stuck up, rude, and determined to achieve the typical fairy tale happy ending.
* TheDragon: In ''Shrek 2''.
** DragonTheirFeet: [[spoiler:Does very little to aid the Fairy Godmother during the climax except to throw her her wand, which almost immediately backfires for her.]]
** DragonAscendant: In ''Shrek the Third''.
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: It is shown he genuinely loves his mother and he [[spoiler:mourns her death in Shrek the Third.]]
* EvilBrit
* EvilOverlord: Briefly becomes one in Shrek the Third when he conquers Far Far Away.
* TheEvilPrince
* [[spoiler:FamousLastWords: "Momma?"]]
* HairFlip: Constantly ("...with soft and bouncy haaaaaairrr!").
* {{Jerkass}}
* LargeHam: Rupert Everett, 'nuff said.
* MommasBoy
* {{Narcissist}}
* PrettyBoy: Easily the prettiest male character in the series. Most likely [[{{Invoked Trope}} invoked]].
* PrinceCharming: Averted. This is his name and exterior, but he's far from actually being one.
* PrinceCharmless: Doesn't ''look'' like one, but that's his inner layer.
* PsychopathicManchild: Hinted at in ''Shrek 2'' (For one thing, when Fairy Godmother is forced to break her diet, he wanted and got a kids meal, shown to be a toy battle axe), and explicitly shown in ''Shrek the Third''.
* ShoutOut: His overall appearance, and to a lesser extent, his voice, is somewhat similar to [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Liquid Snake]] in renaissance clothing.
* SissyVillain
* SmugSnake: In both his movies.
* [[TheUglyGuysHotDaughter The Ugly Woman's Hot Son]]
* VillainSong: In ''Shrek the Third''.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Could have been in ''Shrek Forever After'', but was scrapped.

->''"Just sign it, and all your problems will disappear."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Walt Dohrn

* AmbiguouslyGay: In a different way from Prince Charming -- whereas Charming was just flat-out effeminate, Rumple has extremely flamboyant mannerisms and is obsessed with wigs.
* AxeCrazy: The scene with an actual axe is mere icing on the cake.
* BadBoss: Toward the witches.
* BigBad: Far more convincingly than the other, halfway-sympathetic and part-ineffectual villains.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: His aforementioned obsession with wigs doesn't make him anything less dangerous and effective.
* TheCaligula: Far Far Away is a decaying ruin under his rule, with the city itself falling to pieces while he lives a life of extravagance in his palace.
* DeadpanSnarker: Rivals Shrek at this.
* DealWithTheDevil: His job description.
* DespotismJustifiesTheMeans: In the AlternateReality, the Far Far Away he rules is derelict and rotting, while he uses the ogre population and Shrek's pals for slave labor.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Most notably the scene with the glass of water...
* EvilOverlord: Achieves his goals more than Farquaad could ever have hoped.
* EvilRedhead[=/=]FieryRedhead: Rumple ''is'' actually a redhead, but his "angry wig" symbolizes this trope.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Initially seems to be AffablyEvil... until things fail to go his way.
* JackassGenie: While not a genie, the fact that he grants wishes with frequent amounts of LoopholeAbuse in his favor is his M.O.
* LargeHam: Possibly the biggest in the series.
* ManipulativeBastard: His essential function when he's not being a SmugSnake.
* MoralityPet: His goose for him.
* NapoleonComplex: A complex because unlike Farquaad, he's insane.
* SmugSnake: While taking a break from manipulation. This proves to be a mistake.

->''"No, no, he's right - I'm sorry, to both of you. I only wanted what was best for Fiona, but I can see now she already has it."

-->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/JohnCleese

* HappilyMarried
* HeroicSacrifice: He didn't die, but he took a magical blast from Fairy Godmother that turned him back into a frog, a form he previously had that he hid from everyone.
* {{Jerkass}} --> JerkWithAHeartOfGold
* OverprotectiveDad: He loves Fiona, but he doesn't seem to understand her, thinking she'd be better off with Prince Charming than an ogre like Shrek. He comes around at the last minute and accepts that Shrek is right for her.
* PinocchioSyndrome: His apparent backstory. Fairy Godmother turned him from a frog to a human so he could fall in love with his future wife.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: His disapproval of Shrek for being an ogre is a metaphor for how some parents feel about their daughters dating outside their race.
* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: His death kicks off the entire plot of the third film.
* TakingTheBullet: [[spoiler:How he ends up becoming a frog again... and defeating Godmother.]]

->''"Well, he's no Prince Charming, but they do look..."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' JulieAndrews

* {{Badass}}: In Shrek 3, I mean come on Fiona had to get from somewhere.
* CoolOldLady
* MamaBear: In Shrek 3
* OnlySaneWoman

->''"You know, Shrek, you're all right. You just need to do a little less yelling, and use more soap."''

-->'''Voiced by:''' Music/JustinTimberlake

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: At high school its shown he has no friends and is reguarly beaten up. Even the ''nerds'' pick on him.
* BondingOverMissingParents: With Shrek.
* AChildShallLeadThem
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: He doesn't appear in ''Shrek Forever After'', nor he's mentioned, save for a few deleted scenes.
* ComingOfAgeStory: Starts off as an insecure loser, but gradually gains confidence and accepts [[spoiler:kingship of Far Far Away]].
* CoolLoser: It's not really clear ''why'' he's so unpopular, as he seems like a normal - if introverted - high school student. Given his quick wit and bravery, its odd that no one will hang out with him.
* DeadpanSnarker: Rivalling Shrek.
* GuileHero: Not an experienced fighter, but boy can he talk his way out of things.
* HiddenBadass
* JustAKid: Charming's reaction. He regrets it.
* KidHero: Teenage variant.
* KidsAreCruel: He's a high school reject, with everyone, from the [[{{Jerk Jock}} jousting team]] to the nerds bullying him horribly.
* MouthyKid: Initially acts this way with Shrek.
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent
* ParentalAbandonment: His dad dumped him at boarding school and bolted, and his mum isn't mentioned, explaining why he's so insecure.
* TheSmartGuy: Comes up with some of the most ingenious plans in the movie.
* StepfordSnarker: Has shades of this, though he's pretty open about his feelings.
* TeensAreShort
* TroubledChild: Made deeply insecure by his dad's rejection.
* WiseBeyondHisYears: By the end of the movie.

->''"I'm a buzzing bee... buzz, buzz, buzz..."''

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}
* CoolOldGuy
* HippieTeacher
* StonersAreFunny: Implied.


* AdaptationalVillainy: Downplayed. He is more a {{Jerkass}} toward [[KingArthur Artie]].
* TheBully
* JerkJock
* PopularIsDumb
* TeensAreMonsters

[[folder:Evil Stepsisters]]
-->'''Voiced by:'''\\
Dorris: Larry King\\
Mabel: Regis Philbin

* HeelFaceTurn: One of the stepsisters. Though it's agruable whether or not she was evil to begin with. Just ugly.
* ShesGotLegs: This is one of the ways Dorris distracts the guards in ''Shrek the Third''. She was concealed behind a wall, and it could've been any of the princesses.

[[folder:The Pied Piper]]

* BountyHunter: His profession in the alternate timeline
* DarkIsEvil: His costume in ''Forever After.''
* TheDragon: Serves as one to Rumpelstiltskin.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: He made a brief cameo in the first Shrek, and had his appearance redesigned for Forever After.
* GoodCostumeSwitch: He wears white in the main (good) timeline.
* IntelligibleUnintelligible: He only communicates by playing his flute, though Stiltskin can understand him, supposedly.
* MagicMusic: His signiture flute, forcing any creature he has it set to dance.
* MagicalFlutist
* PsychoForHire: In the alternate timeline.

[[folder:Kitty Softpaws]]
Appears in ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots''. A feline femme fatale cat burglar (literally) who catches Puss' eye.

* ActionGirl
* BadassAdorable
* BelligerentSexualTension: With Puss.
* ClassyCatBurglar: A literal example.
* CoolMask: Wears a black luchadore felt mask. It makes her look like Batman.
* DashingHispanic: She's voiced by SalmaHayek, but this is played as Spanish rather than Mexican.
* HeelFaceTurn: She was going to betray Puss first, but she got so attached to him that she couldn't bring herself to do such.
* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]: Subverted. She is really seductive towards Puss at first to make him join her and Humpty Dumpty on their quest, [[NotDistractedByTheSexy but she fails.]]
* SamusIsAGirl: Puss doesn't realize his rival is female until she removes her mask.
* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: The main cues of her femininity are her long eyelashes.

[[folder:Humpty Alexander Dumpty]]
* {{Adorkable}}: In his youth.
* AlienBlood: He has yolk instead of blood.
* AllTheOtherReindeer: At the orphanage, before Puss came along and befriended him.
* [[spoiler:AntiVillain: Probably the most sympathetic villain in the series.]]
* [[spoiler:BigBad: Sort of. He was never truly evil, just angry at Puss for his betrayal, and redeems himself near the end.]]
** [[spoiler:BigBadFriend]]
* BloodBrothers: Became this with Puss in the past. He had yolk instead of blood, naturally.
* {{Cephalothorax}}: He's an anthropomorphic egg.
* [[spoiler:TheChessmaster]]
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn: But then he does a...]]
** [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn]]
** [[spoiler:HeelFaceRevolvingDoor]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Puss, until they had a falling out.
* HollywoodNerd: Was basically one of these in the orphanage, right down to being bullied.
* [[spoiler:JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Literally.]]
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard]]
* [[spoiler:RedemptionEqualsDeath]]
* [[spoiler:{{Revenge}}]]

[[folder:Jack and Jill]]
* BattleCouple
* BeardOfEvil: Jack has one.
* TheDeepSouth: Both have southern accents.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: They do seem to genuinely love each other and treat their pigs like their own children.
* {{Gonk}}: Both are quite ugly.
* OutlawCouple
* [[spoiler:TrampledUnderfoot: Both are crushed by the Great Terror during the climax.]]

[[folder:The Three Diablos]]

* BitchInSheepsClothing: At first.
* TheDreaded: The most feared mercenaries in the land. The guards are too scared to even enter their cell...
* FreudianExcuse: They were mean at first because they're orphans and also threatened by the Whisperer.
* HeelFaceTurn: Puss causes them to perform one.
* KillerRabbit: ...They are also a trio of kittens.
* OrphanOrdeal: Hence part of their demeanor.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter