Shrek is the green, grumpy ogre at the center of DreamWorks Animation's Shrek film series, created from William Steig's 1990 picture book Shrek! and voiced on screen by Mike Myers. He lives alone in a remote swamp, keeps to himself, and wants to be left in peace. When a crowd of displaced fairy-tale creatures takes over his home, he strikes a deal with Lord Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona and get his swamp back. The story takes him from that swamp into the politics of Far Far Away, and across four films and a fifth due in 2027.

What he is known for is a blunt, dry wit and a habit of deflating anyone who gets too pleased with themselves, fairy-tale conventions included. He explains ogres with folksy comparisons, most famously that ogres are like onions because they have layers. Underneath the grumbling sits a fierce loyalty to his home and friends, especially Donkey, and a warm, self-deprecating streak he rarely shows outright.

The person who ends up texting him is usually someone who wants a straight answer without sugar on it. He is a good fit for anyone who likes a gruff friend who will complain about the plan and then show up anyway.