Death is the end of one's mortal life, and is extremely common. When any character or creature dies in the Shrek universe, they do not return physically, but may return as ghosts.
One notable exception is Puss in Boots, who has nine lives, allowing him to die several times and come back to life. Prior to his encounter with Death, Puss claims to laugh in the face of death. Death has an antipathy towards cats, and Puss in particular, for their ability to cheat death.
Occurrences/Mentions[]
Shrek[]
- Many knights that had attempted to rescue Princess Fiona had been burned and/or eaten by Dragon.
- Various animals are cooked, eaten or disfigured by Shrek throughout the film.
- Before the start of the tournament, Lord Farquaad says "Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make."
- Shrek references what ogres do to humans, including making soup from their freshly peeled skin, shaving their livers, and squeezing the jelly from their eyes.
- In the Duloc Dungeon, there are various torture devices that have particularly sharp features. It is also strongly implied that various Fairy Tale Creatures and Dulocians were killed there.
- Another mention of extreme death was when Shrek is talking to Donkey about fighting back against Lord Farquaad. He casually suggests decapitating an entire village and putting their heads on pikes-- cutting open their spleens and drinking their fluids.
- When Shrek has an arrow in his butt, Donkey freaks out thinking that Shrek is going to die.
- Lord Farquaad is eaten by Dragon, and later digested inside of her.
Shrek 2[]
- One of the mourning doves during Shrek and Fiona's arrival in Far Far Away hit the castle wall and plummets on the floor, dead.
- Various skulls are scattered throughout the Poison Apple tavern.
- Trying to kill Shrek, the Fairy Godmother is struck by her own magic by King Harold's armor, causing her to turn into bubbles.
Shrek the Third[]
- King Harold passes away due to old age at the start of the film. There are many close calls as he continues coughing.
- There are multiple death threats and talk of characters dying from Prince Charming and the villains.
- Guinevere says "I'd rather get the black plague and lock myself in an iron maiden than go out with you" in an exchange with her friend Tiffany.
- The Far Far Away catacombs/sewers are littered with skulls.
- Upon seeing Donkey (with Puss inside) trying to perform the "Cute Eyes," one of the guards says "Ugh, kill it!"
- Prince Charming attempts to kill Shrek, with the ogre pretending he got injured and on the verge of death.
Shrek Forever After[]
- Rumpelstiltskin's line, "I wish that ogre was never born," could be considered a death threat.
- Gingy is eaten in the alternate timeline by the over-fat, Puss in Boots. However, this event is undone when the normal timeline is restored.
- Rumpelstilzkin's pet goose Fifi dies at the end of the movie when Fiona sings a too shrill note near him, whereupon the goose explodes, much to Rumpelstiltkin's horror. Due to the fact that the events of the alternate reality were undone, this is the only death of a character in this movie that was actually permanent.
Puss in Boots[]
- Luis comments that "Only a cat with a death wish would steal the beans from Jack and Jill."
- When Jack and Jill arrive at the Southern Town motel, the manager says there are no more rooms. Jill then launches her mini-cannon gun, shooting a motel guest, to which Jack says, "Well I think one just opened up."
- The Giant is said to have been dead for years; according to Humpty Dumpty, chapter 14 of "Jack and the Beanstalk" is "Giant takes a big dirt nap".
- Humpty would later perish in a sacrifice to help Puss save the Golden Goose and all of San Ricardo. He turns into a Golden Egg taken by Great Terror.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish[]
- Puss in Boots expends eight of his nine lives foolishly. All of his deaths could've been easily prevented had he not been as arrogant as he was.
- One of the Serpent Sisters is turned into gold by the Midas Touch by "Big" Jack Horner.
- A bottle containing Lilliputians is broken by Goldilocks, who further causes the creatures to scatter and presumably die.
- All members of The Baker's Dozen die in various ways including having their skin eaten off, exploding into confetti, falling down several feet, and getting evaporated by a cosmic wall of fire.
- "Big" Jack Horner got sucked up and obliterated by the Wishing Star's destruction.