Shrek Fan Uncovers Shocking Donkey Secret That Rewrites the Whole Story

Ever paused to wonder—really wonder—how a fast-talking, waffle-loving sidekick like Donkey just pops into the whimsical chaos of the Shrek universe with zero explanation? Sure, he’s the rubber-faced, hyperactive yin to Shrek’s green, grumpy yang. Eddie Murphy’s iconic tone practically echoes in my head every time someone says, “Donkey!” Even now, with five films (and counting), Donkey remains the heart and soul of the franchise—a character so beloved, I doubt anyone could picture Steve Martin in the role, as originally planned . But here’s what keeps me up at night (well, apart from debating SEO strategies at 2 a.m.): Why don’t we know where Donkey actually came from?

We know Shrek’s backstory, Fiona’s curse, and even Puss in Boots scored a prequel before Donkey got a single flashback . Am I the only one who finds that odd, or hilarious…or both? If this grinning equine’s origin has ever tickled your curiosity—or if you just love a good deep dive into animated lore—you’re about to tumble down a surprisingly compelling rabbit hole. Turns out, social media sleuths and armchair fairytale experts may have cracked one of Dreamworks’ most amusing mysteries . Ready to join me on this speculative ride? LEARN MORE

We all know and love Donkey in the Shrek franchise, but his origins within the film’s world is never really been revealed.

The lovable best friend of the protagonist, Donkey is known for his hyperactive nature and excitement at the quests him, Shrek, and later Puss in Boots, carry out over the course of four films (soon to be five).

Voiced by the comedic legend Eddie Murphy, the role was actually meant to go to The Jerk’s Steve Martin before the final casting.

But now, fans will likely be unable to hear Donkey in any other voice apart from Murphy’s, becoming one of the iconic animated characters of the 2000s.

However, you may not have thought about Donkey’s backstory, or lack of one, in the iconic film franchise.

A talking donkey – which story is he actually from? (Dreamworks)

Think about it.

We know all about Shrek, Fiona, and even Prince Charming before his demise – but nothing about Donkey. Puss in Boots got his own film for goodness sake!

But now, fans have taken to social media to share theories on who Donkey may really be in the fairy tale universe.

You may have assumed that the creators of Shrek added the talking animal in for comedic value, which may be somewhat correct, but one user on Instagram known as @asheleyspam claims that Donkey is really a human.

She starts by noting that Donkey and Pinocchio are friends, before delving into the character’s backstory.

Showing footage from the original Pinocchio movie, she claims that he is actually the titular character’s best friend, Lampwick, who he meets at Pleasure Island. Lampwick eventually turns into a donkey for a portion of the movie to be sold for labour.

She adds that it explains why he can talk, and links it back to the original Italian novel on which the Disney film is based on, written by Carlo Collidi.

The fan theory is that Donkey was Lampwick (Disney)

Asheley reveals that after turning into a donkey here, Pinocchio is sent to a circus while Lampwick is set to live with an old lady, suggesting that this who we see giving Donkey up at the start of the first Shrek film.

Claiming that he could actually have been a human this whole time, other fans seem to agree with the theory.

Over on Reddit, fans speak about the original 1940 film, where they mention the Pleasure Island scene.

Pinocchio escapes, but Lampwick is transformed, while it was also revealed that some of the transformed boys can still talk as donkeys.

Sound familiar?

When he switches bodies with Puss in Shrek The Third, Donkey speaks to his feline friend about learning to control his hee-hawing, which he said takes practice – meaning he might have done the same, according to ScreenRant.

If that wasn’t enough, Donkey speaks about being bullied and getting wedgies in Shrek The Third, which seemingly alludes to a past human life.

Is any of it true? Maybe Shrek 5 will reveal it all.