Merlin (or Mr. Merlin) is a supporting character in Shrek the Third. He is a retired professor of Artie, in high school, Worcestershire Academy.
He is voiced by Eric Idle, who also voiced Wreck-Gar in Transformers movie (G1), Devon in Quest for Camelot, and Slyly in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie.
Biography[]
Merlin appears for the first time when Artie wants to get Shrek out of the way, pretends to be terrified by the ogre and knocks on Merlin's door (after their ship sank and they are back where they were). Artie then explains that he was his magic teacher, but that he later had problems with nervous breakdowns (Merlin however says that it is only ``third level fatigue´´), as he seems very eccentric and his spells often go bad. After seeing that Shrek and Artie don't get along at all, he decides to help them with a 'mind trip'. When night falls, Merlin lights a magical fire where clouds of smoke are created that make the observer see their problematic thoughts, in which Shrek sees a pram with a newborn inside, but he says he saw a 'Rainbow Pony'. 'being very much in crisis from becoming a father. When it is Artie's turn, the magic cloud shows him a bird that abandons its chick on the nest, and Artie reveals that everyone including his father has always considered him a loser. Artie also reveals that he had abandoned him in that school because he was ashamed of him. When Shrek and Artie begin to get along with each other, Merlin turns on some background music and they are a bit annoyed by him, so he turns it off and leaves them alone.
When dawn comes, Shrek and his friends are attacked by fairy tale villains sent by Charming. As they fight, Captain Hook plays a piano and Merlin stupidly joins him to play it too, until Hook notices him and chases him away. After the bad guys retreat, the heroes must return to Far Far Away immediately and ask Merlin for help, but he refuses after what happened. So Artie pretends to be desperate and convinces him. Merlin warns them that there may be some side effects with his magic but also that it is nothing serious, but when he accidentally destroys a stone the boys are already worried. Merlin with magic teleports Shrek, Donkey, Puss and Artie to Far Far Away, where it is discovered that Merlin has unwittingly exchanged the bodies of Donkey and Puss, much to their disgust.
Later towards the end of the film, after Prince Charming is crushed by the tower of his show, the villains have changed and Artie has finally agreed to become the new king, Merlin reappears there in the audience to see them. Donkey and Puss immediately notice him and order him to immediately transport him back to their original bodies. Merlin succeeds, but the tails remain reversed so he tries to warn them but then he doesn't, because it is a temporary spell, since in the final scenes they respectively have them again.
Personality[]
Merlin is very different from the original legend. In fact, he seems more awkward, more clumsy, and even less awake. With his spells he can't do much of it. Maybe Artie is right when he says he has had a nervous breakdown and is no longer able to do some things. Other than that, he is capable enough to help others when needed (even if he does something wrong anyway).
Quotes[]
| “ | "I am a buzzing bee." | „ |
| “ | "Forget it. I don't have that kind of magic in me anymore. How about a hug? That's the best kind of magic." | „ |
| ~ Merlin denying the use of magic to help Artie. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Merlin is based on his original character.
- He is also based on Merlin form 1963's movie Disney The Sword in the Stone.
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Ogres Far Far Away Others See Also | ||