Buzz
How a cartoon moment went viral on TikTok and sparked numerous Shrek memes
Since 2021, the famous "Not here, kitten whiskers. Daddy will discuss it later" scene from Shrek the Third has been recreated by thousands of TikTok creators. But who first spoke these iconic words? And who’s the voice that says, "But Pookie…"? Our guide will uncover the meaning of the "Not now, kitten whiskers" meme, and we'll also explore other well-known Shrek memes that have made waves online.
What does "Not Here, Kitten Whiskers" really mean?
The phrase "Not here, kitten whiskers. Daddy will discuss it later" is from Shrek the Third, spoken by Prince Charming to his fiancée Rapunzel, suggesting they'll have a conversation at another time. The quote has become a TikTok trend, where users often exaggerate their jaw movements with filters and lip-sync to this iconic line.
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What is the "Not Now, Kitten Whiskers" meme?
The "Not now, kitten whiskers" meme originates from a scene in Shrek the Third. In this moment, Prince Charming (the antagonist of the film) threatens Princess Fiona, while his fiancée, Rapunzel, says, "But Pookie, you promised you wouldn't hurt them." Prince Charming responds with, "Not here, kitten whiskers. Daddy will discuss it later."
- The original line is "Not here, kitten whiskers," but it's often misheard as "Not now."
- The quote carries unexpected sexual undertones, as the use of "Daddy" by a woman to address her partner, and him referring to himself as "Daddy," is often associated with a kink commonly performed in intimate settings.
Why is "Not Here, Kitten Whiskers" gaining popularity?
The "Not here, kitten whiskers" quote became a viral TikTok meme in 2021. Users began syncing the clip’s audio to their videos, mimicking Prince Charming's dramatic delivery. The meme highlights the over-the-top nature of the character and the absurdity of having a line like "Daddy will discuss it later" in a children's movie.
- The meme evolved as TikTokers like @d3gra used face-widening filters to enhance their jaw movements, better capturing the Prince’s dramatic performance.
- Creators like @colinlma0 use a blinking filter to distort their facial expressions, emphasizing how ridiculous the line sounds when delivered by Prince Charming.
- The "kitten whiskers" meme also pairs with the glamour filter. As shown in @neonguts021's video, this filter enhances the lips and slants the eyebrows, giving a dramatic, model-like look – perfect for the extravagant Prince Charming!
Does Prince Charming really say "Pookie?"
Prince Charming doesn't say "Pookie" or "pookie bear." In Shrek the Third, Prince Charming and Rapunzel are the key antagonists. It's Rapunzel who affectionately calls him "Pookie," while he fondly refers to her as "kitten whiskers." Together, they scheme to steal the throne of Far, Far Away from Shrek and Fiona.
- In addition, Prince Charming plans to kill Shrek as revenge for the death of his mother, the Fairy Godmother, who passed away in Shrek 2 while trying to help him secure the throne by arranging his marriage to Fiona (who was already married to Shrek, the ogre in that film).
Other Shrek TikTok Memes
"Do you know the muffin man?" One of the most famous quotes from Shrek is during Lord Farquaad's interrogation of Gingy, the gingerbread man, in the first film.
- This iconic line has been reinterpreted by TikTokers in various creative ways. For instance, @dora145 shared a video where two hospital patients use this exchange while one is under the influence of pain medication.
- Full Quote:
- (Gingy): "Okay, I'll tell you. Do you know the muffin man?"
- (Lord Farquaad): "Yes, I know the muffin man, who lives on Drury Lane?"
- (Gingy): "Well, she's married to the muffin man."
- (Lord Farquaad): "[shocked] The muffin man?"
- (Gingy): "The muffin man!"
"Yes, I was talkin' to you." In Shrek, Donkey surprises Shrek with an unexpected appearance and starts praising him for scaring off some royal guards.
- Many TikTok users use this quote over videos of their pets unexpectedly entering the scene or following them around, like in this post by @helenawhite05.
- Full Quote: "Yes. I was talkin' to you. Can I tell you that you was great back here? Those guards! They thought they was all of that. Then you showed up, and bam! They was trippin' over themselves like babes in the woods. That really made me feel good to see that."
"We can stay up late, swappin' manly stories." In Shrek, Donkey excitedly suggests all the fun things they will do during a sleepover at Shrek's place, like staying up late and exchanging "manly stories." Some TikTok creators, including @beyonka_smalls, use this line to humorously illustrate what a sleepover with their boyfriend or male partner would look like.
- Full Quote: "This is gonna be fun! We can stay up late, swappin' manly stories, and in the mornin', I'm makin' waffles."
"Cause I'm all alone." In Shrek, after Shrek and Donkey cross paths, Shrek asks why Donkey is trailing behind him. Donkey responds by singing: "Cause I'm all alone. There's no one here beside me." TikTok users, like @florica091, often share this moment in their videos when joking about being single or left to handle things on their own by their partner.
- Full Quote:
- (Shrek) "Why are you following me?"
- (Donkey): "I'll tell you why. [singing] 'Cause I'm all alone, There's no one here beside me, My problems have all gone, There's no one to deride me, but you gotta have faith…"
- (Shrek): "Stop singing! Well, it's no wonder you don't have any friends."
