[Tax-chick]

Instead of plopping random pop culture references and adults-only humor into medieval fairy tales, Pixar relies on clean humor and awesome technology to tell stories.

Excellent point. I particularly dislike sexual references and visuals in shows or movies directed at children. Bodily function humor, much as I detest it, is natural to children. (Take my word for it - I have six sons.) Sexual posturing and humor is NOT natural to children, but is imposed on them by adults with a personal interest in sexuality involving children, if you get what I mean.

[jmcenanly]

Avoiding pop culture references would also help the story survive the test of time. 20 years from now, who is going to remember Snooki?

[ctdonath2]

Another thing I dislike about Shrek (which I did enjoy overall) is that the whole story is based on the humorous mis-telling of classics which the audience is assumed to have internalized as canonical standards. A child unfamiliar with the source stories will miss the jokes of translation, and will internalize the mangled form as canonical instead of absurdist.

Shrek and its variations (Puss in Boots etc.) are for adults, not just because of the post-pubescent humor, but because of the literary background required for contextual appreciation.