Arthur Pendragon (better known as "'Artie") is Shrek's other sidekick and best friend. He is the only heir (other than Shrek himself) to the throne of Far Far Away. Artie has only appeared in "Shrek the Third," He is voiced by Justin Timberlake. Arthur Pendragon is the epitome of a typical teenager, awkward, gangly, and not very popular.These aspects are emphasized when Shrek announces to him that he is the next king of Far Far Away, and Artie doesn't think that he can handle being a king.
However, Artie is good and kind-hearted, and in the end, he good-naturedly accepts the responsibilities of being king.
One of Artie's greatest fears is inadequacy, he and Shrek share the same problem, as they both mention having had difficulty in their relationships with their respective fathers (his "dumped me at the school the first chance he got, and... I never saw him again").
Artie is shown to be a competent fighter when necessary, and helps Shrek and his friends fend off The Evil Trees, and later, assists Shrek when Prince Charming is about to kill him.
Artie likes rock music, evidenced after he leaves "Worcestershire," announcing, "I'm building my kingdom on rock and roll!".
His name is derived the name of King Arthur, a British king from a legend of the same name.
Shrek the Third
Shrek, Donkey and Puss in Boots are traveling to "Worcestershire" to find the next heir to the throne: Artie.
However, Artie is not what they expected, he is first seen (Shrek and the others unaware) as a practice target for the jousting team, and is later publicly revealed to the school auditorium by being hung from a pole. Shrek pulls him down, announcing that he is the next king of Far Far Away. Artie then gives a speech, berating all those who picked on him and threatening to evict some (particularly Sir Lancelot and the jousting team), but Shrek stops him, stating, "You overdid it.".
Later, on board Shrek's ship, Artie is excited to become king until Puss and Donkey mention the dangers involved, protecting the people from famine, plague and other diseases, food testers to make sure his meals aren't poisoned, and the like. Artie balks, and begins to steer the ship back. Shrek tries to convince him to stop, and the ensuing argument they have causes their ship to crash onto an island. They continue to argue, and Artie runs into his old magic teacher, Merlin's hut. The wizard agrees to help them, but only after taking the "Journey to the Souls", since he and Artie have only recently been in a "self-destructive rage spat".
Artie, upon looking into the soul mist, sees a father bird leaving a chick in its nest. The chick tries and fails to fly, falling. He quickly comprehends that the bird is his father, who left him. Shrek and he have a heart-to-heart talk, where both explain the distance they had with their fathers (Artie having never known his, Shrek having been the near-victim of his dad's murderous attempts). They form an uneasy, understanding friendship, and Artie begins to accept who he is as a person, rather than who he is as other people judge him to be. Next morning, however, they are attacked by evil trees, and their leader, Captain Hook, announces that "King Charming" is managing the kingdom, and that Princess Fiona is in trouble. Artie, in an attempt at heartbroken youth, manages to convince Merlin to send them back to Far Far Away.
Once they arrive in the city, they are almost immediately set upon by guards, who Artie manages to convince that Shrek is a star (of the play, featuring Charming performing Shrek's demise). They infiltrate Charming's quarters, and Charming, anticipating their moves, sends for guards and holds Artie hostage. Shrek demands that he be let go, and (unbeknownst to Artie) lies to Artie, saying that he only brought him back because he "needed some fool to replace me, and you fit the bill, kid". Artie angrily shrugs off his captors and leaves. However, Puss and Donkey later explain that Shrek only said those things to protect him, and in doing so saved his life.
Artie returns at the climax of the play, and convinces Hook and the other villains to give up their evil ways by saying what Shrek told him: Just because you may be treated like a loser, or a villain, it doesn't mean you are one. He helps Shrek defeat Charming, and once the tower is knocked on top of the prince, he takes the crown that falls, after Shrek gives him the choice to do so or not. Artie puts the crown on his head, and begins his reign. He is not seen again in the movie.
Trivia
- Arthur is not seen at all in Shrek Forever After (for unknown reasons, maybe doing king duty, he is even not mentioned), In Rumpelstiltskin's new world of Far Far Away, he does not appear because in the alternate universe he went back to the school (presumably still teased at and bullied), After the curse was broken, Arthur presumably took his place as rightful king of Far Far Away (still not at the party).
- After Shrek Forever After was released Mike Myers stated Artie was in the film he was just deleted in the scene which he was in. When the DVD was released only a deleted scene called When Fairly Tale Creatures Attack, Gingy's Cookie Fight and a hand-drawn scene of When Fairy Tale Creatures Attack. Artie did not appear and was most likely written out.