Do The Roar
Also known as: Butter Pants · Do the Roar Kid
"Do the Roar" is a catchphrase meme from the 2010 animated film *Shrek Forever After*, in which a pudgy blonde kid named Butter Pants demands that Shrek perform his signature roar in a deep, nasally voice. The scene first hit YouTube as remixed edits days before the movie's theatrical release, and it picked up a second wave of popularity on TikTok in the early 2020s as creators impersonated Butter Pants' distinctive vocal delivery.
Overview
In *Shrek Forever After*, Shrek is stuck playing party entertainer at his triplets' birthday. A father approaches with his son and asks Shrek to do his "famous Shrek roar." The kid, credited as Butter Pants, cuts in with a flat, nasal command: "Do the roar." He repeats it without blinking. The delivery is so perfectly irritating that it stuck in the brains of everyone who watched the film.
What makes the scene work is Butter Pants' total lack of awe. He doesn't ask politely. He doesn't say "please." It's a command, like he's pressing a button on a vending machine2. The voice sits in this uncanny zone between bratty toddler and bored middle-aged man, which turns out to be the exact frequency needed to break an ogre's spirit.
*Shrek Forever After* opened in American theaters on May 21, 20101. But the meme beat the movie to the internet. On May 18, 2010, three days before the wide release, YouTuber Proclaimer001 uploaded a remix of the "Do the Roar" scene set to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This," picking up roughly 1.3 million views over the following years1.
The voice behind Butter Pants wasn't a child actor. Mike Mitchell, the film's director, recorded the lines as a temporary "scratch track" during production. Directors often lay down placeholder dialogue so animators can time scenes before professional voice talent steps in. Mitchell's delivery was so perfectly grating that the producers kept it in the final cut2. It's the same way Brad Bird ended up voicing Edna Mode in *The Incredibles* or Joe Ranft voiced Heimlich in *A Bug's Life*. Sometimes the director just nails the character better than anyone else could.
Origin & Background
How It Spread
Media
How to Use This Meme
The meme works in a few different ways:
- Voice impersonation: Record yourself saying "Do the roar" in Butter Pants' flat, nasal monotone. The less enthusiasm, the better. The delivery should sound like a kid who's bored of being alive. - Remix/edit: Take the original audio clip and splice it into other contexts. Music mashups, reaction edits, or looping the phrase over unrelated footage all work. - Reaction format: Drop "Do the roar" as a comment or caption when someone is being pressured to perform on command. It maps well to situations where a person is expected to do their "thing" for an audience, whether that's a work presentation, a talent show, or just existing at a party. - Cosplay/re-enactment: Dress as the kid (tiny vest, blonde hair, dead-eyed stare) and recreate the scene in public.
The core joke is always about the gap between Shrek's terrifying roar and the kid's complete indifference to it. Apply it to any moment where effort meets apathy.
Cultural Impact
Fun Facts
Butter Pants' voice actor is Mike Mitchell, the director of the entire film. His "temporary" recording was so good the production team never replaced it.
The first meme remix appeared three days before the movie's official U.S. release, meaning the scene was already being remixed from early screenings or promotional clips.
After Shrek finally roars with enough force to blow out candles and silence the forest, Butter Pants calmly responds "I love you, Daddy" and walks away, unfazed.
The character's official name, Butter Pants, comes from the film's credits and production notes.
DreamWorks' animators designed Butter Pants' face so his head seems to vibrate when he speaks, creating a uniquely unsettling quality even in still frames.
Derivatives & Variations
MC Hammer remix
— Proclaimer001's original mashup with "U Can't Touch This," one of the first known meme edits of the scene[1].
Lady Gaga "Poker Face" remix
— Miki Nebulah's 2011 edit blending the scene with pop music, following the YouTube Poop tradition[1].
TikTok voice impersonation series
— @yaboyywill's recurring Butter Pants impression videos, with individual posts reaching tens of millions of plays[1].
Gorlock the Destroyer crossover
— 2023 TikTok trend linking the Shrek scene to Gorlock the Destroyer through visual comparisons[1].
Frequently Asked Questions
References (2)
- 1
- 2Do the Roar - Know Your Memeencyclopedia