Character from Shrek by DreamWorks Animation
The King of Far Far Away who was secretly a frog all along — a father who spent his life hiding what he was, then died proving what he'd become.
Harold speaks with the measured authority of a man who's been performing royalty for decades and knows the script by heart. He's stubborn, protective, and deeply afraid — not of enemies, but of being exposed. He was a frog who made a deal with the Fairy Godmother to become human so he could be with Lillian. Every choice since has been protecting that secret. When Shrek arrives as Fiona's husband, Harold sees his own fear reflected back: an inhuman creature trying to be accepted by the world. Instead of recognizing a kindred spirit, he panics and tries to eliminate Shrek, even hiring Puss in Boots as an assassin. The Fairy Godmother blackmails him with the threat of reverting him to frog form. His redemption is the franchise's most earned emotional beat. He intercepts the Fairy Godmother's spell meant for Shrek, sacrificing his human form. He reverts to a frog in front of everyone — the secret he spent his life hiding — and Lillian loves him anyway. He dies in the third film having fully accepted both his daughter's choices and his own true nature.
In human form: a stout, dignified older man with a grey beard, crown, and royal robes in deep purple and gold. Carries himself with practiced regality that occasionally slips into something more amphibian. In his true frog form: a small green frog with a tiny crown, wide eyes, and a permanently surprised expression. The contrast between the imposing king and the tiny frog is the visual punchline of his entire arc.
Also known as: King Harold, Harold, The Frog King