Puss in Boots (Shrek)

shrek character
name=Puss In Boots


caption=Puss in Boots in the second film
gender=Male
form=Cat
spouse= N/A
family=unnamed father and mother and litter of brothers
weapon=rapier sword
voiced by=Antonio Banderas, Andre Sogliuzzo (in the video games)
appearance="Shrek 2"
"Shrek the Third"
"Shrek Goes Fourth"
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Puss in Boots is a fictional cat from the "Shrek" film series, voiced in English and both Spanish versions by Antonio Banderas. He is based loosely on the fairy tale character of the same name, and is the main "other fairy tale character" in the two sequels. He is absent from the original "Shrek" film, due to his non-existence until the sequel.

History

hrek 2

Recommended to King Harold by Doris, the Ugly Stepsister and barmaid of the Poison Apple Inn, as a famous ogre assassin, Puss is hired by the king to assassinate Shrek. However, unlike his fairy tale counterpart, he does not try to trick the ogre into changing into a mouse, but instead makes a direct, frontal assault on Shrek, which works up until the feline gags on a hairball, spitting it up. Shrek and Donkey think of what to do with him as Donkey even proposes to give him the 'Bob Barker treatment', but the swashbuckling cat begs for his life. Ultimately, they spare his life, and Puss proposes to the ogre he owes a life debt to him, in thanks. Although there is some tension/rivalry between Puss and Donkey (who seems nervous that Puss is taking his place as "annoying talking animal"), the three eventually become close friends and allies.

Shrek appears to have accepted this debt, as Puss in Boots stays with him throughout the course of the film. Donkey had a particular rivalry with him, considering Puss a threat to his position as Shrek's best friend. It is revealed that Puss has a litter of siblings, a sick mother and a father who lives off the garbage (although he may have been lying so Shrek would spare his life). He has also stated that he "hates mondays". When Shrek and Donkey enter the castle to find Fiona and are being chased by guards, Puss repays his debt to Shrek by holding them off (he removes his hat, looks at the guards cutely, and then attacks them when they stop and say "aww!") When Shrek and Fiona have their triplets, Puss decides to be Donkey's dronkies' uncle.

hrek the Third

Donkey and Puss remain in Far Far Away with Fiona and Shrek, helping the royal couple run the country in the place of the ailing king. Puss joins Shrek and Donkey on their journey to find Artie (Fiona's cousin and heir to the throne) and later encourages Shrek to be more kind to Artie to gain the teenager's trust. When the group is magically sent back to Far Far Away by Merlin, Puss and Donkey have their bodies accidentally switched, something they were "not" happy about. The two swapped animals later join forces with the Far Far Away princesses and other captives of Prince Charming and help rescue Shrek. Towards the end of the movie, they confront Merlin and demand he put them in their correct bodies. He does so, although their tails seem to have been switched this time (in the next scene, this is shown to have been corrected as well).

At the end of the movie, Puss helps Shrek and Fiona care for their triplets. He has trouble with them pulling his fur and tail.

hrek the Halls

In Shrek the Halls, Puss tells the story of Santa Claus as a smooth Spanish cat (similar to himself). He is distracted from telling the tale when he sees a glass Christmas tree ornament and begins batting at it. When he realizes what he was doing, he walks away muttering "I have shamed myself". Later, when Shrek explains that he never celebrated Christmas before and wanted it to come right, Puss tells his friend "Christmas just comes".

Personality

Despite his small size, Puss is a capable fighter even when outnumbered against much larger opponents. He is skilled with a sword and often practically dances around his enemies who can't keep up with him. One of his defenses is using his cute nature. He takes off his hat and stares up at his foes with a sad, wide-eyed, heart-melting expression, making them stop and "Awwww" at how cute he is. He then returns to his fierce self. He tried this technique twice in "Shrek the Third", both times unsuccessful. The first time, he stands outside the window of Shrek's room and tries the technique but Shrek simply closed the curtains on him (literally). Later, he tried this in Donkey's body, which disgusts his enemies and prompts them to try and kill him.

He will appear in the upcoming spin-off movie, "".

Inspiration

Puss' Shrek form is based on Zorro's (whom Banderas also portrayed in the "The Mask of Zorro" and "The Legend of Zorro") fighting style, accent (Spanish) and personality. While attacking Shrek, he used his sword to scratch up a P, a parody of Zorro's trademark move.