Puss in Boots (Shrek)

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Shrek character
Puss In Boots
Puss in Boots in the second film
Gender Male
Type Cat
Spouse N/A
Other family unnamed father and mother and litter of brothers
Voiced by Antonio Banderas, Andre Sogliuzzo (in the video games)
Film appearance Shrek 2
Shrek the Third

Puss in Boots is a character 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.

[edit] History

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 Fiona have their triplets, Puss decides to be Donkey's dronkies' uncle.

He will appear in the upcoming spin-off movie, Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer.

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.

[edit] 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 impressing ladies. While attacking Shrek, he used his sword to scratch up a P, a parody of Zorro's trademark move.