Puss in Boots (Shrek)

Puss in Boots, or simply known as Puss, is a major character in the franchise, and the titular main protagonist of the .
He is a swashbuckling ginger cat from Spain who has embarked on several daring adventures, becoming a legendary hero wherever he goes. He was initially hired by King Harold to assassinate Shrek under the Fairy Godmother's orders, but abandoned this hit and became fast friends with him, Donkey and Princess Fiona. He is also best friends with Shrek, Donkey and Perrito, as well as being Kitty Softpaws' boyfriend and Humpty Alexander Dumpty's adoptive brother.
In the films, he is voiced by , who also portrayed Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro in The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro (whom Puss himself is based upon), El Mariachi in Desperado and Once Upon a Time In Mexico, Gregorio "Greg" Cortez in the original Spy Kids trilogy and its spin-off Machete Kills, Galgo in The Expendables 3, and Renaldo in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
In the series, and the film short of The Last Wish known as The Trident, he is voiced by , who also voices Woody Woodpecker in the 2017 film adaptation of the same name, Splinter in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Drift in Transformers Robot in Disguise , White Pantera in El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, and Pepe Le Pew in the Looney Tunes franchise, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn in Space Jam: A New Legacy, and the Toad General in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
==Personality==
A pint-sized powerhouse, Puss is one tough, contentious, suave, charismatic, flirtatious cat. He is very much in full control of his emotions, rarely expressing fear and able to keep calm in the face of danger. For a good price, he'll hunt down and capture anybody. He is an expert thief but has a strict moral code and refuses to rob churches and orphanages, yet happily robs from people who don't need their riches or won't use them for the greater good, such as Jack and Jill. Puss is also very intelligent, strategic, and quick-witted, as well as powerful enough to battle enemies who are bigger than himself. Additionally, he is sarcastic, snarky and droll. In addition to this, he has a form of hypnotic powers, employing a famous begging expression, which involves expanding his pupils, lowering his head, and holding his hat. This effect enables him to break weak-minded individuals, and exploit people under the influence of the begging face.
Puss only uses this power in extreme circumstances, and for the greater good. During the events of Shrek the Third, Puss' consciousness was interchanged with that of donkey, and while inhabiting Donkey's body, Puss attempted the begging look, yet it was ineffective. Puss is highly popular with the ladies, has an active sex life with multiple female cats, and is considered cute by human women, as they often pamper him, and in an alternate timeline, the ogres spoiled him, making him a pathetic, morbidly obese freeloader with no fighting or hunting skills. He couldn't even get into his boots in that timeline.
However, in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Puss is shown to be rather arrogant and reckless, showing how he didn’t care when he died, believing he had more lives to spare, despite how he already wasted eight of them. While he is shown to be fearless, there are moments where he is shown to be afraid. One of these moments was when he came face to face with a “bounty hunter” who turns out to be Death, and nearly died by his blade because of his carelessness. After this encounter, he was traumatized and went into retirement and hiding hoping death would never find him. After going on an adventure to find the wishing star, Puss began hallucinating about seeing Death. But while in the Cave of Lost Souls, Puss encounters Death again, who reveals his true identity to Puss. Death and Puss met each other again on the Wishing Star, where Puss finally found the courage to face Death, and conquered his fear of him, also deciding to renounce his wish and live his last life to the fullest. 
==Abilities==
*Combat Proficiency: Despite Puss' small size, he is a capable fighter even when outnumbered against much larger opponents, he can even defeat giants.
*Master Swordsman: Puss possesses incredible skills in the use of a sword, mostly in combat, being able to cut and initial letter name anything he can cut with his sword. Puss is so skilled that he can fight even death itself, disarming him in a duel, though acknowledging that he will inevitably lose to Death when he dies.
*Cute Nature: Puss' trademark attack is by using his cute nature, shown when he stares up at his opponents with an innocent, wide-eyed expression, softening his foes' hearts, which normally will cause the enemy to not attack him for a while.
*Guitar Proficiency: Puss seems to know how to play with a guitar/lute, and as seen in The Last Wish, he's a very capable musician.
*Sharp Claws: Like all cats, Puss has razor-sharp claws which are sufficient to rend most substances. His claws can also hurt Shrek, even though the ogre's green skin is very tough and are even sharp enough to pierce glass as well.
*Expert Thief and Hunter: Puss is known to be a master of thievery since he is extremely skilled in theft. Like all cats, Puss is also a master of hunting.
*Dancing Proficiency: Puss is an incredibly elegant and masterful dancer, befitting his fast-paced and lively fighting style. One of his dance moves is, partnering with Kitty, the two begin tap-dancing parallel to each other away from the ground at the same pace, allowing the two to essentially levitate up and down.
==Relationships==
===Family===
====Imelda====
When Puss was just a stray kitten, he managed to find himself at Imelda's orphanage, as a mother she took him in and took care of him Puss respected and loved his mother. After becoming a teenager Puss and Humpty Looked for trouble and it really upsets her, After Puss saved the Comadante's mother his mother Rewarded him with boots he was so proud of the day he stopped causing Mischief. After Puss was tricked by Humpty to rob the Bank He passed by an upset Imelda which greatly saddened him for disappointing her. After saving San Ricardo he fixed his relationship with his mother.
===Friends===
====Humpty Alexander Dumpty====
When Puss came into the Orphanage, he took the Beans Puss was about to eat, but after Little Boy Blue's friends acted rough against him since he was sitting on Boy Blue's chair, Humpty stood up for him but Boy Blue ended up having the two bullies spin him. After Puss witnessed this, he used a spoon and hit Boy Blue and his friends, saving Humpty. After that day, they became friends.
Eventually, Puss found out Humpty's dream to find the Magic beans after learning about it him and Humpty worked together to steal as many beans to find the magic beans. Soon after they turned to teenagers, the dream was put on hold and they soon began their life of stealing they usually ended up getting caught which Imelda tries to convince that they are better than this. 
After Puss saved the Commandant's mother from a bull Puss was rewarded with boots as a symbol of honor but little did Puss know that Humpty was spending his times alone behind bars Puss convinces Humpty that He should stop stealing like Puss but he was too stubborn to listen he soon tricked him into robbing the bank and ended up having to leave Humpty behind. 
After the dance-fight, Humpty appears before Puss asking to be Partners like they used too but Puss still held the grudge he had after he got betrayed by him after Puss joins for San Ricardo and his Mother and a Way to clear his name Puss him and Kitty Softpaws try to steal the Magic beans from Jack & Jill after escaping he planted the seeds and rode on the vine up to the castle. 
After they retrieve the Golden Goose, they camped and soon Humpty and Puss started fighting on who should dance with kitty after they went to sleep. Puss woke up alone thinking that Jack & Jill kidnapped them but when he returned to San Ricardo to find out that Humpty hired Jack and Jill and gets Puss arrested but after Puss escapes prison he asked Humpty to change his ways to return the Goose before the Great terror arrives, but it was already too late as the mama goose arrives. 
Humpty having a change of heart made a plan for Puss to lead the mama Goose to her baby by the San Ricardo bridge but Jack and Jill said they wanted the Goose with the Eggs but was stomped by the Mama Goose. As the bridge collapses Puss and Humpty and the Golden Goose are hanging on the bridge Puss is not leaving Humpty again but as he was about to save Humpty the bridge is breaking piece by piece realizing that Puss would not let go he let go himself saving the Golden goose. After the goose reunites with it's mother Puss finds a Golden egg with pieces of eggshell around it proving that Humpty died. Soon, the mama goose takes the egg with her and flies off.
====Kitty Softpaws====
When Kitty who was masked and Puss in Boots first met, they fought in order to steal magical beans from Jack and Jill but they were found and thrown away. Feeling embarrassed, Puss decided to follow Kitty to find out who she is. But after a fight, he realizes that Humpty Dumpty was with her all the time. At first they felt like partners in completing the mission, but then Puss was filled with love of Kitty. Soon they both fell in love with each other and soon they became a couple.
Though, between Puss in Boots and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, both had broken up before getting married, with Puss being afraid of the uncertainty of marriage and Kitty fearing she could not compete with someone who loved himself more than she ever could. Though the two had a resulting grudge, Puss expresses regret over leaving Kitty at the altar while unaware that she didn't come either. From then on, they seem to have begun the process of rebuilding their relationship, having found trust in each other.
====Dulcinea====
When Puss first met Dulcinea, he instantly took a liking to her, though she found it ridiculous when he learns that she firmly believes in a book that tells hundreds of silly life lessons, but after he accidentally exposes her hometown San Lorenzo to the rest of the world, Puss takes one of her lessons to heart and agrees to stay in her town to protect it.
Puss and Dulcinea are great friends throughout his stay in San Lorenzo , though early on Puss is shown to still harbor deeper romantic feelings for Dulcinea. In the first episode, Hidden, Puss in Boots refers to Dulcinea as a "Beautiful woman out of her element." and clearly he is instantly attracted to her because of her lovely appearance and wonderful personality. He often tries to impress her with feats of agility and strength. Throughout the series, they hugged many times. In the episode 'The Bloodwolf' in the end, Puss and Dulcinea rub noses. In the series they hold hands frequently, also they attempt kissing four times throughout the series. They also become each other's Crispintines (San Lorenzo's version of Valentine Day). Lastly, in the show's finale, they kiss twice (Dulcinea resurrected Puss through her deep love by kissing him on the lips) and ride off into the sunset together they became a couple. Though they parted ways by the time of Shrek 2
====Three Diablos====
When Puss is shown the Three Diablos, he at first thought of them as plain simple kittens, but when they prove to be quite the opposite & bury him underground, he recaptures them. But after learning that they have no mother, he tells them of how Humpty led him down the wrong path, just like their boss did, and offers to teach them to fight for justice.
Upon being at the mercy of the Diablos former master, The Whisperer, they put Puss' lessons to good use and send him off a cliff. Afterwards, he leaves them to be the royal guards of the princess and tearfully tells them how proud he is of them.
====Shrek====
When Puss first met Shrek, he was paid by King Harold to kill him, but after the misunderstanding was revealed he decided to aid him and Donkey on their quest to gain the king's approval, and would go on to join them on future quests much later in their lives.
====Donkey====
Puss in Boots is good friends and seem to be pretty close, their friendship developed by the end of the second film but seemed to be somewhat rivals when they first met. Donkey didn't really trust Puss in Boots at first, considering him as a threat to his position of being Shrek's best friend.
====Princess Fiona====
Puss is shown to be great friends with Fiona, as shown when he is able to find good grounds with her during all the times he's been there for Shrek, and even aids her in her personal stuff and even having letting her adopting her as her pet cat in an alternate timeline.
====King Harold====
Harold first went to puss as an assassin for hire to kill Shrek, he still respects Harold as King of far far away, and pays tribute to him at his funeral when he passed away.
====Arthur Pendragon====
When he first met Arthur, he shows little respect towards due to his dorkiness, but shows he cares for him and explains with Donkey on why Shrek did what he did to protect, convincing him to come back and save them.
====Merlin the Wizard====
Puss has little interactions with the wizard, but after he arrives and shows great anger towards him after he & Donkey learn that he accidentally switched their bodies. 
====Dronkeys====
After learning that Dragon has given birth to babies, Puss is very close to Donkey's kids.
====Ogre Triplets====
After Fergus, Fargo, and Felicia were born at the end of Shrek the Third, they begin to attack him and do it again in Shrek the Halls when the Christmas party began.
====Fairy Tales Creatures====
Puss is show to get along with all of the other Fairy Tales Creatures Shrek has befriended; such as Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, the Big Bad Wolf, the Three Little Pigs and the Three Blind Mice.
====Perrito====
He is best friends with Perrito. Though he was annoyed of him at first, and tells him to leave him alone. Later in the movie, he seems to get less annoyed with Perrito, views him as a friend, and likes the idea of calling the group "Team Friendship." Perrito also helped Puss calm down during his panic attack because since he's up to his last life, he looked behind him and saw Death, causing him to be scared and panic.
===Enemies===
====Death====
Puss often boasted he laughed at the face of Death whenever faced with danger or carelessly squandering his lives, showing utter disrespect towards Death to the extent of not valuing his eight previous lives. When he meets the Wolf for the first time, he initially assumes that he is a bounty hunter but rapidly realizes the said hunter is far more skilled and powerful than expected and is left traumatized after nearly dying from the duel. The encounter traumatized him so much in fact he runs away whenever hearing the Wolf's sinister whistle and even having a panic attack in the process. This fear intensifies when the Wolf reveals himself to be the very thing Puss used to laugh at, to the extent of tempting him into wishing to regain his eight other lives. This fear, however, would later become overtaken by Puss' newly-found resolve to cherish his last life as he now realizes the value it has along with the friends he made. 
After seeing Puss has changed for the better, Death ultimately chooses to spare him and they part ways on better terms, but not before Puss promises to live his last life to the fullest and the Wolf warning him they will meet again.
==Quotes==
==Trivia== 
*Puss in Boots 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. In Shrek the Third, Donkey, while in Puss' body, scratches a D instead.
*, , , , , and were considered for the role of Puss before was cast.
*"Puss" is implied to be Puss's real name, with "Puss in Boots" being given to him because of his signature and iconic boots.
*Puss is allergic to shellfish, which is what cost him his sixth life.
*According to Puss, the claim that all cats land on their feet was a rumor made by dogs. 
**This is proven true during his "death montage", as he jumps off of a tall building while drunk after he says the opposite, leading to his third death.
*Puss appears to wear eyeliner as when he cries when burying his outfit, one can see streaks coming from his lower eyelids like streaking makeup.
*The scene where Puss defeats the Sleeping Giant of Del Mar, particularly when he says "Hey! You wanna see something cool?" before the bell swings in and knocks him out, has become meme. Usually it's where the bell is replaced by something else jumping towards the fourth wall.
*Puss appears as a guest character in one of the videos from food culture Youtube channel "First We Feast", trying out hot wings with a variety of the company's hot sauces while being interviewed on his life.
*In Shrek 2, Puss says he hates Mondays, referring to Garfield who is also an orange cat and who has an aversion to Mondays.
**Also, Puss coming out of Shrek's clothes during their first fight is a reference to the Xenomorph from the Alien franchise.
*Puss in Boots has been speculated to be bisexual by some fans, as his behaviour during his dance-fight with Kitty, even before realizing she's a woman, could be interpreted as flirtatious, with Puss asking her if she "could feel him" being interpreted as a way of Puss attempting to create a romantic atmosphere.
**Additionally in Shrek 2 when hearing Dolores talk about Prince Charming, Puss shows some interest, commenting that he "sounds dreamy".
==Theater==
Puss in Boots makes a silent cameo in the Shrek the Musical song, "Travel Song" as Donkey says "Hey look, a cat that's wearing boots, that's crazy!". Puss tips his hat to Shrek and Donkey and walks off. He is one of the many puppets seen in the song, along with a bunny Shrek scares away and some African-style animals that parody the opening number of "The Lion King".
==Audio Sample==
==External Links==
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