Rumpelstiltskin (Shrek)

**Rumpelstiltskin** (also known as Rumpel Stiltskin, Mr. Stilskin or simply Rumpel) is the main antagonist of the 2010 Dreamworks Animation film Shrek Forever After (which is the sequel to the first three Shrek films). He is a magical deal maker who plans to take over Far Far Away in which was ruined thanks to Shrek rescuing Fiona from the Dragon's keep. Because of this, Rumpel decided to trick Shrek into signing him a contract that takes him to an alternative universe where Shrek himself never existed. He is also Fifi's owner and boss.

He was voiced by Walt Dohrn.

## Shrek Forever After

Rumpel is first seen saying his name as well as King Harold and Queen Lillian arriving to him in order to sign a contract with him in order to save their daughter Fiona (despite their deal with the Fairy Godmother and aware that Rumpelstilskin wants to take over Far Far Away). At first, Harold was about to sign the contract, he and Lillian were informed by one of their servants that Fiona has been saved by Shrek. Since signing the contact is now pointless, Harold happily rips the contact in front of Rumpel. During the beginning of the film, Rumpel (narrating the scene) was very angry that his plan failed thanks to Shrek which makes him rip off almost all the pages of the book. Rumpel is then kicked out of the bookstore by Pinocchio and also says that he wishes Shrek was never born (in which later foreshadowing the entire plot of the film).

When Shrek and Fiona had an argument after Shrek himself angrily destroys the birthday cake, Rumpel spies on them and discovered that Shrek is feeling frustrated that he is no longer feared as an ogre and wishes that things to go back to the way they were even before rescuing Fiona. Deciding to get his chance, Rumpel fakes an accident with his carriage and eventually has Shrek helping him. Rumpel then tells him that he can give him a ride, inviting him to a roast rat for dinner and offers that will let Shrek be a real ogre like he used to be for a day in exchange of one day from his past, specifically a day he does not remember. Shrek signs the contract and gets send into an alternative universe where he doesn't exist.

Shrek was briefly having fun being feared by villagers until he got caught by witches who are turned out to be Rumpel's minions. When the witches take Shrek to Far Far Away (in which it turns out that Rumpelstiltskin took over it and has ogres as his slaves), Rumpel reveals to Shrek that thanks to Shrek himself never existing, Rumpel succeeded his plan and tricked King Harold and Queen Lillian into signing the contract which made them disappear as well as revealing that the fact he took the day Shrek was born and because of that, he never met Fiona and his children don't exist and Shrek will disappear when the day is over. Angered by Rumpel's actions, Shrek almost attacked Rumpelstiltskin as well as defeating some of the witches and escaping Rumpel's castle alongside an alternative universe version of Donkey. Angry that Shrek escaped, Rumpel order Big Bad Wolf to put his angry wig of his head.

Rumpelstiltskin then has a meeting with his minions (the witches) about preventing Shrek from kissing Fiona by sunrise. After hearing one of the ideas from the witches which is hiring a bounty hunter, Rumpel finds it a good idea as well as ordering Baba to hire a bounty hunter in order to stop Shrek. Later, Pied Piper is hired although the witches make fun of him in which cause Rumpel to order Piper to troll the witches. After that, Pied Piper left in order to find Shrek although he failed to catch him and Fiona despite capturing the other ogres. Rumpel found this out later and got angry at Pied Piper for failing to catch Shrek and Fiona.

Rumpel came up with another plan of preventing Shrek from successfully kissing Fiona by sunrise by telling the kingdom's citizens that if they take Shrek towards him, they will receive a "Deal of Lifetime". Once Shrek hears of this from Gingy, he turns himself to get this deal, and because of that, he has Rumpel free all the ogres, through it reveals that Rumpel has capture Fiona and still had her lock up (as she is the one Shrek needs in order to get his life and she is not an ogre at all) as well as locking up Shrek too. He then tried to feed Shrek and Fiona to Dragon (who has never met Shrek and Donkey in the alternative universe and is now an antagonist just like in the first film). However, Donkey, Puss in Boots, and the ogres arrive and fight Rumpelstiltskin and his witches. Rumpel and Fifi tries to escape, but Shrek and Fiona, having defeat Dragon pull Fifi down and defeat Rumpel.

Despite Rumpel being defeated, the day is over, and Shrek is starting to disappear as the sun is about to rise. However, Fiona (who now loves Shrek) kisses him before he vanishes. Much to everyone's surprise, Fiona is still an ogre which shows that the kiss work and her curse is gone. Thanks to this, the alternative universe gets destroyed and everyone (expect Rumpelstiltskin) disappears, leaving Rumpelstiltskin alone. Shrek and Rumpel are then seen back to the original timeline and the day where Shrek lost his temper at his kids' birthday party. Rumpel is last seen being locked up in a cage at the Shrek's swamp in the end credits and seeing Fiona making Fifi explode by singing so loud (similar to the bluebird scene in the first Shrek film) He is then tormented by the Pied Piper, being forced to dance in the cage.

## Personality

Rumpel is described as a devious, deceitful, sinister, manipulative, and power-hungry con artist. He will do anything to gain power and get what he wants, as he even lies to King Harold and Queen Lillian about helping them to end Fiona's curse to get to their throne. He also throws a fit of rage which is shown when he learns that Shrek rescue Fiona from the Dragon's keep and Harold ripping the contract in front of his face and when he founds out from Pied Piper that Shrek and Fiona are almost together. However, despite this, He does love his pet goose Fifi as he pampers him a lot as well as even saying "Fifi!" after noticing him disappearing due to the alternative universe getting destroyed and the kiss work and being horrified when he explodes to death.

Rumpel is also shown to be a charismatic and comedic villain, as he has a good sense of humor although his comedic moments don't detract from his crimes and as well also not excusing his actions.

## Trivia

* Originally, Walt Dohrn was meant to do a scratch track for Rumpelstiltskin and a professional actor was going to voice the character. However, Dohrn's performance as Rumpelstiltskin during the storyboard pitches are so well-loved that he wound up officially casted for the role.
* Rumpelstiltskin borrows elements from the main antagonists of the previous Shrek films.
	+ He is short, rules an empire (in the alternative universe) and is desperate for power, much like Lord Farquaad, the main antagonist of the first Shrek movie.
	+ Rumpelstiltskin has magical powers that he can use for others but can also use for his own personal gain in some way, just like the Fairy Godmother, the main antagonist of Shrek 2.
	+ Rumpelstiltskin had his life ruined thanks to Shrek rescuing Fiona from the Dragon and of course marrying her and plans to rule Far Far Away as well as also got to rule there (in the alternative universe), like Prince Charming, the secondary antagonist of Shrek 2 and the main antagonist of Shrek the Third.

* Rumpel is the only main antagonist in a Shrek film not to die in the end since Lord Farquaad and The Fairy Godmother get killed during the previous films' climaxes although it is debatable if Prince Charming survive his defeat or not.
	+ Rumpel is also the only main antagonist in the Shrek films to appear as a villain in a fairytale since the Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming are usually good in their fairytales (which precisely explains why all the fairytale villains deemed Charming to their Poison Apple Club before he managed to rally them (despite them allowing Charming, the Fairy Godmother and King Harold discuss about their plans at the place in the second film) and Lord Farquaad is just an original character to Shrek franchise.
* It is possible that Rumpelstiltskin's name is actually two names "Rumpel Stiltskin". This is supported by many characters abbreviating his name "Rumpel" or Stiltskin".
* Another Rumpelstiltskin appeared in Shrek the Third and was voiced by Conrad Vernon, and he was one of the many fairy tales villains recruited by Prince Charming to help him take over Far Far Away and have his revenge on Shrek for his mother's death. However, he's different from the one that appeared in Shrek Forever After as he had a different appearance and different personality, he also redeemed himself in the end. Thus, it's possible that Dreamworks simply forgot about Rumpelstilskin's appearance in the third film when they decided to include him in the fourth film.
	+ However, the Shrek the Third version of Rumpelstiltskin did appear in the opening sequence in one of the pages of the book the film's Rumpelstiltskin is narrating/reading, accompanied by some of the third film's redeemed villains in the illustration. As such, its commonly assumed by fans that, given the third film's Rumpel have his own original fairy tale story while the fourth film's Rumpel doesn't, the one from the Shrek the Third is the real Rumpelstiltskin while in one in Shrek Forever After is an imposter.
	+ It should be also noted Rumpel's appearance is different in some adaptations of the fairy tale of the same name by the Brothers Grimm which pretty much makes it debatable which one is the real Rumpelstiltskin.
	+ Concept art of the fourth film shows that Rumpelstiltskin would have initially bared some resemblance to the Rumpelstiltskin that appeared in Shrek the Third, though he would have been redesigned with a rat face and tail.
	+ Coincidentally, this thing also happens to the Three Bears from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish despite that the Three Bears already appeared in the first Shrek film.