Puss in Boots (Shrek)

Puss in Boots “Fear me, if you dare!” ― Puss in Boots • Various Gender: Male Type: Legendary daring and heroic outlaw Species: Cat Portrayed by: Antonio Banderas André Soguillzo (video games) Eric Bauza (The Adventures of Puss in Boots) Frank Welker (meowing sound effects) Status: Alive Media of origin: Shrek 2

“Pray for mercy from Puss in Boots!”
― Puss in Boots • Various

Puss in Boots is a major character from the Shrek franchise, and the titular main protagonist of his own franchise spun-off from Shrek.

Why He is Our Favorite Fearless Hero

1. Puss is characterized as a suave, charismatic, flirtatious, and daring hero, who enjoys basking in the glory of his legend. Much like Darkwing Duck, Mao Mao, and LEGO Batman, he is a bit full of himself, but that's part of what makes him a fun protagonist.
   • His personality bounces off well with the character he interacts with, like Shrek, Donkey, Kitty, and Perrito.
2. He is capable of fighting opponents bigger than himself, from ogres to giants to the literal personification of Death itself, with his skill, cunning, and agility. That, coupled with him being a little cat, makes him even cooler.
3. Although he is an expert thief, he has a strict moral code and refuses to rob churches and orphanages, yet happily robs from those who don't need their riches, or misuse them, such as Jack and Jill or the Governor of Del Mar. In his debut, he is also willing to risk his life for Shrek, because he felt indebted to him for sparing his life.
4. He has a great character arc in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, of him learning to embrace his mortality and enjoy the one last life he has left with the people in it who he cares about. Upon given the choice to fight off Death or wish for more lives, Puss thinks back to what he's experienced and came to cherish reuniting with Kitty and his friendship with Perrito, so he choses to fight. Upon disarming Death, Puss admits he'd never truly defeat him yet will fight for his last life. This earns Puss a chance to live his last life out to its fullest, accepting that he will die for real someday, and spend his last life with the people he cares for over being a legend.
5. Look at him! He's adorable in his wee little boots! How many cats can wear boots? Honestly?
6. In Shrek SuperSlam, he is a fun playable character with his adorable eyes trick as his Slam.
7. Antonio Banderas voiced him well in both English and Spanish.
8. Unlike other characters in Shrek the Third, he wasn’t flanderized and got to be the same Puss we know and love despite not doing much in the movie.

The Only Bad Quality

1. He was a bit arrogant, self-centered, irresponsible in the beginning and wasted his eight lives due to his arrogance and bravado clouding his judgement. This is what causes Death to go after Puss personally for wasting those lifes and challenges him to a duel and forces Puss to retreat after backing him into a corner. He does get better with his character arc later on.

Trivia

• In Shrek 2, when Shrek grabs Puss, he mentions his parents. However, it is revealed in his first film that Puss is an orphan. Ignoring the more likely reason for this inconsistency of a simple retcon, this could've been Puss lying to draw sympathy out of Shrek.
• Puss's characterization heavily draws inspiration from/parodies Zorro (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 moves.
• He hates Mondays, just like another familiar orange cat.

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