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| “ | You never knew it, Puss... but I was always... there. | „ |
| ~ Humpty Dumpty's most famous line, revealing the lengths of his betrayal to Puss.
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| “ | I know you won't. So I won't make you choose. | „ |
| ~ Humpty's final words to Puss on saving him or saving the Golden Goose's Baby.
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Humpty Alexander Dumpty, more famously known as Humpty Dumpty, is the main antagonist of DreamWorks' 23rd full-length animated feature film Puss in Boots, a spin-off of the Shrek franchise.
He is one of Puss in Boots' best friends after his ordeal in the orphanage which ended when Puss left him to get arrested. After spending time at the San Ricardo prison, Humpty hires Jack and Jill so they can help him retrieve the magic beans to get the Golden Goose and become rich, while planning his revenge against Puss and San Ricardo's population for not treating him well. However, he would soon change his ways after Jack and Jill betrayed him, prompting him to reconcile with Puss again.
He was voiced by Zach Galifianakis, who also played Felix Fischoeder in Bob’s Burgers, the Joker in The Lego Batman Movie,, Alan Garner in The Hangover trilogy, and Dr. Jumba Jookiba in the 2025 live-action remake of Disney's Lilo & Stitch.
Personality[]
| “ | Humpty Dumpty: I'm so sorry, Puss. I made a mess out of everything. I'm a rotten egg. No... I'm not a person. I'm not a bird. I'm not even a food. I don't know what I am. Puss in Boots: You are what you have always been to me: my brother. Humpty Dumpty: Brothers forever. |
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| ~ Humpty showing remorse for his actions to Puss. |
Being a mastermind, Humpty is a very ingenious and manipulative trickster who can invent extraordinary devices and manipulate unwitting people like Puss into doing his dirty work. He is also quite selfish and somewhat backstabbing, despite his intellect, Humpty was still very foolish to betray Puss and had him framed for his crime and later accusing Puss of betraying when it was he who betrayed him and his own fault for making him a look like a criminal and later got the town destroyed just because he did not want to return the goose. Despite his bad qualities, Humpty has a heart of gold and considers Puss a brother; he even sacrificed himself to help save the town after finally releasing his foolish actions. He is also very shown to be a dependable hero.
Biography[]
Early Years[]
Humpty is an anthropomorphic egg who lived in the town of San Ricardo. His lack of parents caused him to be adopted by Mama Imelda, and live in her orphanage. At some point, Humpty gained a fascination with the tale of "Jack and the Beanstalk", seeking to find the magic beans necessary to grow the beanstalk to get to The Giant's Castle.
One day, an orange kitten joined the orphanage, having been sent to San Ricardo after traveling across the desert in an orange basket case. When the cat was bullied by Little Boy Blue and his friends, Humpty stood up for him, causing the gang to turn onto the egg until the cat heroically manages stopping them. The cat eventually followed Humpty, who explained his dreams of recovering the magic beans. The cat, who spoke little, was then named "Puss" by Humpty. Not long after this, at a tree near the outskirts of town, the two looked at the clouds while Humpty told Puss how he longed to reach The Giant's Castle, emphasizing that he felt he belong up there. The two then decided to work together in their effort to find the magic beans. The two would grow together, and come to consider each other brothers.
As the years passed with their life together and both became teenagers, their attempt to find the magic beans would fail. They would become rebellious and reckless, much to the chagrin of Imelda.
One day, the two would retreat to a rooftop, where Humpty explained how he was fed up with having to live in the orphanage and threw a rock out of frustration. This inadvertently damaged a lock on a pin encasing a bull. Breaking free, the bull immediately began charging at the local Comandante's mother. Upon instinct, Puss leapt into action before Humpty could stop him and steered the bull away from the old lady. The result of this was Puss being praised as a hero by the residents of the town, and be gifted his iconic boots.
Humpty, however, continued rebelling to the point where he was sent to prison. This caused conflict between the two brothers, which culminated in an argument where Puss proclaimed he would never steal again since now that he's a hero.
Unbeknownst to Puss, Humpty considered this unacceptable and became determined to regain Puss' loyalty by any means possible. One night soon after this, Humpty woke Puss, claiming Little Boy Blue and his gang were after him.
He led Puss into town, where Humpty implored his friend to help him scale a large wall to hide. But Puss soon discovered that Humpty had tricked him into helping him get into the San Ricardo Bank to rob it (hoping that stealing the money and leaving town would convince Puss to regain his loyalty to Humpty & this their fortunate chance to get themselves to the beans for the beanstalk to benefit their lvies together). Believing that Puss had reverted to his former ways, The Commandante and his men pursued the duo.
As they neared the bridge at the edge of town, their wagon collapsed, causing the money to fall into the river below thus leaving the entire town broke.
With knocking Puss and Humpty to the ground. Humpty, unable to get up pleaded for Puss to help him. But Puss, enraged by Humpty's betrayal for tricking him into committing a robbery then abandoned him to be captured by the guards while he escaped.
In the years that followed, Humpty's capture would go on to become a famous nursery rhyme, while he himself was trapped in prison. Angry and hurt by Puss' betrayal, Humpty would be consumed with the desire to enact revenge on his former brother. After stealing the magic beans from Andy "Jack" Beanstalk (who happened to be his cellmate), began working his scheme to get back at Puss and the town of San Ricardo. Upon being released from prison, Humpty hired the murderous outlaws Jack and Jill, as well as Kitty Softpaws (the "softest touch in Spain").
Puss in Boots[]
In order to ensure Puss would fall for his trap, Humpty would begin hiring local criminals to pass on rumours to Puss about the beans and how they had been recovered by Jack and Jill. He would then follow Puss throughout his adventure to ensure he would act as intended (such as ending up in the proper tavern, meeting Kitty, and agreeing to pursue Jack and Jill). His plan came to fruition when he sent Kitty to stage a failed attempt to steal the beans from the two outlaws.
Enraged at how Kitty had "ruined his score", Puss chased Kitty back to The Glitter Box (a club that catered to cats), where the two engaged in a dance battle, which abruptly ended when Puss hit her in the head with a guitar. Upon realizing Kitty is a girl, he follows the retreating feline, attempting to apologize. He then comes across Humpty, who attempts to convince Puss to help him in his quest to recover the beans and reach the giant's castle.
Despite the egg's pleas, Puss adamantly refuses to work with him, feeling that his past betrayal was unforgivable. Worried that the plan will fail if Puss doesn't join them, Humpty sends Kitty to convince Puss. The two talk and Puss expresses his mistrust of Humpty and recounts his life with him in San Ricardo. Humpty then appears and feigns remorse, claiming he intends to atone by using some of The Golden Goose's eggs to pay back the citizens of San Ricardo, clearing Puss' name. This is enough to finally get Puss to join them.
After Humpty and the others stage a chase where they seemingly steal the beans, Puss, Humpty, and Kitty travel to the spot where they must plant the beans. After planting them and growing the beanstalk, the trio infiltrate The Giant's Castle, where Humpty dons a suit that will make him appear to be one of the goose's eggs. He explains that The Giant is no longer a threat, as it was slain by Jack years ago, but they must still be cautious as The Golden Goose is guarded by a fearsome monster called "The Great Terror". The three ultimately manage to steal The Goose (revealed to be merely a gosling) and escape the castle.
Content with their victory, the three celebrate in the desert below the beanstalk. Puss, who has developed a mutual love for Kitty, tries to convince her to leave with him after they deliver the eggs. But not wanting his scheme to be compromised, Humpty warns Kitty not to get distracted by her feelings for Puss.As the three prepare for sleep, Jack and Jill arrive, and (on orders from Humpty), knock Puss unconscious. Humpty then has them transport The Golden Goose and her eggs back to San Ricardo, while he uses breadcrumbs to lure birds to Puss' body to ensure they wake him up.
Humpty's golden egg attire, as he looks upon the Golden Goose.
When Puss awakens, he tracks Jack and Jill back to San Ricardo, where Humpty finally reveals that he orchestrated the whole ordeal. He explains to Puss that he is still furious at him for abandoning him on the bridge, and blames him for his time in prison. Wanting Puss to experience the same pain, he summons the guards to arrest Puss, which is successful, thanks to the Imelda pleading for Puss to answer for his crime. Under the pretense of wanting to atone for his past crime, Humpty would then distribute The Goose's golden eggs to the locals in San Ricardo, gaining their trust and admiration.
However, in prison, Puss learns that Jack had left The Golden Goose in the castle years ago because he realized that The Great Terror (in reality, The Golden Goose's mother) would destroy everything in her path to reclaim her baby. Jack had warned Humpty about this, but he had still gone after the beans. It is then Puss realizes Humpty's true motivation for stealing The Golden Goose was to lure The Great Terror to San Ricardo so she could destroy the town and everyone in it.
In the tower where he and Puss originally used as their childhood hideout for their secret group "Bean Club", Humpty smiles while watching the town and anticipating the culmination of his revenge. He briefly has a moment of lingering sorrow when he comes across a drawing made by him and Puss as children. Humpty attempts to depart with The Golden Goose, but is stopped by Puss, who managed to escape from prison with the help of a penitent Kitty. Puss pleads with Humpty to stop, expressing that the people of San Ricardo shouldn't be punished. It is then that Humpty reveals that his feelings of betrayal actually started when Puss had become a hero, feeling that his only friend had chosen the town where he never felt home over him. Puss apologizes for the pain he caused Humpty, assuring him he still believes in him and convincing the egg to help him save the town.
Using The Golden Goose as bait, Puss and Humpty lure The Great Terror to edge of town, but are interrupted by Jack and Jill, who have decided to steal The Goose for themselves. While Kitty saves the two from the outlaws, they are unable to outrun The Great Terror, who collapses on the same bridge that Puss had abandoned Humpty on years ago.
As the bridge crumbles around them, Humpty and The Golden Goose (who is unable to fly yet) fall of the edge, only suspended by a single rope that Puss desperately holds on to. As the combined weight causes the rope to fray, Humpty comes to the realization that Puss can only save one of them. He apologizes to Puss for all that he put him through and lets go of the rope into killing himself (thus made Puss terribly horrified), sacrificing himself for the sake of the town.
Although the rope ends up snapping, Puss still manages to heroically rescue The Goose and returns it to its mother. Upon looking over the edge, Puss sees that inside of Humpty's cracked shell was actually revealed to be an inanimate golden egg, proving Puss' belief that he was "a good egg" after all and has reconnected his relationship with Humpty after all even though he had died. The Great Terror takes her baby and also along with Humpty's remains then flies back to The Giant's castle. This Puss emotionally farewells Humpty and watches them fly off.
Following by Humpty's death but was a saved soul, Puss is hailed as a hero throughout San Ricardo. However, as he is still regarded as an outlaw, by the authorities, he is forced to flee once again. Kitty helps Puss escape the guards, and assures him that she will see him again soon, revealing that she mischievously has stolen his boots.
Humpty is last shown with his shell restored, wearing his golden egg suit as he rides The Great Terror into the clouds.
Trivia[]
- The finality of Humpty's death is a point of debate among the fanbase, as some believe the epilogue demonstrates that he was resurrected following the fall, while others believe this was simply meant to be non-canon ending sequence to accompany the credits. Humpty's appearance in the credits could also be symbolic of Humpty ascending to heaven after redeeming himself.
- One aspect that foreshadows Humpty Dumpty's villainous nature is during the scene when he, Puss and Kitty Softpaws escape the Great Terror's castle with the Golden Goose, he makes eye contact with the gosling's mother and yells "She's mine now!", despite previously telling Puss and Kitty to not make any eye contact with her, implying that he was only using Puss and Kitty for his own personal gain.
- Another Humpty Dumpty appears as a playable character in Shrek SuperSlam, released six years before Puss in Boots. His tombstone also appeared in Shrek 4-D, which in retrospective, may be an indicator that he might have passed away or had what little remained of him buried there.
- Humpty is the first main antagonist in the Shrek franchise to not be a human or magical human being. By contrast, he's also the first among them to redeem himself in the end.
- Ironically, both his former henchmen, Jack and Jill, are full-fledged humans.
- He is the first DreamWorks main antagonist to not be based off a living being, given that he's a humanoid egg.
- Humpty is currently the only main antagonist in the Shrek film franchise who does not have any tyrannical plans, as his main goal is to simply get back at Puss.
- In the original film, Lord Farquaad attempts to take over the kingdom of Duloc by trying to marry Princess Fiona.
- In Shrek 2, the Fairy Godmother wants her son Prince Charming to take Fiona away from Shrek so that the duo would rule over the kingdom of Far Far Away.
- In Shrek the Third, Charming himself would later continue his mother's plans by taking over Far Far Away all by himself.
- In Shrek Forever After, Rumpelstiltskin succeeded in ruling over Far Far Away in an alternate timeline.
- In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Big Jack Horner attempts to conquer the entire world by using the Wishing Star.
External Links[]
- Humpty Alexander Dumpty on the Heroes Wiki
- Humpty Alexander Dumpty on the Shrek Wiki
- Humpty Alexander Dumpty on the Magnificent Baddie Wiki
- Humpty Alexander Dumpty on the DreamWorks Wiki
- Humpty Alexander Dumpty on the Universal Studios Wiki
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 Villains
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San Ricardo Jack Horner Pie Co. The Three Bears Crime Family Netherworld San Lorenzo Del Mar Others See Also | ||