When DreamWorks first cast Antonio Banderas in Puss in Boots back in 2004, they thought they were just making a funny little Zorro joke. They had no idea they were creating an icon. It’s been over twenty years since that orange tabby first stepped onto the screen in Shrek 2, and honestly, it’s hard to tell where the actor ends and the cat begins anymore.
Banderas didn't just show up and read lines. He fundamentally changed how that character was written. Originally, the creators envisioned Puss with a high-pitched, squeaky voice—the classic "small animal, tiny voice" trope. Banderas hated it. He suggested going deep. He wanted that smooth, gravelly, Spanish-lover tone that felt completely ridiculous coming out of a kitten. It worked perfectly.
The Zorro Connection That Changed Everything
You probably know that Puss is basically a parody of Zorro. That was the whole point of hiring Antonio Banderas in the first place. He’d just finished The Mask of Zorro, and the animators actually studied his movements in that movie to figure out how a cat would hold a rapier.
But here’s the thing: Puss in Boots became more famous than the character he was parodying. Most kids today know Banderas as the cat, not the masked vigilante.
Why the Voice Matters
Voice acting is usually done in a booth, alone, staring at a script. But Banderas treats it like a physical performance. He’s known for being incredibly loud and energetic in the recording studio.
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- He voices the character in English.
- He voices the character in Spanish (both the Castilian and Latin American dubs).
- He even voices the character in Italian.
That’s rare. Usually, studios hire local voice actors for international releases, but Banderas is so protective of Puss that he insists on doing it himself whenever he can. It gives the character a consistent soul across the globe.
What Really Happened with The Last Wish
Fast forward to 2022. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish comes out and catches everyone off guard. It wasn't just another goofy sequel. It was dark. It was about death.
There’s a reason Antonio Banderas’ performance felt so raw in that movie. In 2017, the actor suffered a massive heart attack. He’s spoken openly about how that changed his life—how it made him "reorder" what was important. When he saw the script for The Last Wish, where Puss is down to his final life and literally running away from the Grim Reaper, it hit home.
The scene where Puss has a panic attack in the woods? That’s not just "acting." Banderas channeled his own fear of mortality into that cat. He said in interviews that it was one of the best things that ever happened to him because it gave him a new perspective, and you can hear that shift in the character's voice. Puss went from a cocky caricature to a vulnerable, scared, and ultimately more heroic figure.
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The Shrek 5 Uncertainty
Everyone is asking: Is he coming back?
As of early 2026, the status of Antonio Banderas in Puss in Boots for the upcoming Shrek 5 is a bit of a mystery. Eddie Murphy has already confirmed he’s started recording lines for Donkey, but Banderas told Parade recently that he hasn't been called yet.
"I’m not so far, and I’m not being called for that," Banderas said. "But I am totally satisfied with the five Puss in Boots that I did. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future."
That sounds a bit ominous, right? But let’s be real—could you imagine anyone else doing that voice? Eric Bauza voices the character in the Netflix series The Adventures of Puss in Boots, and he does a great impression, but for a big-budget theatrical release, fans expect the real deal.
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What You Can Do Now
If you’re a fan of Banderas' work as the swashbuckling feline, there are a few things you should check out to see the full range of the character beyond the main films:
- Watch the '9 Lives in 90 Seconds' Featurette: It’s Banderas basically doing a comedy routine while summarizing the entire franchise history. It shows just how much he loves the role.
- Re-watch Shrek 2 in Spanish: Even if you don't speak the language, hearing Banderas' nuances in his native tongue gives the character a different energy.
- Look for the Scrapped Concept Art: Early designs of Puss looked nothing like the suave hero we know today. Seeing the evolution makes you realize how much the "Zorro" influence (and Banderas’ personality) saved the character from being a generic sidekick.
The legacy of Puss in Boots isn't just about the boots or the hat. It’s about a man who took a small role in a sequel and turned it into a two-decade-long career defining performance. Whether he returns for the next Shrek movie or not, Antonio Banderas has already made sure that this cat will live forever.
To get the most out of the franchise's recent evolution, compare the vocal performance in the original 2011 Puss in Boots with the 2022 The Last Wish. Notice the subtle deepening and the slower pacing Banderas uses in the sequel to reflect the character's aging and newfound fear. This transition is a masterclass in how an actor can grow alongside an animated character over twenty years.