n a faraway time in a magical town, everyone lived in happiness and harmony, even the orphans who were sheltered there. It was all protected by a legendary treasure that kept the town hidden from the world. Then came Puss in Boots – and the cat let everything out of the bag. One false move paves the way for an incredible tale and sets the stage for DreamWorks Animation’s The Adventures of Puss in Boots, an all-new Netflix original series that debuts Jan. 16.

TREASURE AND ADVENTURE fabulous and fabled treasure has always been at the heart of the town of San Lorenzo – a treasure with magical powers that helps protect the town from intrusion. The trove of magical jewels, coins and precious items provides a cloak of invisibility for quirky San Lorenzans. By accident, Puss in Boots finds his own passage into the town, and while touring the treasure, his paws get a little sticky. No one could possibly miss one stray gold coin – it’s really just a souvenir, he figures. But he figures wrong. His small misdeed turns out to have big consequences, because by taking the coin, Puss in Boots lifts the spell that has kept San Lorenzo hidden and safe for hundreds of years. Until Puss in Boots is able to restore the spell, he must assume the role of protector against all threats for the sake of the town’s sheltered, lovable inhabitants and its renowned treasure. His quest to undo the damage forms the story of The Adventures of Puss in Boots. The series is Puss in Boots’ first starring TV role – and a swashbuckling adventurecomedy series unlike anything viewers have encountered. “This is a comedy show, but it’s filled with lots of adventure and wild characters,” says executive producer Doug Langdale. “Puss in Boots is a hero – so, naturally, our show really focuses on how he saves the people of this magical town and defeats the bad guys, and there’s lots of swordplay and combat action. But at its heart the show is a great ensemble character comedy that explores new aspects of the character of Puss in Boots.” Each episode, Langdale says, is a self-contained story, rife with the hallmarks of the series: adventure, humor and visual flair. But over time, viewers will also discover there’s an even deeper story to be savored, one that blends fantasy with fun and explores a vast and rich world filled with untold legends. Much like Puss himself, there is more to The Adventures of Puss in Boots than meets the eye ... but it all begins when Puss sets foot (and boot) in the town square of San Lorenzo.

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

HEROES, VILLAINS AND THIEVES eeling a sense of responsibility for his faux pa(w)s, Puss makes San Lorenzo his new home, and it’s in the Mediterranean-tinged village that he must learn to stand his ground and face whatever foes may come his way. Puss commits his intellect, resourcefulness and trusty sword to protect the town. He has no lack of action: Villains and thieves approach from every direction, ensuring the feline hero a constant array of challenges – dangerous and hilarious alike. Along with the residents of San Lorenzo and the mystical beings who live nearby, the ensemble is as varied as it is comedic – humans, animals and even famous names from fairy tales and nursery rhymes all comfortably coexist. From cats and cows to pigs and a hairless, winged sphinx, they are a diverse lot, as different at sight as they are in personality. “This is a town that is, at its core, odd and quirky” Langdale said. “The townspeople have been isolated from the world for a long time, so they’ve gotten kind of weird.”

ECCENTRIC MAGIC AND INSPIRED IMAGINATION hat eccentricity has allowed Langdale and his creative team enormous leeway to utilize the latest technologies to craft a singular look and memorable setting for The Adventures of Puss in Boots. San Lorenzo itself has a rustic charm mixed with storybook creativity that will wow viewers’ eyes with cinematic flair. “Technology has improved so much in such a short time that we’re able to do some truly amazing things in television animation,” Langdale says. “As recently as our series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, we couldn’t digitally create fur. Now the technology is so good, we’re putting fur on things that don’t even need it! “The production values are really high on The Adventures of Puss in Boots. Everyone is going above and beyond to make the series shine.” Not surprisingly, a magical town has no shortage of magical effects. “The show is filled with magic,” Langdale says. “There’s fire and explosions and magical blasts – we’ve even got a tornado in one episode that looks absolutely amazing.” Most importantly, the series offers an altogether new perspective on the legendary reputation of the swashbuckling feline. “He’s been a nomad and a loner to this point,” Langdale says. “That’s why this is a pivotal time in Puss’ life, a time when he learns how to get along with other people, and comes to understand the value of friendships and relationships.”

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

SMALL CAT, BIG HEART any of the jokes about Puss in Boots play on his size – he’s small in stature but huge in personality. The juxtaposition offers a wealth of fun for writers and animators alike in crafting stories about the sword-fighting cat. “On the surface, Puss is the coolest guy in the world,” Langdale says. “He’s great at everything, he saves and protects people, he seems like he can defeat anyone. But because he’s tiny, he’s got this wonderful vulnerability. Ultimately, he’s just a regular-sized cat in a people-sized world. It’s his elephant-sized personality – all that charm, charisma and appeal – that makes you feel like you can go anywhere with this guy, and the audience will follow.” While the series is comedy-driven, Langdale says one of the key differences between the Puss audiences know from his Oscar®-nominated film and the Puss seen in The Adventures of Puss in Boots is the physical, actionfocused flavor of the series. “Puss is in physical danger and fights a lot more than in the movies,” he says. “The film depicted him as no stronger than an average cat, but we like to amp up the adventure. So we’ve played him more as a master swordsman with lots of extra punching, kicking and action.”

IMPRESSIVE PEDIGREE he Adventures of Puss in Boots is also packed with the unique sense of humor and heart for which animation veteran Langdale is known. He’s the writer of the Golden Globe-nominated theatrical film The Book of Life and also created the hit TV series Dave the Barbarian and The Weekenders. From his work on Darkwing Duck to current hits like 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (for which he’s been a part of three Emmy writing nominations), Langdale has helped create some of the most memorable moments in television animation. Lane Lueras (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Iron Giant) serves as primary director for The Adventures of Puss in Boots; Kory Heinzen (Shrek, Madagascar) is art director. The writing staff, headed by story editor Greg White (MAD, Brickleberry, Wonder Over Yonder, Ugly Americans), includes such notable names as Thrilling Adventure Hour creators Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, Jesse Porter ($#*! My Dad Says); Darkwing Duck creator and Disney Afternoons icon Tad Stones and Candie Kelty Langdale (Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright) have contributed episodes as well. The voice cast runs the gamut of experience from longtime animation notables and stand-up comedians to stars of primetime television and feature films. Led by Eric Bauza (The Book of Life, Turbo FAST, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Puss in Boots; the cast also features Jayma Mays (Glee, Getting On) as Dulcinea; Paul Rugg (Animaniacs, Freakazoid!) as Artephius; Carla Jimenez (Nacho Libre) as Señora Zapata; Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) as Mayor Temeroso; Laraine Newman (Saturday Night Live) as Pajuna; Joshua Rush (Mr. Peabody & Sherman) as Toby; Grey Griffin (The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends) as Vina and Sphinx; Candi Milo (Dexter’s Laboratory) as Kid Pickles; John Leguizamo (Ice Age, Moulin Rouge!) as Jack Sprat; and Danny Trejo (Machete, The Book of Life) as El Moco.

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

THE CHARACTERS USS IN BOOTS His name is legendary, his swordsmanship is renowned and his ability to cough up hairballs is seemingly limitless. He is Puss in Boots, the world’s most famous fortunehunting feline. Puss in Boots is the hero of our story – even if he was the catalyst for the villains arriving in the first place. Blessed with irresistible charm, cunning ingenuity and unparalleled swordsmanship, Puss in Boots has gone from happy wanderer to having found a home amidst the quirky villagers he’s now sworn to protect in San Lorenzo.

ULCINEA The embodiment of everything innocent, naïve and pure, Dulcinea lives her life by the wisdom of a book she found when she was very young. The sweet cat just never realized it was a book of nursery rhymes – though the lines always seem to apply to the goings-on. Dulcinea works as a teacher in the orphanage and is more than a little fond of Puss. She sees only the good in him, but Dulcinea is not simply a “fangirl.” She and Puss become great friends – and, over time, partners in protecting the town.

RTEPHIUS

EÑORA ZAPATA

An elderly alchemist with a tendency toward forgetfulness, Artephius spends most of his time making macramé owls for the little shop he runs in the town. He possesses great magical talent and is source of knowledge to Puss – when he can remember what’s fact and what’s fiction (or, for that matter, anything at all).

AYOR TEMEROSO Timid town politician who, despite his bulky figure and imposing physique, spends most of his time hiding in barrels, afraid of just about everything.

Administrator of the town’s orphanage, Señora Zapata is the beloved (though sometimes cranky) surrogate parental figure to the town’s orphaned children.

AJUNA Local cantina owner, and supplier of Puss’ favorite leche, Pajuna is a Scottish cow with a shady past. She occasionally lets slip intriguing tidbits from her background like, “So, when I was an assassin for the King …”

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

THE CHARACTERS HE ORPHANS TOBY, the biggest and goofiest of the orphans is a strong and sweet but slightly dim-witted pig who idolizes Puss – so much that Toby has convinced himself that he and Puss are best friends. VINA is a slightly older human child with a fondness for facts that she has clearly made up, and has no consciousness of personal boundaries. Toby has no idea that Vina is in love with him. KID PICKLES is a Runyon-esque human, 11 years old with a huge appetite for pickles. ESME is a too-adorable-for-words 5-year-old human, and CLEEVIL is a street-smart goblin girl in her early teens who joins the group once Puss in Boots discovers that she, like himself, is an orphan.

PHINX

ACK SPRAT

The Sphinx is part Valley Girl, part hipster, part all-powerful magical creature, rolled into the pierced, tattooed body of a hairless, winged cat. She’s tasked with protecting the enchanted “Hourglass of Eurythion” – but she’s a little ambivalent about her job.

HE DUCHESS One of the series’ recurring villains, The Duchess has a romantic past with Artephius that didn’t end well. Now, she steals the souls of magicians and sorcerers, using their powers as her own. Duchess also has a bit of a skewed history with Puss: A past altercation resulted in Puss cutting off one of Duchess’s feet. She hasn’t forgotten.

One of Puss’s oldest friends, Jack is more con man than adventurer – and their wild-at-heart outings usually put Puss in hot water. Regardless of the tricks and double-crosses, Puss is forgiving of his lovable rogue pal.

L MOCO The bandit king El Moco is a villainous presence in San Lorenzo. Huge in size and far more intelligent and articulate than most would expect, El Moco develops a grudge against Puss … and despite losing each time, he keeps coming back to seek his revenge.

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

THE VOICE CAST RIC BAUZA PUSS IN BOOTS One of the most active voice actors in the business, Eric Bauza is an ever-present voice in film, television and video games. Bauza’s most prominent credits include DreamWorks’ Turbo FAST, as well as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Adventure Time, The Fairly OddParents, several Scooby-Doo films, Ben 10: Omniverse, and the Golden Globe-nominated feature film The Book of Life.

AYMA MAYS DULCINEA Jayma Mays makes her animation voiceover debut in The Adventures of Puss in Boots. Currently featured in several primetime television series, Mays is best known as Emma Pillsbury on Glee. She can also be seen in recurring roles on The Millers, Getting On and The League. In addition to a starring role opposite Kevin James in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Mays has been featured as one of the human actors playing opposite animated characters in the Sony hybrid the The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2, had multi-episode character arcs on Heroes and Ugly Betty, and was seen in cameo roles in Six Feet Under, Entourage, Pushing Daisies, and many more series.

AUL RUGG ARTEPHIUS Renaissance man Paul Rugg continues to touch all aspects of animation as a producer, story editor, writer and voice actor with his goofy touch as alchemist Artephius. The Adventures of Puss in Boots is Rugg’s third DreamWorks Animation series following recurring roles in DreamWorks Dragons and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness. Rugg broke into animation filling multiple roles behind and before the microphone on Steven Spielberg presents The Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain, pausing in between to produce, write and star in Freakazoid! Other notable credits include his live-action starring role in the landmark series Disney’s One Saturday Morning, as well as voice roles in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Dave the Barbarian and American Dragon: Jake Long. He is also currently heard in Disney’s The 7D.

ARLA JIMENEZ SEÑORA ZAPATA A veteran character actor of more than 70 primetime series and films, Carla Jimenez has been featured on such television hits as Desperate Housewives, Raising Hope and Last Man Standing. In addition to feature film appearances in Nacho Libre, The Lady in the Water and The Purge: Anarchy, Jimenez’s list of credits include roles on E.R., The Shield, Dexter, Entourage, My Name is Earl, Justified, Bones, Community and Hannah Montana.

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

THE VOICE CAST ARLOS ALAZRAQUI MAYOR TEMEROSO Carlos Alazraqui started out as a stand up comic, winning the San Francisco Comedy Competition in 1993 and then moving to Los Angeles to start his voice over career as the voice of Rocko, on Nickelodeon’s Rocko’s Modern Life. Soon after, he was Mr. Weed on Family Guy and also gave voice to the Taco Bell Chihuahua. On camera, Carlos is best known for his superaccurate portrayal of law enforcement officer James Garcia on Comedy Central’s Reno 911!. Since then Carlos has guested on CSI, Pushing Daisies, Big Time Rush, Las Vegas, and provided the voice of Nestor in both Happy Feet and Happy Feet 2. Carlos also provides the voice of El Chupacabra in Disney’s Planes film franchise.

ARAINE NEWMAN PAJUNA Original Saturday Night Live cast member Laraine Newman continues to balance her successful on-camera career with an equally respected voiceover resume that is nearing 100 different series, films and video games, including Golden Globe nominee The Boxtrolls. Establishing herself as a comedic force on SNL, Newman has appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm, St. Elsewhere, Laverne & Shirley, 3rd Rock from the Sun, According to Jim, Entourage and Seventh Heaven, as well as feature films Coneheads, Invaders from Mars, The Flintstones, Jingle All The Way and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. She is a regular contributor to some of the most popular animated theatrical releases, including Up, Toy Story 3, Tangled, WALL-E, Cloudy with A Chance Of Meatballs, Monsters University, Cars, as well as animated TV series like DreamWorks Animation’s TurboFAST and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Winx Club, The Fairly OddParents, SpongeBob SquarePants, Oswald, Justice League, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Superman: the Animated Series, The New Adventures of Batman and Rugrats.

OSHUA RUSH TOBY Just 13 years old, Joshua Rush has already stolen the spotlight with his work in both live-action and voiceovers. Rush has captivated audiences on-screen with his portrayal of a young Sylar in Heroes and a young Chuck in Chuck, as well as in roles in Private Practice, Medium, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY and Children’s Hospital. Rush has provided ancillary voices for the original animated feature Puss in Boots – and gained notice for his voice work in the film Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Escape From Planet Earth, and the hit television series Family Guy.

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

THE VOICE CAST REY GRIFFIN VINA, SPHINX With voice credits in the thousands, Grey (DeLisle) Griffin is one of the true darlings of the animation community. Her benchmark roles include Daphne Blake in Scooby-Doo movies, TV series, shorts, video games for the past 14 years; as Vicky in The Fairly OddParents; Mandy in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy; Wubbzy in Wow! Wow! Wubbzy; Frances “Frankie” Foster in Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends; and Yumi Yoshimura in Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi. Griffin’s other notable TV series include DreamWorks’ Turbo FAST, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and The Penguins of Madagascar, The Legend of Korra, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Generator Rex, Handy Manny, The Super Hero Squad Show, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, The Replacements, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Kim Possible, Xiaolin Showdown, Star Wars: Clone Wars, The Weekenders, Rugrats, Clifford the Big Red Dog and many more.

OHN LEGUIZAMO JACK SPRAT Commanding every medium available to him, John Leguizamo continues to craft one dazzling performance after another – whether it be in a one-man stage show, as a stand-up comedian, in front of the camera or behind the microphone. The Emmy® Award winner devoured the small screen as a series regular on E.R., The Brothers Garcia and his personal creation House of Buggin’, and has built a lengthy resume of starring roles in films like Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, Spawn, Summer of Sam, Carlito’s Way, Super Mario Bros., Die Hard 2, Hangin’ With the Homeboys and Executive Decision. A great fan of the animation genre, Leguizamo has forever etched his place in voiceover annals with his 13-year (and growing) run as Sid in the popular Ice Age franchise.

ANNY TREJO EL MOCO Popular movie tough guy Danny Trejo puts a smart, funny edge on the classic villain as El Moco in The Adventures of Puss In Boots. The star of such thrillers as Machete, From Dusk ‘Til Dawn and Heat has been a staple of American action films for more than three decades, giving notable performances in films like Con Air, Reindeer Games and Spy Kids, as well as TV series such as Sons of Anarchy, NYPD Blue, Nash Bridges, The X-Files, Bones, Burn Notice, Breaking Bad and Modern Family. Trejo even did a 15-episode run on The Young and the Restless. Trejo has increased his voiceover work in recent years, taking a recurring role on King of the Hill and guest roles in cartoons Phineas and Ferb, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Young Justice and Golden Globe animated film nominee The Book of Life.

The Adventures of Puss In Boots © 2015 DreamWorks Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.