How Perrito Makes The Annoying Sidekick Actually Work (A Character Study)

Perrito was an amazing character and a definite surprise seeing as his character type usually ends up just being one dimensional and annoying. So why does he work so well? Let's find out!
Intro: 00:00
Aiding Character Growth: 1:37
Tone Appropriateness: 3:58
Likable Qualities: 5:18
Wolf Character Study Video: • Why The Wolf From Puss...
Business email: [e-mail]
Music: Jungle Adventure (Mario Party 64)

[@skrub_king]

It's an achievement to make an "annoying" character that annoys the characters but not the viewer

[@ghosttoast824]

Facts

[@caodogao4327]

Doe he actually annoys the characters tho? Most people don't trust him at first because at face valued, everyone is jaded by betrayal and criminal pasts, so they can't accept that he really is what he looks like he is. But after extended interaction, every character realise he really is that nice!

[@brianzucaro6538]

​@@caodogao4327 He does annoy Puss at the beginning at Mama Luna's with hitting with his tail and not leaving him alone, and later at Jack Horner's factory when he managed to follow them there. Later, Kitty is annoyed with him more out of distrust and thinking he's lying. But yeah, his endearing character gets everyone (other than Jack) to love him. Jack Horner is also annoyed by him at the ending when Perrito distracts Jack long enough to make the villain stop the wish for the other heroes to stop Jack. The difference for Perrito compared to bad annoying sidekicks is that we realize he is genuine in everything and he's very kind and doing the best for everyone involved, so past his initial interactions with Puss, we know he was genuine then, he really is genuine towards Kitty, and that his act to stop Jack is adorable to the audience and is also a genuinely good thing he was doing, whether it actually works to convince Jack or buy the heroes enough time to stop Jack as it did. (Goldi and the Bears never seemed annoyed at Perrito for anything, unless one counts his swearing as 'annoying them', but Mama and Papa Bear seemed to like it, Goldi and Baby seemed more shocked than annoyed.)

[@aienma6660]

@@brianzucaro6538 I think Kitty and Puss also started warming up to him after he shared his... very sad back story. At that point, they still saw him annoying... but a level of pity compelled them to let him stick around. Also because as Perrito explained, he is very good at playing hid and seek... so even if they ditch him, he'd find them.

[@hariman7727]

​@@brianzucaro6538 Perrito's swearing insults shock Goldi and the Bears, but they're more surprised or impressed than anything. AND that repeats the gag from earlier where Perrito repeats bleeped insults to Kitty and Puss. And it's hilarious.

[@wehrkraut3535]

I was also suprised that Perrito ended up being such a good character

[@jaziahjonesthehedgehog1869]

I was worried if the movie will be the worst movie to come out of DreamWorks if Perrito turn out to be the plot twist villain like Humpty but thanks god it didn't happen because Puss have a enough of being betrayed by his own friends.

[@DivineChaos204]

If I had to be honest, the first time I saw Perrito, I thought he was gonna be annoying and one dimensional. But watching it, I'm in love with him! He's adorable, kind, and so caring! I wish I had him as my dog!

[@Icepiq72]

I was genuinely shocked when I didn’t hate him, and then the panic attack scene sealed for me that it’s because he’s well written

[@danicourtney]

SAME!!!!!!! I thought I was the only one

[@pissapocalypse]

Yeah I thought I would hate him but I actually just want him in my life now

[@r.d.ramirez9157]

Donkey is the OG annoying sidekick! He even got busy with a lady dragon!

[@ThousandMeowStare]

I would smash that dragon donkey style😏

[@CheeseyStuff]

Better 2 Peak Shrek Franchise sidekicks than 1

[@researcherchameleon4602]

The way of the D&D Bard

[@vanillalemonfox3673]

I think Perrito and Donkey would definitely be friends

[@startheangel9760]

​@@vanillalemonfox3673 Poor Shrek

[@cencent2189]

Perrito is a character before he's an archetype. That's why all the characters in the movie are good, they're not just "a side kick" or "hero/main character" or just loce interest. They're all individuals that work together

[@MagnificantSasquatch]

They do fit into their archetypes, though, and that's not a bad thing here -- in fact, it's essential to how the characters all manage to work. Each fills a certain narrative role that they explore, so there's no overlap or clutter. Hell, between Goldie and the Bears, Death, and Big Jack, we have three types of antagonist archetypes that all are able to comfortably coexist because they play their given ones so straight.

[@cencent2189]

@Sasquatcho archetypes aren't bad (well mostly), the problem is if the character is the archetype only. It make the character boring af cause there's no substance. An archetype would be like saying soup, you can describe something as soup but what ingredients does it have? How is the soup made? Is it spicy or not? Those details set a character away from just being an archetype.

[@thebaseandtriflingcreature174]

@@cencent2189in short, perrito is pretty good soup

[@vermillion2023]

dude i hate the loce interest archetype /j

[@valhatan3907]

@@thebaseandtriflingcreature174 a based take away

[@TooningIn2008]

IMO, the most important part of making a good major side character that also serves as a comic relief is to not only have their jokes be funny, but to also give them personality and a good role in the story outside of just being funny. And the writing for Perrito is an excellent example of that. I thought I was gonna dislike him, but he ended up becoming one of my favorite Shrek characters

[@aydenator2770]

“one of my favourite shrek characters” that last sentence threw me off, i find it hard to believe this is still just a shrek spinoff.

[@Crackmiser]

I can’t even begin to describe how instantly annoyed I was when I first witnessed the character, but then as I the movie went on he slowly became one of the best secondary characters I’ve ever seen.

[@ronaldomendoza7578]

​@@Crackmiser The scene where he comforts Puss seals it for me

[@bragnir]

Unlike many "annoying sidekicks," Perrito also has something going for him that is generally an inverse of the trope: rather than blunder and cause problems for the main character *every single time* there's a downtime, Perrito is actively helpful- both for character growth, and to his friends' journey. He remembers where they are going, takes steps to help make it so, and is clearly seen coming up with ways to get past obstacles that the other characters around him can't seem to grasp on their own. What's more, his way of reaching those solutions actualy MAKES SENSE for him: it's part of his core personality and the way he views the world anyways, which prevents making it seem shoehorned.

[@stevele4877]

Part of his jokes involves swear words, which are censored. While funny due to being out of left-field, it also kinda gives us an insight of what Perrito used to hear when he was younger(at least assumed).

[@FlameDragon5000]

What also helps in making Perrito such a likable sidekick/comic relief is how mellow his voice sounds. Usually bubbly and excitable characters speak with needlessly high-pitched voices, but not this one.

[@gameer0037]

It's all. so. cute. CUTENESS OVERLOAD

[@FlameDragon5000]

Excluding that 😅

[@DisturbedFlyer7]

YES, I agree his voice was absolutely CRUCIAL to the liability of his character. It was soft and cute. If he'd sounded like JarJar, I don't think the character would have landed well. He had the gentle voice that a THERAPY dog should absolutely have.

[@aiiiia9971]

You have a point; he is actually pleasant to listen to and sounds like a normal friendly person. It's not like listening to chalk scraping

[@testerwulf3357]

@@DisturbedFlyer7 Yes!! He was a pleasant character, with a pleasant voice..if his voice was bad people would of sadly only focused on that and hated him which tbh makes sense; no matter how good a character is ear bleeding grating talking will degrade them to being everyones least favorite character.

[@Yipper64]

I swear this movie was just like "so you know how usually all these things go wrong? Yeah lets do them all right in one film" I mean multiple antagonists, dark subject matter, a really flawed main character, the "annoying" side kick, the love interest, and its all woven right into the film and has a reason for being there!

[@ghosttoast824]

Yeah, this movie pulled off everything it tried to perfection, it’s really a miracle that a film like this could get all of these aspects right

[@Jingles6466]

A really flawed main character usually goes right but only when they're flawed on purpose

[@Yipper64]

@@Jingles6466 no, not always. It works when they are flawed on purpose and it has *narrative significance* as in, it effects the main character in a negative way that changes the course of the narrative. Pretty easy to see in this movie, his arrogance is literally what sets the plot into motion. Some characters have intentional "flaws" but its something like "they are too much" or "they are a little clumsy" but it never effects the character negatively, with any narrative significance. Even though those flaws are entirely intentional.

[@estebanramirez1178]

You forgot that he wasn’t just promoting Character growth for Puss. He was doing it for everyone that was willing to listen. In the short span he interacted with Goldilocks and the Three bears, he has the heart to heart with all of them. He gets the bears to vent their frustrations and break tension by out-cussing them and reminds Goldie specifically that unlike many orphans, her current family is more valuable than any other. One of Perrito’s dreams was to become a therapy dog. He’s on the path to be an unlicensed therapist.

[@itsbeebaby]

Also love how it came naturally to him like a real life therapy dog, and rested his head on Puss. He kept trying to get his belly rubbed, and in the moment, he could’ve had Puss in boots rub his belly, but didn’t. So cute

[@Izanagi-Arsene]

He is actively involved in two separate acts of character growth in the movie, the epiphany for goldilocks that leads to her redemption arc and puss's own growth where he overcomes his fear and confronts it. The thing they did well in the movie was every single character felt necessary for the progression of the story and complimented it rather than detract from it.

[@Roxie_ET]

I CRIED during the panic attack scene. I felt so much emotion from that moment of silence when Perrito calmed Puss down. It just goes to show that actions really can speak louder than words.

[@Space0fox]

I have the same feelings! As a person with panic attacks and therapy dog who act the same as Perrito just cannot stop crying seeing that. This movie is masterpiece

[@hariman7727]

What makes that scene even better is that the tone stayed serious afterwards. There was no snap to comedy, it was a genuine panic attack and Puss had to talk it out to get his head together again.

[@DisturbedFlyer7]

Me too. I get really bad panic attacks and I really appreciated a kids movie shedding light on it, taking it seriously, and not making a joke out of it. I was enjoying the movie the entire time, but that was the moment when I realized how much of a gem the movie truly was and gained my total admiration.

[@catelynh1020]

That's why encanto also felt more powerful than it might otherwise have been, too. The tension in the family having each character give an outburst when it gets too much just felt real. The pressure of wanting to do well by your loved ones but realizing the view you had of them was the face they put on for others.... Puss in boot's panic attack scene felt so right. I haven't had any before, but i could feel the weight and severity of one by seeing it played out not for laughs

[@vgmaster9]

Which is why having a good antagonist makes all the difference for a film. Disney could learn a thing or two from that.

[@JAProductions494]

Me before the movie: Oh this dog is going to be the annoying sidekick who will let down the film and get on my nerves or he will be some kind of twist villain or something Me after the movie: I WOULD DIE FOR PERRITO!!!!!

[@ArashiAiko]

I too would die for Perrito. I would also like to give his former family a piece of my mind.

[@cofffee817]

@@ArashiAiko put them in a giant sock with a boulder in it and throw them in the river

[@majorknight859]

If anything happens to that pup I'm killing everyone in the room... Scratch that.... I'M NUKING THE ENTIRE PLANET" because no one else deserves to live

[@ghastlygavin]

Came in thinking I would hate him Now if anything happens to Perrito I will kill everyone in the room then myself

[@Winter-Alpha-Omega]

Not you, thinking he'd be a twist villain 💀💀💀 Disney and its lazy writing has corrupted your mind.

[@DwynTwo]

What makes him great to me is that he leaves an impact on others. And I don't mean the "therapy dog"- side of him that brings out the best in people, I mean how Puss and Kitty genuinely care about him. BEFORE he has really done a lot for them. The "annoying sidekick" is often the one in movies/books that gets threatened or kidnapped by the antagonist. When that happens, two of the main heroes always have this type of conversation: Character A: "Ohh noo, they have [annoying side character]!.....anyway, let's keep going!" Character B: *glares at character A* Character A: *sighs* "All right, let's go get [annoying side character] In Puss In Boots, there wasn't a bit of hesitation or doubt when Perrito got kidnapped. Both Kitty and Puss went into protective mode, they were mortified and worried and would have given anything to get him back. I always wondered why I should care about a comic relief character that not even the heroes like. But Perrito was a part of the family and he was so loved by our main protagonists.

[@jocelynecupcake]

Exactly! I mostly find the Disney sidekicks to be annoying when they're supposed to be "lovable". The only ones who talk that I don't find annoying are Mushu and Olaf, although the alligator from Princess and the frog was pretty cute to me but I know people who do find him annoying, and I admit that there are some scenes where he is annoying (I just think alligators in cartoons are cute). You can't really compare Disney to DreamWorks tho, when I compare Perrito to the other DreamWorks sidekicks, I think he's at the top. Him, as well as Nick and Fetcher are probably the most well written (idk if Cooper from Trolls counts as a sidekick but I'd add him to the list too).

[@PelemusMcSoy]

Tone appropriateness (deathly serious) while staying in character (wanting to be a therapy dog) during the panic attack is what makes Perrito the gold standard for annoying comic relief side characters. Another minor example is Peter Porker / Spiderham from Into the Spiderverse. He's normally very silly and punny, but even he had a serious tone when discussing with he other Spiders the ones they lost.

[@roshabot]

totally agree, it's what makes us feel they're actual characters with their own personality and not just something the creators made to fill the spot for "the funny one" and i didn't realize until now, but i think this is a big part of why is stopped watching marvel movies: most emotional scenes were immediately followed by a quip that didn't really add anything to the scene, so the characters and the stories started to feel more and more hollow. and this was for everyone, not just annoying comic relief side characters :/ EDIT: missing word

[@johans3164]

@@roshabot oh boy. another person complaining about marvel movies cause its cool to complain about them nowadays. so original. youre truly cinema itself. amazing

[@roshabot]

@@johans3164 drats! i totally said it just bc it's super cool to complain about marvel movies and not bc is something i realized thanks to the video! you've discovered my nefarious plan for internet clout, how could this be!!

[@whitewolf-cy8gq]

@@roshabot i laughed so loud at this 😂😂😂

[@UnboxingAlyss]

@@johans3164 He's right, though. While Marvel has seriously taken a dive in Phase 4, I still watch them. This is an actual problem marvel has. There must be a quip in everything, even serious moments. Love and Thunder was the worst offender, OTOH, I thought Wakanda Forever had a far better balance. This isn't some "We hate Marvel" thing. It's a valid complain that even most Marvel fans can see.

[@split776]

I actually said out loud to my friends "oh nooo" in Perrito's introduction scene because I was so worried about him being obnoxious and tone-deaf and by the time we walked out of the cinema I was gushing about how good he was and how I need a Perrito in my life

[@LiatKolink]

I found him annoying at first, then started to grow on me during the cart and flowers scenes, and then fully got me when he stood by Puss' side.

[@LordGoise06]

I cant help but think how similar perrito is to donkey in shrek 1, donkey helped both shrek and Fiona grow as characters. It’s cool that perrito succeeds in this too

[@FoxDen2012]

I want to see perrito and donkey interact

[@wildannandawicaksana5004]

​@@FoxDen2012 Me too. It must be funny

[@drakep.5857]

I love drama comedies where they remeber that jokes don't just happen to fuck up the tone or make the drama feel disingenuous, but they're there because the people in the story want to joke around to make their situation lighter

[@betterlatethannever4529]

Best part of his character…he doesn’t shove jokes in your face every chance he gets. He gets moments to take a situation seriously

[@hariman7727]

I was literally shocked when, after Puss' panic attack slows down, Puss just placed his hand on Perrito's head and said "Thank you." I was WAITING for the joke to snap the serious tone, and it never arrived.

[@lolrentz]

Yeah...he only shoved his disgusting stomach in my face.

[@macipanariello1445]

During the panic attack scene, it would have been so easy for the writers to simply make Perrito lift his sweater and tell Puss to rub his belly. A cheap payoff to his interaction with Puss earlier in the film. But you're absolutely right, the writers chose the tonally consistent option. You can see Perrito look at Puss with worry, and realize he doesn't know what to do. In that moment, he decides to just be present with Puss and show his support in a quiet, subtle way. It's a powerful moment that certainly would not have the same impact if they had gone for a laugh instead.

[@MatsuyoRific]

The anxiety scene is also great, because it fulfils Perrito's wish to be a therapy dog. In that moment, he was doing what therapy dogs do best. He's Puss's service dog.

[@AmberMetallicScorpion]

you should also note that their character serves as the antithesis to jack horner. a dog who never had anything who makes do with what he has versus an eccentric millionaire who has everything but still wants more, it's a fun duality

[@ghosttoast824]

This is a very keen observation, thank you for pointing this out

[@AmberMetallicScorpion]

@@ghosttoast824 you're welcome. it also led me to realise kitty and goldi could be seen as antithesis' of each other, same with puss and the wolf. kitty spends the movie searching for someone to trust, while goldi spends the movie trying to get replacements for the people she trusts. and for puss it should be obvious due to it being the point of the movie, but with him puss spends the movie trying to get more lives as he didn't see the value in even just 1, whereas the wolf puts value into life above all else.

[@justagecko]

I noticed that too. It's like a commentary on villains with sad backstories. Personal tragedies shouldn't be an excuse to be evil. Edit: I also never noticed that antithesis between Kitty and Goldilocks.

[@lordpyron3934]

There also the fact that they also share the same theme regarding character development. Neither change/develop but Perrito helps not only Puss and Kitty but also Goldi and the Three Bears with their issues. In the other corner we have Jack Horner who remains unapologetically evil throughout and in the end dies for it. Even if he has the Ethical Bug instead of Perrito to interact with both of them still don’t develop and it’s their actions on screen that make them opposite to each other. (Death doesn’t count here because he is focused on teaching Puss a lesson)

[@TylerMcNamer]

Perrito's swearing spree makes sense because he has had people telling him these terrible things before being left to drown.

[@Nokyyyyy]

He's a character making jokes, he is not the joke Also he is naive but not stupid. I love that

[@Fluttersniper]

Perrito’s best quality, I think, is his sincerity. When the map transforms the landscape, it shows the wishing star’s motives: tests of character that one must overcome to gain their wish. But Perrito’s tests, though just as dangerous as any others, can be traversed easily by the easygoing, optimistic Perrito, showing that unlike many other sidekicks, Perrito’s naive kindness is so deep that it contrasts to Puss, Kitty, and everyone else. Puss and Kitty don’t just use Perrito’s wish path for practical purposes. There’s a real sense that they’re jealous of him. One, a thief unable to trust. One, a legend scared to fade. Yet the star deems Perrito, who they view as useless and annoying, worthy of the reality-warping power it holds. It humbles them.

[@Algebruh2407]

Something that I like about Perrito is that he represents the mirror of everyone else's wishes. He defied death like what Puss wants to do by escaping the river that he was nearly drowned in, but has learned to enjoy the life that he has. He was betrayed by his family, but learned to be open and trust others like what Kitty wants to wish for. He is was an orphan without people to call family, but learned to be happy with the family that he made with his friends like how Goldi wishes for a family. He also has the most tragic backstory and the most understandable reason why he should be bitter and hateful, but learned to be happy with himself like what Jack wishes to do (Sort of, it isn't very clear as to why he wants all the magic in the world, but I think that it is because he wants to find a way to be happy with himself after years of feeling unsatisfied with his life based off of the flashback to his childhood).

[@nickallison2857]

Both death and perrito are my absolute favorite characters in this movie and it's because of their great roles and how they were portrayed is why I absolutely love it when people make fanart of these 2 together

[@sendhelp7645]

betrayed? when was death betrayed? did you mean portrayed?

[@nickallison2857]

@@sendhelp7645 yeah my bad

[@Sushizombies]

They’re both dogs who taught Puss how to live

[@superstardoughball9822]

I think he's great besides just being a good character because he never intervenes out of nowhere, which is why people tend to dislike that archetype

[@syrusangi8743]

I think what makes Perrito stand out from the 'bubbly side character' archetype is his self awareness. Most sidekicks are often oblivious to what goes on around them until it's right Infront of them for shock value n to see their reaction, but Perrito is pretty observant n insightful. He isn't optimistic cuz he's naive n doesn't know what's going on, he's optimistic cuz he's KNOWS what's going on, he's lived through hardship n chooses to approach the things in a healthy manner. You could say it's a coping mechanism to keep himself sane else he'd wind up depressed n would never be able to cherish his life which is the prime lesson of the movie. Puss wasted most of his awesome lives yet still felt unsatisfied n lonely cuz he didn't understand their true value until it was too late, but Perrito cherished the one life given to him no matter how terrible it was at first and chose to take control n enjoy it to the fullest.

[@hooparainbowbraceypkmonand7862]

I think the main thing about perrito is with characters like these they tend to be shown being annoying for way longer, around half way through the movie gabg actually start to enjoy his company. Not only that but he isn't loud, he doesn't do anything randomly, he's incredibly optimistic and happy but he always does something to try to help rather than just "hehe funny". And about the tone, yeah its refreshing to see perrito act as a supportive friend consistently rather than an annoying friend all of the time.

[@SevenPr1me]

In nutshell, perrito isn't an idiot like most sidekicks are. He has a great deal of emotional intelligence that serves the plot and story

[@biasmushroom6311]

Annoying sidekick “I’m going to be like the hero and take charge” gets kidnapped Perrito “I am exclusively here to help you at any cost to myself!” Puss and kitty “NO!”

[@cosmicspacething3474]

Another good example of this type of character done well is Brett from inside Job. He never feels out of place, grinds the story to a halt, or annoys the audience. He’s actually a likable guy with his own struggles, and the reason his personality is how it is is actually pretty tragic too.

[@miimiiandco.8721]

Perrito feels like a more niave and wholesome version of Donkey. I feel like Perrito also has a genuine friendship with Puss and Kitty, that grows in a believable way. Puss and Kitty show an increasingly strong attachment, going more and more out of the way to help or save him. It feels like he becomes more aware of the tone of Puss and Kitty, too. Believable relationships are a thing this movie masters imo.

[@jocelynecupcake]

I think he's a better sidekick than the donkey, but I agree on everything else. He develops a good friendship with the main characters instead of just tagging along because they need him, and acted as a therapy dog for Puss.

[@hariman7727]

The panic attack is one of the best scenes in modern cinema without qualification. The annoying character not only too the crisis seriously, but the tone STAYED serious and quiet for a time after. And even when it shifted back to more lighthearted/more comedic, it was because enough time had passed that the mood has become light enough to joke. That scene got me in the feels for the panic attack, and then shocked me because they DIDN'T snap to comedy either. Also... Perrito's eternal optimism and appreciation for life provides a foil for the rest of the cast. Last of all, the other characters also interact with Perrito in realistic ways. Jack Horner doesn't care, other than using Perrito as a tool. Goldi and the Bears also want to use him as a tool, but find him amusing and likable. Plus, Puss and Kitty's distrust bounce off of Perrito's trusting optimism too. Even Kitty's reaction to Perrito's backstory is both insightful yet also funny, partly because Perrito is so thoroughly optimistic about it.

[@degr8andre]

Honestly the worst thing he did in this movie was say “cuteness overload”

[@ghosttoast824]

😂😂 honestly I might have to agree here

[@SergeyPupkoMusic]

Agreed. That's the only thing that felt just so forced and cringe. Otherwise, the most huggable bunch of pixels I ever did see.

[@aylenvillarreal5439]

Idk, it did make me laugh. It might be the only 15 seconds of rough pacing in the movie though, due to the situation being so difficult to solve in itself. It was a half fight half competition of "who is the best cutest deceiver", with a very loaded build up that didn't stop growing and getting harder to break: how do you reach the absolute peak, who reaches it, how that will affect each character, what would that mean for their power dynamics so early in the journey? They needed a tie because that was the goal of the movie, making their characters stand to each other as equals, as rivals and partners. So they solved it the best way they could: Perrito stole the climax with his fainting, brought the build up to a halt, de-scalated the situation, and set a tie between the other characters, making the movie go back to its normal pacing while also making an statement that here there's no "one is better than the other" in any way. So, damn, this makes you realise that there really is not a single second gone to waste. Even the most silliest and insignificant moments serve the movie in some way. The easy solution was to make one of them win with an impossibly and bizarre face, make the other accept defeat with dignity, and that's it, lets move on with our life, actual work on making a bond about equals through and through be damned. Gosh, it ended up being a great example of why the writing is so good, another evidence of how the team didn't tolerate any inconsistence in the movie, not a word, gesture, or shot of it.

[@GatoConBotas403]

Perrito is probably the most important character of the entire movie/plot/character development. Without him, NONE of thw characters would have changed and grown and had any character development. He caused Puss to realize that one life is enough, he cause Puss and Kitty to get back together and trust each other and to stop and smell the roses, and he cause Goldilocks to realize that she had everything she wanted right in front of her. Without perrito…. Puss would have used the wish, kitty would have gone farther into her nit trusting of anyone, goldilocks would have wished for a “real family”, and Jack probably would have won.

[@cutestcreeper569]

And Death probably would have taken Puss despite him getting lives back.

[@Space0fox]

I have panic attacks and anxiety and my dog literally is doing the same as Perrito during Puss panic attack. I need to say that this is basically the best thing that should be done. No talking, no trying to help, just simple gesture to show person that he is not alone and giving him time.. I think that moment will change him from annoying sidekick to lovelable character who have real impact at others. This is also what Perrito was dreaming about! That is what therapy dogs do! :D

[@GameJam230]

The interesting thing about this depiction of the character is that the studio was well aware of this flaw in the annoying sidekick character! In fact, they called it out in the movie itself when he was first trying to join Puss on the adventure, and Puss kept pushing him away, saying he didn't want OR need a sidekick. Then throughout the story they showed why he was more than that.

[@hariman7727]

Because they wrote Perrito as an unexpected friend, instead of the "random goofy idiot sidekick" archetype, thankfully.

[@makeda6530]

I didn't know much before I watched and fell in love with Perrito from the beginning. As badass as Death was, the scene when Perrito got Puss through his panic attack, I almost cried. This movie was solid. I love when family friendly movies get this much care put into their stories.

[@VirtuesOfSin]

Kitty: "No one is that nice and no one is that stupid." Perrito: (Is both that nice and that stupid all at the same time) No, but seriously, that blank empty stare he gives kitty in that scene sold it.

[@Trewq79]

I think the writers did a great job at changing Perrito’s actions depending on the tone of the scene. For example, most of the film is a comedy, so Perrito is mostly goofy. However in some scenes when it gets serious (like the panic attach), Perrito IMMEDIATELY becomes a caring individual; he cuts the jokes. A smaller scene I appreciated was the first scene with Perrito and Puss. After badgering Puss with questions and asks “what is it you want?”, Puss answers “I just want to be left alone”. Perrito just smiles and lays by his side. It shows that through the jokes, Perrito knows where the limit is and how to be there for others.

[@sterling7]

The worst "annoying sidekick" characters contrast sharply with the competent "main" characters, often to the point of burdening them with their incompetence, creating unnecessary problems and obstacles that would never have been encountered but for their presence in the story. Perrito, by contrast, contributes. He does things in "Last Wish" that none of the "main" characters could have done, or done as well, without him. His sheer optimism and contentment is a thing that neither Puss nor Kitty brings into the Wood with them.

[@midnights2631]

I love Perrito, when he started cussing, I bursted out laughing at Goldi's and the Bears reaction to him cussing. I can't blame them, he's such a adorable bean. He's not annoying, kindhearted to everyone. I sobbed when he helped with Puss's panic attack.

[@jocelynecupcake]

m8 when I heard him swear, we were all laughing ^u^ The entire theater, (except for a newborn in a stroller) was laughing when Perrito was swearing. I was laughing so hard and that part I screamed!

[@M4R14H_H]

I honestly had very low expectations for The Last Wish after I saw the trailer, mainly because of Perrito. I assumed they would make him that useless and annoying animal sidekick made to sell merch, but he ended up being my favorite character in the film

[@alittleofsomething]

Peritto is so wholesome he even almost convinced Jack Horner to be turn around. That is a big accomplishment 🤣👍

[@johans3164]

Not even Jiminy can do that. Perrito is simply too based

[@danielarputharaj9918]

Tbh I don't think Horner was ever even close, I think he was just acting to shock them with the reveal that it didn't work

[@cutestcreeper569]

​@@danielarputharaj9918Yea. He clearly did it just to frick with him, making him think Jack fell for it for just those couple seconds, although Jack did fall for it. Just not in the way he thought

[@gianfrancoespinoza8828]

The main reason he works is because he has a real purpose not a forced one

[@ace5762]

I think one other thing is that other instances of the 'annoying sidekick' cliche will have the sidekick be persistently an idiot who's useless, or at best, stumbles into doing something useful by accident. Perrito's actions of interacting with the other characters in the piece shows him genuinely helping a lot of the time, and he's insightful and intelligent in ways the main cast aren't, particularly when it comes to managing their feelings and insecurities- which is the perfect counterpoint to Kitty and Puss's hyper-competence in swashbuckling. They wouldn't need anyone to help them with the action hero-ing, but they sure as hell needed someone to help them with their feelings.

[@83Protons]

When I first watched the movie I fully expected to be annoyed by this character but was proven wrong almost immediately because he's so well written and actually as funny as he was intended

[@slagarcrue85]

I think they nailed the voice cast with every one. Especially Jack Horner.

[@jn4756]

amazing how when he describes his tragic backstory, it's not dismissed by the main characters. They both stand there horrified, with sadness in their eyes, she even covers her mouth. in other movies they'd shrug and ignore him and pretend his story doesn't matter.... kind of like Shrek dismissed Donkey being beaten in Shrek 2. and that was at least a good movie. btw, as good as this movie is, i'd argue that Inside Out and Encanto (and maybe Coco) are strong competition. But i loved this so much. Perrito is counseling everybody.

[@millytheotterlover1680]

You never know when Perrito is going to say something super deep because he says it so casually. He may not be the smartest, but he's pretty wise.

[@uheldigehelt]

when we saw the movie I told my wife, when they are at the star: if Perrito get killed, we riot.

[@Arcanilumia]

Another thing I love about Perrito is that he has a lot of depth and unknown backstory. Like the fact that he very clearly has trauma, but has either learned to cope with it, or doesn't understand the exact weight of it, even if it is reflected in a deeper meaning for his map changes. I also love how they went about Perrito's identity, particularly when it comes to gender - Perrito's gender is actually not really confirmed in the movie. I say this because it's really appropriately subtle how they do it, that being that Mama Luna refers to Perrito using 'she' and 'girlfriend', but everyone else uses 'he'. It's kept vague, and I love that they did that, since it adds a bit more depth to the character

[@Rannulfus]

One thing to mention is that Perrito isn't really annoyingly persistent with his friend's goals. He's got concern for his friends, but he's not concerned with their goals in a way that places himself opposed to them. He's even happy to help. The most opposed he ever is with their goals is when he brings Puss the wish and tells Puss that, for him, one life might be enough. There's a degree of wisdom behind Perrito's character that shows through in the movie time and again that really contributes to his status as "annoying side character done right".

[@MyShiroyuki]

Perrito is how you write a ball of sunshine and hope and not have them be annoying.

[@skyhideaway]

I loved this movie so much and Perrito is undeniably one of the best characters in it, he deserves the world. a comic relief character who is very similar to Perrito is One-One from Infinity Train (mainly Glad-One). He played a vital role in Tulip's character development, has the same innocent and adorable sense of humor and he even has an overarching arc of his own in the series. his bond with Tulip and Atticus was so touching, and i genuinely got emotional at the end of S1. i wish more writers realized that this is how you write a funny character without making the audience want to bash their head in.

[@ghosttoast824]

That is such a good comparison, and I LOVE Infinity Train! Such a great show, Book 1 was a masterpiece, but I think Book 3 is the best one. Anyways, thank you for your comment, I think it’s a nice comparison, and I hope you have a great day!

[@skyhideaway]

@@ghosttoast824 same here! i really wish it got the recognition it deserved, it's still such an underrated series. and i agree about Book 3 being the best (Simon is my favourite character in the entire series lol) but Book 1 and 4 are probably my personal favourites. all the seasons were amazing tbh, they all tackled such mature topics. thank you, and i hope you have a nice day too!

[@ghosttoast824]

Dude this show was so mature! It truly was an underrated gem and I really wish they didn’t pull the plug on the show and let it get all 8 seasons they wanted to make. Such a tragedy :(

[@skyhideaway]

@@ghosttoast824 exactly! company executives are the worst, the same thing happened with The Owl House. it really sucks because these shows have so much potential and have inspired so many people with their themes and characters. i really wish they'd be able to bring back Infinity Train, i think the fact that each season is a separate story would make it a bit easier, than what it would be like if it was one long story that they had to wrap up (basically what happened to TOH).

[@ghosttoast824]

Dude, executives are the worst, both Infinity Train and The Owl House are both great examples of amazing shows that get canceled for dumb reasons. Just let creators express themselves and complete their visions! It’s really sad, I really hope we get Book 5 someday

[@diamondnightsmusic]

One of the things they said they changed in the behind the scenes is that they cut back on the number of lines Perrito had. They said that bc he wants to make everyone around him feel better and he cares about what they have to say, he needs to listen more than he talks. This makes him such a genuinely joyful character to watch because 1. he doesn’t do the cliche “annoying character” thing and talk every other second and 2. he actually challenges Puss and Kitty’s worldviews about having a positive outlook on life and stopping to smell the flowers. Plus, this contributes to Puss’s final arc at the end-learning to value your one life.

[@jezackr3500]

Perrito works in the same way Donkey works in Shrek - he's genuine. Also, he's not ONLY annoying - he's helpful. His most highlighted trait is wanting to help others, not being funny.

[@ineffable_bungee_gum8251]

Something I loved about Perrito is that at his first introduction, I actually did find him somewhat annoying and I was worried about how that would affect the rest of the movie. But from then on, every moment he was on screen endeared him to me just a little more, till by the end he was one of my favorite characters. I have no idea if this was done on purpose, but my feelings about Perrito mirrored the way that Puss grew attached to him, and I think that’s neat!

[@swimmyswim417]

The moment that really sold me on Perrito as a great comic sidekick instead of just a passable one was the map scene where they all take turns holding the map and the forest shifts in accordance with their fears, wants, and hearts. Perrito’s bubbly personality is literally used as a tool by Puss and Kitty to make the journey easier, and they develop a genuine understanding of who he is and why he’s like this along the way. Also, I’m a dog lover, so all the close-ups of his sweet little vacant smile and anytime we saw his tail wagging really made me think of my dumb but lovable dogs.

[@thefastcommenter7774]

I like how Puss calmed down when he has Perrito there laying next to him (after the panic attack)

[@adri7684]

i think something that made perrito work is that they took his character in a similar direction that they did with donkey. he is definitely annoying (especially to shrek because he gets easily annoyed in general) but he is also incredibly important, especially in the first movie. he sees fiona in her ogre form before shrek or farquaad do and he is also the first person that shrek ever talks to about hating being so lonely and misunderstood. he even comforts both of them and its so sweet

[@koushikraja331]

the thing is, he is funny during other scenes, but in scenes which are serious as hell, he stops being a goofball and emphasizes with the characters and kinda tells them the things they need to hear, while still being honest and sincere. His moment of consoling puss during his panic attack and telling Goldie how she won the orphan lottery were two of the most beautiful moments. While tonally different, both these moments not only give an insight into Perrito's character-dude has been through a lot of trauma and tragedy with memories that would break any other person but he still tries to help others by empathizing with them and trying to relate their experience with his in his mind, and at the same time, leads to character growth in both Puss and Goldie.

[@MenxiGoblinQueen]

I wouldn't really call it "annoying over-attachment" rather Perrito was acting like a sweet, loving pupper. Dogs are normally sweet and a little empathic, and Perrito is written as such

[@musicallydisneyamvs6731]

Perrito is also very wonderful to see & just being genuinely happy with who he is & his life. Which is a great lesson or example for Puss & everyone else to take note from. A good balance & comparison from everyone else who wants a wish. Whilst he’s already on another level. He’s a great character for kids especially to see. Puss presented career or legend. Goldie was after family. Kitty was after stability or friendship. Horner represented ambition. Whilst Perrito didn’t need more than what he already had. This spoke to me as someone finding their own way whilst getting bashed growing up telling me you have to go one way only. Like careers, money, stability, spouse, kids, etc.

[@FoxGhost7]

I also really liked the anxiety calming scene because Perrito told Puss of his dream to become a therapy dog. And in that scene I totally though thought of that.

[@majorknight859]

You know the movie was fire when everyone went into the film ready to roll their eyes at Perro as another Olaf only to come out of theatres wishing we could give that puppy a hug

[@choxomoxxo565]

If your favorite character is perrito I feel safe around you

[@kayzeama7987]

How Perrito worked as an annoying side character. He wasn’t actually annoying. Lol.

[@marcuswestphal4955]

Another thing that made me feel more inclined toward purrito, was his attempts to be helpful. He gets puss a stick to replace his sword, he is useful on getting an easy map, he even he even comforts puss during his panic attack. Unlike other comic relief characters, purrito isn't trying to be funny in-character, he is trying to be helpful. And that was endearing to me.

[@theodoor7394]

Another interesting thing about Perriot is that he perfectly foils Jack Horner. Perrito has the tragic story to be miserable but finds joy in who he is with and concedes the wish. Jack, on the other hand, had a loving childhood but disregards all life around him and wants the wish for absolute power. I love how the 2 demonstrate the 2 extremes in this movie in a way that makes sense for the context

[@ShinyRowletGuy]

When the film introduced Perrito I was terrified that he'd be really annoying, I mean I thought he was annoying but he grew on me

[@hariman7727]

Perrito at the start was annoying, but tolerable. The further the movie goes, the more Perrito's boundless love of life and optimism interacts with Puss' existential crisis plus Kitty's trust issues, which means he becomes a relevant and necessary foil to the rest of the cast.

[@qtarokujo3694]

another thing I really loved about Perrito is that he subverts the trope in movies/shows featuring wish-granting where a certain side character gets killed, often to sacrifice themselves for the hero, and the hero is compelled to use the wish to bring them back. I was so certain Perrito was probably gonna die, especially when he confronted Jack Horner at the climax, and that Puss was probably gonna use the wish to bring him back. BUT NOPE. PERRITO SURVIVES THE ENTIRE MOVIE. and to top it all off, the movie ends with no one using the wish at all because, in a way, it was already granted/resolved through their journeys (well except for Jack)

[@netherfreakultima4498]

Perrito is a wonderful character ^^ Just imagine how he'd get along with Donkey

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

You know who else was a way better character than we thought they would be? Goldilocks and the 3 bears, they could have just been hackneyed caricatures or stereotypes but instead they were amazing.

[@crisschan2463]

i still cant get relieve of how perrito told his backstory like he thinks its just a play for him, thats so tragic

[@sofiazarlenga]

I literally rolled my eyes when i saw him for the first time expecting to hate perrito but i ended up loving him so much. And i cried in that scene where he comforts puss in a anxiety atack Its just so good

[@rizwanzaman1793]

I really liked Perrito He had a really sad backstory but he had seen everything in a positive light

[@testerwulf3357]

he had those "annoying clingy character" attributes..but he had more. He was so charming to me, a little dum dum of joy who could be serious and give great advice when needed! I love him! His sad backstory really struck me too, especially how well he had dealt with it and still chose happiness. He had personality, goals, motives, and impacted the plot heavily besides being annoying or just "funny" (I never really found him annoying tbh, probably because of all the attributes making me adore him and..seeing myself in him tbh) He truly was like a therapy dog, helping others and mending pusses relationship with kitty (and helping to mend his flaws and fear) as well as that moment he silently laid on puss and let himself get petted..that's something service dogs commonly due to help their owners who suffer with things like bad anxiety or ptsd or even for fainting and stuff, laying on you can help soothe you and slowly snap you out of it.

[@Ehh0.0]

YES, When he was introduced I was thinking "ugh, not another cringy annoying side kick" And then I was blown away with how they handled him. Honestly, could be one of my favorite characters.

[@antilopezmexicanos]

Perrito was amazing, he is not the generic annoying comedy relief character, he is perfectly developed, yes he is an annoying comedy relief character, but is smarter than he looks, shows the main protagonist a valuable lesson, has a deep understanding of others, knows when to be humorous and when to be serious, that is why we love perrito.

[@OrionMcBride-xh1gt]

I think another thing that makes Perreito so likable is the fact that like.. he has stated goals outside of Puss and being his sidekick? We learn super early on he wants to be a therapy dog (which I adore)

[@shrottbott7200]

Perrito won me over the moment when he asked Puss in the beginning what he wants to do, Puss told him he wanted to be left alone and Perrito actually did not bother him and just sat down being silent.

[@goldfishandgiggles4461]

One thing that I really loved was that Perritos path was easy to traverse - FOR HIM, because his first inclination is to wander through befriending literally anything that moves. But because Kitty and Puss are inclined to be distrustful and offensively defensive (in the 'best defense is a good offense' way) they start slicing through which is met with hostility and violence. In order to pass through they have to accept that by choosing to be defensive they are Creating the situation they want to avoid. Much like being scared to trust anyone leaving you with no one to trust. They have to change their approach to problem solving and they are SO DEEPLY UNCOMFORTABLE and call Perrito cheesy and grumble about participating but it's showing them through Action that sometimes it's really just as simple as being friendly and kind to have the journey you want and i think thats so lovely.

[@NoLongerNeedThis]

A few other things Perrito adds to the movie. 1. He is a medium of trust between Puss and Kitty, who were at the time, at each other's throats. Quite literally. 2. He is a contrast to Puss's fleeing in denial from the reality of his inevitable death, as Perrito simply living in the moment, which is something dogs in particular are known for. 3. He is a contrast to Jack Horner, who had a perfect upbrining, but turned out to be pure evil, whereas Perrito had a terrible upbringing, but turned out to be pure innocence incarnate, showing that who you become isn't determined merely by what happens to you, but how you react to it.

[@ComicaPaloozaStudios]

On the first point you made, he doesn't only help Puss and Kitty be able to grow as characters and get past their hang-ups, but he does the same thing with Goldilocks in the brief amount of time they're together, with genuine kindness and sincerity saying how she has as good a family as she would hope for without even knowing what her wish would be

[@amyrajpat5696]

What made Perrito work was that the writers didn't write him as one dimensional serving a role of being the annoying sidekick. They made him a complex character with a past and a reason for why he is this way while giving him qualities that are likeable. Much more than an annoying sidekick, he's a supporting character done well since most times, we don't necessarily care what happens to the sidekick whereas in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, we wanted Perrito to have a happy ending.

[@gordongraham7]

Perrito's super sad backstory is what made me love him. It broke my heart. From that point on, all I wanted was for him to be loved and accepted. Putting his head in Puss' lap reminded me of Perrito's earlier comment about wanting to be a therapy dog. Mission accomplished, little pup! Good dog! ❤

[@Piximae]

I thought the same as everyone else. But the moment he was next on scene changed my "oh no, am annoying side kick" to "okay he's different". That moment was when he said that his home is where his friends are. Idk if it was the delivery or what, but it wasn't just the butt of a joke it was actually sincere and actually a good mentally to have too. It had me think he's not just about to go cracking jokes.

[@a.n.9800]

YES I’ve been hoping somebody would dive into this. I knew he was different but I couldn’t figure out what made him work. Great video.

[@ghosttoast824]

Glad I could help make it clear for you and that you enjoyed the video!

[@suzanneshephard2743]

Yes! I completely agree! Perrito is such a pure soul and is pivotal to the growth and development of the characters (due in large part to his contrast to them). And they certainly did use the humour appropriately in terms of not over-using or abusing it. For example, the panic attack scene was beautifully done...they could have goofed it up or made it more obvious, but they went subtle which was perfect. I found they did this a lot in the movie.

[@energeticcreeper7969]

another thing to note about Perrito is that he actually has decent character depth. Not as much as Puss or Kitty of course, but he does have depth, shown in 2 scenes: the pocket full of posies, and when he's been kidnapped by the 3 bears. The first establishes his backstory, and how he was abandoned and his previous owners tried to kill him, but he plays it off as a joke, seemingly not even registering it as him being abandoned. Then in the 3 bears scene he says to Goldie "one orphan to another", showing that he knows he's an orphan, he knows he was abandoned and abused, but he chooses to be happy and joke about it despite that. It's a subtle aspect of his character which just makes it that much stronger

[@frkshwcty]

when i clicked on this i thought it was from a big channel at first, this is really good :)

[@ghosttoast824]

Thanks so much! I hope I can be a big channel one day, but for now I’m just an underrated channel that makes good videos :( but thank you so for your comment, I truly appreciate it 😊

[@Pinkkittie5006]

It has a lot of subscribers it just needs more comments

[@yohanesbobbysanjaya3541]

When perrito told his sock backstory, my friend literally shocked at the same time with the same gesture as kitty, and while perrito swore the bleeps my dad said "i like him, i hope i can have him" and then the momma bear said the same thing damn this movie has phenomenal awareness

[@danastein8603]

The two new, amazing characters of the movie (Perrito and Death) are equally important to Puss’s growth and journey, but they are foils in the way they invoke change. Perrito inspires Puss with appreciation of life and love/friendship, and Death provides a harsh wake up call, motivating through fear. Both were essential in catalyzing Puss’s shift in perspective and lifestyle choices. It’s similar to a health scare and a family intervention co-occurring to actually convince someone to quit smoking/drinking.

[@INTPTT]

Another thing is that Perrito helps Puss more than he hinders him. Many annoying, "comedic" sidekicks create more obstacles for the protagonist through their bungling. This gets frustrating, and leaves audiences thinking, "Why does Protagonist keep Sidekick around?" Perrito does what you mentioned in the character growth point, plus provide a getaway from Jack Horner's house and an easier path through the Dark Forest. It's clear that Puss and Kitty are physically and emotionally better off with him than without.

[@yurilover5867]

Push in Boots: The Last Wish was one of my favorite movies and I hope we see more of Perrito and have him in a future movie with Donkey. Perrito and Donkey are comedy gold. I lost my shit each time Perrito swears in the movie and Goldilocks reaction is too priceless. If they're making another Puss in Boots movie, I want Perrito and Donkey in a war of swear words. Who agrees?

[@SpottedHares]

One he seems to actually function unlike most annoying sidekicks. A lot of the time annoying sidekicks don’t really contribute much other then being something for the main to play off of.

[@jimbalta]

Tone appropriateness is such a rare sight in movies

[@VillagerCometh]

”Without hating every second the character is on screen" I loved every second Perito was on screen ^ ^

[@karisaysthings]

When Perrito comforted Puss, showing that he understands the situation, I instantly fell in love with him.

[@bigdomkook]

I thought Softpaws was a genuinely cool character too. Especially because at the end there wasn’t some arbitrary reason she came up with to still be mad at Puss for trying to take the wish. She realized he had a genuine reason to be afraid and understood what he was then going through and forgave him.

[@momsaccount4033]

I also want to mention how the movie acknowledges the audience’s emotions going into the movie and eases us into the concept of Perrito’s character. The whole introduction scenes of the movie can be a metaphor for how people view the Puss n Boots spin off series as well as potentially the Shrek franchise as a whole. Of course not everybody thinks this way, but there are people who feel that the franchise has grown old and stale and that it has already explored everything it could within the realm of it’s fictional world. Although Puss gets “old” and tired for very different reasons, his emotions is still something that the audience projects. Enter Perrito’s introduction scene in Mama Luna’s home. Perrito’s tries to get Puss’s attention upon noticing that he’s the only other magical talking animal, and Puss specifically tries to avoid Perrito’s as much as he can by at first pretending he doesn’t understand English, and when Perrito’s proceeds to respond in perfect Spanish, Puss then says that he doesn’t speak Spanish either. Not only is it a great joke due to how half-assed Puss’s attempt is at avoiding Perro, but it also shows that the movie is willing to acknowledge that Perro’s character can be potentially seen as unlikeable. This contrasts a lot of other movies with comedic relief characters as a lot of them tend to act as if the comedic relief character doesn’t actually exist, letting them exist outside of the important plot points just so that they can comment on what’s happening with a snide remark or cringeworthy joke. While The Last Wish isn’t the first movie to do this, it is a breath of fresh air seeing a modern all-ages appropriate animated film not doing the comedic relief character the same way other have before.