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Rumpelstiltskin (Rumpel for short) is a minor antagonist in Shrek the Third and the main antagonist in Shrek Forever After.

Shrek the Third

In Shrek the Third, Rumpel is seen at the bar when Prince Charming rallies the villians. The Rumpelstiltskin seen here most likely overheard Rumpelstiltskin's name and stole it.

Rumpelstiltsking

Rumpelstiltskin as he appears in Shrek the Third.

Shrek Forever After

Rumpelstiltskin is the main antagonist in the final movie (Voiced by Walt Dohrn).  In the beginning he lives in what appears to be a trailer park, where the King and Queen of Far Far Away visit him in the hopes that he can help free Fiona from her curse. Before they can sign the contract, it is revealed that Fiona has been rescued by Shrek and thus Rumpel's help is no longer needed. Furious, he wishes that Shrek never existed. Later, it is seen that he still lives a scavenger-like lifestyle, when he is caught eating out of the bins of a restaurant. Overhearing Fiona and Shrek's argument (which resulted in Shrek wishing he was a 'real' ogre again), he sets up a trap to lure Shrek into a conversation and ultimately signing a deal where he can be a 'real' ogre for one day in exchange for any day from his past. Rumpel chooses the day Shrek was born, attempting to erase him from the timeline. In the alternate future, Rumpelstiltskin is now king of Far Far Away (as the former King and Queen singed the original contract to make their "problems disappear", leading they themselves to vanish). He is shown to be a selfish king, as he owns a large and lavish castle, while the rest of the land is barren and dull. He spends much of his reign trying to capture the ogres, which he hires the Pied Piper's assistance for. Determined to capture Shrek, he offers the 'Deal of a Lifetime' as a reward for anyone who can bring him to the castle. Turning himself in, Shrek uses the reward to free the other ogres, much to Rumepl's relief (he earlier threatened that Shrek could not use the deal to get his old life back). Rumpel attempts to provoke a fight between Fiona, Shrek and Dragon, whom he had been keeping locked in his castle. Rumpel's alternative universe ultimately ends when he is apprehended by an ogre, and Fiona and Shrek share True Love's Kiss; breaking his contract and causing Rumpel to fall into the abyss. His death in the alternate universe seemed to have no affect on the original one, as at the end of the film he is locked in a cage.

Donkey's Christmas Shrektacular

In the short he appears briefly in his cage.

Donkey - "Hey Shrek, Check it out! I found an real christmas elf in the goal cage"

Rumpelstiltskin - "I'm not an elf, I'm Rumpelstiltskin. Now get me out of this cage!"

Donkey - " Oh, So you can run away yet? I don't think so!"

Shrek's Yule Log

In the short he appears briefly with a bucket of water which he is about chuck on the fireplace, but Shrek stops him.

Trivia

  • A running gag in the fourth movie is the inability for other characters to remember/pronounce his name.
  • Paul McCartney, David Morrissey and Tom Cruise were rummored to voice Rumpelstiltskin.
  • Rumpelstilskin is the only Shrek villain known not to die, although whether Prince Charming survives or not is unknown.
  • Is the second villain of the Shrek franchise, which is small, after Farquaad.
  • In the Shrek Forever After Soundtrack, he runs a radio show which takes place after the events in the film.
  • There is a continuity error in the franchise: at the end of the third film, he is part of the fairytale villains who change their ways; however in the fourth film, he has reverted to his evil ways and his vindicative self.
  • King Harold said he was recomended by King Midas. It's a reference to the short film "The Golden Touch", in which an elf named Goldie made a pact with greedy King Midas. Rumpel has some slight resemblance to Goldie.

Similarities to other characters

  • Rumpelstiltskin is similar to Pitch from Rise Of The Guardians, as both
    • Consider that the bad actions have been committed by the protagonist (this, is a way, being true) and that nothing is their fault.
    • Have killed a protagonist (King Harold and Queen Lillian in Rumpelstiltskin's case; Sandy in Pitch's case) who was ressurrected at the end.
  • Rumpelstiltskin is also similar to Capitaine Chantel DuBois from Madagascar 3 as both:
    • Show hatred, and great pleasure in capturing, a certain group of living beings whom the protagonist is part of (Ogres in Rumpelstiltskin's case and Animals in DuBois' case)
    • Have survived great falls (Rumpelstiltskin fell off Fifi but was caught by Fiona, DuBois' skills permit her to do so)
    • Could have been killed by a supporting protagonist, but weren't (Rumpelstiltskin could have eaten by the ogres, but Shrek's disappearence distracted them ; Mort could have loaded a poison dart in DuBois' tranquilizer, but chose not to)
    • Have found themselves in a unwanted predicament (Rumpelstiltskin was encaged by Shrek ; DuBois was shipped to Madagascar (strangely enough exactly what happened to the zoo animals in the first film of the Madagascar franchise) )
    • Are the main antagonist of the last film in their franchise before a spin-off film.
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