Ah-ha! Cannes gets sneak preview of 'Puss in Boots'

Swashbuckling "Puss in Boots" strutted into Cannes on Wednesday when the creators of the DreamWorks animated feature screened about 40 minutes of their 3D work in progress.

Spanish film star Antonio Banderas voices the green-eyed feline, alongside Salma Hayek as love interest Kitty Softpaws, in the first spin-off from the wildly successful "Shrek" franchise.

"I've had the privilege to have worked on all the Shrek movies and Puss in Boots has been my favourite character," said director Chris Miller as the Cannes film festival got under way.

"He has a big heart and just enough of the devil in him. He's a great character with many contrasts - little, but larger than life."

"Puss in Boots" is Hayek's first foray in animation; in Cannes she confided that her young daughter is already bugging her to see it. The final product is due out in cinemas in November.

Another DreamWorks cartoon, "Kung Fu Panda 2," featuring the voice of Jack Black, is being promoted on the sidelines of the festival, where the original was screened out of competition three years ago.