### Sly Cooper **Appearance**: Sly Cooper is a male raccoon characterized by gray fur, black stripes on his tail, a natural black mask around his brown eyes, and a nose with a subtle blue tinge (visible in early artwork but dropped in later games like *Thieves in Time*). He has a slender, agile build optimized for thieving, boasting exceptional balance, reflexes, and acrobatic prowess honed by generations of Cooper Clan training. His signature outfit includes a black bandit mask, a blue short-sleeved shirt with a yellow collar, matching blue boots and gloves with yellow cuffs, and a blue newsboy cap. He wears a belt featuring the iconic Cooper Clan symbol buckle. Early games feature a red backpack for carrying loot and calling cards, replaced by a leg pouch from *Sly 2: Band of Thieves* onward; in *Thieves in Time*, he adds a brown backpack for his paraglider. His primary weapon is the family cane—a brown staff topped with a golden hook, symbolizing the Cooper legacy. **Personality**: Sly embodies the gentleman thief archetype: cunning, devious, quick-witted, charming, suave, brave, and good-natured. He relies on wit, courage, and charisma for heists, often delivering sarcastic quips and jokes even in peril. Laid-back, cool-headed, rational, and unflappable under pressure, he remains loyal to his gang—especially Bentley and Murray—and harbors complicated romantic feelings for Carmelita Fox. Initially cocky and arrogant in *Sly 1* (scolding teammates and ignoring advice), he matures post-captivity in *Sly 2*, becoming more respectful, team-oriented, and empathetic by *Sly 3* and *Thieves in Time*, where his humor shines while staying focused on justice. ### Murray **Appearance**: Murray is a male hippopotamus with pinkish-fuchsia skin (varying shades across games: magenta in *Sly 2/3* gameplay, lighter blush in cutscenes/artwork) and brown eyes. His build is round and bulky, with a muscular upper body contrasting his large stomach, emphasizing raw power. In *Sly 1*, he wears a simple blue-green T-shirt and light blue scarf, going barefoot. From *Sly 2* onward, his look evolves to a maroon wrestling mask, oversized fighting gloves, a large belt (updated with a Cooper Gang logo plate in *Thieves in Time*), driving goggles, and black shoes with white laces (white with red stripes later). During his *Sly 3* Guru apprenticeship, he sports Dreamtime makeup and a short yellow cape instead of the scarf. **Personality**: As the gang's "brawn," Murray starts timid and cowardly in *Sly 1* as the getaway driver but evolves into a fearless, bold thrill-seeker who refers to himself in the third person as "The Murray." He's strong, loyal, determined, and compassionate, with a pacifist streak (hesitant to harm the defenseless) tempered by controlled rage. Emotional and sensitive, he takes failures deeply (e.g., crying over betrayals or his van's loss) but mends bonds fiercely. By *Sly 2*, he's combat-passionate; in *Sly 3*, Guru training enhances his pacifism; and in *Thieves in Time*, he's a confident fighter. ### Bentley **Appearance**: Bentley is a male box turtle with green skin, beady black eyes (nearsighted, always behind thick tortoiseshell glasses), an indigo shell with a blue rim and spots, and a light brown plastron. He's small and unassuming physically, lacking the gang's agility or strength. Two hair strands appear only in *Sly 1*. His outfits progress: casual red bow tie, short-sleeved shirt, watch, and sweater-vest in *Sly 1*; navy kevlar vest, knee/elbow pads, and pith helmet in *Sly 2*. Paralyzed post-*Sly 2*, he uses a gadget-laden wheelchair from *Sly 3* (with keyboard, darts, boosters) evolving to hover-enabled with robotic arms in *Thieves in Time*. *Thieves in Time* simplifies his shell to plain blue, adds a gray shirt under the vest, and includes binocucoms. **Personality**: The gang's "brains" (IQ 140+), Bentley is a polymath genius in hacking, tactics, and invention—timid, germaphobic, and paranoid in *Sly 1*, but grows confident, sarcastic, and quick-witted by *Sly 2*. In *Sly 3*, he's brash, devious in plans, and insecure about relationships, yet turns weaknesses into strengths. *Thieves in Time* adds humor and resilience post-betrayal. He loves rock 'n' roll, hates tomatoes (and possibly hay/chickens), and has a soft spot for animals. ### Carmelita Fox **Appearance**: Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox is a stunning orange-furred vixen with apricot highlights on her face and stomach, black-tipped pointy ears (gold hoop on left), brown eyes, a small black nose, beauty mark under her left eye, and a bushy tail. Her long, wavy dark blue hair is braided (loose in *Thieves in Time*), with HD models showing thinner build, upward-fanning ears, and defined cheeks. Signature attire: dark blue choker with INTERPOL badge, cropped dark yellow leather jacket over a tube top/bra, golden-yellow gloves (fingerless elbow-length in later cutscenes), reddish-brown belt, tight dark blue leggings, and combat boots (knee-high dark brown/black, varying details like steel toes in *Sly 1*, yellow cuffs in *Sly 2/3*, heeled flaps in *Thieves in Time*). She has dark red lipstick from *Sly 2*. Her slender-athletic build enables acrobatics, high jumps, and powerful kicks. **Personality**: Rigid and black-and-white on justice, Carmelita is devoted, relentless, hotheaded, and temperamental—chasing the Cooper Gang worldwide with her shock pistol. Fair and compassionate (offers comforts to captives), she enjoys art, music, and shopping off-duty. She respects honorable thieves like Sly (with repressed romantic tension) and his ancestors, but is choleric, aggressive, persistent, and heartbroken by his "disappearance." Heroic, feisty, and committed. ### Clockwerk **Appearance**: Clockwerk is a colossal robotic Eurasian eagle-owl forged from a unique volcanic alloy, with glowing yellow eyes (red in organic form), furrowed angry brows, three talons per foot, and light brown feathers in his original body. Mechanical upgrades include plasma/electric shooters on feet/back/head/elbows, death rays, poison gas, and detachable jet-propelled head. Wings gain spikes/gems in *Sly 2*; *Thieves in Time* makes him more owl-like. **Personality**: A psychopathic nemesis obsessed with eradicating the Cooper Clan out of jealousy, Clockwerk sustained himself for millennia via his "Hate Chip," mocking the Coopers and claiming robotic immortality. Bitter, evil, vengeful, and superiority-driven, he quotes: "Revenge is the prime ingredient in the fountain of youth. I've kept myself alive for hundreds of years with a steady diet of jealousy and hate." ### Dimitri Lousteau **Appearance**: Dimitri Lousteau is a purple marine iguana with reddish-brown eyes, a slim build, blue eyelids that are baggy, and a crumpled cigarette often dangling from his mouth. He has a large blue crest resembling hair and a blue "goatee." He is taller than Panda King and Murray. In *Sly 2*, he wears a green jacket with a large collar over an orange tank top, green pants with a large gold belt buckle, orange socks and shoes, rings on both hands, and a watch. In *Sly 3*, his outfit is similar but more vibrant magenta skin tones; diving gear adds a protruding gut, green/yellow wetsuit, goggles, swim cap, flippers, oxygen tank, and harpoon gun. In *Thieves in Time*, he has a longer trench coat, deep red tank top, longer hair, golden cane, gold chain with "D" pendant, and is shorter. 1 **Personality**: Dimitri speaks in hip-hop slang-filled English, nicknaming others like "cracker box" for Sly or "main man Murray." Hugely egotistical and self-proclaimed ladies' man (e.g., flirting with Penelope), he keeps his word, provides heist intel, and loyally joins the Cooper Gang after they retrieve his grandfather's gear. 1 ### The Guru **Appearance**: The Guru is a purple koala with brown eyes, wearing a red bandanna, brown loincloth, yellow face paint across his nose and under eyes, and a purple braided beard with blue cloth strips. He carries a staff topped with a glowing purple moon stone tied by rope. 7 **Personality**: A pacifist seeking non-violent "middle ways," kind and humorous to comrades, but stubborn (refused to leave prison without his staff and stone). 7 ### Panda King **Appearance**: A large male giant panda with black-and-white fur. In *Sly 1*, flame-striped red pants and blue waist sash. In *Sly 3*, monk phase: white gown, long beard/eyebrows; later, regular clothes with fireworks on torso/back. Post-game in China: adds conical hat. 13 2 **Personality**: Calm with a short temper, proud of fireworks mastery (trained a decade, turned criminal after rejection). Loves daughter Jing King, asocial (especially to Dimitri), bonds with Murray/Guru. Learns humility from Sly, reconciles criminal/dark sides for greater good. ### Penelope **Appearance**: Light lavender house mouse with long blonde (strawberry blonde in cutscenes) hair in braid (*Sly 3*) or ponytail (*Thieves in Time*), brown eyes, tail (*Thieves in Time* only), round glasses. *Sly 3*: red bandana, orange shirt, blue overalls, brown shoes, gray gloves. *Thieves in Time*: yellow jumpsuit, black gloves/shoes/belt (Le Paradox logo), red bandana on hair/tail, gold earring, orange-tinted/oval glasses. **Personality**: Nice, outgoing, dedicated, loyal girlfriend to Bentley and RC copter expert for Cooper Gang. Eagerly supports friends, excited by gadgets against foes, timid in direct fights but fiercely protective of loved ones like Bentley. ### Rioichi Cooper **Appearance**: Sly's Japanese ancestor resembling a tanuki (raccoon dog) with fur pattern to match. Wears blue ninja gear/haori with white sleeves and hood covering head; bamboo cane splits into dual for stealth takedowns. Blue outfit signature of Cooper thieves. **Personality**: Calm, wise (e.g., "water flows through dense bamboo without effort"), master ninja thief, chef who invented sushi as thieving cover. Honorable Cooper Clan member, developer of Ninja Spire Jump/Leaping Dragon. ### Tennessee Kid Cooper **Appearance**: Wild West raccoon ancestor (brown fur gameplay, mid-gray cutscenes), cowboy attire: long-sleeved shirt under vest (redesigned later), revolvers as hooked-handle canes, hat left in vault. No mustache in *Thieves in Time* (unlike Thievius Raccoonus). **Personality**: Enthusiastic, confident gunslinger/comic relief, jokey but deadly serious about Cooper legacy (threatens mockers). Daring bank/train robber, creator of Rail Slide/Crackshot (slow-mo multi-target shot). ### Klaww Gang (Le Paradox's Lieutenants in Thieves in Time) The Klaww Gang refers to Cyrille Le Paradox's villainous crew disrupting history: Grizz, Toothpick, Black Knight. #### Grizz **Appearance**: Large black-furred American black bear with brown eyes, purple tracksuit (yellow lines/stripes, rolled sleeves), yellow belt/gold buckle, brown boots, gold chain necklace/pendant, medieval crown, carries paintbrush/scepter. Short white nails (game), long black claws (cutscenes). **Personality**: Intimidating brute with arrogant African American dialect, shouts/raps everything, paranoid (world/everyone against him). #### Toothpick **Appearance**: Short armadillo in red vest over white dress shirt, brown belt/gold buckle, white cowboy hat. **Personality**: Corrupt, egotistical sheriff obsessed with gold/wealth, frames innocents, grows massive when enraged (shock waves, whirlwinds, rolling attacks). Childish cowboy fantasist, dislikes train whistles. #### Black Knight **Appearance**: Black bulky armor suit enhancing strength, with red light for wearer vision/targeting. Robotic weaponry for tyranny. **Personality**: Tyrannical "Black Tyrant" conquering kingdoms with tech, imprisons rivals like Sir Galleth. Arpeggio Appearance: Arpeggio was a tiny, frail parrot with chartreuse feathers, a royal yellow beak, navy blue hair and eyes, and a small mustache (in-game model). He wore a scarlet cap, monocle, charcoal waistcoat over a white shirt with a cherry bowtie, and a flowing crimson-and-gold robe-like cape. Due to his inability to fly, he traveled in a mechanical birdcage on wheels with light curtains, a perch, metal cranks for operation, and his insignia on a gold tile.b4b44f Personality: Ambitious, manipulative, and self-conscious about his feeble body and flightlessness, Arpeggio was a brilliant inventor driven by jealousy and a desire for immortality over mere power. Intelligent but naive in judging character (blind to Neyla's betrayal), he viewed others as short-sighted pawns. Cruel yet oddly respectful of Sly's thieving prowess, he thanked him before his death. Key quote: "Immortality! Immortality is what I seek! The other Klaww Gang members were much too short-sighted... But not me, no, I saw them for what they really were – the keys to life eternal!"7e235c Neyla Appearance: Neyla was a sleek Bengal tiger with violet fur, shoulder-length black hair and markings, and green eyes (turning yellow post-transformation). She wore head jewelry, a red-and-golden dupatta, dark blue tank top, brown shorts with a blue belt and gold buckle, and small brown boots.9812a6 Personality: Charming and generous on the surface to manipulate others, Neyla was deceitful, cunning, power-hungry, and treacherous—double-crossing the Cooper Gang, INTERPOL, Carmelita, and even Arpeggio for Clockwerk's immortality. A schemer from a poor background who scammed her way to success, she viewed alliances as disposable. Key quote: "Stupid Arpeggio. I double crossed the Cooper Gang, INTERPOL and Carmelita... what made you think I wouldn't do the same to you?"4f0758 The Contessa Appearance: The Contessa was a Black Widow-like spider with a pale blue-skinned humanoid upper body, long blue hair, red eyes (in place of a spider head), and scorpion claw hands covered by long red gloves. She wore a red dress with orange web patterns, a gold belt featuring a red hourglass buckle, and had a pocket on her abdomen.969592 Personality: Malevolent, selfish, sadistic, and psychologically abusive, she believed in humanity's primitive instincts over good/evil binaries. Greedy and overweening, she poisoned her husband for wealth, hypnotized criminals for loot, and tormented prisoners like Murray. Intelligent in criminal psychology but cowardly when outmatched, fleeing rather than fighting fairly. Post-defeat, she hypnotized real estate clients for sales.80088a Rajan Appearance: Rajan was a large Bengal tiger with royal orange fur and purple stripes. He wore a violet turban, crimson vest, plum-and-emerald pants, forest green shoes, and carried a long wooden staff (once topped with half of Clockwerk's heart).244be7 Personality: Self-conscious from a poor Calcutta upbringing, Rajan was prestige-obsessed, crowning himself "Lord of the Hills" and flying into rages over destroyed property. Rude and condescending to inferiors (e.g., mocking Murray as a "fat, pathetic weakling"). Reformed post-prison into a legitimate rug salesman. Key quote: "Black Clouds and Thunderbolts! My spice temple, ruined! ... Come, face the mighty Rajan, Lord of these hills!"cc34ef Jean Bison Appearance: Jean Bison was a large maroon bison with yellow horns, blue eyes, a plum purple nose, eggplant purple feet, and scars over both eyes (left always, right in gameplay). He wore a hide tunic, violet purple gloves, a neck horn, shoulder bear trap, waist canteen, and wielded a large wooden club (with purple strap of animal tails, sometimes augmented by Clockwerk's talons as an axe).6565ca Personality: Arrogant, boastful, and extreme, Bison embodied rugged Canadian stereotypes—greedy, nature-destroying ("tame the Wild North" by clear-cutting and damming), prejudiced (mocking turtles as "stew-pid"), and vengeful toward property damage or competition losses. Ruthlessly industrious and deal-making. Reformed to EPA work, freezing again heroically. Key quote: "Ha! Oh it's tough being this tough, it sure is, yeah."9b85a9 ### The World of Sly Cooper The *Sly Cooper* series is set in a vibrant, anthropomorphic animal world blending film noir aesthetics, cartoonish humor, and advanced gadgetry. Society mirrors our own—modern cities with neon skylines, historical landmarks, prehistoric wilds, and even time-travel tech—but populated entirely by anthropomorphic animals. Technology ranges from smartphones and helicopters to experimental wheelchairs, RC copters, fireworks explosives, and time machines, often with a steampunk or comic-book flair. At its core is the **Cooper Clan**, a legendary lineage of raccoon master thieves who live by a strict honor code: steal only from criminals, never harm the innocent, and pass down techniques via the **Thievius Raccoonus**—an ancient, indestructible book detailing acrobatic moves, gadgets, and heists from ancestors spanning history (e.g., ninjas, cowboys, knights). The **Cooper Gang**—formed at the grim Happy Camper Orphanage—includes: - **Sly Cooper**: Suave, agile raccoon thief with a hooked cane; witty leader driven by family legacy. - **Bentley**: Genius turtle hacker/inventor (wheelchair-bound post-*Sly 2*); the brains. - **Murray**: Loyal, muscle-bound hippo; the brawn and van driver. Opposing them is **INTERPOL Inspector Carmelita Fox**, a fierce vixen cop with a shock pistol, torn between duty and her flirtatious tension with Sly. Villains form syndicates like the **Fiendish Five** and **Klaww Gang**, often motivated by greed, revenge, or immortality. Themes: Found family, legacy vs. hatred, honorable thievery, betrayal, and growth. Gameplay emphasizes stealth heists, gadgets, and multi-character missions across globe-spanning "episodes." ### Overall Story Arc Sly's journey evolves from avenging his parents' murder by **Clockwerk** (a hate-fueled robotic owl jealous of the Coopers' thieving immortality) to dismantling villain syndicates, rebuilding his gang, raiding the family **Cooper Vault**, and time-traveling to preserve his bloodline. Clockwerk's "Hate Chip" recurs as a symbol of enduring evil, destroyed only in *Sly 2*. The series culminates in Sly's apparent sacrifice, stranding him in ancient Egypt, leaving his legacy secure but his fate open-ended. ### Game-by-Game Plot Summaries #### **Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (2002, PS2)** As a child, Sly watches the **Fiendish Five**—led by the ancient, cybernetic **Clockwerk**—murder his father Conner and steal the *Thievius Raccoonus*. Orphaned, Sly teams with Bentley and Murray at the orphanage to form the Cooper Gang. Now adults, they globe-trot to reclaim the book's five sections from the Five's lairs: Sir Raleigh (Welsh pirate), Muggshot (U.S. gangster bulldog), Mz. Ruby (Haitian voodoo witch), and Panda King (explosives-master panda). Each victory unlocks ancestral techniques. The finale pits Sly against Clockwerk in a Russian volcano. With Carmelita's reluctant aid (she gives him a 10-second escape headstart after defeat), Sly wins—but Clockwerk's eye twitches, hinting survival. #### **Sly 2: Band of Thieves (2004, PS2)** Two years later, the **Klaww Gang** steals Clockwerk's parts from a Cairo museum for crimes (and secretly, leader **Arpeggio**'s immortality plot via spice-induced hatred). Pursued by Carmelita and partner **Neyla** (a treacherous tiger), the gang hits Paris (vs. forger **Dimitri**), India (vs. spice lord **Rajan**), Prague (vs. hypnotist **Contessa**), and Canada (vs. lumber baron **Jean Bison**). Neyla betrays everyone, merging with Clockwerk to become **Clock-La**. Sly and Carmelita destroy her and the Hate Chip atop Arpeggio's blimp in Paris, but Bentley is paralyzed saving Sly. #### **Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (2005, PS2)** Framed as a flashback: Sly learns of the **Cooper Vault** (family loot hoard) on **Kaine Island**, overrun by ex-biologist **Dr. M** (a betrayed Cooper associate). To infiltrate, Sly recruits ex-villains: Murray (in Venice vs. opera gangster Octavio), **The Guru** (Australia vs. Mask of Dark Earth), **Penelope** (Bentley's RC whiz girlfriend, Holland vs. Black Baron), **Panda King** (China vs. General Tsao), and **Dimitri** (Caribbean vs. pirate LeFwee). They raid the vault; Sly "dies" shielding Carmelita from Dr. M, awakening amnesiac. She claims him as partner "Constable Cooper." Sly fakes it to romance her in Paris, winking at spying Bentley—revealing the ruse. Gang disbands temporarily. #### **Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (2013, PS3/Vita)** *Sly 3*'s time machine (Bentley/Penelope collab) activates as *Thievius Raccoonus* pages vanish. Villain **Cyrille Le Paradox** (skunk billionaire) time-travels to erase Coopers by stealing ancestors' canes: **Rioichi** (Feudal Japan vs. El Jefe), **Tennessee Kid** (Wild West vs. Sheriff Toothpick), **Bob** (Prehistory vs. Grizz), **Sir Galleth** (Medieval England vs. **Black Knight**—revealed as villainous Penelope), **Salim al-Kupar** (Ancient Arabia vs. Miss Decibel). Gang + ancestors storm Le Paradox's blimp in altered Paris. Sly defeats him but falls into a time vortex, washing up in Ancient Egypt (implying future adventures). The series (plus *The Sly Collection* remaster and *Bentley's Hackpack* minis) sold millions, praised for evolving heists, humor, and heartfelt storytelling.