Shantae is the titular main protagonist of the Shantae series. Being the half-genie guardian of Scuttle Town, she works tirelessly to thwart the plans of the nefarious lady-pirate, Risky Boots. She was created by Matt Bozon and Erin Bozon.

== Appearance == Shantae is 16 years old, stands at 5'4'' (162 cm), and weighs 120 lbs (54 kg).

Shantae is a young woman with a very slender build. As a professional belly dancer, her outfit usually consists of sheer harem pants, a bra, and gold jewelry. This look is also known as the Red Bedlah attire and is the default look in every game, though it does change slightly as well. She has a relatively thin yet curvy figure and is rather short compared to some other characters in the game. Shantae has olive/tan skin with blue eyes, and long, growing purple hair tied up in a ponytail stem stalk. Her parentage is uncertain, but it is known that her mother was a genie, and there is speculation about who her father was.

Throughout the series, Shantae has had the ability to transform into many different things by using her magical powers. Depending on the adventure and circumstance, she also has worn many different outfits.

== Personality == As the Guardian Genie of Scuttle Town, Shantae lives in a lighthouse by the sea, where she watches for incoming ships and trouble. Initially, she is young and somewhat naive, with a strong sense of justice that drives her to help people in need. She has a deep rivalry with the nefarious lady-pirate, Risky Boots, whose plans she works tirelessly to thwart.

Shantae is a kind and caring individual with a strong sense of duty to her town and her friends, including her adoptive uncle Mimic, and her friends Sky and Bolo. She also considers the zombie Rottytops a friend, despite Rottytops' joking threats to eat her brains.

Throughout her adventures, Shantae demonstrates a growing confidence in her abilities and her identity as a half-genie. She is determined to protect her home and those she cares about, even when it means putting herself in harm's way or forming unlikely alliances. Although she can be stubborn and a bit of a "klutz" at times, she is ultimately selfless and brave, always learning from her experiences to become a more capable hero.

== Trivia ==

• Shantae, Risky Boots, and Harmony are all voiced by Cristina Vee, a prolific voice actress known for many roles in anime and video games.
• Shantae's unique fighting style, which involves using her long ponytail as a whip, is reminiscent of the classic genie character Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie.
• Shantae has made appearances in other video games. She is featured as a Spirit and a Mii Fighter costume in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
• Additionally, a costume of Shantae is available for Miriam in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
• Interestingly, Cristina Vee also voices Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug from the animated series Miraculous Ladybug. Both characters are heroines who are sometimes considered clumsy, have magical animal-based powers, and can undo collateral damage with their abilities.
• Shantae is also a playable character in the fan-made fighting game, Super Smash Bros. Crusade.
• The Shantae series consists of six main games so far: Shantae (2002), Shantae: Risky's Revenge (2010), Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (2014), Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016), Shantae and the Seven Sirens (2019), and the upcoming Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution (2025).