Born with his eyes open, exceptionally large ears and a miniature body, Despereaux Carlos Tilling has always been unusual. His love of music, books and the human Princess Pea, leads him to be shunned by his fellow mice and banished to a world of darkness. After Princess Pea is kidnapped, Despereaux traverses through the Kingdom of Dor using stealth and wit to fend off both animal enemies and human foe, in an effort to save the princess.