Ali Babá is a peasant boy descended from the original leader of a band of thieves. His ancestors' treasure was stolen generations earlier by the tyrannical ruler Ali Baba the 33rd, leaving him a legacy of injustice to confront. His core motivation is reclaiming this stolen ancestral wealth while opposing the oppressive regime impoverishing the people.

His background establishes him as an underdog operating against significant power imbalances. The conflict escalates when Ali Baba the 33rd acquires a magic lamp containing an ailurophobic genie—a being with an intense fear of cats. This genie's magic functions only if all felines are eradicated, prompting the king to initiate brutal cat persecution. This campaign directly threatens Ali Babá's feline companions and catalyzes his active resistance.

Demonstrating resourcefulness, he forms an unconventional alliance to counter this threat. He unites with a mouse named Kajiru (also called Nibbler) and liberates 38 imprisoned cats. Together, they reconstitute the legendary group known as the Forty Thieves, symbolically continuing his ancestors' legacy with a righteous purpose. This coalition becomes instrumental in infiltrating the palace, disrupting the genie's power, and retrieving the stolen treasure.

His development highlights growing leadership and strategic acumen. He orchestrates jailbreaks to rescue cats targeted by the king's forces and devises tactical operations against the palace. His actions evolve from individual defiance to leading a coordinated movement aimed at dismantling tyranny. The climax centers on a decisive confrontation where he and his allies thwart the genie's influence, reclaim the treasure, and end the king's oppressive rule.

His arc concludes with the restoration of justice—returning wealth to its rightful lineage, liberating the persecuted cats, and freeing the populace from cruelty. His journey embodies themes of resilience against oppression and the importance of collective action.