Prince Tulip is a giant inhabiting a cloud kingdom, physically towering over all others, including his mother Madame Hecuba. This immense stature sharply contrasts his severely limited intelligence and near silence, speaking only approximately thirty-five words. Madame Hecuba subjects him to constant verbal abuse and manipulation, openly declaring him an "ugly, disgusting monster," fostering deep-seated resentment.

Tulip copes using a wind-up toy modeled after his mother that delivers insulting songs; he eventually destroys it in anger, foreshadowing his later violent rebellion. He is betrothed to Princess Margaret under a spell cast by Madame Hecuba, making Margaret perceive him as handsome. When the spell breaks and Margaret rejects him, Tulip becomes enraged, specifically threatening Jack out of jealousy, vowing to "skin and stuff" him.

His character arc culminates when he fatally crushes Madame Hecuba underfoot during a confrontation, directly retaliating against her lifelong abuse. This act eliminates her as the primary antagonist but does not redeem him. Ultimately, he pursues Jack down the beanstalk, leading to his demise when the stalk is cut, causing him to fall to his death; this fall is underscored by ironic soundtrack dissonance.