Boodle is the mayor of Orange Town, a port community located in the Organ Islands of the East Blue. An elderly man with a distinct appearance, he is recognized by his curled, gray hair that forms bunches on the top and sides of his head, as well as his small, round-rimmed glasses. At the time of his debut, Boodle is seventy-three years old, and two years later he is seventy-five. In his youth, his hair was black, and he had a much more robust build suited for physical labor like farming and carpentry.

Boodle's personality is defined by an unwavering dedication to Orange Town and its residents, a sentiment born from his personal history. He was originally a refugee whose previous home was destroyed by pirates. Taking a leadership role, he proposed building a new settlement on an uninhabited area of the Organ Islands and spent forty years working alongside countless others to transform the wilderness into the thriving port of Orange Town. This history makes him fiercely protective and proud of what the community has become. While usually pragmatic and coolheaded, this intense devotion can manifest as a strong, almost childish pride, spurring him to take unnecessary risks when his town is threatened. He is well-respected by the citizens, who trust him implicitly, and he is known to care for individuals down to the town's specialty merchants.

Boodle's role in the story centers on the Orange Town Arc, where his community is invaded and occupied by the pirate crew of Buggy the Clown. Unable to fight back, Boodle and most of the citizens are forced to flee, becoming refugees once again. However, he periodically sneaks back into the occupied town for a singular act of loyalty: to feed Chouchou, a dog who maintains a tireless vigil outside the destroyed pet-food shop of his deceased owner, Hocker. Boodle had a peculiar friendship with Hocker, often patronizing his store even when business was slow, and after Hocker's death, he took the dog under his unofficial care.

When Monkey D. Luffy and his crew arrive in Orange Town, Boodle's motivation shifts from quiet desperation to active defiance. After witnessing Luffy fight to avenge Chouchou after the pet shop is burned down, Boodle is deeply moved and ashamed of his own inaction. Proclaiming Orange Town itself as his treasure, he resolves to defend it personally. Despite having no real combat skills and being easily overpowered, he arms himself with a spear and confronts Buggy. Buggy effortlessly strangles him, and Boodle only survives because Luffy intervenes. When Boodle, driven by pride, refuses outside help, Luffy knocks him unconscious to remove him from the battlefield. After the Straw Hat Pirates defeat Buggy's crew, the returning townspeople initially mistake them for enemies. Once the confusion clears, Boodle races to the harbor and tearfully shouts his deepest thanks to the departing pirates who saved his home.

Key relationships define Boodle's character. His bond with Chouchou the dog is central, as the animal's loyalty inspires Boodle's own courage. His relationship with the Straw Hat Pirates, particularly Luffy, is one of profound gratitude, transforming from initial resentment of their interference to acknowledging a deep debt. While he was the town's founder and leader, the citizens are shown to care for him deeply, returning en masse out of concern when he is in danger.

Boodle shows subtle development over the course of the series. Initially a pragmatic man who fled from the pirates, he finds his resolve and chooses to stand and fight, even if he is physically incapable of winning. This act of defiance, spurred by the courage of a small dog and a reckless pirate, restores his fighting spirit. Two years later, his character has settled into a peaceful post-conflict state. With Orange Town mostly recovered from the occupation, he is seen co-hosting the grand opening of a new pet-food shop named in Chouchou's honor, showing that the community has healed and that the loyalty of a small dog has been immortalized.

In terms of abilities, Boodle possesses no notable superhuman powers or combat skills. In his younger days, he was physically fit and capable of hard manual labor. By the time he appears in the story, he is an elderly man who is easily overpowered by fighters like Buggy and even Luffy. While he attempts to arm himself with a spear and a clumsy set of brown leather armor, these provide no real advantage against a Devil Fruit user. His true strength lies not in combat, but in his resilience, leadership, and the depth of his love for his town, which ultimately become the very qualities that save it.