This film has been on my radar for quite a while now, with its release last year and receiving quite a lot of praise for its animation style and good story, something very unexpected from a Puss in Boots film given its prior history and quality. Generally these films have been regarded as some of the worst after the Shrek run sizzled out. Even Shrek, for example, is a relatively dated animation and has wrapped up its story -- until Hollywood decides it is time to revive it. The world of animation has been a bit bumpy as of late, with many unique shows getting cancelled and creators claiming Disney has been an absolute horror to work for, going as far as even promising to never work with them again after the bad experiences. The adult animation side of things, of which I've mentioned before, is an absolute joke. Completely missing the point and forcing itself into edgy, pointless humour and narratives. Studios even seem to be closing, with some of the largest reducing their sizes. It's a rarity these days that something good does come out and survives the rough waters. Spider-Man has had a good run so far with two hits. Nimona managed to gain some traction. And the television side of things has been bumpy but showing some life: Invincible, Arcane, and My Adventures with Superman are a few around at the moment.
To know the current state of the animation industry serves as a foundation to just why you should appreciate something like Puss in Boots in today's troubled world. Coming from a franchise that had been failing, but was given one last chance with a good budget and a worthy send-off full of passion. I have high hopes that recent hits can remind the animation industry that it can create some great things. That the adult animation side of things shouldn't be terrible edgy humour and low effort Rick and Morty knock-offs. That style is something that audiences not only enjoy, but are happy to support in the theatre. Hollywood, essentially, has been given a big reminder that people care about the quality of what it throws out. Risks can be made, and they do pay off. Of course, not everything needs to be a major feature film with a stylistic animation that takes years to create. But people want more like this. Series or feature length film, there is space for animations.
Even if you don't like Puss in Boots or have seen the prior films, it doesn't really matter. And I think that's a major strength of this film as it stands alone, while being a goodbye to a character that had quite a lot of influence in the Shrek films. I will avoid mentioning spoilers in this review, and already I suggest watching it. Feel free to read up to this part and stop!
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
But if you have seen this film or perhaps don't care, continue reading! Here I'll get a little bit more into what Puss in Boots: The Last Wish really is. This is a film that rejects some of the more childish themes one might assume they would find in a Puss in Boots film. We see much darker themes and existential ones as the question of what life really is comes to mind. Puss in Boots, as we all know, is a cat. And cats hold the old tale of having nine total lives due to their strange luck and agility that keeps them surviving all kinds of scenarios. In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, this is taken literally in which the character has died several times. We get a glimpse at how these prior deaths had taken place, funnily the vast majority of them are a result of comedic scenarios: eating shellfish and getting an allergic reaction, drinking too much, or from whacky, silly inventions that led to his demise. Having nine lives led to some ignorance over this toying with death, but here the existential epiphany is met: Puss in Boots, the incredible adventurer, has just one life left to live.
Place yourself in his boots for a moment: you're famous, known for being a talking cat that has roamed the land, adventured with the marvelous Shrek and Donkey, leading a life of nomadic ambitions. You have lucked out of death multiple times, you have multiple lives after all, and now, you don't. This is the last one. One day, something will happen, and it'll be your last. Having lived this way your entire life, the question of who you are comes into play. Who is Puss in Boots? What more is to come from his life as his greatest days are now clearly behind him? How does one come to terms with the inevitability of death and the acceptance that their best days have now passed? These are some pretty deep questions for such a film, but I found it incredibly engaging and emotional. I have never cared for the character or even seen the prior films, but I found myself caring for the story and character very quickly. The way the film promoted these questions to the audience almost fills you with some existential dread yourself. A bit of anxiety that comes from the realisation that this isn't just a story about an animated talking cat, but a look at the fragility of our very own lives. We have no idea how to spend the time we have, and do we really cherish the time we have in the present? Have we already experienced the best days of our lives? What comes next? Each of the questions Puss in Boots faces is fundamentally a question each of us will face ourselves in reality. It's a very beautiful story as a result.
With a seeming inability to die and the fame of many adventures behind him, Puss in Boots has to fight the ego. But this isn't something that comes easy, given the film is about The Last Wish, in which Puss in Boots goes on a last adventure in search of a wish that he could use to grant himself his prior eight lives back. The fear of death fills Puss in Boots, but he knows nothing of the value of life still. This makes the film a very character driven story, where we really discover the characters it displays. Far from cartoonish and more real, alive. I found myself enjoying the film a lot because of this. Though this does not mean the film didn't have a comedic structure. It was actually quite a funny film, full of laughs and idiocy. I was actually quite surprised at how the film even had many adult implications, very close to having characters swear or make references to things. This was often interrupted with a censor sound or some other dialogue. It certainly felt more adult than a film made for children. Not just through those more existential, adult themes. But still, we have the fun and cute characters. Still the many fairytale references that come from the world of Shrek. And it finds a way to play a role in the narrative still. Crossing the paths and discussing these themes of existentialism and identity.
I think the main appeal for most, however, is the incredible animation quality. This is a very good looking film. I loved the use of colours and the very dark tones. A lot of magical colours that mixed and produced a fantasy aesthetic. I thought of other animations and even videogames that had a similar style. I remembered the Spider-Man film, but I found myself looking back at the very fun days of playing World of Warcraft: those rich purples and greens, the fantasy aesthetic of old thick wooden furniture and buildings. This film absolutely smothers you with beautiful colours, and it's such a visually pleasing film to watch. The attention to detail in each shot is really something, it seems as if frame has been carefully crafted as an individual piece of art. It is very easy to pause this film at random moments to take screenshots and take in the environment. Beautiful compositions through the use of basic filmmaking and photography techniques. I really did enjoy it all.
The praise this film received was absolutely justified, in my opinion. From the writing to the visuals. Even to the very good sound design that has characters sounding as if they're moving through space within the frame. It's all very rare for an animation and clearly riddled with passion from creatives in many different fields. A very good send-off to a character with much fame. And a great slap across the face to the rest of the animation industry to remind them what they're capable of. I'm very surprised by the film, I really didn't expect much, especially in the story. But I couldn't possibly recommend it enough.
