This past December, Dreamworks released the animated existentialist adventure-comedy Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a sequel to the original Puss In Boots film released in 2011. Directed by Joel Crawford, this film follows Puss, the anthropomorphic outlaw feline, who sets on a journey to retrieve the Last Wish to restore his previous nine lives. While on his quest, he is pursued by literal Death himself- will he be able to survive before his wish is granted?

I approached this movie completely blind, never having watched the original Puss in Boots, but was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t expect for a children’s animated film to be that touching, or handle topics concerning the nature of life and death in such an easily digestible, entertaining manner. I think that more children’s movies should stray towards including similar messages to those discussed in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Death itself isn’t necessarily a morbid subject, and this film does a great job of conveying that. Mortality, in essence, is an idea that allows for us to reach our full potential in life- to make the most out of living, cherishing even mundane situations within the small time period we’re given. It is our job as humans to utilize death’s inevitability to make our one life more meaningful. It’s imperative to instill this optimistic rather than fearful outlook on death into younger generations, something that Puss and Boots tackles perfectly.

Not only was the message of the movie amazing, but the animation was entirely unique and beautifully executed. Stylish, bold, and dynamic- The Last Wish’s use of stutter frames and color changes, a nod to the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse animation, was captivating from a technical standpoint.

Overall, Dreamworks did a fantastic job with weaving in themes like greed and privilege, relationships vs. solitude, pride and ego, and existentialism into their animated film. Puss and Boots: The Last Wish reminds us to find reassurance within our finite lifespans and to not take friendships and family for granted.