We haven’t seen much of Puss in Boots from the Shrek Universe on the big screen in a while. In fact, it’s been over a decade since his spinoff film was released. However, this December, the swashbuckling feline returns in the movie Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. At this year’s Lightbox Expo, director Joel Crawford moderated a panel to discuss the upcoming feature. Joining him were head of story Heidi Jo Gilbert, production designer Nate Wragg, and editor Jim Ryan.
Because it has been such a long time in between installments, Crawford saw the opportunity to expand upon what was done previously. He wanted to introduce a different and distinct style and wanted an aesthetic similar to a fairy tale painting. The team drew references from Grimm’s Fairy Tales to create an illustrative look with the rendering compared to the other Shrek Universe films.
As Wragg mentioned, they wanted to create a living visual development image rather than merely a moving painting. They wanted it to feel like a more immersive experience than just a sequel going through the motions and same beats.
The illustrative look fits in with the darker tone of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The titular character has gone through eight of his nine lives and there are real stakes considering he is on his last one. There are many new faces in the movie including Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family (Olivia Colman, Samson Kayo, and Ray Winstone). There is also “Big” Jack Horner (John Mulaney) who is angry that no one remembers his nursery rhyme so he turns to crime.
Another newcomer is Wolf (Wagner Moura), who is a bounty hunter looking to cash in on Puss in Boots. The audience was treated to a video of their first meeting and Wolf turns out to be a considerable threat. You could also notice the darker tone with the antagonist’s design and demeanor along with the blood as a result of the scuffle.
More interesting, Crawford mentioned the Spaghetti Western influence and it’s clearly noticeable with the close ups of eyes and weapons, and the framing within a frame of the scene. Here’s hoping the rest of the film is as entertaining and exciting as this sneak peek.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish hits theaters on December 21, 2022.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
