(Wikimedia Commons)

On December 21, 2022, Dreamworks Animation redefined animation after debuting Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. The $90 million film has already made over $454 million worldwide and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Movie of 2023.

Puss, (Antonio Banderas) living on the last of his nine lives, retires to a secluded rescue home, where he hears about the legendary wishing star and plans to steal it. But his competitors show no mercy and attempt to stop him. Despite many obstacles, Puss finds solace in new friends while on his mission.

I had heard good things about the film, but this movie still astonished me when I watched it in theater. The impeccable voice-acting and CGI is what made it so enjoyable. Banderas’ pitch variations engaged me in his both action-packed and melodramatic scenes. For visual appeal, the production team focused on a creative preference rather than a realism approach. This produced a more comic-book feel, with many calling it a mix between 2D and 3D. 

The quality of the motion picture, combined with the nostalgia for my childhood, caused me to tear up in some of the film’s more emotional scenes. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish explores themes of love, sacrifice, and living life to its fullest. The message of the movie is clear: no matter how tough life is, there is always hope for the future.