With its dazzling animation and engaging story Puss in Boots: The Last Wish not only presents a return to form for the Shrek franchise, it sets up the highly-anticipated Shrek 5 in various ways. The sequel to Puss in Boots follows the swashbuckling swordscat on his quest to find The Wishing Star, a mystical artifact that grants the thing its possessor wants most. For Puss, who has found out that he’s on his last of nine lives, it’s a chance to restore them and his reputation as a fearless feline hero.
While the movie excels on its own, it does include a few subtle references to the Shrek franchise that spawned its spin-off, giving fans hope for the fifth installment that’s been in development hell for decades. Considering it took over ten years for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish to be made, and that Minions has seemed to replace Shrek as the most popular animated franchise, anything that alludes to Shrek 5 is good news. Fortunately, there are a number of ways involving the plot, narrative structure, and characters in Puss in Boots 2 that set up Shrek 5 to be successful.
Puss In Boots 2’s Plot Actively Hints At Shrek 5
Anyone hoping to get a cameo from Shrek or another character in the franchise might have been disappointed, but the plot of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish does actively hint that Puss will reunite with them soon. At the end of the film, after Puss has reunited with Kitty Softpaws and Perrito, the triumphant trio decides to commandeer the governor’s ship and embark on their next adventure. When asked where the winds will take them, Puss coyly responds that they will visit “some old friends,” and the shot includes a glimpse of the Kingdom of Far, Far Away.
Puss in Boots 2’s box office makes Shrek 5 inevitable, but actually including a reference to Puss’s “old friends” along with such an obvious visual cue ties the movies together. Whether the ending provides the perfect jumping-off point for Shrek 5’s plot or Puss and his pals only have a cameo in the sequel, it’s enough to integrate the franchise with its spin-off. If nothing else, it means Shrek will probably be in Puss in Boots 3.
Puss In Boots 2 Sets Up A Shrek 5 Mystery
Inevitably Puss in Boots 2 sets up some discrepancies across the franchise, but some of them work to set up an interesting mystery. Several fairytale creatures change from one series of movies to the next, which can be as confusing as it is thought-provoking. For instance, Goldilocks’ bears retcon a part of the first Shrek movie because they’re very different from the ones Shrek and his friends interact with.
Of course, this begs the question – are there different versions of these fairytale creatures existing in the same universe? There’s a possibility that it can be attributed to fairytales changing depending on their interpretation, which could make for an interesting plot point in future movies. At the very least, addressing the difference is the perfect opportunity for some meta-humor in either Shrek 5 or Puss in Boots 3.
Puss In Boots 2 Actively Got Audiences Into The Shrek Series Again
Even though it came with its own production challenges, finally getting another Puss in Boots movie generated hype for Shrek again. The Shrek movies vary in quality, and the most recent installments have become mired in self-referential humor and pop culture references, posing a threat to audience interest. To top it off, it’s been such a long time since Shrek Forever After came out that the series has lost all momentum.
Even though Puss in Boots 2 has its own plot and characters completely independent of the current state of the Shrek series, their connection means that any praise it receives directly boosts Shrek 5’s chances. Given that the movie’s release would still be a few years away, it needs something to carry interest during the time it’s in production. Hopefully, it will take note of all the positive elements that work well in the Puss in Boots movies.
Puss In Boots 2 Makes Shrek’s Supporting Cast Vital Once More
Puss in Boots 2’s Shrek 5 setup fixes a flaw in the franchise by making its supporting cast vital to the story. Later Shrek movies focused mostly on the big green ogre and less on his friends and the fairytale creatures around him, and their storylines suffered for it. Puss in Boots 2 understood how important it was to have engaging subplots, and gave quality storylines to Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as well as Big Jack Horner.
If Shrek 5 wants to course correct, it can remember to make its supporting cast just as important to the movie as Shrek, Fiona, and their family. Audiences responded well to the Goldilocks subplot in Puss in Boots 2 and found all the scenes with Jack Horner terrorizing his minions to be hilarious. Even though he’s the titular character, Puss never took over his own movie but shared the attention instead.
Puss In Boots 2 Proves Shrek’s Major Arc Doesn’t Need To Be Finished
Perrito’s Wishing Star map was easy in Puss in Boots 2 because of his content perspective on life, and that plot point proves that Shrek’s primary arc of overcoming prejudice and being comfortable in his own skin can (and should) continue. He might have accepted who he is, and the inhabitants of Far, Far Away might have grown more tolerant of him, but he could extend that lesson to his friends. Growing with them could extend his story in a vital way.
One of the best aspects of Puss in Boots 2 is how much Puss learns to love his friends and accept their help. Ordinarily, he’s a “solo cat” who pushes everyone away, but he finally learns that life is so much easier (and better) when he doesn’t have to go it alone. While he acknowledges this at the end of the movie, it represents an arc that can be implemented throughout the sequels.
Puss In Boots 2 Shows Shrek Can Return To Its Roots
Puss in Boots 2 subverts terrible tropes while remaining true to its ethos, and Shrek 5 can do the same if it returns to its roots. The original Shrek film was fresh and original, not just because of its hilarious pop culture references, but because it challenged preexisting ideas about fairytales. These are things that the Shrek franchise has lost sight of in recent years, but can engage with in a sequel.
Puss in Boots 2 proves that epic adventures can still work even for a character whose entire personality is wrapped up in them. Audiences don’t get tired of Puss getting into another jam and having to swashbuckle his way out, and Shrek 5 should remember that when it comes to its plot. Shrek and Donkey started off as friends on a grand adventure, and they should do that again even if it means leaving the kingdom and safety.
Puss In Boots 2 Highlights Animation’s Genuine Fear Factor
Puss in Boots 2 gives Dreamworks an advantage with its memorable villain, The Wolf. One of the most authentically creepy and terrifying antagonists in recent memory, The Wolf is a personification of Death itself, and stalks Puss like prey throughout the movie as a haunting reminder of what awaits him should he fail to confront his fate. He’s genuinely unsettling, and a far cry from the Big Bad Wolf in Shrek.
Despite being so scary, The Wolf is still appropriate for younger audiences, which is a difficult balance to find. Shrek 5 should move away from over-the-top eccentric villains like the Fairygod Mother and develop a similar antagonist who is actually threatening. Who knows, perhaps The Wolf will make a cameo himself.
Puss In Boot 2’s Character Design Changes Justifies A Shrek 5 Shakeup
Puss in Boots 2 looks different than Shrek because of specific design changes, and Shrek 5 should think about doing the same. The movie is full of beautiful animation that vacillates between having discernable brushstrokes to presenting in the typical style associated with the franchise and makes it feel dynamic. Not to mention, characters like Kitty have gotten a glow up that doesn’t detract from their appeal.
Shrek 5 can consider updating the franchise by changing its animation, or like with Puss in Boots 2, just certain portions to make them impactful. The Shrek franchise has had the same art style for some time, and it could do with a little makeover. It was innovative when it first premiered, but now it’s become banal, and it doesn’t stand out from dozens of other animated movies.
Puss In Boots 2 Expands Shrek’s Universe (& Improves It For Shrek 5)
Thanks to its impressive world-building, Puss in Boots 2 makes Shrek 5 a reality by improving on the ingenuity and creativity of the Shrek universe. It introduces new settings and characters without making them feel superfluous, giving the world that Puss and his peers inhabit a lived-in quality full of rich depth. The Cat Rescue where Puss is nearly domesticated is a small addition, but it offers just as much to the plot as all the dazzling locations on the Wishing Star map.
Shrek 5 can reveal parts of Far, Far Away that have never been seen with something like its own Wishing Star, or any plot device that can help it feel more expansive. Given that characters like Jack Horner exist, with access to dozens of fairytale artifacts, the possibilities are endless. Anything to help it seem like it’s connected to a much broader world.
Puss In Boots 2 Focuses On Some Serious Topics (& Shrek 5 Can Too)
Puss in Boots 2’s message changes the Shrek franchise by incorporating some serious topics, and Shrek 5 can build on this. When Puss interacts with Death he experiences panic attacks, and his fear and anxiety don’t just paralyze him in battle, they directly affect his reputation for being fearless. Puss is ashamed of himself, but Perrito operates as his therapy dog and helps him realize that it’s okay for him to have anxiety.
Even though it’s mostly comedic, Puss in Boots: The Last Wishstill manages to focus on some mature themes, and while the Shrek franchise hasn’t shied away from that, it’s been some time since it’s really confronted them. Something like anxiety can be worked into Shrek 5’s plot without it sabotaging the movie or feeling out of place, particularly since the original Shrek focused so much on intolerance, seeking acceptance, and the feeling of being rejected. It would add depth for the characters and emotional resonance for the plot, two things that haven’t been a driving force since the franchise’s early days.
