Puss in Boots: The Last Wish finds its titular feline hero at a crossroads in life and carries a message that changes potential Shrek sequels. Puss has gotten used to cheating Death with his nine lives, but when a recent duel puts him in the hospital and he learns he only has one life left, he spirals into nihilism and despair. Desperate to find a way to restore his other eight lives and maintain his reputation, he steals a map that will lead him to the Wishing Star, a magical artifact that will grant anyone’s wish.
Beyond its gorgeous animation, quirky humor, and strong ensemble cast, including Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, Puss in Boots 2 is the best Shrek movie to date because it explores many sophisticated themes. Despite being the cocky rogue from the Shrek franchise, Puss undergoes a personal journey of discovery while working through his fear of Death and confronting his own mortality. In addition, Puss has moments when he’s unsure of himself and his identity, inspiring discourse about mental health and its sometimes debilitating effects.RELATED: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’s Box Office Makes Shrek 5 Inevitable
Puss In Boots 2’s Anxiety Story Reframes His Shrek Franchise Arc
The anxiety that Puss experiences in Puss in Boots 2 is something he’ll potentially need to work through for the rest of his life, fundamentally changing his Shrek franchise arc. Every Shrek movie has had its appeal, but other than Shrek 2 when Puss was first introduced, the last few films in the franchise have been relegated to jokes, callbacks, and not-so-covert jabs at Disney. They also went from being ensemble adventures to being primarily about Shrek, necessitating a character as well-developed as Puss to have his own series of movies.
If Puss and Shrek ever reunite again, he won’t be the same character that the ogre knew, full of the breezy confidence and swagger from having nine lives. Puss’s journey to understand his anxiety, its triggers, and where it comes from has made him a different character. While Puss has matured and grown, he still has a taste for adventure, and if the end of the movie is any indication, Puss in Boots 2 sets up Puss in Boots 2 sets up Shrek 5 in a way that should be satisfying to both the spin-off and the overall Shrek franchise.
Puss In Boots 2 Is Made Better By Its Deeper Mental Health Message
To Puss, his reputation as a swordscat is everything, but by learning to live his life even with his fear of Death, Puss in Boots 2 delivers a strong message about mental health. When he’s in the midst of a panic attack and feels particularly helpless, Perrito acts as his therapy dog, gently lying on his belly to soothe him while he works through it. Perrito helps him understand that anxiety doesn’t have to be debilitating, that it will pass eventually, and that it doesn’t have to mark the end of Puss’s swashbuckling days.
Guillermo del Toro’s Puss in Boots 2 praise recently examined the potential of animated films to be thought-provoking. Giving Puss anxiety helps him grow as a character by realizing that his identity doesn’t have to change just because he has panic attacks. He’s still loved by friends like Perrito, who helps him work through episodes that seem physically and mentally taxing, reassuring him that there are reasons to love his life. The kind of message about mental health that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish explores can only strengthen the Shrek franchise, mainly as it looks for ways to return to its roots in overcoming intolerance and prejudice.
