DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Puss in Boots remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have an itch for early 1930s animation or just want to see how much the medium has changed since the days of Ub Iwerks, then sure, go for it. People who hate black-and-white shorts or get annoyed by really rubbery, non-stop motion might want to skip this one. It's not for the casual viewer who expects a coherent narrative, but it’s a total trip if you like the weird, experimental stuff from the pre-Code era.
The whole thing feels like it was put together in a basement while the animators were on a sugar rush. It’s got that specific, jerky energy that reminds me a bit of the frantic pacing in Hearts and Flowers, though it’s definitely its own beast.
The story? Honestly, it barely matters. Puss is trying to be a hero, there’s a bagpiper involved, and everything is just kind of happening at a thousand miles an hour. 🐈
You can tell Iwerks was experimenting with how much he could distort the characters without losing the plot. Sometimes it works! Other times, Puss looks like he’s having a minor existential crisis while floating through the air. It’s way less polished than what came later, which is exactly why I find it kind of charming.
It’s nowhere near the technical level of later cartoons, but it has this raw, unbothered vibe. It’s not trying to be a deep, meaningful fable. It just wants to throw some cats and music at you and see what sticks.
Anyway, if you end up watching it, keep an eye on the way the feet drag during the walking scenes. It’s a small, sloppy detail that you’d never see in a modern film, and I think that’s why I like it so much. 📽️