The Wonderful World of Puss 'N Boots (Astro Boy's Critic)

Astro Boy: Hello, I'm Astro Boy. I remember it so you have to. Puss in Boots.

(Footage of The Wonderful World of Puss in Boots is shown. "The Way of Tao" - by Stephen Thomas Bashaw plays in the background)

Astro Boy (vo): When it first came out, it was a critical and box office hit, but its following seems to have grown smaller and smaller with every passing year. Though I personally found the film okay, I'd be lying if I said I didn't see what drew so many people to it. Its songs are catchy, its comedy is decent, and its lead, though nothing new by movie standards, was kind of different in terms of animated Toei's mascot standards. (An image of the Toei Animation logo is shown) Say what you will about their heroes, but chances are, if you were the animated lead of a movie, you probably were going to do much swordplay. One of the few times they did, he'd have to pretend to be a cat. Think about that. So, yeah, while nothing groundbreaking, Puss in Boots still manages to keep folks coming back... (The poster for the upcoming 2019 live-action-CGI-stop-motion hybrid of Pero is shown) ...even to a point where people are concerned Toei's going to ruin their adulthood with another Laika's cash-grab.

Astro Boy: (smiling) Well, I have good news, my concerned fans. Toei ruined that property long before that version will ever come out! (beat) I know, right? A cashing in on the live-action-CGI-stop-motion hybrid one coming out? Weird!

(The title of The Wonderful World of Puss 'N Boots is shown, before showing its footage)

Astro Boy (vo): During the age where Toei Animation would slap a popular name on high quality as long as it made them money...

Astro Boy: Ah, such different times. (An image of the main characters of Toei Animation movies are shown)

Astro Boy (vo): ...dozens of their animated movies were given the original treatment, and Puss in Boots was one of those to be dragged in at sword-point. Even as a person who had no extreme feelings for the original, I feel just as insulted as, no doubt, the majority of fans who saw this did. It's easily among the Top 5 of the Toei's Miyazaki original movies. And if you know their lineup, that's no small feat! So, how does this movie punch your childhood so hard, it'll make your assassin cats bleed?

Astro Boy: Well, let's make a sap out of you to find out. This is The Wonderful World of Puss 'N Boots.

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Astro Boy: (horrified) Golly! It's like what she saw...

(Princess Rosa's scared face is shown alongside Frodo's scared face from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)

Astro Boy (vo): ...in Frodo's face from The Lord of the Rings!

Astro Boy: Except, somehow, this feels more ugly and intense!

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Pero: Can you love me as I love yo-? (as the assassin cat, Gideon pulls Pero's whiskers) OW!

Astro Boy (vo): I also like he isn't just a enemy that no one believes, like he notices about bad guys or minions all the time or something. He has to be convinced like everyone else, and thankfully, he's convinced very early, making it funnier when no one believes him as he knows, too, how totally ridiculous it sounds.

Pero: (as ignites the sword) For me, take me!

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THE END

AstroBoyShowCaseTheater's Tagline: Pero: Can you love me as I love yo-? OW!