A killer year for DreamWorks producing two great animated films first with "The Bad Guys" and now this. But this is the best of the two. This is a sequel that vastly exceeds the original film from 2011. The story is very imaginative thanks to it being in a fairytale world. The animation is charmingly designed, and colorfully animated that elevates the overall feel and atmosphere of the film. The characters are all very likable from Puss in Boots himself, to Kitty Softpaws (who I was very happy to see return), to the many villains the protagonists encounter. Usually having too many villains or characters in general can make the film feel cluttered and unfocused. However, the writers and director both do a good job of executing the pacing to allow room for all the characters to feel significant and interesting. The voice acting is excellent, my favorite actually being Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws who makes her character feel much more elevated in terms of personality. The relationship between Kitty and Puss is a little like Bonnie and Clyde. Their chemistry is so good that they can be the only two characters on screen in a scene by themselves and I will be happy to see them. I can't go on without mentioning that one of the villains in this is something straight out of a horror movie and it's one of the most unique experiences I've had in an animated film were I as a fully grown adult was legitimately intimidated by it. But what should you expect from the company that made "How to Train Your Dragon" and "The Prince of Egypt?" Overall, this movie has a mixture of everything from comedy, gripping drama, intense moments, great character interactions, and outstanding animation. If this film doesn't get you excited for the potential of the Shrek franchise, then nothing will.
