The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots

The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots (長靴をはいた猫) is a 1969 Japanese animated action comedy musical film produced by Toei Animation and directed by Kimio Yabuki. The screenplay and lyrics, written by Hisashi Inōe and Morihisa Yamamoto, are based on the European fairy tale character Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault, expanded with elements of Alexandre Dumas-esque swashbuckling adventure and cartoon animal slapstick, with many other anthropomorphic animals (kemono in Japanese) in addition to the title character. The Toei version of the character himself is named Pero, after Perrault.

The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots was released in Japan on March 18, 1969. The film is particularly notable for giving Toei Animation its mascot and logo, and for its roll call of top key animators of the time: Yasuo Ōtsuka, Reiko Okuyama, Sadao Kikuchi, Yōichi Kotabe, Akemi Ōta, Hayao Miyazaki, and Akira Daikubara, supervised by animation director Yasuji Mori. They got relatively free rein and adequate support to create virtuosic and distinctive sequences, making it a key example of the Japanese model of division of labour in animation by which animators are assigned by scene rather than character. Most famous of these sequences is a chase across castle parapets animated in alternating cuts by Ōtsuka and Miyazaki, which would serve as the model for similar sequences in such later films as Miyazaki's feature directorial debut Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro and The Cat Returns (2002). Miyazaki is also the manga artist of a promotional manga adaptation of the film originally serialised in the Sunday Chūnichi Shimbun during 1969 and republished in 1984 in a book about the making of the film. The film was re-released 9 years later in the 1978 Summer Toei Manga Matsuri on July 22. It was released straight to television in the United States by AIP-TV.

Since becoming Toei Animation's mascot, Pero's face can be seen on the company's primary logo at the beginning or ending to some of Toei's other animated features, both from Japan and some of their outsourced work for other companies. In 2016, a new 3D on-screen logo featuring Pero was revealed in celebration of the company's 60th anniversary. The 3D on-screen logo without the 60th anniversary wordmark and the company's motto was used since 2019. The former on-screen logo is currently used as a print logo.

Plot
The enigmatic Puss, Pero, is declared an outlaw by his feline home village for saving mice, an act that defies the nature of cats and is therefore illegal. After Pero escapes to avoid punishment, the Feline King dispatches three bumbling assassins to find and capture Pero, warning them that they face execution should they fail. Pero begins his journey, (all the while dodging his would-be captors throughout the adventure) soon meeting young Pierre, a poor, neglected miller's son who is ousted from his home. The two quickly become good friends and set off together across the countryside. They eventually arrive at a bustling kingdom where a ceremony has begun in which to select a suitable prince who shall wed the lonely, innocent Princess Rosa. Pero sees potential in Pierre as the perfect candidate and hurries into the castle to begin his plan, much to Pierre's opposition. Misfortune soon enshrouds the kingdom as Lucifer, an ogre sorcerer, appears displaying his awesome magical abilities with promises of power and riches if Rosa becomes his bride. Despite the King's excited willingness, Rosa sternly declines Lucifer's offer which enrages him with disappointment. He threatens the King with a terrifying demonstration of the darkness that will befall his country if Rosa is not surrendered to him in three days time. Pero, now dumbfounded, witnesses this shocking event and what was once a simple mission of persuasion has now become more than he ever bargained for.

Release
The film was released in Japan theatrically on March 18, 1969.

The AIP English dub version was first released on VHS twice, first by Vestron Video in 1982 (under licensed from then-owner Orion Pictures) and by Media Home Entertainment in 1985, then by Hi-Tops Video. In 2006, Discotek Media released a DVD version of the film containing the original Japanese version with English subtitles, the AIP English dub, and a music and effects track in Region 1 NTSC format in the United States, under the title The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots. On December 2, 2020, Toei released the film on Blu-ray in Japan.

Reception
The film placed 58th in a list of the 150 best animated films and series of all time compiled by Tokyo's Laputa Animation Festival from an international survey of animation staff and critics in 2003.

A 1998 re-release of the film earned a distribution income of ¥200 million (US$million) at the Japanese box office.

Manga
Miyazaki created a 12-chapter manga series as a promotional tie-in. The series was printed in colour and ran in the Sunday edition of Tokyo Shimbun, from January to March 1969. The series was released in pocket book form by Tokuma Shoten in February 1984.

Sequels
Two sequels followed. The collective series is known as Nagagutsu Neko Shirīzu (長靴猫シリーズ).

The second installment, released in 1972, Nagagutsu Sanjūshi (ながぐつ三銃士), departs from the first film's Dumasian Europe setting for a Western environment. Titled Ringo Goest West in non Japanese territories, with Pero renamed Ringo, it was released on VHS in the early 1980s by MPI Home Video in the United States, and by Mountain Video in the United Kingdom. It is also marketed as Return of Pero and popularly known today as The Three Musketeers in Boots, despite featuring no musketeers, as the setting is the American Old West.


 * Voice cast

Neil Shee, Steven Chaikelson, Dean Hagopin, Arthur Grosser, Mark Walker and Terence Labrosse provide additional voices.

The third entry, released in 1976, Puss 'n Boots Travels Around the World (長靴をはいた猫 80日間世界一周) was licensed by Turner Program Services. In the dub, directed by Peter Fernandez, Pero is renamed Pussty. The dub was released on video in the US by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video.

The film was a major success in the Soviet Union, drawing 42.4million admissions at the Soviet box office. This was equivalent to approximately million Rbls (US$million).


 * Voice cast

Video game
A video game, Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Sekai Isshū 80 Nichi Dai Bōken, based on the third film, was released, in a heavily revised version, in the United States under the title Puss 'n Boots: Pero's Great Adventure, where it is better known than the film itself. The game was released for the Famicom in Japan and was later released outside of Japan for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game and its plot were used as a plot in an episode of Captain N: The Game Master, entitled "Once Upon A Time Machine", which have re-designs of Pero and the two villains of the film, Count Gourmon (Gruemon in the game's instruction manual) and Dr. Garigari. Garigari had actually appeared a decade before in 1965 as the antagonist to Toei's animated TV series Hustle Punch and was recycled for use in this film.

Short film
In 2018, Toei produced a six-minute short film, entitled Dream, about a young boy who dreams about whales. Pero makes an appearance; however, to match the short's animation style, Pero has small black eyes.