Cool World

Cool World is a 1992 American live-action/animated fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi, known for his ability to blend intricate animations with real-life police and crime-driven noir themes. This film presents a provocative and surreal world with some of the wackiest characters and out-of-this-world landscapes ever witnessed on the silver screen, providing a unique viewing experience for audiences. The film showcases a mix of animated cartoon characters known as 'Doodles' and their interaction with human characters, or 'Noids'.

"Cool World", echoing the film noir classics of the 1940s, is set in two contrasting worlds. The "real world" is a love letter to the black-and-white investigative crime stories, whereas the titular "Cool World" is a chaotic, colourful, and surreal animated world brimming with outlandishly designed characters who abide by physics-defying cartoon logic.

The film features an illustrious cast with Gabriel Byrne, who breathes life into the role of Jack Deebs, a comic book artist and a prisoner serving time for the murder of a man found with his wife. Jack finds solace in creating the eccentric world of his comic book "Cool World". However, his creation somehow becomes a reality, and he discovers a portal within his prison cell that takes him in and out of Cool World.

Kim Basinger plays the enchanting and unpredictable doodle character, Holli Would. Holli, known for her stunning looks and seductive charm, dreams of becoming a human and causing mischief in the real world and believes Jack, as her creator, holds the key to achieving this. Basinger's performance brings a certain depth to Holli - a cartoon character who's as manipulative and dangerous as she is captivating. It's through this complex relationship that Cool World portrays the tortured relationship between a creator and his creation.

Alongside Byrne and Basinger, Brad Pitt stars in a role unlike any others within his filmography. Pitt plays Detective Frank Harris, a World War II veteran and your typical hard-boiled detective archetype who, after a devastating personal loss, ends up becoming a resident 'Noid', or human inhabitant, of Cool World. Frank, with his no-nonsense attitude, acts as the moral compass amid the lawlessness of Cool World, enforcing the most crucial rule - humans and Doodles do not have physical relationships.

Cool World's strong point is undeniably its animation style. While other films of its ilk stick to a more refined and polished animation style, Bakshi goes all out with a wild, rough, yet energetic aesthetic that encapsulates the craziness that is the Cool World. It's a sensory overload of bright colours, bizarre characters, and psychedelic landscapes that somehow seamlessly blend into the noir-like real world.

The film is laden with themes of desire, lust, creative control, and blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. It might be disorienting for some, but for those who enjoy a good splice of unpredictable cartoon antics and a noir-induced fantasy, Cool World delivers in spades. It teases the mind with its constant shift between the duality of worlds and races, drawing the viewers into a hallucinatory, kaleidoscopic universe where anything and everything surreal happens.

However, Cool World is more than just its animation and mixed reality concept. It boasts a diverse soundtrack, fusing 90s electronic dance music with classic rock, featuring songs from artists like David Bowie, Thompson Twins, and Moby, contributing significantly to the overall experience of the film.

Despite having a mixed bag of reviews at its initial release, Cool World has since gained a cult following, with fans appreciating its distinctive style and unique approach to hybrid animation. It is a wild ride caught somewhere between the nostalgic noir aesthetic and a groundbreaking realm of animated imagination that continues to fascinate viewers to this day.

In conclusion, Cool World is a fascinating amalgamation of film noir and animated fantasy, marked by eccentric characters, a captivating plot, and unforgettable visual spectacles. It's a feast for the senses and a must-watch for fans of hybrid animation and unconventional storytelling.