When ex-con cartoonist Jack Deebs (Gabriel Byrne) was behind bars, he found escape by creating Cool World, a cartoon series featuring a voluptuous vixen named Holli Would (Kim Basinger). But the ‘toonsmith becomes a prisoner of his own fantasies when Holli pulls him into Cool World with a scheme to seduce him and bring herself to life. A hard-boiled detective (Brad Pitt) – the only other human in Cool World – cautions Jack with the law: Noids (humans) don’t have sex with doodles (cartoons). The flesh proves weaker than ink, however, as Holli takes human form in Las Vegas, starting a trans-reality chase that threatens the destruction of both worlds. With a splashy mix of stylish animation and colorful live-action sequences, Cool World delivers the hottest action around!

For thoughts on Cool World, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/kn1ug72VBbE?t=935]

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray from Shout! Factory gives Cool World a fresh AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that is derived from a new 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative approved By Director Ralph Bakshi. While the film has never had the most prestigious legacy, it is heartening to be treated with such respect, especially given the technical achievements this film is able to pull off. The new transfer will be considered a revelation for fans who have been wanting to own this in good quality for years. The viewing experience overall is natural, stable and detailed in all respects.

First and foremost, it should be noted that the integrity of the animation has been maintained as you get a crisp and detailed image without scrubbing away all of the texture and personality of the original creations. It is a beautiful sight to see the filmic look of the picture preserved with the natural film grain resolved well without swarming or freezing up. Every environment shows off subtle details in the terrific production design and animation. The textures really pop under the scrutiny of high definition with each setting providing much to marvel over. Skin tones look natural and consistent, and the vibrant color palette is rendered with great precision. Some of the stylish outfits really pop off the screen. Black levels hold up well with some admirable depth to the image and no crush detected. There is no apparent damage to be found in this presentation. Shout! Factory should be applauded for treating this one so respectfully.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that both bring this imaginative world to life effortlessly. Dialogue is the most prevalent feature of this track, but the heightened cartoon sound effects dominate when appropriate. All of the stylized voices come through perfectly clear without sound effects or the moody score trouncing on important information. The surrounds provide more spacious ambient details to the proceedings, but it is supportive rather than carrying the main load. All of the various sounds in the mix seem tastefully rendered so that nothing ever feels off. The subwoofer is mostly given a workout in a few of the more kinetic moments of cartoon violence. Overall, this track really impresses in all regards. There are English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

The Wild Minds Of Cool World: A new 22-minute retrospective featuring interviews with Director Ralph Bakshi, Star Kim Basinger, And Producer Frank Mancuso, Jr. in which they discuss the ways in which the film evolved from the original idea, the input of Basinger on her portrayal, balancing the adult themes with mass audience consumption, the doubts about the casting, the difficulties of making this movie, the location shooting, the animation team and more. While there may not be a ton of new features on this disc, this featurette is juicy enough to make up for it considering you might expect that some of these figures might not want to reflect on the film.

Trailers: There are two trailers for Cool World totaling four minutes here.

Final Thoughts

Cool World is a film with great creative potential which delivers a stunning blend of animation and live action, but ultimately falters when it comes to the narrative. The differences in opinions when it came to the creative direction of the film likely did not help matters, but there is a core message to the film which feels particularly unsavory when viewed through a contemporary lens. That being said, there are many entertaining sequences, and the performers put forth some great work to elevate their characters. It is worth checking out for animation lovers just to see the artwork alone. Shout! Factory has released a new 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray that sports a top notch A/V presentation and a terrific new interview. If you are a fan of the film, this release will blow you away.

Cool World is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.