Cool World
dir. Ralph Bakshi · 1992
Plot
While incarcerated for murder, cartoonist Jack Deebs found escape by creating Cool World, a series featuring a voluptuous femme fatale named Holli Would. But the artist becomes a prisoner of his own fantasies when Holli transports Jack into Cool World with a scheme to seduce him and bring herself to life. Hard-boiled detective Frank Harris – the only other human in Cool World – cautions Jack with the law: Noids (humans) don't have sex with doodles (cartoons). However, flesh proves weaker than ink as Holli takes human form in Las Vegas, staring in a trans-universal chase that threatens the destruction of both worlds.
Why watch
"Cool World" invites viewers into a chaotic blend of reality and fantasy, where the boundaries of creation blur in a whimsical yet dark exploration of artistic obsession. With its unique visual style and a narrative that dances between humor and existential dread, this film is a surreal ride that challenges perceptions of art and desire.