While DreamWorks Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is full of iconic moments that solidified the acclaimed spin-off as one of the studio’s greatest films. One of its most memorable scenes is, without a doubt, the disappearance of Big Jack Horner, a puppy-kicking, pie-fingering, magic item-hoarding antagonist that many describe as a whiff of ‘fresh air when it comes to modern cartoon villains.
Recently, Justin Weg, 3D animation expert and former senior animator at DreamWorks, presented this scene from another perspective by demonstrating the self-made animation references on which it is based. Much like he did for Kung Fu Panda 4’s promotional video about inner peace, Weg put himself in the shoes of an actor, playing various characters, including Jack himself, to translate the real-life footage into 3D animation with impressive precision. Besides being very useful, some of the artist’s personalized references seem incredibly hilarious, providing the viewer with as much entertainment as the film itself.
“I LOVE playing my reference to really get into character in my shots,” notes Justin. “It really helps me understand what the character is going through and how they’re feeling at that moment. It’s so much fun to play with!”