When it comes to western animation, the good folks at DreamWorks occupy a rather lofty spot alongside fellow giants Pixar and Disney. This is justifiably so, given how they have created many memorable titles that are works of art in their own right.

Sure, the studio has had its ups and downs, with the occasional soulless cash grabs such as “Boss Baby” and “Trolls”. Still, these do not change the fact that DreamWorks is responsible for classics like “The Prince of Egypt”, “Kung Fu Panda”, “How to Train Your Dragon” and, of course, “Shrek”.

The fact is, the animation company has maintained its unique identity in terms of how it tells stories as well as how it brings them to life. And its latest feature, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” – released just in time for Christmas – is evidence of this.

This is the second instalment of the “Shrek” spinoff series, following the “tail” of the titular feline in leather boots, still voiced by the ever-dashing Antonio Banderas.

Set some time after the events of the first film, the folk hero and furry outlaw is living the life of adventure… until he is not. After a fatal mishap, he learns to his horror that all but one of his nine lives remains.

Holding on to it, however, might be a tricky task, as Death – in the form of the Big Bad Wolf (Wagner Moura) – is after Puss… and he isn’t here to sell him books.

Afraid for his (last) life, Puss goes into retirement, hanging up his cloak, hat and boots to accept a peaceful existence of kitty litter and kibble.

But a quiet and dignified exit is not on the cards for this cool cat: into his life prances a crazy-eyed chihuahua, Perrito (Harvey Guillen), a sweet dog with not a mean bone in his body.

Puss soon learns that, out there in a dangerous forest, is a magical wishing star that could grant him his only chance at delaying death. Embarking on this new quest, he enlists the help of fellow rogue and romantic interest Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek), a returning character from the previous film.

DreamWorks has a knack for creating memorable villains (hello, Lord Farquaad!), and similarly, in this film, there is no shortage of baddies. In march a crime family in the form of Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears (Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph).

Also after the wishing star – and world domination – is “Big” Jack Horner (John Mulaney), a greedy madman once famed for being the little boy in that nursery rhyme who sat in a corner and pulled out a plum from a Christmas pie.

With such a varied cast after the same goal, you don’t need to be told that lots of action and adventure await – plus plenty of humour that will cater to both adults and kids alike.

Surprisingly enough, Goldilocks and the Three Bears are treated sympathetically: this criminal quartet of Cockney-speaking characters are a family at heart, genuinely looking out for each other even as they threaten and rob.

Then there’s the megalomaniacal Jack, whose callousness for anything and anyone that isn’t him inadvertently or otherwise invokes the image of a certain former United States president.

And while he isn’t involved in the race for the wishing star, the Big Bad Wolf, too, is a bone-chilling villain. With blood-red eyes and a guttural voice reeking of danger and darkness, the lupine embodiment of Death is quite the intimidating figure.

He also happens to have a signature whistle, which is perhaps a reference to the real-life South American folklore figure of El Silbon (“The Whistler”), said to be a harbinger of Death.

Whatever the case, he is the only character Puss has ever truly feared and run from, and the audience just might feel the same way!

When the trailers for “Puss in Boots 2” first came out, one thing that might have struck you is that its animation is different from that in “Shrek” or even the first “Puss” instalment.

Your eyes do not deceive you, as this film uses a 2.5D style similar to the one used in DreamWorks’ previous caper “The Bad Guys”. As the term suggests, this approach stands in the middle ground between 2D and 3D animation.

The outcome is a movie that looks as though it has popped out of a storybook, which is appropriate given the story and the colourful universe it’s set in. It’s interesting and refreshing for the studio to spurn realistic animation and try something different, with successful results.

So, is Puss a star worth catching for Christmas? The answer is a resounding yes: whether you are young or young at heart, “The Last Wish” demonstrates that with the right cat-titude, anything is paw-sible – and that the franchise still has nine lives remaining.

‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.