Cool World
When cartoonist Jack Deebs was behind bars, he found escape by creating "Cool World", a cartoon series featuring a voluptuous femme fatale named Holli Would. But the cartoonist 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. A hard-boiled detective--the only other human in Cool World--cautions Jack with the law: Noids (humans) don't have sex with doodles (cartoons). However, the 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. With a splashy combination of animation and live-action sequences, "Cool World" delivers the hottest action around.
The film commercial failure against its mid-range budget of $30.0M, earning $14.1M globally (-53% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the animation genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Cool World (1992) demonstrates deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Ralph Bakshi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Frank Harris
Holli Would
Jack Deebs
Main Cast & Characters
Frank Harris
Played by Brad Pitt
A detective from the real world trapped in Cool World, dedicated to maintaining the barrier between cartoons and humans.
Holli Would
Played by Kim Basinger
A seductive cartoon femme fatale obsessed with becoming human and crossing into the real world.
Jack Deebs
Played by Gabriel Byrne
A cartoonist who created Cool World and becomes romantically entangled with his own creation, Holli Would.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes 1945: Frank Harris rides motorcycle with his mother through Las Vegas desert, establishing his ordinary life as a young soldier returning from war.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Jack Deebs is pulled through his drawing into the actual Cool World, discovering his cartoon creation is a real dimensional plane.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Jack chooses to sleep with Holli Would, breaking the fundamental rule that humans and doodles cannot have sex, setting the plot's central conflict in motion., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Holli successfully becomes human and crosses into the real world - false victory. She achieves her goal but this raises the stakes as reality and fantasy begin to merge dangerously., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Frank is killed/transformed into a doodle after confronting Holli. The guardian between worlds falls, reality and Cool World merge catastrophically. Las Vegas descends into cartoon chaos., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Jack obtains the Spike of Power - the artifact that can restore the barrier between worlds. He chooses reality over fantasy, accepting responsibility., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Cool World's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Cool World against these established plot points, we can identify how Ralph Bakshi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Cool World within the animation genre.
Ralph Bakshi's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Ralph Bakshi films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Cool World represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ralph Bakshi filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Ralph Bakshi analyses, see The Lord of the Rings, Wizards and Fritz the Cat.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
1945: Frank Harris rides motorcycle with his mother through Las Vegas desert, establishing his ordinary life as a young soldier returning from war.
Theme
Detective Nails warns about the rules of Cool World: "Noids and doodles don't mix" - establishing the central thematic conflict between fantasy and reality.
Worldbuilding
Dual setup: Frank's mother dies in accident, he's transported to Cool World (1945). Jump to 1992: Jack Deebs in prison draws Cool World comics, unaware the world is real.
Disruption
Jack Deebs is pulled through his drawing into the actual Cool World, discovering his cartoon creation is a real dimensional plane.
Resistance
Jack explores Cool World, meets Holli Would (the doodle he created), learns the rules from Frank Harris (now a detective). Holli seduces Jack with promises of bringing him deeper into this world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jack chooses to sleep with Holli Would, breaking the fundamental rule that humans and doodles cannot have sex, setting the plot's central conflict in motion.
Mirror World
Frank Harris's backstory revealed through his relationship with Cool World - he stayed to escape reality after losing his mother, showing what happens when fantasy replaces reality.
Premise
Jack returns to real world, Holli manipulates events to become human. Exploration of both worlds, escalating cat-and-mouse between Frank and Jack/Holli. The fun of seeing cartoon logic in real world.
Midpoint
Holli successfully becomes human and crosses into the real world - false victory. She achieves her goal but this raises the stakes as reality and fantasy begin to merge dangerously.
Opposition
Holli's presence in real world causes dimensional instability. Frank pursues them to Vegas. Reality breaks down as cartoon physics invade real world. Jack realizes his mistake but is entranced by Holli.
Collapse
Frank is killed/transformed into a doodle after confronting Holli. The guardian between worlds falls, reality and Cool World merge catastrophically. Las Vegas descends into cartoon chaos.
Crisis
Jack watches reality collapse around him, realizes his selfish fantasy has destroyed both worlds. He must find a way to undo what he's done.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jack obtains the Spike of Power - the artifact that can restore the barrier between worlds. He chooses reality over fantasy, accepting responsibility.
Synthesis
Jack battles Holli through merged realities, uses the Spike to restore the barrier. Frank is transformed back to human. Holli returns to being a doodle. The worlds separate again.
Transformation
Jack returns to real world, reunites with his real girlfriend. Frank chooses to stay in Cool World with his doodle love interest Lonette - both men now understand the proper boundary between fantasy and reality.