Puss in Book: Trapped in An Epic Tale
The Netflix show Puss in Boots: Trapped in an Epic Tale is a 25-minute interactive story in which the audience directs the narrative by choosing different paths that the main character, Puss in Boots, will take. What makes this most interesting is that this is the first kind of interactive new media content that has been played on as big a platform as Netflix.
The plot sees Puss in Boots is trapped in a book, trying to escape. The viewer makes decisions on what Puss will do next. Every 2–3 minutes, a new set of options is shown on screen. Using either a remote or by clicking on a touch screen, the viewer decides what adventure Puss in Boots will move onto. There are 2 different endings that the viewer can take multiple different paths to through the different choices they make.
However, the idea that the viewer is in complete control over the story is a bit misleading. While the viewer does get to choose what Puss in Boots will do next, often both choices lead to the same next scene. That said, if the viewer doesn’t know the narrative layout, the illusion remains. Still, this is a story that has been created by it author has a consumable good. Hence, the story must follow a main plot.
Even though this is an example of interactive storytelling content, it is not it all that immersive. While it is interesting to have the viewer participate in the story rather than engage in a binge marathon, it remains a passive watching experience with a few moments of decision-making. Adding the element of interactivity into the mix definitely sets it apart from all other children’s entertainment I’ve seen on Netflix. I think it’s also really cool that there is new media content like this on one of the biggest streaming platforms right now.
Despite how new this kind of content is for Netflix, it’s not anything revolutionary. In the pre-streaming era of DVD’s I remember playing these kinds of games as a kid on the disc 2 of a DVD. One of the ones I remember the best actually featured Puss in Boots as a part of the Shrek 2 disc 2 game, “Far Far Away Idol”. In this game inspired by American Idol, the viewer gets to watch the various characters from the movie perform. At the end, they decide who wins. Based on this choice there is a breakout dance number by the whole cast or a stubborn Simon Cowell who won’t let that happen and performs his own solo. While this is the game I remember the most, I know that this medium of storytelling can be found on many a disc 2 of my past.
Puss in Boots: Trapped in an Epic Tale is an interesting and fun to watch form of interactive storytelling. It takes the tried and true tradition of passive viewing into an interactive and more exciting experience. The various paths and endings to this narrative help create a world in which the viewer is in charge. Much like the forefathers of this medium of storytelling, I have found that the interactive element helps sets it apart from other forms of entertainment. I also think that having some new (media) every once in a while, makes things more fun!
