thumb|right|alt=Head and upper torso view of a lightly-bearded, middle-aged man in glasses and a plain T-shirt, sitting behind a table with a microphone on it. Two small posters that read "Comic Con International" hang on the wall behind.|Bakshi speaking at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, 2008 Designer Milton Knight recalled that "audiences actually wanted a wilder, raunchier Cool World. The premiere audience I saw it with certainly did." The critical reaction to the film was generally negative. Roger Ebert wrote, "The DJ who was hosting the radio station's free preview of Cool World leaped onto the stage and promised the audience: 'If you liked Roger Rabbit, you'll love Cool World!' He was wrong, but you can't blame him—he hadn't seen the movie. I have, and I will now promise you that if you liked Roger Rabbit, quit while you're ahead." The film was a box-office disappointment. While other film projects followed, Bakshi began to focus more attention on painting.
thumb|right|alt=Head and upper torso view of a lightly-bearded, middle-aged man in glasses and a plain T-shirt, sitting behind a table with a microphone on it. Two small posters that read "Comic Con International" hang on the wall behind.|Bakshi speaking at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, 2008 Designer Milton Knight recalled that "audiences actually wanted a wilder, raunchier Cool World. The premiere audience I saw it with certainly did." The critical reaction to the film was generally negative Roger Ebert wrote, "The DJ who was hosting the radio station's free preview of Cool World leaped onto the stage and promised the audience: 'If you liked Roger Rabbit, you'll love Cool World!' He was wrong, but you can't blame him—he hadn't seen the movie. I have, and I will now promise you that if you liked Roger .Rabbit, quit while you're ahead." The film was a box-office disappointment. While other film projects followed, Bakshi began to focus more attention on painting.