Popeye the spinach-eating sailor is an animation icon known the world over for his adventures, many of which involve fighting his arch-nemesis Bluto over the hand and honor of Olive Oyl, who didn’t always deserve it due to her occasional two-timing ways. The cartoon series is finally getting the treatment it deserves with Warner Brothers’ impressive Popeye The Sailor, Volume One, a four-disc set that not only presents the first 60 Popeye cartoons from the original masters, but after watching the extensive and informative Special Features, the viewer might qualify as an animation historian.
Popeye first appeared in 1929 in Elzie Crisler Segar’s comic strip Thimble Theater. He then made the jump to the silver screen through the talents of Fleischer Studios, run by the brothers Max and Dave. It was a perfect match as Popeye went on to become Fleischer’s biggest star. At the time all the other animation studios’ stars were anthropomorphic animals while Fleischer’s popular characters were humans, Koko the Clown and Betty Boop. In fact, Popeye’s screen debut in 1933 was billed as a Betty Boop cartoon although she only appeared briefly, recreating her hula dance from Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle.
Fleischer’s animation was great. The images are well drawn and the animators were able to create depth in the shots by painting the backgrounds slightly out of focus. There’s a lot of movement on screen as well as plenty of gags. Three Technicolor two-reelers adapted from stories from Arabian Nights showed off their skills as Popeye and the gang were drawn into three-dimensional models. The creative team consistently made a lot of terrific choices and did exceptional work.
William Costello was the first voice of Popeye, but for reasons unclear animator Jack Mercer replaced him on King of the Mardi Gras in 1935 and performed the voice until 1978. He brought the character to new comedic heights. The audio was recorded after the cartoons were drawn, so actors would improvise lines that weren’t lip-synched. Mercer’s improvisations were funny while Costello’s were straightforward. There was one other man who voiced Popeye. Floyd Buckley, the voice of Popeye on the radio, appeared in 1935’s Be Kind To ‘Aminals’. Filling out the love triangle, William Pennell played Bluto from 1933 to 1935 and then Gus Wickie took over. Olive Oyl was played by a number of actresses, including Mae Questal, the voice of Betty Boop.
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Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
According to Leonard Maltin's Of Mice And Magic, Costello was fired by the Fleischers after a year of doing Popeye's voice. Per Mae Questal, "Success went to his head so fast it was ridiculous." Whatever the full story, Jack Mercer quickly put his stamp on the character . . .
2 - Anonymous
"The most interesting and most annoying commentaries are by Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi, animator Eddie Fitzgerald, and cartoonist/student/groupie Kali Fontecchio, who annoyingly contributes fawning giggles at almost everything they say. Kricfalusi had a lot to offer, but it's too bad Fontecchio couldn't have checked her giddiness, so the rest of us could have enjoyed our limited time with him."
This female animator and animation producer THANKS YOU for pointing out the above. I thought I was the only one who noticed it.
3 - El Bicho
Ms Anon, you are welcome. I am sure Kali is a nice person, but this was not a great introduction.