Baby Wants a Bottleship

The late Flerischer Popeyes -- still done in black and white in 1942 -- are just as gag-filled as the early ones, but they lack something: the dirt of the earlier ones, derived from the Thimble Theater. The new lines are clean and unencumbered, but somehow the grit of the early ones -- along with the muttered, coarse comments of Popeye -- lent the early Popeyes a richness that was unique.

Of course, it was, undoubtedly, far more expensive to add in those ugly details, and given the precarious nature of the Fleischer studios at this point -- the operations would collapse in bickering between producer Max and director brother Dave within a year, and Paramount would demand repayment of notes that led to the end of the 25-year-old cartoon factory.

The gags here are still good and perhaps you prefer the cleaner versions. It's worth your time in either case.