Popeye the Sailor

I do remember the numerous Popeye cartoons with such fondness. This series is pretty good, if not as brilliant or as funny. I will say the music is very good with a theme tune that is irresistible to sing, the voice work is outstanding from all and not only do we see the timeless original characters but also some new ones as well and they are just as likable.

On the other hand, the animation while not terrible does seem rushed and lacking in finesse in places. Also while some of the writing and sight gags are funny, some can be too predictable and not very well timed, and a lot of the story lines are very repetitive.

All in all, I like this series, but it isn't quite enough to make me forget the classic shorts. 7/10 Bethany Cox

In 1960, at the height of the original Popeye cartoons popularity in syndication, King Features Syndicate, who owned the rights to the character produced 220 additional cartoons for TV. Since the syndicate had no studio, they farmed out the animation to five studios, with almost half of the produced by Jack Kinney. Unfortunately, the shows suffered from inconsistency, repetitive plots, weak gags and hurried animation. On the bright side, the voicework of Jack Mercer, Mae Questel and Jackson Beck was outstanding and viewers got to see characters that never turned up in the original cartoons, including Alice the Goon, King Blozo, Eugene the Jeep and the Sea Hag.

One of the cartoons I remember was when Popeye was in a rocket for 60 days and he had a tape recorder where he can hear his friends. The best remembered line was when Brutus said "I'm keeping company with poor lonesome Olive HA HA HA HA HA!!" There was also the testimonial dinner episode which showed flashbacks from previous cartoons.

After watching a number of cartoons, you'll probably get tired of hearing Olive scream "Help! Popeye! Save me! That's all we can stands and we can't stands no more.

I do remember well the original Popeye series of between 230 and 240 cartoons, produced between 1933 and 1957 by Paramount Pictures, later Famous Studios, with permission of Elzie Segar and King Features Syndicate. In 1957, a few months before the last of the series was made, the Popeyes came to television, syndicated by Associated Artists Productions. Then in 1960, I began to see the brand-new Popeye cartoon series. Though I had seen the oldies for three years, I had not tired of them, and had mixed feelings about the new ones. I do not remember MANY of them, but a few stuck. "It Only Hurts When They Laughs" was amusing. Two others I still recall. One was Popeye's Pizza Palace, with Popeye as pizza chef, Wimpy mooching hamburger pizzas, and Brutus (main nemesis instead of Bluto) demanding a tamale pizza. Popeye declared that they do not make tamale pizzas; is there such a pizza in real life? The other one that I still recall was Popeye's Junior Headache, in which he baby sat the bratty Diesel Oyl while Aunt Olive was having her hair done at the beauty parlor. Popeye was reluctant to baby sit Diesel Oyl (daughter of Olive's brother Castor Oyl?) as he was fatigued from lack of sleep, but still took the job. Popeye first tried telling Diesel a story about a witch; she interrupted "Which witch?" Popeye retorted "How does I know which witch?" and pleaded to be allowed to sleep and dream up an ending, but Diesel insisted that he play horse (for which he lacked energy). All in all, it was amusing.

I read, back in 1960, that this new Popeye cartoon package was result of dispute between King Features, that owned the rights, and Associated Artists, which syndicated the first Popeye series; as I recall, King Features was miffed at A.A.P. syndicating the series (to put in on television) which was not part of the original arrangement between Paramount and King Features. That was understandable as in the 1930's, when the first original Popeyes were produced, there were no televisions, not even Muntz TV's! This, together with King Features' wanting the limelight, led to this new made-for-TV cartoon package. Be that as it may, SOME of the new Popeyes were amusing, while others stank. It made watching the adventures of the spinach-eating seaman interesting, b

When a scrappy sailor with a crooked eye and a can of spinach takes the stage, animation history finds one of its most enduring heroes.

Popeye the Sailor is a cornerstone of early American animation. The series follows Popeye, a humble but resilient sailor whose extraordinary strength comes from eating spinach, as he defends Olive Oyl, clashes with the brutish Bluto, and embodies the triumph of the underdog.

The show's enduring appeal lies in its blend of slapstick comedy, exaggerated character designs, and simple yet effective storytelling. Popeye's mumbling dialogue, Olive Oyl's exaggerated mannerisms, and Bluto's overbearing presence contribute to a dynamic trio that defined much of the humor. The recurring conflict-often centered around Olive's safety or affection-may feel formulaic, but it provided fertile ground for inventive gags and escalating action sequences.

Visually, the animation reflected the limitations of its time, yet its expressive character work gave it charm and personality. The use of music, particularly Popeye's signature theme, reinforced its identity as lighthearted family entertainment. While the episodic plots lacked depth, the series carried an implicit message about resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of staying true to one's values.

Though modern audiences may find the repetition and dated stereotypes less engaging, the series remains a cultural icon, influencing generations of animators and embedding Popeye in global pop culture.

Rating: 7/10 - Popeye the Sailor is formulaic yet timeless, remembered for its humor, iconic characters, and cultural impact rather than narrative complexity.

Popeye, the Sailor Man, was one of the first cartoons that I remember watching in both black and white and color before I would go to school in the morning. I remember his love, Olive Oil, and the characters like the baby, the man who will you Tuesday for a Hamburger today, his rival for Olive Oyl's affections, and so on. Popeye always became strong once he ate his spinach and his muscles rippled in his shirt. He became a powerhouse and defended his honor and his girlfriend. Anyway, the silliness of Popeye was outweighed by his decency, his character, and the story lines. They would be repetitive but I don't think I ever stopped watching the show on purpose. But it was always a joy to wake up and watch Popeye before tackling kindergarten class where you needed the courage to get through the day.