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IMDbPro

Insect to Injury

  • 1956
  • Approved
  • 6m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
339
YOUR RATING
Cops Is Tops (1955)
AnimationComedyFamilyShort

Popeye tries to get rid of termites before they ruin his newly built house.Popeye tries to get rid of termites before they ruin his newly built house.Popeye tries to get rid of termites before they ruin his newly built house.

  • Directors
    • Dave Tendlar
    • Morey Reden
  • Writer
    • Isadore Klein
  • Star
    • Jack Mercer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    339
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Dave Tendlar
      • Morey Reden
    • Writer
      • Isadore Klein
    • Star
      • Jack Mercer
    • 12User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

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    View Poster

    Top cast1

    Edit
    Jack Mercer
    Jack Mercer
    • Popeye
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Dave Tendlar
      • Morey Reden
    • Writer
      • Isadore Klein
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    6.5339
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    Featured reviews

    6boblipton

    Popeye Versus The Natural World

    This episode of the long-running series of Popeye cartoons is a bit of a relief, as Popeye, having just built a house singlehandedly, is confronted not with Bluto fighting for the hand of Olive Oyl, but by toimites who..... excuse me. Termites, who wish to devour his wooden home.

    It's a well done cartoon, with the little critters usually represented by a mass of black dots which erase all wooden objects. Certainly, Popeye's frustration is understandable, as are the appetites of the insects, and if they do the same thing in the same way, again and again, there are enough small variations on the theme to keep this going throughout the length of the cartoon.
    6StrictlyConfidential

    Hey! Look Who's Arrived At Popeye's Home Sweet Home

    "Insect To Injury" (from 1956) is one of the very-very rare Popeye cartoons where neither Olive Oyl, nor Bluto, nor even Wimpy make an appearance in the story.

    This time around Popeye is plagued by a literal army of famished termites who are fiercely determined to gobble up his newly built, suburban home.

    And, the question is - Can spinach help Popeye in his seemingly hopeless battle against these famished vermin?..... Well - Be sure to check out "Insect To Injury" in order to find out just how Popeye does deal with these lousy, little pests.
    8scrabbler

    One of best Famous Popeyes

    This is a unique cartoon in so many ways. First, as has been mentioned, none of the other series characters are in this one, just Popeye vs. the bugs. But besides the very inventive story and fun gags, we see some beautiful backgrounds and colors and slick animation. This is the last great cartoon from Famous before the franchise went down the toilet the following year.
    Kirpianuscus

    against insects

    A bunch of insects eating the wood house of Popeye. The war. And , after huge effort, lost of each part of house , the so useful spinach giving not only streght but a lovely ironed idea. Nice end because the victim it is the pipe itself . But not all is lost. Short, just charming.
    8TheLittleSongbird

    Popeye's termite trouble

    Really like to love a good deal of Popeye cartoons and like the character of Popeye. Will admit though to preferring the Popeye cartoons from the Dave Fleischer era, the cartoons tend to be funnier and there is more originality and more risk taking in some of them.

    'Insect to Injury' is a late Popeye cartoon and made in Famous Studios' roughest and most variable period where budgets were much smaller in particularly the animation and deadlines and time constraints were shorter and tighter. All things considered, while there are infinitely better Popeye cartoons (especially during the Fleischer era) and there are signs of what made this period an inferior one for Famous Studios, 'Insect to Injury' is not a bad late Popeye cartoon at all, actually really very enjoyable and one of the better cartoons in Famous Studios' late output. Agree too that it is up there with the best funny animal Popeye cartoons because the "funny animal" in question, in the insects/termites are a threat rather than potentially irritating comic relief.

    As to be expected, the story is nothing special despite a different conflict and not having the usual supporting characters, two of the biggest interest points about 'Insect to Injury'.

    Similarly the animation quality is uneven, never terrible but never fantastic. The colours are fine and there is smoothness and nice detail but there are many moments where the backgrounds are sparse and the drawing rough.

    What is fantastic about 'Insect to Injury' is the music score, the best thing for me. It's beautifully orchestrated, rhythmically it's full of energy and there is so much character and atmosphere, it's also brilliant at adding to the action and enhancing it. The gags, ranging from very amusing to hilarious and creative for late Famous Studios/Popeye, are executed very well, the interplay between Popeye and the insects is lively and witty if in need of more variety at times and the pace is never dull.

    Popeye is very likeable and amusing as the only human in 'Insect to Injury', while the insects/termites in a change of pace to Popeye's usual adversaries (namely Bluto) are fun and pose a menacing threat so strong that one can see and feels Popeye's struggle. Jack Mercer does a great job as Popeye and the Popeye voice that has always in my mind the most.

    Concluding, very enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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    Related interests

    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
    Animation
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
    Short

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Popeye is the only human being in this short. His regular supporting cast in most Famous Studios cartoons, Olive Oyl, Bluto, and his nephews, or even Swee' Pea, and Wimpy, do not appear.
    • Goofs
      After the termites consume the mailbox post, Popeye runs to his fence. Two hinges are seen on the left side of the gate, but they disappear when the gate is closed. From inside the fence, where Popeye has now pressed his body against the gate, the hinges are not seen either. For some reason, the termites do not eat the wood that matches the outline of Popeye's body, but the gate stays in place, even though its only contact with the gate posts is where Popeye's hands were, which is precisely between where the hinges had been. Despite this, the "Popeye" gate swings open as if the wood where his left fingers and left foot were acts as gate hinges. Also, when the termites ate the gate, his left foot was not in contact with the gate post.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Popeye Show: Shiver Me Timbers/Alona on the Sarong Seas/Insect to Injury (2001)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • August 10, 1956 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Złościwe termity
    • Production company
      • Famous Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 6m
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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