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Popeye and betty2

Popeye and Betty Boop in the Fleischer Studios inaugural Popeye the Sailor cartoon (1933)

Fleischer Studios, Inc. was an animation production company founded in 1921 by brothers Max and Dave Fleischer, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, noted for adapting comics characters Popeye the Sailor and Superman into animated shorts and for their own characters such as Betty Boop. It was a major competitor to Walt Disney Productions until its dissolution in 1942.

This is a list of 109 cartoons starring Popeye, produced from 1933 to 1942 by Fleischer Studios for Paramount Pictures.

During the course of production in 1941, Paramount assumed control of the Fleischer studio, removing the Fleischers from control and renaming the organization Famous Studios by 1942. Popeye cartoons continued production under Famous Studios following 1942's Baby Wants a Bottleship (see List of Popeye the Sailor theatrical cartoons (Famous Studios)).

Popeye the Sailor series[]

All cartoons are one-reel (6 to 10 minutes) and in black-and-white, except for the three Popeye Color Specials (Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor from 1936, Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves from 1937, and Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp from 1939), which are two-reels (approx. 20 minutes) long and in Technicolor.

Dave Fleischer was the credited director on every cartoon produced by the Studios. Fleischer's actual duties were those of a film producer and creative supervisor, with the head animators doing much of the work assigned to animation directors in other studios. The head animator is the first animator listed.[1] Credited animators are therefore listed for each short.

1933[]

# Episode Original release date Credited animators Notes
* Popeye the Sailor July 14 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
  • First screen appearances of Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto
  • A Betty Boop cartoon
  • Some TV versions edit out scenes depicting racial stereotypes of African Americans
1 I Yam What I Yam September 29 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
  • First actual entry in the Popeye the Sailor series
  • First screen appearance of J. Wellington Wimpy
2 Blow Me Down! October 27 Willard Bowsky
William Sturm
3 I Eats My Spinach November 17 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
  • First cartoon with Mae Questel as the voice of Olive Oyl
  • Only Popeye cartoon to bear the National Recovery Administration logo
4 Seasin's Greetinks! November 17 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
5 Wild Elephinks December 29 Willard Bowsky
William Sturm

1934[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
6 Sock-a-Bye Baby January 19 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
7 Let's You and Him Fight February 16 Willard Bowsky
William Sturm
  • Final Popeye cartoon to use the "Out of the Inkwell" end title design
8 The Man on the Flying Trapeze March 16 Willard Bowsky
Dave Tendlar
9 Can You Take It April 27 Myron Waldman
Tom Johnson
10 Shoein' Hosses June 1 Willard Bowsky
Dave Tendlar
  • First cartoon in which Popeye and Bluto compete for work
11 Strong to the Finich June 29 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
12 Shiver Me Timbers July 27 Willard Bowsky
William Sturm
  • First cartoon with Paramount president Adolph Zukor's name above Max Fleischer's on title card
13 Axe Me Another September 21 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
14 A Dream Walking September 28 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
15 The Two Alarm Fire October 26 Willard Bowsky
Nick Tafuri
16 The Dance Contest November 23 Willard Bowsky
Dave Tendlar
17 We Aim to Please December 28 Willard Bowsky
Dave Tendlar

1935[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
18 Beware of Barnacle Bill January 25 Willard Bowsky
Harold Walker
  • First use of the "anchor" end title design
19 Be Kind to 'Aminals' February 22 Willard Bowsky
Charles Hastings
20 Pleased to Meet Cha! March 22 Willard Bowsky
Harold Walker
21 The 'Hyp-Nut-Tist' April 26 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
22 Choose Your 'Weppins' May 31 Dave Tendlar
George Germanetti
23 For Better or Worser June 28 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
  • First Popeye cartoon with stereoptical (3D background) process
24 Dizzy Divers July 26 Willard Bowsky
Harold Walker
25 You Gotta Be a Football Hero August 30 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
  • William Costello's last performance as Popeye
26 King of the Mardi Gras September 27 Dave Tendlar
William Sturm
  • First cartoon with Jack Mercer as the voice of Popeye
  • Stereoptical process.
27 Adventures of Popeye October 25 no animation credits
  • Compilation film, scenes from I Eats My Spinach, Wild Elephinks, Axe Me Another, and Popeye The Sailor
  • Part live-action
28 The Spinach Overture December 6 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall

1936[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
29 Vim, Vigor and Vitaliky January 3 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
30 A Clean Shaven Man February 7 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
31 Brotherly Love March 6 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
32 I-Ski Love-Ski You-Ski April 3 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
  • Stereoptical process
33 Bridge Ahoy! May 1 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
  • Stereoptical process
34 What-No Spinach? June 5 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
35 I Wanna Be a Life Guard June 26 Dave Tendlar
William Sturm
36 Let's Get Movin' July 24 Willard Bowsky
Orestes Calpini
  • Stereoptical process
37 Never Kick a Woman August 28 Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall
  • First and only Fleischer cartoon in which Olive Oyl eats Popeye's spinach to overcome her adversary
38 Popeye the Sailor with Little Swee'Pea September 25 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
  • First screen appearance of Swee'Pea
  • Stereoptical process
  • Uncredited animator: Roland Crandall
  • In the public domain in the United States
39 Hold the Wire October 23 Willard Bowsky
Orestes Calpini
40 The Spinach Roadster October 30 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
41 Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor November 27 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
Ed Nolan
  • A two-reel Popeye Color Special
  • Stereoptical process
  • In the public domain in the United States
  • Final overall cartoon where Popeye sings his full theme song whenever he first appears
  • Only Popeye cartoon nominated for an Academy Award
42 I'm in the Army Now December 25 no animation credits
  • Compilation film, scenes from Blow Me Down, Shoein' Hosses, Choose Your Weppins, and King of the Mardi Gras
  • In the public domain in the United States

1937[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
43 The Paneless Window Washer January 22 Willard Bowsky
Orestes Calpini
  • In the public domain in the United States
44 Organ Grinder's Swing February 19 Dave Tendlar
William Sturm
  • The DVD restoration of this cartoon incorrectly copies credits from The Paneless Window Washer, hence the incorrect certificate number, including Willard Bowsky and Orestes Calpini being wrongly credited for the animation.
45 My Artistical Temperature March 19 Seymour Kneitel
Abner Matthews
  • Stereoptical process.
  • Some TV versions edit the scene where Popeye turns Bluto's sun picture into a blackfaced minstrel
46 Hospitaliky April 16 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
  • Popeye has Bluto eat spinach to get beaten and put in the hospital with Olive
47 The Twisker Pitcher May 21 Seymour Kneitel
Abner Matthews
  • Bluto eats Popeye's spinach to best him at baseball
48 Morning, Noon and Nightclub June 18 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
49 Lost and Foundry July 16 Seymour Kneitel
Abner Matthews
  • First time Swee'Pea eats spinach to save the day
50 I Never Changes My Altitude August 20 Willard Bowsky
Orestes Calpini
  • Stereoptical process
  • In the public domain in the United States
51 I Likes Babies and Infinks September 17 Seymour Kneitel
Graham Place
52 The Football Toucher Downer October 15 Seymour Kneitel
Graham Place
53 Protek the Weakerist November 19 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
  • Stereoptical process.
  • The TV print distributed by Associated Artists Productions atypically had original titles.
54 Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves November 26 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
Orestes Calpini
  • A two-reel Popeye Color Special.
  • Stereoptical process.
  • Shows Popeye serving in the U.S. Coast Guard[2].
  • Uncredited animators: Lillian Friedman, Gordon Sheehan
  • In the public domain in the United States
55 Fowl Play December 17 Dave Tendlar
William Sturm

1938[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
56 Let's Celebrake January 21 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
57 Learn Polikeness February 18 Dave Tendlar
Nick Tafuri
  • Stereoptical process.
  • Final cartoon with Gus Wickie as the voice of Bluto
58 The House Builder-Upper March 18 Seymour Kneitel
Abner Matthews
59 Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh April 22 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
  • Final cartoon to feature the voice of Gus Wickie
60 I Yam Love Sick May 27 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
61 Plumbing is a 'Pipe' June 17 Willard Bowsky
Orestes Calpini
  • First Time Margie Hines voices Olive Oyl.
62 Popeye the Sailor with the Jeep July 15 Seymour Kneitel
Graham Place
63 Bulldozing the Bull August 19 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
  • Margie Hines performs the voice of Olive Oyl
64 Mutiny Ain't Nice September 23 Dave Tendlar
William Sturm
65 Goonland October 21 Seymour Kneitel
Abner Matthews
66 A Date to Skate November 18 Willard Bowsky
Orestes Calpini
  • Final cartoon with Mae Questel as the voice of Olive Oyl until after the dissolution of Fleischer Studios into Famous Studios. Margie Hines takes over the role for all remaining Fleischer Popeye cartoons
  • Final Fleischer Popeye cartoon produced in New York City, New York.
  • In the public domain in the United States
67 Cops Is Always Right December 30 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
  • Final cartoon with "Adolph Zukor presents" credit
  • First Fleischer Popeye cartoon produced in Miami, Florida.

1939[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
68 Customers Wanted January 27 Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
  • Compilation film, scenes from Let's Get Movin' and The Twisker Pitcher.
  • First cartoon with Pinto Colvig as the voice of Bluto
  • In the Public Domain in the United States
  • First cartoon with "Paramount presents" credit
69 Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp April 7 Dave Tendlar
Nick Tafuri
William Sturm
Rueben Grossman
  • A two-reel Popeye Color Special.
  • Final cartoon with Stereoptical process
  • Uncredited animator: Gordon Sheehan
  • In the public domain in the United States
70 Leave Well Enough Alone April 28 Seymour Kneitel
Abner Matthews
71 Wotta Nitemare May 19 Willard Bowsky
George Germanetti
  • First of four cartoons to lack "ship-door" opening title design in use since I Yam What I Yam
72 Ghosks is the Bunk June 14 William Henning
Abner Matthews
  • No "ship-door" opening titles.
73 Hello How Am I July 14 William Henning
Abner Matthews
  • No "ship-door" opening titles.
74 It's the Natural Thing to Do July 28 Tom Johnson
Lod Rossner
  • No "ship-door" opening titles.
75 Never Sock a Baby November 3 William Henning
Abner Matthews
  • First cartoon to use modified "Ship-door" title design
  • Final cartoon to credit Popeye creator E. C. Segar

1940[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
76 Shakespearean Spinach January 19 Roland Crandall
Ben Solomon
  • First Popeye cartoon with story credit, given here to George Manuel
77 Females Is Fickle March 8 Dave Tendlar
William Sturm
78 Stealin Aint Honest March 22 Tom Johnson
Frank Endres
  • William Pennell performs the voice of Bluto instead of Pinto Colvig.
  • Uncredited animators: Jack Ozark, Graham Place, Abner Kneitel
79 Me Feelins Is Hurt April 12 Orestes Calpini
Bob Leffingwell
  • Uncredited animator: Lou Zukor
80 Onion Pacific May 24 Willard Bowsky
James Davis
81 Wimmin Is a Myskery June 7 Willard Bowsky
Joe D'Igalo
82 Nurse-Mates June 21 Graham Place
Louis Zukor
83 Fightin Pals July 12 Willard Bowsky
Robert Bentley
  • Last cartoon with Pinto Colvig as the voice of Bluto
84 Doing Impossikible Stunts August 2 Tom Johnson
Frank Endres
  • Compilation film, includes scenes from I Never Changes My Altitude, I Wanna be a Life Guard, Bridge Ahoy and Lost and Foundry
85 Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive August 16 Orestes Calpini
Reuben Grossman
86 Puttin On the Act August 30 Dave Tendlar
Tom Golden
87 Popeye Meets William Tell September 20 James Culhane
Al Eugster
88 My Pop, My Pop October 18 Abner Kneitel
Arnold Gillespie
89 Popeye the Sailor with Poopdeck Pappy November 15 Bill Nolan
Winfield Hoskins
90 Popeye Presents Eugene the Jeep December 13 Grim Natwick
Irv Spector
  • Final film appearance of Eugene the Jeep
  • Final cartoon to feature the voice of Pinto Colvig

1941[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
91 Problem Pappy January 10 Myron Waldman
Sydney Pillet
92 Quiet! Pleeze February 7 Willard Bowsky
Lod Rossner
  • Footage re-used from 1934's Sock-A-Bye, Baby.
93 Olive's Sweepstakes Ticket March 7 Arnold Gillespie
Abner Kneitel
94 Flies Ain't Human April 4 Tom Johnson
George Germanetti
95 Popeye Meets Rip Van Winkle May 9 Myron Waldman
Sidney Pillet
96 Olive's Boithday Presink June 13 Dave Tendlar
Tom Golden
  • George W. Geezil's final and largest theatrical cartoon role
97 Child Psykolojiky July 11 Bill Nolan
Joe Oriolo
  • Final cartoon with “ship-door” title design
98 Pest Pilot August 8 Dave Tendlar
Tom Baron
  • First cartoon with new opening title design featuring Popeye's pipe and headshot
99 I'll Never Crow Again September 19 Orestes Calpini
Rueben Grossman
100 The Mighty Navy October 17 Seymour Kneitel
Abner Matthews
  • First World War II-themed cartoon.
  • First appearance of Popeye in white U. S. Navy uniform
  • The working title for this cartoon was "In The Navy"[3].
101 Nix on Hypnotricks December 19 Dave Tendlar
John Walworth

1942[]

# Film Original release date Credited animators Notes
102 Kickin' the Conga Round January 16 Tom Johnson
George Germanetti
  • William Pennell voices Bluto
103 Blunder Below February 13 Dave Tendlar
Harold Walker
  • Some TV versions edited for racial stereotyping of Japanese people
104 Fleets of Stren'th March 13 Al Eugster
Tom Golden
105 Pip-eye, Pup-eye, Poop-eye an' Peep-eye April 10 Seymour Kneitel
George Germanetti
  • First canonical appearance of Pipeye, Peepeye, Poopeye and Pupeye
  • Final Fleischer cartoon with Popeye in his comic strip uniform
106 Olive Oyl and Water Don't Mix May 8 Dave Tendlar
Abner Kneitel
107 Many Tanks June 12 Tom Johnson
Frank Endres
108 Baby Wants a Bottleship July 3 Al Eugster
Joe Oriolo
  • Final Fleischer cartoon in series

Other appearances[]

Popeye also appeared in a 1934 short titled Let's Sing with Popeye which had recycled footage from the first Popeye cartoon and had no plot other than to allow the audience to sing along with Popeye via the famous bouncing ball. This film was made for theaters that participated in Paramount's weekly Popeye Fan Club meetings.

Official DVD releases[]

All of the Fleischer Popeye cartoons have been released through Warner Home Video's Popeye the Sailor DVD box set series:

See also[]

Notes[]

Sources[]

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