Reaching for the Moon

The theatrical run of Popeye the Sailor from 1933 to 1957 represents one of the most enduring and influential eras in American animation history. Spanning 231 shorts, this golden age of Popeye evolved across two distinct production studios: the boundary-pushing, gritty Fleischer Studios (1933–1942) and the more formulaic, brightly colored Famous Studios (1942–1957). Together, they transformed E.C. Segar’s comic strip character into a global cinematic icon, establishing formulas and animation techniques that altered the medium forever.

A toyshop owner tells a little girl the story behind the two dolls she's fallen in love with.

More than just a landmark in superhero animation, Max Fleischer's Superman shorts were no less than the foundation for so many shows that succeeded it. Playing in theaters in 1941-42, only a few years after the Man of Steel made his debut in Action Comics, these 17 exciting films were produced by Fleischer and made famous the phrase "This looks like a job for Superman!" At 10 minutes, each film had just enough time to run the opening credits, establish the threat, let Lois Lane make a headstrong rush into peril, and allow Clark Kent to change to his alter ego and save the day. The films show a remarkably dynamic and atmospheric storytelling style that enables them to hold up for modern viewers. At first the films followed a science fiction-fantasy theme, but not unexpectedly for that time soon focused on wartime concerns.

Olive Oyl's screenplay for an Aladdin movie comes to life and Popeye battles for control of a genie in this, the last of the three Popeye color films.

Swee'pea is crying, so Olive calls on Popeye to cheer the baby up. Popeye and Bluto compete by doing various silly antics.

At an orphanage, the children are sad because they received used defective toys as gifts. Professor Grampy sees the children while passing by in his sled and has an idea on how to give them a merry Christmas.

Superman battles a criminal mastermind and his robot army.

Popeye and Bluto fight for the love of Olive Oyl in their debut short, featuring Betty Boop.

Popeye takes Olive mountain climbing. Bluto sets various traps for them along the way.

When police interfere with a reckless scientist's experiment, it creates a deadly meteor shower only Superman can stop.

After The Daily Planet receives a letter from a mad scientist threatening to wreak destruction with his Electrothanasia Ray, Lois Lane heads out in the hopes of getting more information for a news story.

Superman comes to the rescue when a volcano erupts.

Bluto dirties all of an office building's windows himself, to drum up business for his window cleaning service. When he gets to Olive's stenographer office, about ten floors up, she says no: Popeye's going to wash her windows. And the battle with Popeye is on.

Trouble starts when the queen's magic mirror says Betty Boop is fairest.

Popeye is leaving on his sailing ship, much to Olive's chagrin. She ends up accidentally stowing away in a trunk. Popeye discovers her, but she can't stay, because the crew will think she's a jinx. She tries to hide, but this only scares the crew more, because they think the ship's haunted. When she is revealed, the crew comes after her to throw her off, and then turns on captain Popeye.

Betty Boop goes to see the fearsome Old Man of the Mountain for herself; he sings the title song and a duet with Betty.