Robin Rodenthood

Herman and Katnip in an art school.

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.

Popeye and Bluto are on leave in the South Seas when Princess Alona (Olive) comes surfing by in her Sarong, a bird perched on her knee. The boys are smitten, and chase after her. The bird warns our boys that any harm to the princess will result in death from the local volcano.

Popeye's on a battleship, on which he's banished to the boiler room. A Japanese sub comes along. Can Popeye save his ship from the enemy?

Shaggy and Scooby-Doo quit their Saturday morning TV series in pursuit of Hollywood stardom.

Popeye and Olive open a diner, singing the title song. Alas, their first two customers are Wimpy (who actually gets them to fall for the "gladly pay you Tuesday" schtick) and Bluto, who orders 6 sandwiches and refuses to pay for them. This leads, of course, to a fight, which Popeye needs his spinach to win.

Popeye gives Olive a parrot that he's trained. Bluto sets the bird free and then tries to kill it.

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.

Popeye and Olive are grooving to the sounds of Wimpy the organ grinder, but their neighbor Bluto wants him to move on. Popeye and Bluto settle their disagreement in their usual fashion.

Santa has an accident at Fred's house on Christmas Eve, Fred and Barney have to continue his run for him.

Bluto, the daring hot air balloon rider, catches the eye of Olive at a carnival, much to Popeye's chagrin. Bluto manages to make Popeye look bad several times, eventually winning a ring at the ball toss and taking her up in his balloon. Of course, he tries to get fresh with her, and Popeye comes to the rescue with the help of some fireworks. The hot air balloon gets a bit too hot, putting Olive in even more danger.

It's time for lunch, and Spunky (the baby donkey) is expected to feed on healthy (and awful-tasting) Vitamin Hay. He resists, and wanders out of the barn to look for more interesting things to eat.

A Mardi Gras celebration, looking pretty much like any carnival. Bluto is a strongman, claiming to be King of the Mardi Gras, and drawing a large crowd. Popeye, nearby, claims only, "I yam what I yam," and has no crowd, but still draws Bluto's wrath.

A young boy obsessed with trains sneaks out to play with the real trains that run just a few feet from the fence around his house. When he falls off of one and is knocked unconscious, he has a dream.

At Halloween, Olive Oyl is reading ghost stories to Popeye and Bluto. Popeye scoffs. Bluto decides to take advantage of this by pretending to go home, then staging various pranks.

Popeye and Bluto are taxi drivers; they are, of course, competing for fares - and Olive, in particular.