Well, blow me down...Classic Popeye cartoons finally on DVD!

Cafe Society
1

For many years, fans of classic cartoons were disappointed that the classic Fleischer Studios cartoons starring Popeye the Sailor were unavailable on VHS or DVD. (with the exeception of around two dozen cartoons in the public domain). Apparently, the lack came from a confusion between the owners of the cartoons (originally Paramount, then Associated Artists, then United Artists, then Turner, now Time Warner) and King Features Syndicate, who owns the rights to the rights to the characters. When United Artists planed to release a Popeye home video in the 1980s, King Features sent them a letter claiming they owned the rights not only to the characters, but to the cartoons as well. Not checking into the manner, United Artists agreed.

Now, this has changed. Time Warner announced today on a DVD message board and in a press release that they have made an agreement with King Features that gives them exclusive distribution rights to all Paramount, King Features, and Hanna-Barbera Popeye cartoons. Warner plans to release the cartoons in chronological DVD sets, with the first set of black-and-white Paramount cartoons to appear alongside their next Looney Tunes set in 2007. I’ll be looking forward to this one! toot toot

2

That will be the animation event of the year. FINALLY!

3

Well, blow me down, this is fantastic news! I will pre-order this as soon as possible!

4

This just in! Jerry Beck, animation historian an’ consultant fer Warner Bros., reports me first offischul volume of cartoons, Popeye the Sailor 1933-1938, is coming July 31st! Grab yer spinach and yer DVD remote for 60 classic cartoons including 2 Technicolor two-reelers with original titles, digitally restored wit’ commenterrys an’ more!

Yer pal,
Popeye the Sailor
(with a lil’ help from me pal mobo85, o’ course!)

5

What a coinkydinks!

6

That’s all’s I can stand…cuz I can’t stands no more! I’ll be buying these!

7

I yam digustipated it didn’t happen sooner!

8

And being released together with the next “Looney Tunes Golden Collection”. Sweet, dude.

9

To quote the philosopher Popeye, “I yam what I yam.”

10

Let us join the Goon’s chorus featuring Alice!

“I love POPeye! I love POPeye!”

11

I can’t wait!

I loved watching them as a kid (Grandma had some videos with the public domain ones on them).

12

As the proud bearer of a Popeye tattoo on my left shoulder, I yam exciticated at this turn of evenks.

13

Wow, and that box looks great. The whole deal (especially the chronological ordering) sounds much better than the awful job with the Looney Tunes DVDs.

14

Oh sweet! My dad and I used to watch Popeye every morning before I went off to school… And it comes out just after my birthday! Woo!

15

Whoever gave this the green light, I’d like to buy him a Segar.

16

Terrific news. Can’t wait! :slight_smile:

17

I will definitely buy the first set. I love the old b/w Popeyes especially the Ali Baba and Aladdin cartoons that are in heavy rotation on my iPod. Most of the Popeye I was exposed to growing up was the much later horribly formulaic crap where every episode was Bluto busting up Popeye and Olive’s date to engage in a little attempted rape until Popeye beat him down. Almost ruined me for Popeye forever until I stumbled across some of the earlier ones.

18

And Jerry Beck also hints at another surprise from another studio next week. Guess who?

19

I’ve often thought you could make an “R” rated Popeye cartoon with realistic violence, near-rape, and the explicit death of Bluto at the end.

The Hanna-Barbera Popeye cartoons?? Someone likes those??