Popeye and Friends, Volume 1
BY Ryan LaMarca / 2008-07-10
Squeaky clean, simplistic Popeye fun comes to DVD in the form of Warner Home Video's first volume release of "Popeye and Friends." This set is targeted to the younger audience as opposed to the collectors and more mature Popeye fans who were eagerly awaiting the official "Popeye the Sailor, 1938-1940: Volume 2" DVD set released simultaneously. This one disc set is comprised of eight short cartoons that were originally produced in a cooperation between Hanna-Barbera and King Features Syndicate between 1978 and 1980 under the "All-New Popeye Show" banner, which originally aired on CBS. If you're looking for classic Popeye, this is not the place to start. These cartoons are what I would call stereotypical Hanna-Barbera cartoons, in terms of animation. Does that make them necessarily bad? No, these cartoons are still enjoyable for what they are and I certainly had a fun time watching them.
It's Popeye the Sailor, a man who needs no introduction. He's a character virtually everyone is familiar with due to his enormous popularity and longevity. In this particular series, Popeye is once again joined by his girlfriend, the lanky Olive Oyl, and is constantly bothered by his rival and nemesis, Bluto, who is always after Olive. The emphasis on this series is the supporting cast of characters, who all get some screen time. On this release, episodes showcasing Swee'Pea, Wimpy, and Popeye's nephews are all presented. Although their specific episodes are not featured on this disc, the opening credits also present Popeye's father, Poopdeck Pappy, and Popeye's magical dog, Eugene the Jeep. But no matter what, he's strong to the finish, 'cause he eats his spinach. He's Popeye the Sailor Man.
Now, you must take these cartoons at face value. Do not attempt to analyze or study them. They're just plain fun cartoons from the late '70s and early '80s and they served their function to entertain children of that time period. Some people, such as myself, can still enjoy them today, while others will revolt from disgust at the sight of these cartoons. As a huge Hanna-Barbera and Popeye fan, it was fascinating to see these cartoons for the first time and see how the writers and animators managed to churn out such decent cartoons considering all the restrictions placed on Saturday morning cartoons at the time. This was a time when cartoons were mandated to restrict the show or depiction of violence or action in any way, shape, or form. Remember there is also the issue of limited animation, a staple of many Hanna-Barbera cartoons, especially in the 1970s. Personally, it's never bothered me, and it still doesn't, but I can see that this series really took it to the extreme. It's worse here than in almost every other cartoon from the studio that I can remember.
Popeye fans who only enjoy highly detailed animation and other elements found in the classic Fleisher shorts might not enjoy these particular cartoons. The backgrounds, character designs, and storylines are all as simple as can be. There's no violence at all. Popeye doesn't get to sock it to Bluto at any time in this series. Instead, he manages to defeat him in other ways, usually involving spinach-induced slapstick. All in all, these cartoons really don't feel like traditional Popeye stories. In one episode, Popeye even befriends an alien from outer space. It's not traditional Popeye in the slightest, but it does provide for some cheap laughs and a good fun time.
A lot of veteran Hanna-Barbera voice actors are present in this series, but Jack Mercer returns as the voice of Popeye. Reportedly, Mae Questel, the original voice of Olive Oyl, wanted to reprise her role but was turned down by the studio. Instead, Marilyn Schreffler takes over the reins of the character, and honestly I couldn't tell the difference. Daws Butler provides his voice to bring Wimpy to life, and I would have liked to have seen more of him in this series, but he's reduced mainly to small supporting roles here and there over the episodes in this release.
Warner Home Video has opted not to include any bonus material at all for this release of "Popeye and Friends, Volume 1." If you want bonus material on Popeye, then check out the studio's release of "Popeye the Sailor, 1938-1940: Volume 2." I was really disappointed by the video quality for these cartoons, as well, as it looks as if they did nothing to clean up the masters. I can't really blame them though. It would probably cost a lot of money to remaster these cartoons, and I'd rather they spend the money on the original Popeye cartoons, which is exactly what they are doing. The original opening credits, as far as I can tell, look to be intact, but there is some discrepancy with the closing credits. Some shows have one version of the credits, and some have a different one. Since I wasn't watching this series when it first aired, I don't know the exact reasons for the credit changes, but it usually has to do with Hanna-Barbera's constant repackaging of the cartoons or syndication airings.
If you want some quick, cheap, and color Popeye cartoons, then "Popeye and Friends" is a good choice for you. If you're looking for the original, classic Popeye cartoons, then check out the beautiful black and white classics in the "Popeye the Sailor" sets. These cartoons are more suited for a younger audience, but I believe mature viewers can enjoy them just as much. While certainly not the greatest cartoons from Popeye's long history and filmography, there's nothing overtly terrible about these shorts from "The All-New Popeye Show."
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