POPEYE (Fleischer Studios)

While there is little dispute that Walt Disney was the crown prince of traditional animation, it has been said that the (Max and Dave) Fleischer Studio offered some serious competition.

Let's take a look at some POPEYE background art.

Here is the original POPEYE main title:

Here, rarely seen, the quite wonderful underlying artwork (as always, click to see the enlarged version)

Here's the "Morning, Noon and Night Club" title card (and close-up):


Here, a few choice samples of digitally re-assembled B/G art from the "nautical nightclub!"


Here's the stage door (note Wimpy's Cafe next door!):
This stage door view is a re-created pan B/G:

POPEYE MEETS ALI BABA: Detail

Check out the weird sconce on the wall behind the bar. What the heck is that? A beheaded vampire? Gargoyle?

Bizarre...

POPEYE MEETS ALI BABA

Here's the rare non-Disney post. Again, from the sensational POPEYE DVD set. Fleischer studios did some wonderful work.

POPEYE MEETS SINBAD (continued)Fleischer Studios

Popeye SINBAD Pan Background

POPEYE MEETS SINBAD: Opening Titles

Today I finally opened the Popeye DVD set which debuted some weeks ago. It's re-awakened my admiration for Fleischer Studios. These two paintings are the opening title art, minus the text, of course. Check out the texture of the waves and the color palette of the sky. Magnificent!