Popeye the Sailor filmography (Famous Studios)

This is a list of the 122 cartoons of the Popeye the Sailor film series produced by Famous Studios for Paramount Pictures from 1942 to 1957, with 14 in black-and-white and 108 in color. These cartoons were produced after Paramount took ownership of Fleischer Studios, which originated the Popeye series in 1933.
All cartoons are one-reel in length. The first 14 shorts are in black-and-white. All remaining cartoons are in color. Unlike the Fleischer Studios shorts, the director credits for these shorts represent the actual director in charge of that short's production. The first animator credited handled the animation direction. The numbers listed next to each cartoon continue the numbering of the Fleischer entries.

Short films

1942

Does not have the "Famous Studios" branding in the opening segment
No longer shown on American television due to World War II ethnic stereotyping of Japanese people and a scene involving a Japanese Naval Officer committing suicide by eating firecrackers and drinking gasoline
First cartoon directed by Dan Gordon
Does not have the "Famous Studios" branding in the opening segment
The last version of the opening credits sequence from the last Fleischer Studios shorts is used, minus the "A Max Fleischer Cartoon" credit
First cartoon directed by Isadore Sparber
Dave Barry voices Bluto, as well as in A Hull of a Mess
Starting with this cartoon, Bluto was redesigned to appear more muscular compared to his previous appearances
Final entry of the 1941-42 film season.
First appearance of the "Famous Studios" branding in the opening segment.
First appearance of the opening segment with Popeye's head poking out of a porthole and tooting his pipe. The animation in this segment was the basis for the "spinning star" opening credits, lasting from Her Honor the Mare until the final cartoon in 1957, Spooky Swabs.
First entry of the 1942-43 film season.
No longer shown on American television due to World War II ethnic stereotyping of Japanese people
First cartoon directed by Seymour Kneitel
The ending gag is cut from a.a.p. prints due to the involvement of the Paramount logo
In the public domain in the United States

1943

Does not air on American television outside of any scheduled airings on The Popeye Show due to World War II content involving Nazi stereotypes
First cartoon where Popeye sings his full theme song when he appears since Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor
Final cartoon with "anchor" designed ending.
An edited-for-TV version is known to exist
Dave Barry voices Bluto
No longer shown on American television due to World War II ethnic stereotyping of Nazis and Japanese people
Dave Barry voices Bluto
Final black and white cartoon featuring Bluto.
Some TV versions are edited to remove anti-Japanese dialogue spoken by Popeye's nephews
Twinkletoes the Carrier Pigeon from the Fleischer Studios film Gulliver's Travels appears.
A parody of Jack and the Beanstalk
The ending gag is cut from a.a.p. prints due to the involvement of the Paramount logo. This gag was recreated for airing on The Popeye Show and for the 2008 DVD release
First cartoon to feature the voice of Gilbert Mack
Breaks the fourth wall
The first of three cartoons to feature Popeye's Navy buddy, Shorty
Except for uncut airings on The Popeye Show, the ending gag is usually cut from TV airings such as TBS and Boomerang in the United States due to its content suggesting murder, though the "murder" scene was in the dark
All Voices are provided by Jack Mercer
Margie Hines voices Olive Oyl
All Other Voices are provided by Jack Mercer
Final black-and-white cartoon in the Popeye film series
The booing gag was reused by Popeye in Popeye's Premiere.
The redrawn print incorrectly uses the "Max Fleischer" title card of Popeye The Sailor Man.
Final entry of the 1942-43 film season.
All voices are provided by Jack Mercer
First regular Popeye the Sailor series entry in Technicolor.
First of four cartoons where Popeye's sailor outfit is blue
First use of the "spinning star" opening credits
First entry of the 1943-44 film season.
The second appearance of Shorty.
Final appearance of Margie Hines as the voice of Olive Oyl
A restored version aired on The Popeye Show
The last Popeye cartoon to use the Western Electric "Noiseless Recording" sound system

1944

First of two cartoons to use special opening credits and introductory music
The first Popeye cartoon to use the RCA Photophone sound system
Final appearance of Dave Barry as the voice of Bluto
The last Popeye cartoon produced at the Fleischer/Famous studio in Miami, Florida. Famous moved to New York City in late 1943.
A restored version was prepared for The Popeye Show, but the show was cancelled before it could air
Some TV airings delete Popeye's "sambo dancer" line
Color remake of the Fleischer Studios short Shoein' Hosses
The first Popeye cartoon produced after Famous Studios moved back to New York
First appearance of Mae Questel as the voice of Olive Oyl since 1938's A Date to Skate
First appearance of Jackson Beck as the voice of Bluto. Beck would be the permanent voice for Bluto until The All-New Popeye Hour in 1978.
A restored version aired on The Popeye Show
Compilation film; footage reused from the Fleischer two-reel Popeye Color Specials ''Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor and Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves
A restored version aired on The Popeye Show
A restored version aired on The Popeye Show
Final film appearance of Shorty. Here, he is voiced by Arnold Stang rather than Gilbert Mack
A restored version aired on The Popeye Show
Final cartoon directed by Dan Gordon
Semi-remake of the Fleischer short Cops is Always Right
Although Olive Oyl appears in this cartoon, she doesn't speak at all.
Final entry of the 1943-44 film season.
A parody of Superman, who had previously been featured in a Paramount cartoon series of his own; a brief snippet of the theme from the series is heard while Olive Oyl reads a Superman comic book.
Jackson Beck, who voices Bluto in this cartoon, was the announcer for The [Adventures of Superman (radio)|The Adventures of Superman'' radio program] at the time this cartoon was made.
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner
First entry of the 1944-45 film season.

1945

First appearance of the Paramount mountain with a red color scheme and solid blue sky in the opening
No longer shown on American television due to Black African native stereotyping
Second of two cartoons to use special opening credits and introductory music
A restored version aired on The Popeye Show
This is the first of the several cartoons where Mercer was unavailable to voice Popeye; however, this is the first and only time that Mae Questel provides Popeye's voice.
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner
Despite the fact that Popeye and Bluto are wearing blue pants, it's possible that their Navy sailor suits are blue.
First time that Floyd Buckley provides Popeye's voice since 1935's Be Kind to "Aminals".
A color remake of the Fleischer Studios short Hospitaliky
The last time Jack Mercer voices Popeye until 1946's Rocket to Mars
An early appearance of the newly-designed Olive Oyl.
Final Popeye cartoon produced and released during World War II.
Final entry of the 1944-45 film season.

1946

First Popeye short to have a separate opening title card for the "A Famous Studios Production" credit
Floyd Buckley voices Popeye
Color remake of the Max Fleischer short The House Builder-Upper
First entry of the 1945-46 film season.
Floyd Buckley voices Popeye
The newly-designed Olive Oyl appears in the opening credits; however, she retains her old style in the cartoon.
First cartoon directed by Bill Tytla
Second of four cartoons where Popeye's sailor outfit is blue
First time that Harry Foster Welch voices Popeye
The first Popeye cartoon produced in Cinecolor
Original titles were retained in a.a.p. TV syndication print
Final short in which Floyd Buckley voices Popeye
Semi-remake of the Fleischer shorts Dizzy Divers and Stealin' Ain't Honest
Bluto reverts to his Fleischer-era character design for this cartoon only
Produced in Cinecolor
Jack Mercer and Harry Foster Welch both voice Popeye
Some TV versions are edited to remove a Japanese stereotype
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner. However, syndicated TV airings on Boomerang have an editing error on the opening titles.
Early appearance of the newly-designed Olive Oyl
Harry Foster Welch voices Popeye
Harry Foster Welch voices Popeye
First regular appearance of the newly-designed Olive Oyl
Some TV versions are edited to remove a Black stereotype
Harry Foster Welch voices Popeye
An edited-for-TV version is known to exist
Although uncredited, Jim Tyer worked on this short
No longer shown on American television due to Black African native stereotyping
Final entry of the 1945-46 film season.

1947

Produced in Cinecolor
Final short in which Harry Foster Welch voices Popeye
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner
First entry of the 1946-47 film season.
First time Jack Mercer voices Popeye since 1946's Rocket to Mars. Mercer voices Popeye in all cartoons from here onward
All prints in circulation use an edited print which cuts out the scene where Popeye transitions from being in drag into having a sailor suit, presumably due to nudity. This clip has been edited out since the original theatrical showing in 1947. This clip is presumed lost or destroyed.
Although uncredited, Jim Tyer worked on this short
Although uncredited, this is the last Popeye cartoon on which animator Jim Tyer worked on before leaving to join the Terrytoons studio.
Some TV versions are edited to remove a Black stereotype and Bluto in blackface.
King Little from the Fleischer Studios film Gulliver's Travels appears as the jousting announcer.
Final entry of the 1946-47 film season.
First entry of the 1947-48 film season.
Produced in Cinecolor
Dave Tendlar's animation crew got the credit for animation, but this cartoon was actually animated by Tom Johnson's crew.
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner

1948

Additional Voices are provided by Sid Raymond
Final Popeye cartoon produced in Cinecolor
Color remake of the Fleischer Studios short Betty Boop for President
Little Audrey makes a cameo appearance in Popeye's unconscious dream sequence. This is the second appearance she has been in a Famous Studios cartoon, the first being the Noveltoon Santa's Surprise. She later appeared in more Noveltoons, billed as her own cartoon series. Prior to that scene, the dog who appears in this cartoon is the same dog that appears in the final Little Lulu cartoon, The Dog Show-Off. Both cartoons were double feature.
The ending music for most a.a.p.-distributed Famous Studios Popeye shorts was sourced from this cartoon.
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner
The first Popeye cartoon produced in Polacolor
Original Paramount titles restored and distributed by Turner
Doesn't air on American television outside of any scheduled airings on The Popeye Show because of Native American stereotyping, Olive Oyl’s transracial appearance, and other inappropriate themes.
Produced in Polacolor
Opening titles revised to shorten the "Sailor's Hornpipe" portion of the theme
Produced in Polacolor
Clouds added behind the Paramount mountain in the titles
Original titles were retained in a.a.p. TV syndication print
Produced in Polacolor
Original titles were retained in a.a.p. TV syndication print
Compilation film, uses clips from The Anvil Chorus Girl, Pop-Pie a La Mode and She-Sick Sailors
Some TV versions are edited to remove the clip from Pop-Pie a La Mode, which is no longer aired in America.
Bluto only appears in two of the archival clips.
Although not appearing in person, this is Wimpy's first mention since 1940's Onion Pacific.
Produced in Polacolor
Final entry of the 1947-48 film season.
Produced in Polacolor
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner
A parody of Robin Hood
First entry of the 1948-49 film season.
Produced in Polacolor
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner

1949

Compilation film, mostly reused footage from the Fleischer two-reeler Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp with new wrap-around animation and a new soundtrack
Produced in Polacolor
Final Popeye cartoon produced in Polacolor
All cartoons produced in Technicolor from now on
A color remake of the Fleischer short The "Hyp-Nut-Tist"
A similar setting from Popeye's Premiere appears in this cartoon.
Final entry of the 1948-49 film season.
Third of four cartoons where Popeye's sailor outfit is blue
A color remake of the Fleischer Studios short Protek the Weakerist
First entry of the 1949-50 film season.
A color remake of the Fleischer short Flies Ain't Human
Final Popeye and Famous Studios cartoon released in the 1940s
As of 2023, this is the final Popeye the Sailor cartoon officially restored and released on DVD and Blu-Ray.

1950

Live-Action & Animation Hybrid
Narrated by Jackson Beck
Jackson Beck also voices Bluto and TV Newscaster
Cecil Roy voices Boy in Movie Theater
Tom Ewell appears on-screen as Man in Audience
First Popeye cartoon released in the 1950s
Mae Questel voices Olive Oyl
Jackson Beck voices Bluto
Color remake of the Fleischer Studios short Vim, Vigor and Vitaliky
Mae Questel voices Olive Oyl
Jackson Beck voices Life Guard
Final cartoon directed by Bill Tytla
All Other Voices are provided by Jack Mercer
Mae Questel voices Olive Oyl
Jackson Beck voices Abu Hassan
Sid Raymond voices Ali, Third Thief
Compilation film, mostly reused footage from the Fleischer two-reeler Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves with new wraparound animation and dubbing voices
First film appearance of Wimpy since 1940's Onion Pacific, and by extension, his first appearance in the Famous Studios series
One of two Famous cartoons where Popeye appears in his comic strip uniform
First film appearance of Swee'Pea since 1942's Baby Wants a Bottleship. Swee'Pea's appearance was redesigned.
A color remake of the Fleischer Studios short With Little Swee'Pea
Color shot-for-shot remake of Me Musical Nephews
Fourth and final cartoon where Popeye's sailor outfit is blue
The ending gag is cut from a.a.p. prints due to the involvement of the Paramount logo

1951

The ending gag is cut from a.a.p. prints due to the involvement of the Paramount logo
Original Paramount version restored and distributed by Turner
Semi-remake of the Fleischer short I-Ski Love-Ski You-Ski
Popeye permanently gains teeth from here on out.
Timothy Turkey makes a guest appearance
Alternated rendition of the Popeye theme is utilized; this version would be used for all remaining Popeye theatricals
Some TV versions are edited to remove a Black stereotype

1952

Poopdeck Pappy's first film appearance since 1941's Pest Pilot. This is the first of three appearances he would make in the Famous shorts.
Semi-remake of the Fleischer Studios short Goonland
No longer shown on American television due to Black African native stereotyping
Reused footage from Tar with a Star and I'll Be Skiing Ya
The mouse is voiced by Isadore Sparber.
In the public domain in the United States
Mostly reused footage from the Fleischer two-reeler Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor with new wraparound animation and a new soundtrack
In the public domain in the United States
A restored original print is available on some PD compilations
Second of two Famous cartoons where Popeye appears in his comic strip uniform
Final cartoon directed by Dave Fleischer

1953

Poopdeck Pappy's second appearance in a Famous cartoon. This time he appears as Popeye's fairy godfather.
In the public domain in the United States
A parody of the fairy tale Cinderella
The final appearance of Poopdeck Pappy in a Famous cartoon. This time, he is a younger version in a flashback sequence
A color remake of the Fleischer Studios short The Two-Alarm Fire
Originally made in 3D; a fully restored 3D print is in circulation for screening at 3D film events
One of two Paramount cartoons filmed in 3D, the other being the Casper cartoon Boo Moon.
The ending gag is cut from a.a.p. prints due to the use of the Paramount logo
A print with original titles aired on The Popeye Show
A semi-remake of Rocket to Mars
A color remake of the Fleischer Studios short A Clean Shaven Man
200th Popeye cartoon.

1954

In the public domain in the United States
Semi-remake of the Fleischer short Plumbin is a 'Pipe'
Copyright is marked as 1953 on the title card, due to this cartoon being released on New Year's Day in 1954.
Reused footage from Tops in the Big Top and Rodeo Romeo
In the public domain in the United States
In the public domain in the United States
Some restored versions on public domain DVDs use the original soundtrack.
Semi-remake of the Fleischer Studios short Wimmin Is a Myskery
In the public domain in the United States
In the public domain in the United States
Semi-remake of the Fleischer short Ghosks is the Bunk
In the public domain in the United States
In the public domain in the United States
Final entry of the 1953-54 film season.
In the public domain in the United States
To make the film's title safe for emerging widescreen theatres, the Paramount mountain was completely redrawn for this cartoon. Along with other Famous Studios cartoons after Herman and Katnip's Rail-Rodents, the new logo remains permanent for all remaining shorts to the end of the series.
First entry of the 1954-55 film season.

1955

In the public domain in the United States
a.a.p. print mistakenly leaves in Famous Studios credit with the Paramount logo in the background.
Last film appearance of Swee'Pea
Semi-remake of the Fleischer Studios short Customers Wanted
Reused footage from Silly Hillbilly, Wotta Knight, and The Fistic Mystic
Some TV versions are edited to remove Black stereotypes that originally appeared in the reused footage from Wotta Knight
Color remake of the Fleischer Studios short Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive
The last cartoon produced before the cartoons were sold to a.a.p. for television. All following entries only exist with original titles
Final entry of the 1954-55 film season.
First entry of the 1955-56 film season.
From this entry onward, all remaining Popeye shorts retain their original Paramount titles

1956

Latest Popeye short still under copyright in the United States. All remaining shorts to the end of the series are in the public domain
This cartoon was a role-reversal, in which Olive Oyl was the protagonist who had to rescue Popeye.
A semi-remake of Punch and Judo
Reused footage from The Farmer and the Belle, How Green Is My Spinach, and A Balmy Swami
The only Popeye cartoon to be directed by Dave Tendlar
Final entry of the 1955-56 film season.
In the public domain in the United States
First entry of the 1956-57 film season.
Color remake of the Fleischer Studios short ''Let's Get Movin'''

1957

Last Popeye cartoon to bear the name "Famous Studios" in the credits before the studio changed its name to Paramount Cartoon Studios.
Reused footage from Alpine for You and Quick on the Vigor
First Popeye cartoon released under Paramount Cartoon Studios
Final theatrical film appearance of Popeye's nephews
Final theatrical film appearances of Bluto and Wimpy
In the public domain in the United States
Final theatrical film appearances of Popeye and Olive Oyl
Some of the ghosts from Casper the Friendly Ghost appear in this cartoon.
Semi-remake of Shiver Me Timbers!
Final cartoon directed by Isadore Sparber
Final entry of the 1956-57 film season.