Summary:
Popeye started out as a character in E.C. Segar's comic strip "Thimble Theatre" in 1929. He first appeared in the strip, which starred Castor Oyl as the main character, in 1929 and quickly became a fan favorite. In due time he had taken over the strip.
The sailor made his first theatrical appearance on July 14, 1933 in the Fleischer Betty Boop cartoon "Popeye the Sailor."
Following that, Max and Dave Fleischer made him the star of his own cartoon. The Fleischers produced the Popeye cartoon between 1933 and 1942. (Represented here as "Season One")
In 1942 Popeye passed into the hands of Famous / Paramount studios, and they turned out Popeye cartoons until 1957. (Represented here as "Season Two")
The Fleischer and Famous / Paramount Popeye films are still seen as the true classic Popeye cartoons, despite the many incarnations the sailor has enjoyed over the decades. These films represent a great chunk of American cartoon history.
