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''Popeye the Sailor'' is an American animated series of comedy short films based on the titular comic strip character created by E. C. Segar. In 1933, Max and Dave Fleischer's Fleischer Studios adapted Segar's characters into a series of ''Popeye the Sailor'' theatrical cartoon shorts for Paramount Pictures. The plotlines in the animated cartoons tended to be simpler than those presented in the comic strips, and the characters slightly different. A villain, usually Bluto, makes a move on Popeye's "sweetie," Olive Oyl. The villain clobbers Popeye until he eats spinach, giving him superhuman strength. Thus empowered, the sailor makes short work of the villain. The Fleischer cartoons, based out of New York City, proved to be among the most popular of the 1930s, and would remain a staple of Paramount's release schedule for nearly 25 years. Paramount would take control of the studio in 1941 and rename it Famous Studios, ousting the Fleischer brothers and continuing production. The theatrical ''Popeye'' cartoons began airing on television in an altered form in 1956, at which point the theatrical series was discontinued. ''Popeye the Sailor'' in all produced 231 short subjects that were broadcast on television for numerous years, garnering enormous popularity with new generations. These cartoons are now owned by Turner Entertainment, a subsidiary of Time Warner, and distributed by sister company Warner Bros. Entertainment. After many years of negotiations, Warner Home Video reached an agreement with King Features Syndicate for an official DVD release of the series. Restored and uncut ''Popeye'' cartoons through 1943 were released on DVD in the late 2000s. The 1930s ''Popeye'' cartoons have been noted by historians for their urban feel, with the Fleischers pioneering an East Coast animation scene that differed highly from their counterparts. In addition to becoming iconic within mainstream public consciousness, the majority of ''Popeye'' short subjects are highly acclaimed by animation historians and fans. ==Early history== Popeye the Sailor, created by E.C. Segar, debuted in his King Features-distributed comic strip, ''Thimble Theatre''. The character was growing in popularity by the 1930s and there was "hardly a newspaper reader of the Depression-era that did not know his name." It was obvious, however, that stars of a larger magnitude were being launched from animated cartoons, with the success of Mickey Mouse. In November 1932, King Features signed an agreement with Fleischer Studios, run by producer Max Fleischer and his brother, director Dave Fleischer, to have Popeye and the other ''Thimble Theatre'' characters begin appearing in a series of animated cartoons. The first cartoon in the series was released in 1933, and ''Popeye'' cartoons, released by Paramount Pictures, would remain a staple of Paramount's release schedule for nearly 25 years. One source of inspiration for the Fleischers were newspapers and comic strips, and they saw potential in Popeye as an animated star, thinking the humor would translate well onscreen.〔 When the Fleischers needed more characters, they turned to Segar's strip: Wimpy debuted in the first regular ''Popeye'' cartoon, Swee'Pea, Poopdeck Pappy, the Goons and Eugene the Jeep arrived onscreen by the late 1930s. Popeye was also given more family exclusive to the shorts, specifically his look-alike nephews Pipeye, Peepeye, Pupeye, and Poopeye. Spinach became a main component of the ''Popeye'' cartoons and were used for the energetic finale in each. Eventually, the Fleischers paired Popeye and spinach together far more than Segar ever did. In 1934, a statistic was released noting that spinach sales had increased 33% since the creation of the ''Popeye'' cartoons.〔 Segar received crates of spinach at his home because of the ''Popeye'' association. The huge child following ''Popeye'' received eventually prompted Segar's boss, William Randolph Hearst, to order Segar to tone down the humor and violence. Segar was not ready to compromise, believing there would be "nothing funny about a sissy sailor."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Popeye the Sailor (animated cartoons)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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