Today I Learned

CARTOON EVOLUTION #7 To celebrate his 90th Anniversary, I take a look at the history and evolution of POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN, the rough ‘n’ tough seaman with a heart of gold and Spinach-fuelled powers - arguably, the first ever superhero. Created by E.C. Segar, Popeye was, essentially, a happy accident – an intended one-off character who gained unanticipated popularity in comics, leading to an insurmountable success in cartoon shorts, rivalling even the likes of Mickey Mouse. Initially produced by the Fleischer Studio and Paramount Pictures between the 1930s and 1950s, Popeye cartoons would later cross into the television era under the likes of Hanna-Barbera and Gene Deitch. Unfortunately, Popeye found himself victim of the modern times, with various reboots and reimaginings – each more watered down than the last – struggling to uphold his popularity through the decades. I take a look at how Popeye has evolved from script to screen, discussing the most important changes in his design and personality and in