Date: 26 March 2002 Summary: Were these cartoons REALLY made for kids?
The Fleischer Studios pioneered modern animation; notice how some of
them feature a three-dimentional background using glass plates or even
miniature sets on which the cartoon characters were added optically. That
is not the case with this particular cartoon though but it does show
certain
familiar characters in a stage of development. Popeye, for example,
finally
finds a situation he is not in complete control of and reacts the way a
regular person would: with fear and hesitance.
Popeye, Olive and Wimpy find a ghostship and, against the better
judgement of Olive and Wimpy, go aboard. Quicker than you can say "weigh
anchor" the ship sets sail all by itself. When Popeye declares "There
ain't
no ghosts!" suddenly they are surrounded by them and Popeye's strength,
which is great even without spinach, is suddenly useless.
For an 8 minute cartoon we take a strange psychological turn as the
ghosts turn each persons fear against them. Popeye is tied high on a mast
swinging like a human penduum contantly hitting iron rings with his head
and. . .um . . .lower regions. Wimpy's torture is worse when you consider
his
appetite. He is chained to a mast beside a table loaded with food. When
he
tries to grab a snack the table not only runs away but hits him hard in
the
stomach as well. Olive's ordeal is the worst, well to me anyway because
that is my fear as well. Tied to the deck milk is dripped on the bottoms
of
her bare feet and licked off by cats.
Oh yeah Popeye saves everyone but I think they have all learned a
lesson
by the end of the cartoon. The supernatural is ain't nothin' to be made
fun
off.
company.
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