Goonland

Some claim that as the 1930s and '40s wore on, the Popeye shorts of the Fleischers lost their touch. I would say that, in light of "Goonland" (1938), this is NOT true. The Fleischer brothers very brilliantly bring the Goons, freakish creatures from E.C. Segar's comic strip, "Thimble Theatre," to life, as they encounter the ever-heroic Popeye on a quest to find his long-lost Pappy (also portrayed faithful to the original character). The music, voice acting, imagery and special effects all contribute to an adventurous, fun, and enduring Popeye cartoon. Very highly recommended! Popeye fans will also be delighted to know that "Goonland" (1938) is available on the DVD collection, "Popeye the Sailor, Volume 2: 1938-1940," which would make an excellent Christmas gift for any Popeye or nostalgic cartoon lover.

Popeye's Pappy disappeared when he was a little baby smoking his first pipe. Now Popeye thinks he has found the old fellow on a distant island. There Pappy is, held captive by the barbaric Goons. Cn someone rescue someone else for a happy ending?

Although the word was invented earlier, E. C. Segar popularized it in the Thimble Theater about 1934 with his character Alice The Goon. This is also the first appearance in the Fleischer cartoons of Poopdeck Pappy.

This was the last cartoon the Fleischers produced in New York before their ultimately disastrous move down to Miami. The sequence in which Popeye is tied down to the ground indicates they were already doing work on GULLIVER'S TRAVELS.

Many of Fleischer Studios' cartoons were good to classic. As said a few times already, the best of them had fun and charm and even if there some cartoons that had more interesting characters than others they were always outstandingly scored, very hard to dislike and extremely well made, some of the techniques used even were unique for back then.

This cartoon is not just one of the best late-Fleischer cartoons, of Popeye (and in general actually), but also one of my favourites of Popeye overall. It is always great to have a change of pace once in a while, with Popeye being the one regular character, and the conflict different to usual, and this is one of the finest examples of that. One where one doesn't miss Olive Oyl and Bluto too much. Changes of pace have happened many times with Popeye, both with Fleischer and Famous Studios, and many have been done remarkably well, just that this is a particularly well done example.

Popeye is as amusing and likeable as ever, Pappy is a fun character though his indifference initially takes some getting used to. The conflict provide great entertainment but also a freaky feel brought to life brilliantly. Popeye's mumbling and asides are relished by Jack Mercer, the longest serving voice actor for the character for good reason.

As ever, the music is lush and full of energy with no fault with how it fits with what is going on the gags and animation. The story is one of the least formulaic for a Popeye cartoon and is filled with energy and charm, as well as from beginning to end fun.

Best assets though are the animation and dialogue. The animation is excellent and makes for one of the best-looking Popeye cartoons, just love the meticulousness, fluidity, vibrancy and attention to detail. One can tell hearing the witty dialogue that the writers were having a great time writing the dialogue here, mumbles and asides at their funniest.

In summary, really great. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This has the best cartoon art in the series. This is one of the finest things to come out of Fleischer studios. The Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons are classic.

The story starts with Popeye heading toward a mysterious island in search of his pappy. We get an idea of Popeye's age when he states that his pappy was missing for forty years. The island upon which he arrives is atmospheric, mysterious, and downright spooky.

The goons are brilliantly hideous, comparable to the kind like the characters from the classic thriller "Island of Lost Souls" (1932).

The goon is another brilliant Segar character. From the comics, I remember a neat character called "Alice the Goon".

Now we are finally introduced to "Poop-Deck" Pappy, a great character in his own way and obnoxious as can be, but he shows his true meddle by eating the can of spinach and breaking out of the prison in order to save his son Popeye's life in a thrilling climax. (I won't reveal it here, but the ending is just great.)

10/10

Dan Basinger

I usually do not watch Popeye cartoons, mostly because 90% are variations on the same plot--Bluto tries to rape Olive and Popeye eats spinach and beats the snot out of the guy. However, "Goonland" was a nice departure from the formula--and gets points for weirdness.

Popeye is in search of his Pappy--who has been missing since he was a little boy. The trail leads to a very weird place called 'Goonland' and it's inhabited by these semi-humanoid mutes. I thought it was rather funny when Popeye pretended to be one of them to sneak past the guards and get to Pappy. I also really liked listening to Popeye's little aside comments--some of which were pretty funny. And, I liked that Pappy really was a bit of a jerk! All in all, a fun and imaginative film.