Popeye, the Ace of Space

Do get a lot of enjoyment out of most of the Popeye cartoons. They are formulaic story-wise, especially the later ones and more Famous Studios' than Fleischer Studios' (prefer the latter's Popeye output in general too), but most are well made, they are entertaining if again more Fleischer Studios' than Famous Studios' and it is hard not to love Popeye and Bluto and their chemistry together. Olive is a little more mixed for me though.

With both Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios, there were changes of pace where there was either no Olive or no Bluto and sometimes it's just Popeye and different characters like animals and his nephews. There were also some "cheater" cartoons that varied in quality. A semi-remake of 1946's 'Rocket to Mars' (enjoyable if not great), 'Popeye the Ace of Space' is one of those change of pace cartoons. Personally find this cartoon the better of the two and it's a no-brainer, it's funnier, it has more interest value and it stands out more. Plus Jack Mercer, the best and most popular Popeye voice actor, voices Popeye here, whereas he didn't in that cartoon and it didn't feel the same.

'Popeye the Ace of Space' is interesting because it features neither Olive, meaning no amorous chemistry, or Bluto, so not quite as wild and not having their acrimonious chemistry. Instead having a different setting and different conflict characters, even if the conflict itself isn't hugely original. Story-wise, it is not as formulaic as most of the series which is a good thing, due to the things just mentioned. Of the early-50s Popeye cartoons, and the Famous Studios Popeye output in general, this stood out as one of the best.

It is one of the studio's most interesting Popeye, and overall, cartoons visually. Also think 'Popeye the Ace of Space' is one of the most interesting and striking-looking cartoons of the whole Popeye series (both studios combined) actually. Namely because it is one of just two Paramount cartoons made in 3D, the 1954 Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoon 'Boo Moon' being the other one, the colours are gorgeous to look at and the depth and detail of the backgrounds is to be admired. The music is equally outstanding as one expects from Famous Studios regular composer Winston Sharples in a way that is immediately distinctive of him, beautiful on the ears and its character is infectious.

The gags are many and there is nothing corny or fatigued about them, they may not be innovative but they are funny at least. The conflict has a little tension, there is a lot of energy on display and the martians are fun. Popeye is as ever the amusing and easy to like character and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting.

Summing up, one of Famous Studios' best Popeye cartoons, of the 50s decade and overall. 9/10

Popeye gets kidnapped by Martian aliens. They intend to test their weapons on an average Earth specimen. Their Cosmic Ager turns Popeye into an old man, but he fights back with his spinach. They use more strange weapons and Popeye continue to resist.

This Popeye cartoon is stepping out of its safe standard formula. This one doesn't have Olive or Bluto. The Martians are somewhat Bluto-shaped. This is Popeye vs Martians. It's fun. It's a little exciting to work some new territories. The premise is simple but effective. It's imaginative. The only minor issue is that the Martians aren't cuter. They could have been recurring characters.

Popeye is kidnapped by green men from outer space and taken aboard their flying saucer to discover the source of his strength

Famous Studios pulled out all the stops on this one, because it was produced in 3-D for that short-lived movie phenomenon. Eventually it died down and like other works produced likewise -- Hitchcock's DIAL M FOR MURDER, MGM's KISS ME KATE, all that survives is some odd compositions meant to show off the details that look merely eccentric in flat projection.

Of course Popeye eats spinach in this one and turns capture into triumph. What did you expect would happen? Something novel?

Popeye: The Ace Of Space was made in the 3-D craze of 1953, and surprisingly few have noticed the strikingly effective visual quality the cartoon has. The cartoon has a visual depth that is rare among cartoons that were made for the 3-D craze and which harkens back to Max and Dave Fleischer's landmark mixture of cel animation with dimensional backgrounds in the 1930s. The cartoon does not look flat as others do; it displays genuine depth in its backgrounds, particularly in the early scenes and also some of the space scenes.

The cartoon makes copious use of Popeye's spinach from its opening as he is on a country drive, encounters a collapsed bridge, and uses his famed vegetable to gain the strength needed to fuse the gap and continue on. But overlooking him (cued via unusually lush and effective Winston Sharples music) is a spacecraft from an alien world whose race seeks information on Earth and uses Popeye as a typical Earth being. Taken to their homeworld, Popeye endures dangerous experiments, surviving by downing one can of spinach after another, which eventually causes the alien beings to grapple for his remaining container.

The plot moves along quite well and the gags help it move along. This is less an overt comedy than a mixed-mode melodrama in the vein the series had evolved to by 1953, and it works very well as such. But it is the visual depth that makes this cartoon stand out from others.