Shape Ahoy

When it comes to Popeye cartoons, a vast majority of them are well worth watching or more, although the late Famous Studios and some of the "war time" cartoons disappointed a bit. The series being at its best during the mid-late 30s, generally do prefer Fleischer Popeye output to be honest. Did like a fair share of the earlier Famous Studios Popeye cartoons, when there was less of a rush in deadlines and when more care was put into the budget.

'Shape Ahoy' was made and released in this "better" Famous Studios period. Not one of the best from that period, still talking primarily about the Popeye cartoons here, and nowhere near among the best Popeye cartoons overall, but definitely worth watching and a decent representation of this great character and what was enjoyable about his series. Anybody who enjoys seeing Popeye and Bluto as characters and their acrimonious chemistry, like me on both counts, will find a lot to enjoy about 'Shape Ahoy', or any of their cartoons for that matter. Regardless of the quality of the animation and gags, if there is anything that the outputs for both Fleischer and Famous Studios were consistent in it's the characterisation of those two and their chemistry.

If anybody is familiar with the general formula of the Popeye series, they won't really find anything new here really and part of me did wish there was more variety and freshness. That may sound nit-picky for some, but others will find it a problem and it is in my mind actually an understandable one, there were many Popeye cartoons before 'Shape Ahoy' and many more after and to not have much new even after a decade does leave one wanting.

Olive has always not been as interesting as Popeye or Bluto and her material generally weaker. She is nice enough as a character here and Mae Questel is the definitive voice for her, but again Popeye and Bluto's material is much stronger and they have more to do (both counts have always been the case).

However, 'Shape Ahoy' has many well done qualities. The animation is nicely detailed and drawn with some lovely colours that make the island setting come alive. The music is full of merry character and lushness, the action, expressions and gestures enhanced with it. The gags are more than enough and although not very imaginative they are still amusing. The cartoon's biggest interest points being the "censored" ending (it is left to the imagination what is being thought or what they want to say) and the Frank Sinatra appearance.

Popeye is amusing and likeable still and Mae Questel is typically good as Olive (not so much as Popeye, it did feel odd without Jack Mercer and Questel's voice didn't fit, pretty wrong actually). Bluto, robustly voiced by Jackson Beck, is even funnier and the chemistry between the two sparkles and carries the cartoon brilliantly.

Concluding, pretty good but there are better (though also worse, before, since and around this time) Popeye cartoons. 7/10

Best friends, Bluto and Popeye, are happily living on a men's only island. It's been three years since they have seen a lady. Shipwrecked Olive Oyl shows up out of the blue on a raft.

Three years is a long time. That's the only question I have with this cartoon. Oh, also who's that guy at the end? I guess that's another question. He's a stereotypical crooner but I do want them to model him after somebody. There's no spinach in this one. It's straight up fight between the boys. It's a fine colored Popeye cartoon.

Popeye and Bluto are living the bachelor life on a tropical island, swearing off women. They have become utter slobs. But, of course, who should appear, floating in on a raft, but Olive Oyl. Of course, the two of them literally go bananas (and other tropical fruits). This leads to the two of them pummeling each other. But there is a surprise at the end worth noting. A less than exciting episode.