Following the success of Sindbad the Sailor, Fleischer Studios released its second Technicolor two-reel special: Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba’s Forty Thieves, on November 26, 1937. At nearly 17 minutes long, this ambitious cartoon pushed the boundaries of what animated shorts could achieve in terms of storytelling, design, and spectacle.
In this follow-up adventure, Bluto once again returns as the villain, this time in the role of Abu Hassan, leader of the Forty Thieves. When the thieves terrorize a desert town and kidnap Olive Oyl, it’s up to Popeye - joined by sidekick J. Wellington Wimpy - to save the day with the help of his trusty spinach.
Fleischer Studios continued to showcase its technical strengths in this short, with smooth character animation, complex backgrounds, and an epic musical score. The cartoon features a bold mix of Middle Eastern fantasy tropes and 1930s urban comedy, creating a world that’s as surreal as it is entertaining.
Why does it stands out?
- Second color Popeye special, animated in stunning Technicolor
- Features elaborate desert settings, camels, sword fights, and flying carpets
- Reinforced Popeye’s image as a cultural hero and underdog champion
- Helped prove that animated characters could carry long-form stories
- Cemented Fleischer Studios' role as a creative rival to Disney in the pre-war era
- Frequently cited as a classic of action-comedy animation
As with the other color specials, Ali Baba’s Forty Thieves remains under copyright and is not in the public domain. However, it has been restored and released in high quality through official home video collections and can be viewed on authorized streaming platforms.