Released in 1936 by Fleischer Studios, Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor stands out as one of the most ambitious and celebrated Popeye cartoons ever made. It was the first of three two-reel (long-form) color specials featuring Popeye, and remains a high point of Golden Age animation.
In this 16-minute Technicolor epic, Popeye faces off against Bluto, who portrays the boastful and magical Sindbad the Sailor. The cartoon follows a fantasy adventure format, complete with monsters, exotic islands, and over-the-top feats of strength—all animated with a sense of scale rarely seen in cartoons of the time.
Why is it a Landmark?
- First Popeye cartoon in color
- Released in Technicolor, showing Fleischer’s ability to compete with Disney in both quality and ambition
- Elaborate animation and effects, including multi-plane shots using the Fleischer “Stereoptical Process” (3D backgrounds built with models)
- Extended runtime (two reels), making it more cinematic than typical shorts
- Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Short (lost to Disney’s The Country Cousin)
This short elevated Popeye from a humorous comic-strip character to a true heroic figure in animation, proving that cartoons could be more than slapstick - they could be grand, visual spectacles. The cartoon was widely praised by critics and audiences, and its success encouraged studios to experiment with longer, more complex animated stories.
As of now, Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor is not in the public domain. Unlike earlier Popeye shorts from 1933, this color special remains under copyright due to its later release and ongoing renewals. However, it has been restored and widely released on DVD and streaming platforms, often in high-quality editions.