Popeye (cartoon)/Characters: Difference between revisions

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[[File:links_image_4432.jpg|frame|[[I Am What I Am|I yam what I yam and that's all wot I yam!]]]]

{{quote|'''Castor Oyl''': "Hey you, are you a sailor?"

'''Popeye''': "[[Deadpan Snarker|Ja think I'm a cowboy?]]"

'''Castor Oyl''': "Okay, you're hired."|Popeye's debut on January 17, 1929 in Thimble Theater, as well as his [[Establishing Character Moment]].}}

 

Part of what made Popeye such an instant hit with audiences was that, despite his odd appearance and gruff conduct, he was one of the few moral forces in the world of Thimble Theatre-Popeye also got along great with children, even going as far as to tearing apart a guys hot dog vendor once ''just because he wouldn't [[Disproportionate Retribution|give a broke kid a hot dog on credit]]'' ([[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|that, and insulting Popeye to his face]]). In other words, he was a very likable, sympathetic character despite having none of the obvious qualities of one at first sight. He was the original [[Anti-Hero]]. He is also a very noble (but ignorant) being and is very loyal to his girl Olive Oyl and will give anyone the benefit of the doubt, even his rival Bluto.

Needless to say, Popeye's theatrical cartoons were an instant smash success on release, quickly toppling [[Mickey Mouse]] as the then-king of cartoons. While the series was gradually toned down as time went by (even in the comics, Popeye was forced to be toned down due to him having a large kid fanbase) this character and friends still pop up in some form or another to this day, with a recent TV special celebrating his 75th anniversary, as well as an upcoming Sony Pictures CGI film. Here's hoping for the best with this sailor's future!

 

* [[Anti-Hero]]: [[Sliding Scale of Anti-Heroes|Type II or III]], depending on the short.

* [[Breakout Character]]

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: It got even funnier when Jack Mercer took over as the voice and made lots of funny quips and mumbles, ''all improvised on the spot.''

* [[Funetik Aksent]]: His violence may have been toned down over the years, but his accent remains as strong as it ever was.

* [[Motor Mouth]]: He's always muttering something under his breath. He talks way beyond the animation. This was because his voice, actor and comedian Jack Mercer, was allowed to improvise lines ''after'' the animation had been drawn. This became a staple of the character.

* [[Reality Warper]]: Big time.

* [[Trademark Favorite Food]]: Spinach, of course.

 

[[File:Oliveoyl_2739.jpg|frame]]

Popeye's love interest and frequent [[Damsel in Distress]]. Olive is a very fickle being, who keeps going between liking Popeye and liking Bluto, despite the loyalty from both of them.

 

* [[Acting for Two]]: At one point in the 40's, Popeye's actor, Jack Mercer, was drafted. What did they do? Have Olive's voice actor, Mae Questel, do a nearly flawless impersonation of Popeye!

* [[Adaptational Attractiveness]]: With a side-order of [[Progressively Prettier]]. The cartoon Olive started out as similar in design to the comic strip one, she eventually got redesigned and by the time of the Famous Studios cartoons had become rather pretty.

* [[Damsel in Distress]]

* [[Informed Attractiveness]]: In the comic and early cartoons, at least by today's standards. At the time of her creation, Olive's stick-thin figure was considered quite attractive.

* [[Mama Bear]]: Very protective of Sweepea, so you better not make him cry.

* [[Rubber Hose Limbs]]

* [[Shallow Love Interest]]

 

[[File:bluto_9191.gif|frame]]

{{quote|"All brawn and no brains, dat's me!"|Bluto to Olive in "The Anvil Chorus Girl".}}

Popeye's rival, who only appeared once in the original comics, but was made into a prominent character in the Fleischer cartoons. He's the bully we all know or have known in life--big, ugly and stupid. His relationship with Popeye is shaky, but it seems more like a rivalry than anything, and the two have had their friendly like moments together-and if we take one Minute Maid ad at face value, they can become downright ''affectionate'' towards each other sometimes.

 

* [[Breakout Villain]]: Thanks to the cartoon.

* [[The Brute]]

* [[The Bully]]

* [[Dangerously Genre Savvy]]: In some appearances, he knocks the can of Spinach out of Popeye's hands before he can get a single morsel in his mouth.

* [[Dirty Coward]]

* [[Expy]]: There's another similar character named Brutus. The 1980s Ocean Comics miniseries stated that they're twin brothers.

* [[Foe Yay]]: The Minute Maid ad [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCcYyB3OSQc makes it] ''really suspicious'', especially Olive's confused look when neither one even takes a second glance at her flirting.

* [[Out-of-Character Moment]]: In ''Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy'', to jarring levels. He's a nice guy, best friends with Popeye, and when Olive starts hitting on him (not knowing she's being mind-controlled by the Sea Hag) he turns her down.

* [[The Rival]]: Mostly in the cartoons, whenever he and Popeye have the same occupation. In the comics, Popeye claims Bluto is the only person who might be able to beat him in a fight.

 

[[File:wimpy2_4069.jpg|frame]]

{{quote|''"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!"''|Wimpy's [[Catch Phrase]]}}

Wimpy is a recurring character in the Popeye comics and cartoons, and the sheer incarnation of [[The Load]]. Smart, but cowardly, greedy, selfish, and overall a glutton, Wimpy is the kind of guy who would sell out his friends for a hamburger (in fact, he even sides with a villain at one point in the comics).

 

However, he has become a fan favorite, and even has a brand of burger joints in Europe named after him called "Wimpy's."

 

* [[Big Eater]]: But too cheap to pay for his own food.

* [[Catch Phrase]]:

* [[Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?]]: In the Fleischer shorts.

 

[[File:swee-pea-source_2zw_4486.jpg|frame]]

A [[Door Step Baby]] adopted by Popeye (or Olive Oyl, [[Depending on the Writer|depends on the incarnation or the story]]), Swee'pea is a little baby who has a knack for getting himself into trouble.

 

A fairly major character in the comic (especially after he learned to talk) but a pretty minor one in the cartoons -- his last appearance under the original Fleischer Studios was, fittingly, in their last cartoon, "Baby wants a Battleship" in 1942, and he would appear again in the 1950 Famous short "Baby Wants Spinach."

 

* [[Depending on the Writer]]: He's either adopted, Olive Oyle's child, or both her and Popeye's child. In some cartoons, he's hinted to be Olive's nephew that she sometimes takes care of, in others he's hinted to be ''Popeye's'' nephew (making him a cuter, less rascally replacement for Pupeye, Peepeye, Pipeye and Poopeye).

* [[Changeling Fantasy]]: In the comic, at least, he turns out to be the Crown Prince of Demonia, who after his father was killed was sent to Popeye for protection against his [[Evil Uncle]]. [[Discontinuity|This tends to be ignored by later writers, though.]]

* [[The Omniscient]]: Only in the live-action movie, thanks to [[Composite Character|his role being merged with that of Eugene the Jeep.]] He can tell the future and seems to know exactly what's going on at all times, causing him to become a [[Living MacGuffin]] to the other characters -- but as he's too young to talk, they're limited to "yes" or "no" questions.

 

[[File:EugeneTheJeep_1270.gif|frame]]

 

* [[Living MacGuffin]]: In his first appearance in the comic, he becomes this -- there are a lot of people who want him for his abilities.

* [[The Omniscient]]: He knows everything and can predict the future, and will gladly tell you if you ask him -- but since he can't talk he can only answer "yes" or "no" questions.

* [[Once For Yes, Twice For No]]: Ask him a "yes" or "no" question; if he raises his tail, the answer is "yes," if he lowers it, the answer is "no." This method of communication isn't flawless, however, as he like so many animals also often uses his tail to express emotion; at one point Popeye thought the Jeep was answering "yes" to a question -- it turned out that he hadn't heard the question and was raising his tail because he had seen something interesting on the ground and was curious about it.

* [[The Unintelligible]]: Some cartoons ignore the [[Once For Yes, Twice For No]] thing and just make him this, leaving other characters to translate what he's saying.

 

[[File:poopdeck-pappy-source_kzc_5218.jpg|frame]]

Popeye's long lost, 99 year old, senile father. Almost identical to Popeye in appearance (although he frequently denies it) except with a beard and a higher pitched voice.

 

* [[Jerkass Facade]]: He acts this way in the CGI movie after Popeye finally found him. He wanted to protect Popeye from the witch.

* [[Man Child]]: He's more childish than his son is.

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: In his animated debut, he doesn't care about his son at all. Until he's in trouble, and eats some spinach so he can save his only son.

 

[[Category:Characters (animation)]]