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The Daily Insight Hub

Is Popeye owned by Disney?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on January 19, 2026

Popeye is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by Robert Altman and produced by Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions. It is based on E. C.

When did they stop making Popeye cartoons?

1957
The theatrical Popeye cartoons began airing on television in an altered form in 1956, at which point the Popeye theatrical series was discontinued in 1957. Popeye the Sailor in all produced 231 short subjects that were broadcast on television for many years.

Who owns the rights to Popeye the Sailor?

US law protects a work for 95 years after its initial copyright. The Popeye trademark, a separate entity to Segar’s authorial copyright, is owned by King Features, a subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation which is expected to protect its brand aggressively.

When were the black and white Popeye cartoons made?

Famous Studios assumed production of the series in 1942. Eventually, Popeye and his crew appeared in 234 theatrical cartoons. The series began in black and white but by the end of 1943 switched to color. When these same cartoons debuted on television in September of 1956, they were a tremendous hit.

Why was Popeye banned?

CARTOON hero Popeye has been slapped with an 18 certificate because he smokes a pipe.

Is Popeye missing an eye?

The One-Eyed Sailor As the twelve-year old Popeye set off on his first voyage, he would end up losing the vision of his right eye in “the mos’ arful battle” of his life.

What’s the oldest cartoon?

Fantasmagorie
On August 17, 1908, the Gaumont company in Paris released Fantasmagorie, the world’s first fully animated cartoon created by Emile Cohl in the traditional hand-drawn animation style.

Who was Sweet Pea’s daddy?

Swee’Pea was originally a son of the royal family of Demonia. After Swee’Pea’s birth father was killed, Swee’Pea was made the Crown Prince of Demonia, but as he was of royal birth, he needed protection from his evil uncle who wanted to eliminate him and take control of the country.

Why is Popeye one eyed?

As the twelve-year old Popeye set off on his first voyage, he would end up losing the vision of his right eye in “the mos’ arful battle” of his life. One fateful night, Popeye had just finished shooting craps with his five mates, who laid beaten on the deck of the Josie Lee with all their money on Popeye’s side.

What is the most famous cartoon?

10 Most Popular Cartoons of All Time

  • 8 The Flintstones.
  • 7 Family Guy.
  • 6 Scooby Doo.
  • 5 Tom & Jerry.
  • 4 Road Runner.
  • 3 Looney Tunes.
  • 2 The Simpsons.
  • 1 Mickey Mouse.

When did the first Popeye cartoon come out?

Add the first question. In 1960, at the height of the original Popeye cartoons popularity in syndication, King Features Syndicate, who owned the rights to the character produced 220 additional cartoons for TV. Since the syndicate had no studio, they farmed out the animation to five studios, with almost half of the produced by Jack Kinney.

What was the name of the studio that produced Popeye the Sailor?

Fleischer Studios was a successful animation studio responsible for producing successful cartoon shorts starring characters such as Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor. The studio moved its operations from New York City to Miami Beach in 1938, following union problems and the start of production on its first feature film, Gulliver’s Travels (1939).

Who are the main characters in Popeye cartoons?

The “Popeye” cartoon series began with the comic “Thimble Theatre,” where the main character Popeye made his debut. A series of shorts were produced in 1933, featuring a host of characters including Popeye, his girlfriend Olive Oyl, and his nemesis Bluto.

When did the character of Popeye become public domain?

On January 1, 2009, 70 years since the death of his creator, Segar’s character of Popeye (though not the various films, TV shows, theme music and other media based on him) became public domain in most countries, but remains under copyright in the US.