Break out the Spinach! Warner and KFS Settle Differences!

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:41 pm

HEEE's Popeye the sailor man. He's Popeye the sailor man. He's coming real soon. He'll make the girls swoon. He's getting a DVD! Yes in 2007 our favorite sailor will finally be getting an authorized DVD!

<CENTER>I YAM WHAT I YAM!
WARNER HOME VIDEO OPENS A CAN OF SPINACH AS IT PREPARES TO DISTRIBUTE

POPEYE

The Most Popular "Sailor Man" Comes to DVD in 2007</CENTER>

BURBANK, CA, June 6, 2006 - Warner Home Video (WHV), Hearst Entertainment and King Features Syndicate have reached an agreement for the exclusive worldwide home entertainment distribution of both the classic Popeye theatrical animated shorts and the Popeye made-for-TV animated shorts. The announcement was jointly made by Jeff Brown, WHV Senior Vice President and General Manager TV and Franchise, and T.R. ("Rocky") Shepard III, President of King Features Syndicate.

WHV will be the exclusive worldwide home entertainment distributor for all classic Popeye theatrical and television properties. The new agreement has cleared Warner's home video distribution rights for the original 231 Popeye animated shorts released theatrically by Paramount Pictures between 1933 and 1957. In addition, WHV has licensed the exclusive rights to 220 Popeye made-for-TV animated shorts produced from 1960 to 1962, 65 episodes of The Continuing Adventures of Popeye, produced from 1978 to 1981 (consisting of 161 animated shorts) and 26 Popeye & Son shorts produced in 1987. Warner's first Popeye DVD release is expected to street in 2007.

The theatrical library consists of 120 black & white shorts (106 of these were produced by Fleischer Studios, the remaining 14 were produced by Famous Studios) and 111 Technicolor cartoons (three produced by Fleischer Studios and 108 produced by Famous Studios). Warner Home Video plans to commence preservation and restoration activities immediately.

Regarding the announcement, Brown remarked, "We are extremely excited to bring fans one of the most recognized, iconic characters who has spanned seven decades. Popeye is the only major theatrical franchise in film history that never received a legitimate home video release."

He added, "For years Warner Bros. had been inundated by consumer letters demanding the release of Popeye, an underdog, a hero, a character who always represents good, and WHV is proud to bring this illustrious collection to DVD."

King Features and Popeye go back 77 years, from the minute he walked into Elzie Segar's THIMBLE THEATER comic strip and muttered his famous "D'ja think I'm a cowboy?" line, to his recent primetime CGI special, Popeye has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
Shepard said "In all my years at King Features and with the Hearst Corporation, I have yet to experience the enthusiastic outpour of support and love for a dynamic character as I have witnessed with Popeye. That's why I'm thrilled to be able to give the fans a chance to relive some of their favorite Popeye, Bluto, Olive Oyl, Wimpy and Swee' Pea moments on a soon to be released Warner Home Video DVD. Fans can now own, enjoy and share Popeye with many spinach-loving generations to come."

With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

King Features Syndicate is a member of Hearst Entertainment and Syndication Group, which combines The Hearst Corporation's cable network partnerships, television programming activities, newspaper syndication, and licensing. King Features Syndicate is the world's premier distributor of comics, syndicated columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games. It is also one of the largest licensing agencies in North America representing both classic and new properties such as "Popeye," "Betty Boop," "Krazy Kat," "Dennis the Menace," "David & Goliath" and "Mutts."

For more go to http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5804.

magicalwands · Post by **magicalwands** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:02 am

I can't wait for this. Though I've only watched 3 episodes or so in my entire life. Yet another 'blind-buy'.

I'm real excited for the cover, WB never fails to make great covers for their classic tv shows.

RyougaLolakie · Post by **RyougaLolakie** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:10 pm

For the first time in my life, I find this news EXCELLENT!!!

Well, I have the PD Popeye cartoon DVD set and I think I'll upgrade it to make the Popeye cartoons more enjoyable than I watched it when i was little! Unfortunately, I haven't seen the Popeye TV series (1960's) and Popeye and Son (1987) so that means a blind buy for me. All and all, I can't wait for this release in new, original restoration and transfer form (which means the theatrical shorts from Paramont Pictures)! I'm just getting tired of all the messed up crap from many PD releases.

Thanks for the news, JiminyCrick91!

my chicken is infected · Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:37 pm

I guess this will put a lot of public domain DVD companies out of business. A lot of them rely on Popeye cartoons to fill up their cartoon DVDs in order to sell them.

However, the idea of them being restored and presented in pristine form on DVD is exciting.

Elladorine · Post by **Elladorine** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 5:36 pm

Perhaps this is old news now, but I was browsing Animation Magazine in the bookstore today and saw an article stating that Warner Home Video has aquired the rights to the library of Popeye shorts and is planning on doing a restoration for a 2007 DVD release.

As a fan of the old Fleischer cartoons as well as animation history, I'm pretty excited. Because of copyright issues, these have never been officially available on home video (although a handful of the shorts apparently fell into public domain and have been on various compilation videos).

Thought I should spread the word.

Mr. Toad · Post by **Mr. Toad** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:05 pm

Saw this at the Animation History Forum some time ago. Was never really my favorite but delving into the Fleichier studios is good. Really the third best product of the golden age(Even if they were well behind Disney and WB)

My purchase will be dependant on quality. The Fleisher stuff was allowed to lapse into the public domain some time ago. Thus, nobody wanted to do a good job restoring them as the market is flooded with terribly produced but cheap versions of the same cartoons.

We have heard from ComicCon that the Fleisher Superman catoons have been redone and look spectaculat(drool from Toad's mouth). If they can do the same with Popeye or close to it you can count me in. Although the last quarter will see four Treasures, Looney Toons, Ducktales and Rescue Rangers, Simpsons Season 9. That is a lot of comeptition.

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:47 pm

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... ght=popeye

Elladorine · Post by **Elladorine** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:51 pm

JiminyCrick91 wrote:http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... ght=popeye

Eeks!!! Sorry about that. . . I did do a search but did not see this thread.

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:14 pm

We now have date and cover for the very first authorized Popeye set.

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/ ... ailor.html

magicalwands · Post by **magicalwands** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:37 pm

$65?!

TheSequelOfDisney · Post by **TheSequelOfDisney** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:47 pm

magicalwands wrote:$65?!

$64.92?!

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:54 pm

I'm really psyched about this, especially volume one. I'm going to try to make it priority, though it's all I can do to keep up with Disney DVDs at the moment. In fact, I can't say I have, since I've missed several direct to videos going back to Atlantis 2, and a few theatricals (Valiant, the Wild, Pooh's Heffalump Movie, Home on the Range). Slowly trying to get caught up. Only non-Disney animation boxed sets I currently have are the Pink Panther theatrical shorts (given to my by a friend as a B-Day gift) and the first volumes of Family Guy (also a gift), AquaTeens (also a gift), and Batman the Animated Series. Hard for me to pay more than 20 bucks for anything due to my irregular, freelance artist's income.

PixarFan2006 · Post by **PixarFan2006** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:55 am

I think that price is outrageous unless its a multiple disc set.

Mr. Toad · Post by **Mr. Toad** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:00 am

www.tvshowsondvd.com

www.cartoonbrew.com

This has been in the rumour mill for awhile but now has a press release. This is good good stuff. Superman and now Popeye. If I am not misaken these are the only original negatives that Warner owns.

I am not sure who has Betty Boop and Koko the Clown prints.

It should be four discs given it is sixty cartoons.

carter1971 · Post by **carter1971** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:00 am

PixarFan2006 wrote:I think that price is outrageous unless its a multiple disc set.

Well, remember, that's SRP. Most places will likely have it for around $50, and yes, it'll be a multi-disc set, probably four discs like the Looney Tunes sets. I'm a huge fan of 1930's animation, and if I can't afford to buy this when it comes out, it'll be on my Christmas wish list for sure.

PixarFan2006 · Post by **PixarFan2006** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:10 am

Oh yeah, I forgot. Sorry about that.

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:08 pm

PixarFan2006 wrote:I think that price is outrageous unless its a multiple disc set.

The article already said it'd be a 4 disc set.

Anyway, for me I'm not to concerned about the price. I'd rather spend $65 at most on 60 cartoons that have been restored and cleaned up, with a nice (if possibly small) supplement of bonus features, than go to the dollar store, pick up $3 worth of 20-odd cartoons that are abundant in dirt and grain.

Escapay

MickeyMousePal · Post by **MickeyMousePal** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:10 pm

The only thing I don't like about the set is the price let's hope Wal-Mart, Best Buy or Circuit City does it justice.
Does anyone remember playing the Arcade game of Popeye or at least the NES version of the game? I remember I beat the game once.

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:43 pm

So, is there a release date out yet? And how about the Superman set someone mentioned. Is that already out? Which is it? I have a couple of the $1 Superman DVDs, but they still lack at least one short (guess which), but clue me in if there is an excellent, high quality set out there. It'll be great to get this Popeye set, because I'm a big fan and don't have any Popeye yet. In fact, I still need to get the live-action movie, which I love (I hear it has found its way to the $5 bins at Wal-Mart).

carter1971 · Post by **carter1971** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:06 pm

The Superman cartoons were restored and included on the Superman and Superman II DVD's that came out recently (not the older ones). If you bought both movies, you'd have all the cartoons. These DVD's are also included in the Christopher Reeve and Ultimate Collection sets. I don't know if there are plans to release the cartoons seperately.

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Break out the Spinach! Warner and KFS Settle Differences!

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