Really like to love a good deal of Popeye cartoons and like the character of Popeye. Will admit though to preferring the Popeye cartoons from the Dave Fleischer era, the cartoons tend to be funnier and there is more originality and more risk taking in some of them.
'Insect to Injury' is a late Popeye cartoon and made in Famous Studios' roughest and most variable period where budgets were much smaller in particularly the animation and deadlines and time constraints were shorter and tighter. All things considered, while there are infinitely better Popeye cartoons (especially during the Fleischer era) and there are signs of what made this period an inferior one for Famous Studios, 'Insect to Injury' is not a bad late Popeye cartoon at all, actually really very enjoyable and one of the better cartoons in Famous Studios' late output. Agree too that it is up there with the best funny animal Popeye cartoons because the "funny animal" in question, in the insects/termites are a threat rather than potentially irritating comic relief.
As to be expected, the story is nothing special despite a different conflict and not having the usual supporting characters, two of the biggest interest points about 'Insect to Injury'.
Similarly the animation quality is uneven, never terrible but never fantastic. The colours are fine and there is smoothness and nice detail but there are many moments where the backgrounds are sparse and the drawing rough.
What is fantastic about 'Insect to Injury' is the music score, the best thing for me. It's beautifully orchestrated, rhythmically it's full of energy and there is so much character and atmosphere, it's also brilliant at adding to the action and enhancing it. The gags, ranging from very amusing to hilarious and creative for late Famous Studios/Popeye, are executed very well, the interplay between Popeye and the insects is lively and witty if in need of more variety at times and the pace is never dull.
Popeye is very likeable and amusing as the only human in 'Insect to Injury', while the insects/termites in a change of pace to Popeye's usual adversaries (namely Bluto) are fun and pose a menacing threat so strong that one can see and feels Popeye's struggle. Jack Mercer does a great job as Popeye and the Popeye voice that has always in my mind the most.
Concluding, very enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox
'Insect to Injury' is a late Popeye cartoon and made in Famous Studios' roughest and most variable period where budgets were much smaller in particularly the animation and deadlines and time constraints were shorter and tighter. All things considered, while there are infinitely better Popeye cartoons (especially during the Fleischer era) and there are signs of what made this period an inferior one for Famous Studios, 'Insect to Injury' is not a bad late Popeye cartoon at all, actually really very enjoyable and one of the better cartoons in Famous Studios' late output. Agree too that it is up there with the best funny animal Popeye cartoons because the "funny animal" in question, in the insects/termites are a threat rather than potentially irritating comic relief.
As to be expected, the story is nothing special despite a different conflict and not having the usual supporting characters, two of the biggest interest points about 'Insect to Injury'.
Similarly the animation quality is uneven, never terrible but never fantastic. The colours are fine and there is smoothness and nice detail but there are many moments where the backgrounds are sparse and the drawing rough.
What is fantastic about 'Insect to Injury' is the music score, the best thing for me. It's beautifully orchestrated, rhythmically it's full of energy and there is so much character and atmosphere, it's also brilliant at adding to the action and enhancing it. The gags, ranging from very amusing to hilarious and creative for late Famous Studios/Popeye, are executed very well, the interplay between Popeye and the insects is lively and witty if in need of more variety at times and the pace is never dull.
Popeye is very likeable and amusing as the only human in 'Insect to Injury', while the insects/termites in a change of pace to Popeye's usual adversaries (namely Bluto) are fun and pose a menacing threat so strong that one can see and feels Popeye's struggle. Jack Mercer does a great job as Popeye and the Popeye voice that has always in my mind the most.
Concluding, very enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox