By Modern animation icon Genndy Tartakovsky has been busy lately with his excellent miniseries Primal, but if sources at Animation Magazine are correct, the filmmaker’s long-in-talks Popeye film could finally be coming to fruition.
Tartakovsky’s take on the iconic sailor was originally announced back in 2012 as a Sony Pictures Animation project, and we caught a glimpse of the progress some years later. Things were very much a go, though Tartakovsky later moved away from the project when it seemed as if there was a conflict of direction.
Three successful Hotel Transylvania films and a final season of his beloved Samurai Jack later, it seems as if Tartakovsky is back to Popeye, teaming with King Features to revive the animated feature. King currently holds the Popeye property, publishing comics as well as hosting the character’s animated history.
It’s unclear whether Tartakovsky’s film will retain the 3D CG aesthetic seen in the Sony test footage, or if a hand-drawn approach is being looked into. Either way it’s terrific to see one of the medium’s most-talented creators pair with one of its most-iconic characters.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s ‘Popeye’ Movie Afloat with King Features [Animation Magazine]