First look at Genndy Tartakovsky’s 3D CGI film Popeye

Animated films have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years stemming from the innovation of Pixar in the 1990s. Now, with 3D still chugging along as the most popular global method for releasing films, animation has capitalized on their genre by making good use of the format. With no dearth of ideas available for animated films, some classics are still getting the big screen treatment. So, to go along with THE SMURFS and the upcoming PEANUTS animated films, here comes POPEYE.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA director Genndy Tartakovsky, best known for his 2D animated CLONE WARS shorts and SAMURAI JACK, is helming the new incarnation of the classic comic character from the 1930s. Despite the Robert Altman film starring the late Robin Williams bombing at the box office, there has been a long love of the spinach-loving character. Now, Tartakovsky plans to bring the slapstick brand of humor to a new generation.

This video is both a featurette and an exclusive first look at the animation style that will be used for the new version of POPEYE. Tartakovsky clearly has a love and admiration for the character and is pouring that into the film. While HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA was a fun diversion, it was lacking the heart it should have had. POPEYE was originally slated to come out this year but was pushed to 2016 so Tartakovsky could work on HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2. He is currently directing both simultaneously and if this test is any indicator, he has nailed what made POPEYE so endearing. 2016 cannot get here soon enough.