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You're a Sap, Mr. Jap
Popeye takes on the Japanese Navy single-handedly.
Release : | 1942 |
Rating : | 5.8 |
Studio : | Paramount, Famous Studios, |
Crew : | Director, |
Cast : | Jack Mercer |
Genre : | Animation War |
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An Exercise In Nonsense
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Like "Spinach for Britain" only this time we find our favorite sailor, on lookout for any Japanese enemy ships that come by.At first Popeye thinks they're planning on giving out peace. But soon finds out that they're messing with him. And soon it becomes a battle on board a Japanese ship.This and many other WW2 titles don't see the light of day, due to it having the Japanese drawn in a stereotype way. The title & song itself says it all, that it's meant to be an insult to the Japanese(as they were the enemy back then).Along with "Tokio Jokio" and a hand full of Snafu cartoons. This one's very misunderstood for it's theme. Not saying it's great in any level, just it's an example of how people were thinking during that era.Where can you see it? Good luck finding it on the internet. I advise those who are Japanese to not view it. As I noted earlier, that it's very insulting.
This Popeye animated short, made after Pearl Harbor, shows us how he alone destroys a complete Japanese ship. First they offer peace but while Popeye is signing the peace contract they start attacking him. After they have hurt him a little he takes his famous spinach and shows the Japanese how to fight.For me the only funny thing was Jack Mercer as the voice of Popeye. When he talks he always makes me smile, but when that is the only good thing in a short it is not enough. In black and white the animation is not bad, although sometimes things look a little messy. For war propaganda is probably pretty good, but for an entertaining short today it doesn't work.
This short was the first short released by Paramount Famous Studios and was one of several done by the studio showing Popeye engaged directly against the enemy, most often the Japanese. While Warner Brothers, Disney and, to a lesser extent, other studios, did shorts often depicting Germans as foils, the majority of Famous Studios efforts focused on the Japanese. Given Pearl Harbor and Popeye's naval ties, this is quite understandable. This is an average short. Seein' Red, White an' Blue and Spinach For Britain have aged better. But it's still worth watching. Recommended.
If you are very sensitive when it comes to extreme racial stereotypes, this cartoon is not for you. But if you are strongly interested in seeing a rare piece of wartime animation, come on in!In this cartoon, Popeye is patrolling the seas and discovers what looks like a Japanese fishing boat. The two Japanese fishermen trick Popeye into thinking that they want a peace treaty signed. But looks can be deceiving; the fishing boat turns out to be a Japanese navy ship! What follows is considered today to be morale-boosting propaganda.Be forewarned, the representations of the Japanese in the film are done in a mean-spirited fashion. Keep in mind, though, that there was a war going on at the time. But I strongly recommend this cartoon to those who are interested in the WWII era.