The Warner Archive Collection will release Popeye the Sailor: The 1940s Vol. 1 on DVD and Blu-ray on 11 December.
The volume is a collection of 14 cartoons featuring many shorts unseen in their original form for more than 60 years. The shorts will be presented in 1080p HD created by Warner Bros Motion Picture Imaging from 4K scans of the original Technicolor negatives.
Popeye the Sailor: The 1940s volume one offers the 1943-44 and 1944-45 sets produced by Famous Studios, Paramount’s New York-based animation outlet at the time, featuring shorts like Her Honor The Mare (originally released on Nov. 26, 1943) and continue with The Marry-Go-Round, We’re On Our Way To Rio, The Anvil Chorus Girl, Spinach Packin’ Popeye, Puppet Love, Pitchin’ Woo At The Zoo, Moving Aweigh, She-Sick Sailors,Pop-Pie A La Mode, Tops In The Big Top, Shape Ahoy, For Better Or Nurse and Mess Production.
“This is the first time anyone has gone back to the master nitrate negatives to ensure a crisper picture and vivid colors – nor have these films ever sounded so good,” said animation historian and author Jerry Beck.
The release of the first ever Blu-ray comes with Popeye’s 90th anniversary in 2019.