 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Popeye
- Boomerang
- Genre: Kids' Animation
Common Sense Media says
Classic 'toon mixes spinach and stereotypes.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated classic is a little bit of a mixed bag -- and probably not quite as innocent as you remember (but it's still tame enough to earn our "on" rating). Although the iconic sailor promotes eating your veggies, the good stuff comes accompanied by not-so-healthy portions of violence and stereotyping, with side dishes of mild innuendo and smoking.
What's the story?
Cartoon icon Popeye the Sailor Man's eponymous show, POPEYE, follows his quest to win the object of his affection, Olive Oyl, while fending off his bullying rival, Bluto. Even though Bluto (voiced Jackson Beck) is twice Popeye's size, Popeye (Jack Mercer) can beef up his strength by popping open a can of spinach, so he's always able to win their battles -- and Olive Oyl's (Mae Questel) heart.
Is it any good?
Popeye and Bluto's fights can get fairly violent, whether they're using their fists or picking up weapons like saws, axes, and explosives. And Bluto and Popeye's affection for Olive Oyl isn't entirely innocent, either -- they often whistle at her, and they sometimes make some mildly suggestive comments as well. Then there's Popeye's pipe, which he smokes proudly (and sometimes puts spinach in -- which could send confusing signals), and several now-dated stereotypes. The earliest Popeye cartoons date from the '30s, after all, when portrayals of women (like the annoyingly helpless Olive) and people of other ethnicities weren't exactly politically correct.
All of that said, Popeye is still lots of fun. And the old sea-dog does promote eating your veggies (sometimes he and Olive Oyl will even make his nephews eat bowls of spinach instead of hot dogs and ice cream!). And, in the end, the show succeeds in sending the message that Popeye triumphs thanks to his good deeds, rather than any bad habits.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why Popeye eats so much spinach. Why is it important to eat fruits and vegetables? How do they help make you strong? What are your favorite fruits and veggies? What else goes into a healthy lifestyle? Families can also discuss Popeye and Bluto's rivalry over Olive Oyl. Would you want anyone fighting over you? Why or why not?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Don't you just wish they had stuff like this on T.V. now?
I admit that I am a Popeye fanatic. He was back then what we call now: "THE MAN!" Violence between Popeye and Bluto is the basic bad thing about the cartoons. Every once in a while you'll see a charecter smoke a cigar, and Popeye always has that pipe in his mouth. The Grown-ups will just need to talk about what was tollerated on t.v. back then is very wrong. Popeye is a good rolemodel for small kids. So little-ones, EAT YOUR SPINACH!
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AGE
its funny
popeye is a great childrens show that isnt too violent and in lots of episodes popeye was a great role model because studys showed that in that in tha 1930 that 30% of kids ate more spinach and popeye rocks!
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AGE
I LOVE POPEYE.
I LOVE POPEYE HE'S MY FAVORITE.
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Kid, 11 years old
November 28, 2011
AGE
For People 5+
It's good for almost all
1.Off for 0-3
2.Iffy for 4
3.5+ on
I did this because Bluto uses an Oven as an Bomb WTF
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AGE
A very funny and entertaining classic
Now in terms of children, I think this is okay for them, but it's true what commonsense says, the show can get very violent, even more than Looney Tunes. Also, in the classic Popeye episodes, it's true that Popeye's a good guy, but he has serious anger issues to work out. Even his theme songs says so. It clearly indicates that if you make him in the slightest bit mad, he'll send you beyond the hospital. Now this is the old episodes, in which a few were banned (Mostly for racism and world war propaganda) but the newer episodes were more tame. Certainly they were violent too but they weren't as bad and Popeye seemed like more a role model in those episodes. My favorite thing about this show is that it proves something. I hated how Popeye was always being beaten by that fat chunker Bluto but in the end, he would always win and that proved that there was justice in the world. Sad to say, something commonsense forgot to add is that a lot of the time, Olive seems to be a bit of a two-timer, hypocrite and some other words you can come up with. There's only 2 episodes where Olive gets what she truly deserves, Popeye dumping her on the spot.
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Kid, 6 years old
January 7, 2012
AGE
Funny
I EAT MY SPINACH!!!!!!! AND MY WHOPPER's
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| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Network: | Boomerang |
| Cast: | Jack Mercer, Jackson Beck, Mae Questel |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |
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