There Goes the Neighborhood

Popeye and Son There Goes the Neighborhood 
1987 | Color |  30 Min | Animation | TV-Y | Hanna-Barbara

Director: N/A

Writer: Eric Lewald

Stars: 

Susan Blu

Philip L. Clarke

Jeff Cohen
Nancy Cartwright

Rip Taylor

Jeffery Tambor

Synopsis:

After 58 years of Popeye and Bluto fighting over Olive Oyl, they've all decided to finally settle down and start families. Popeye and Olive got married and had a son who hates spinach. Bluto also got married and had a son who's a bully to Popeye's kid. Wimpy has also started his own burger chain and tries his best to refrain from eating his own burgers.

Ah, those wonderful Saturday Morning Cartoons of the 80's when animation studios would make a cartoon about anything. You know like Mork & Mindy and Laverne and Shirley, for goodness sake. And they also made shows about established characters suddenly with children, or sometimes as children, such as Muppet Babies and The Flintstone Kids. Now, all of those surely have at least someone who thinks of them fondly. I mean even I like the Police Acadamy cartoon but for some reason, no one loves Popeye and Son. Why? Because it took away Popeye's most defining characteristic -  violence. Just imagine if somebody remade Tom and Gerry to be all buddy-buddy, it would be so wrong. Neither Popeye nor Bluto, not even the kids take a shot at one another instead we get a feel-good story.

The animation style would be your typical 80's fashion for the time. We get big hair, skateboards, and strange creatures. Unlike the Popeye I grew up with this one was more about the moral of the story. For example, this episode is a story about not passing judgment just because people are different. Oddly enough Popeye's son Jr. along with Bluto's son Tank never really scuffle sadly Tank is more of a bully this time around.

So when the new kid shows up Tank's gang does nothing but pick on him as to where Jr and his gang are just not sure what to think. Shortly after school, the new kid has invited everybody over for a Birthday Party.

As usual, the kids are too scared to go and typical cartoon parents, of course, tell them they have to go! And thankfully we get to meet his wonderful Family.

Dad

Mom

And OF Course Uncle Frank!

Such a cute family.

Of course, the villagers come crashing in to chase the strange looking family away. Sounds familiar doesn't? Leave it to Bluto and his evil bullying ways to accidentally set the house on fire!

With the families trapped it is up to Jr. to save the day. 

Did I mention that Jr., unlike his dad, does not like Spinach? So every time he eats his power up he proclaims loudly "Yuck", I think the only reason I ate spinach was from mom saying but Popeye loves it and he grows big and strong Jr your not much of a role model! 

Thank god there was a water tower next to the creepy old house!

I think you know where the rest of this story is going. As for the show you know it was fun to revisit something that has faded from memory. Is it really Popeye The Sailor Man well no but that is ok this show works. 

Sadly the show only lasted one season with most episodes on YouTube all thou I was able to check out the whole season on Amazon Prime. If your a fan of Popeye and do not remember this show or in fact have never seen it before give it a go. 

3 out of 5 stars

This post is part of the Popeye Blogathon make sure to check out the other great post's.