First Look at 3D Animated Popeye

Director Genndy Tartakovsky has release the first bit of animation from his forthcoming 3D animated take of the classic sailor Popeye. While he is quite adamant that it is not a test, not a scene, and not a part of the final project, it does give a look at his intended style and character design for the film. He is aiming now for a 2015 release date for the film, but no firm date has yet been set.

Based on a comic strip by Elzie Crisler Segar and published by King Features in 1929, Popeye first came to the screen in 1933 in a series produced by Fleischer Studios. Sony director Tartakovsky says of the original series, "Max Fleischer's black & white Popeye cartoons were among the very first pieces of animation that I got to see while watching television. And I just loved how physical they were, how wild the humor was in those shorts."

Here are some images from a short video Tartakovsky release about his Popeye film. Let us know what you think of his take on this classic character.