Genndy Tartakovsky is the mastermind responsible for some of the more unique (and popular) cult 2D animated TV series to hit the airwaves over the past 15 years, including, The Cartoon Cartoon Show, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Star Wars: Clone Wars (the traditionally-animated version).
This fall’s Hotel Transylvania (watch the latest trailer) marks Tartakovsky’s debut as a feature-length animation director. Tartakovsky’s involvement with that 3D animated monster comedy is the main appeal for many a film geek. He’s not especially well-known by the masses, though, which is why Tartakovsky’s name has been pushed aside – in favor of the celebrities who lent their voices to Hotel Transylvania (in marketing for the film, that is).
Sony heads, however, have taken notice of Tartakovsky’s work – and been keen to attach him to one of their in-development animation projects. A fresh report from Variety reveals the studio has successfully set Tartakovsky to develop and direct its upcoming 3D film adaptation of the classic Popeye franchise (which originated in comic strip form, back in 1929). Now that Tartakovksy will be spearheading the project, it should start to coalesce relatively quickly, after having spent more than two years lingering in the pre-production state.
Early Hotel Transylvania footage suggests the film benefits from Tartakovsky’s energetic approach to storytelling; moreover, his imaginative approach to 2D animation appears to translate well into 3D. That alone provides good reason for most everyone to at least be curious about how Tartakovsky will refashion E.C. Segar’s iconic, spinach-popping “Sailor Man” for a new generation of moviegoers (while still appealing to those who grew up watching animated Popeye shorts).
Less intriguing, however, are the people onboard to pen the 3D Popeye movie. The screenwriting duo in question is that of David Ronn and Jay Sherick, whose resume includes script work on I Spy, National Security, Norbit, Zookeeper, and The Smurfs. Whether or not their filmography provides an accurate reflection of the comedy style (and overall quality of work) we can expect from the new Popeye: that remains to be seen.
We’ll continue to keep you updated on Popeye as the story develops.
Source: Variety
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I would be happier if he were going to make more Dexter’s Lab.
Ha Yeah me too. but they have done this before except it was a low budget cg straight to dvd movie.
It would have been better if it was a Samurai Jack movie, and it being a finale.
I think I’d like that, but I also think it would be unsatisfying. I wish Tartakovsky and his studio could just use their animation on a giant screen and come up with whatever they wanted, but in reality studious would insist on story changes and using 3D etc. Ultimately the “plot” was a dramatic back-drop for the show, giving it forward momentum and the occasional heartbreak when Jack had to sacrifice his goals for others.
I’m happy to hear he is working on things, and I hope for bigger things in the future. I imagine he’d be a great director because he seems to have the creativity, energy, and most of all the ability to steer others towards his vision.
I agree. Unfortunately, this may never happen. I believe I heard the actor who did the voice of “Aku” passed away a few years ago. I would have like to see a “finale” to the series since I watched Samarai Jack from the beginning to the end of the series on Cartoon Network.
They could replace Mako with Greg Baldwin (His replacement for the character Iroh).
#when taking it to damn far goes wrong
This’ll be just like The Smurfs and Yogi Bear, lame and unnecessary. But, it’ll stay more true to the source material than 21 Jump Street or Starsky & Hutch.
I’m a huge fan of Genndy Tartakovsky: Samurai Jack is one of my all-time favorite animated tv shows and the original Clone Wars was epic as well (unfortunately, just too short-lived
))
) so I’m not really a fan of making a feature film of him.
Not many people know this but he was also greatly responsible for that awesome sequence in IM2 where IM and WM go up against the Hammerdrones in the Japanese garden…
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That said, I’ve never really been a fan of popeye (probably because he’s responsible for all that horrible spinach I had to eat as a kid
As for Hotel Transylvania: the trailer looked boring and bland.
I hope they give him another shot at more serious stuff (maybe a Samurai Jack film or something like that) one day…
Hadn’t he been working on a Dark Crystal sequel for a number of years now…? Whatever happened with that??
I wouldn’t know… I’m not THAT big a fan
Ha! Fair enough. In 2006 he was announced as the director of The Power Of The Dark Crystal, but I just looked it up and apparently it’s been in limbo ever since and I think one can assume he’s moved on.
Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars was the best thing to come out of Lucas’ prequels. Popeye is an interesting move, it’s not easy to make a feature length film out of those old Popeye shorts. The 80′s live action Popeye was an excellent film, but a bore for kids like me who just wanted to watch him eat his spinach and bust some heads.
Popeye? Sounds kinda “Wimpy”….
They originally wanted to do a movie of President Bush eating his broccoli, but he hated it, so they had to settle for Popeye eating spinach.
As for Popeye, he says (get ready to either giggle or blush): “I’d rather eat my Olive than my spinach!”
I wish Tartakovsky would have done a traditionally animated film. I haven’t seen an exceptionally good 2-D animated film outside of the indie market in quite a while.
So Popeye’s probably going to be saving Olive from Bluto in the magical land of either LA or NY while bumping into a couple reality stars and Sofia Vergara (voicing themselves).
The ONLY thing that’s a plus is that it’s animated. Love Popeye but I have zero faith in this. No reason to be excited about it.