PLANET MOUSEOLA (1960)
Article 4839 by Dave Sindelar
Date: 6-2-2015
Directed by Seymour Kneitel
Featuring the voices of Jack Mercer and Mae Questal
Country: USA
What it is: Late period Famous studios cartoon

A mouse decides to get rid of the cat that is tormenting him by pretending to be from outer space and tricking the cat into training for a voyage into space to a planet full of mice.

After the Fleischers departed, Famous Studios took over the animation for Popeye and other Paramount studio animated characters. This one is from near the end, and the animation style is so jerky and stiff that it makes the Hanna-Barbera TV animation of the period look good. Reportedly, this is one of the better of the studio’s late-period work, and if so, it’s going to be a chore to see some of their lesser works. The gags are dumb and poorly timed, and the cartoon just sits there and goes through the motions. The sad thing for me is to see the voices of Popeye and Olive Oyl in the credits; it’s a long way from their glory years.