Identifying Tyer's animation is a no brainer here so I won't bother. The other scenes in the clip were done by the amazing John Gentilella. (BTW - the beginning scene , a re-use from Sheep Shape, and end scene by Gentilella have been cut short. We hope to see this cartoon on Popeye Vol.3)
I love how Tyer created the feeling of power in the clip below. When Popeye anticipates his muscle flex, rather than use a stock anticipation, Tyer takes it much further. He has Popeye shifting his weight from side to side becoming a human dynamo, building in power, and releasing the surge into his arms creating the biggest muscles ever seen in a Popeye cartoon.
Tyer was the first animator to make Popeye's fist grow big while anticipating a punch. As simple as that seems it is actually quite brilliant. The enlargement directs your eye to the fist while at the same time giving the feeling of it filling with power. The exaggeration also gives a somewhat small image on the screen prominence and makes it easier for the eye to follow the action, creating a bigger impact. Tyer used the same technique later in his animation for the Mighty Mouse cartoons.
How could Famous ever let Tyer go?? Bad Famous Studio!! - Bad, bad!!
The Island Fling clip - 1946
7 comments:
How could Famous ever let Tyer go?? Bad Famous Studio!! - Bad, bad!!
I know! Famous had a valuable asset in their hands (I'm not saying he's the only great animator at that place), yet they probably didn't even realize it (or the fact that many people are facscinated by that kind of hilarious animation).
Well, Tyer goes uncredited in this cartoon, his third working with bill Tytla. He was listed as head animator on "Service With a Guile", which definitely was more Tyer's sensabilities than Tytla's, and was dropped to No. 2 animator for "Rocket To Mars", which seemed more like something Tytla would want (especially in the scenes of the Martians preparing for war).
Tyer's work there was probably his best-looking, but toughest to ID, of any of his Famous cartoons. His work in "The Island Fling" looks more like regular Tyer, but it's still more dressed up than in "Service" or any of his cartoons under Izzy Sparber or (earlier) Dan Gordon. Given that he was already being held back by Seymour Kneitel when he supervised Tyer's Popeyes, Jim probably saw the handwriting on the wall for his type of animation at Famous and headed for Terrytoons, where his style could flourish because no one cared that much one way or the other, as long as the pictures got out on time.
I think this may be my favorite of the Famous Studios Popeyes. There's still a strong story reinforced by the amazing animation by Tyer and Gentilella. It's too bad that most of the best Famous Popeyes lack Jack Mercer.
Terrific!
I can't wait to have the Famous' Popeye restored on DVD.
In these weeks I'm watching Terrytoons of 40s/50s with Tyer animation: it's amazing!
Guess Famous let him go because they wanted to be more Disney-like with the animation.
This is great and I haven't seen this one for probably 30 years. It is POWERFUL. I think this was the same artist that was used in "Rocket TO Mars". Popeye's muscles got really big like this in that cartoon. And the same bursting power was used as he punched himself out of the chains after he gained visibility again.
How could Famous ever let Tyer go?? Bad Famous Studio!! - Bad, bad!!
Well, the same studio hired ace animator Bill Tytla to direct and didn't keep Dan Gordon around. . .
Tyer's fight scene at the end of "Shape Ahoy" is truly one for the books.
Fantastic clip. Popeye really come to life in that. The East Coast studios definitely had a different feel to them than the West Coast. They seem more raw and untamed by the Disney influence.
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