George Rufle Part 2

Clips of George Rufle's animation from 'A Balmy Swami' (1949), How Green is My Spinach (2 clips - 1950), and Popeye Makes a Movie (1950)

George Rufle

Here's another obscure (although credited) Popeye animator. George Rufle animated Popeye for a couple of years at the Famous Studio in Tom Johnson's crew on cartoons released from 1948 to 1950.

Rufle's drawing style in some Popeye cartoons comes very close to that of John Gentilella's (known as Johnny Gent by his peers). During an interview I did with Johnny I asked him about Rufle, noting that I had observed that similarity. Johnny told me when Rufle started on Popeye he had tutored Rufle on drawing the characters. (there's nothing like learning from the best) Even though there are superficial similarities, Rufle could not match the flair and style of Gentilella's drawing and animation.


Symphony in Spinach - 1948


A Balmy Swami - 1949


Silly Hillbilly - 1949


How Green is My Spinach? - 1950


How Green is My Spinach - 1950


Beach Peach - 1950


Popeye Makes a Movie - 1950


Popeye Makes a Movie - 1950