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Garfield

Garfield is an American comic strip created by cartoonist Jim Davis, centering on the daily life and misadventures of a lazy, sarcastic orange tabby cat named Garfield who lives with his owner Jon Arbuckle and the dim-witted dog Odie.^[1]^[2] Debuting on June 19, 1978, in 41 U.S. newspapers, the strip quickly gained traction for its humorous take on relatable feline laziness, overeating—particularly Garfield's obsession with lasagna—and witty commentary on everyday annoyances.^[1]^[2] By the early 1980s, Garfield had expanded to over 2,000 publications worldwide, launching a merchandising phenomenon that included books, toys, and apparel.^[3] Jim Davis, born in 1945 near Marion, Indiana, drew inspiration from the 25 cats on his family's farm and his own childhood struggles with asthma, which kept him indoors sketching animals; he named the character after his grandfather, James A. Garfield Davis, and crafted Garfield to fill a gap in comics dominated by dogs like Snoopy.^[2] The strip's universal appeal stems from Garfield's anthropomorphic traits—he defends napping and gluttony as virtues—allowing it to resonate across demographics while poking fun at Jon's social awkwardness and Odie's boundless enthusiasm.^[1]^[2] Garfield achieved unprecedented syndication success, earning a Guinness World Record in 2002 as the most widely syndicated comic strip, a title reaffirmed in 2003 and 2015 when it appeared in 2,100 newspapers across 80 countries and reached an estimated 200 million readers daily.^[4] Its first book compilation topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1980, and by 2018, global merchandise sales generated between $750 million and $1 billion annually.^[2]^[1] The franchise expanded into Emmy-winning animated specials starting in 1982, the TV series Garfield and Friends (1988–1994), and live-action/animated films including Garfield: The Movie (2004) and The Garfield Movie (2024) with its sequel in development (announced 2025), as well as a new animated series for Nickelodeon, cementing its status as a cultural icon featured on TIME magazine's cover in 1981 and in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^[1]^[2]^[5]

Creation and History

Origins and Development

Jim Davis, born on July 28, 1945, in Marion, Indiana, grew up on a farm in Fairmount, near Marion, where he developed a passion for cartooning inspired by the rural life and animals around him—particularly the approximately 25 cats that lived there.^[6] After studying art and business administration at Ball State University, he worked as an assistant to cartoonist Tom Ryan on the Western comic strip Tumbleweeds. In 1973, Davis launched his first original strip, Gnorm Gnat, a gag-a-day feature about anthropomorphic insects that ran weekly in the Pendleton Times until 1975; despite positive feedback on his artwork, it failed to secure national syndication because editors deemed bugs unrelatable to broad audiences. Later in his career, Davis created U.S. Acres, a farmyard comedy strip syndicated from 1986 to 1989, which featured animal characters and reflected his ongoing interest in rural themes. Seeking to fill a gap in comics—where dogs like Snoopy dominated but cats were underrepresented—Davis conceived Garfield in the mid-1970s, drawing from the cats that roamed his parents' farm during his childhood.^[1] He named the titular character after his grandfather, James A. Garfield Davis, a large and cantankerous man who shared the cat's lazy yet opinionated personality. The concept evolved over a year of development, emphasizing a lasagna-loving, sarcastic orange tabby to appeal to everyday readers. Davis initially tested the idea through a weekly local strip titled Jon, published in the Pendleton Times starting January 8, 1976, which centered on the awkward human owner Jon Arbuckle with Garfield appearing as a mischievous sidekick. Early designs portrayed Garfield as more realistically feline, often on all fours with subtler expressions to fit the prototype format. By 1978, as the strip gained traction, Davis rebranded it to Garfield, elevating the cat to the starring role and shifting to a fully anthropomorphic style that allowed bipedal movement, exaggerated facial reactions, and physical comedy, making it more suitable for national appeal. The reimagined Garfield strip debuted in national syndication on June 19, 1978, appearing in 41 U.S. newspapers through United Feature Syndicate.

Publication History

Garfield was first syndicated by United Feature Syndicate on June 19, 1978, debuting in 41 U.S. newspapers.^[1] The strip quickly gained popularity, expanding to approximately 100 newspapers by 1979 and reaching over 2,000 publications worldwide by the early 1980s.^[7] Its growth continued, peaking at 2,570 newspapers in 2001 across 75 countries, earning it recognition from Guinness World Records as the most widely syndicated comic strip at the time.^[4] By 2015, syndication had stabilized at around 2,100 newspapers in 80 countries, with an estimated readership of 200 million people daily, though the overall decline in print newspapers has impacted distribution.^[4] From its inception, Garfield followed a consistent format: three-panel dailies from Monday through Saturday and a full-color Sunday page, emphasizing gag-a-day humor with minimal text and simple visuals for broad appeal.^[8] The strip's artistic style evolved notably in 1984, when Garfield's design shifted from a more realistic, quadrupedal cat to a cartoonish, upright, bipedal posture, making him slimmer and more anthropomorphic to enhance expressiveness and merchandising potential.^[9] This change marked a transition to a bolder, more stylized look that has largely persisted. Davis writes the gags and provides rough sketches, while a team of assistants manages inking, coloring, and lettering—a collaborative process in place since the strip's early years. He has reduced his direct drawing since the late 1990s but remains creatively involved.^[1] As of 2025, Garfield continues its daily run under Andrews McMeel Syndication.^[10] Internationally, the strip has been translated into over 40 languages and adapted for local audiences, such as substituting cultural foods for lasagna in some editions, contributing to its global reach.^[11]

Characters

Garfield

Garfield is the titular protagonist of the comic strip created by Jim Davis, depicted as an anthropomorphic orange tabby cat known for his laziness, sarcasm, and insatiable appetite, particularly for lasagna. According to strip lore, he was born on June 19, 1978, in the kitchen of an Italian restaurant called Mamma Leoni's, where his fondness for Italian cuisine, including lasagna, originated during his kittenhood. As an overweight feline weighing significantly more than a typical cat due to his indulgent lifestyle, Garfield embodies a cynical and self-centered personality, often prioritizing sleep, food, and mischief over any form of productivity.^[12]^[2] Garfield exhibits distinctly anthropomorphic behaviors, such as walking upright on his hind legs, conversing fluently in English, and engaging in human-like activities, all while maintaining his feline form. He harbors a notorious disdain for Mondays, a trait that resonates with readers as a humorous reflection of the universal dread of the workweek start, and he actively avoids exercise, preferring sedentary pursuits that reinforce his pampered existence. These characteristics stem from Davis's inspiration drawn from the fat, lazy house cats of his Indiana farm upbringing, transforming Garfield into a relatable anti-hero who voices blunt, sarcastic observations about everyday life.^[13]^[14] In media adaptations, Garfield has been voiced by several actors, beginning with Lorenzo Music, who provided the iconic raspy tone for the 1980s CBS specials and the syndicated series Garfield and Friends through the 2000s until Music's death in 2001. Frank Welker briefly took over the role in select projects, including CGI films like Garfield's Fun Fest (2008), while Chris Pratt lent his voice to the character in the 2024 animated film The Garfield Movie. Over the course of the strip, Garfield evolves from a mischievous kitten adopted by his owner Jon Arbuckle into a thoroughly spoiled house cat, often interacting whimsically with inanimate objects or his own shadow as part of his solitary antics. Signature phrases like "Big fat hairy deal" capture his dismissive sarcasm, underscoring his role as the strip's central, unapologetic comic force. Garfield's relationships with Jon and the dog Odie primarily serve as foils to highlight his dominant, teasing demeanor in their shared household dynamic.^[15]^[16]

Jon Arbuckle

Jon Arbuckle is the human owner of Garfield and Odie, depicted as a single, awkward freelance cartoonist residing in Muncie, Indiana, the hometown of the strip's creator Jim Davis.^[17]^[18] His profession as a cartoonist was established in the very first Garfield strip on June 19, 1978, allowing Davis to avoid explaining Jon's job in subsequent panels.^[18] Jon often drives a turquoise AMC Pacer, which frequently features in gags involving his everyday mishaps. Characterized as nerdy and optimistic, Jon embodies a daydreamer quality with a glass-half-full outlook, traits that Davis has said reflect his own personality more than Garfield's cynicism.^[13] He is portrayed as giving yet wishy-washy, frequently unlucky in love—particularly in his early attempts at dating, such as with veterinarian Liz Wilson—and serves as the frequent victim of Garfield's pranks and sarcasm.^[19] In the strip's dynamic, Jon functions as the straight man, reacting to Garfield's witty barbs with earnest frustration, which amplifies the humor through their contrasting perspectives.^[20] Over the years, Jon has evolved from a shy, perpetually single figure to a more confident individual, particularly after developing a long-term relationship with Liz, a change prompted by fan requests for deeper character development.^[21] In animated adaptations, he was primarily voiced by Thom Huge from 1983 to 1994, bringing a warm, bumbling tone to the role across specials and the series Garfield and Friends.^[22] Jon's origins tie briefly to a family farm, where he visits his parents and brother, echoing elements of Davis's rural upbringing.^[23]

Odie

Odie is a fictional beagle dog character in Jim Davis's Garfield comic strip, depicted as a yellow-furred pet with long brown ears, a slender build, and a perpetually lolling tongue that emphasizes his goofy, endearing demeanor. He was introduced on August 8, 1978, as the pet of Lyman, Jon Arbuckle's friend and roommate, who brought Odie to live in Jon's house. The character's name derives from "Odie the Village Idiot," a dim-witted figure in a local car dealership commercial script written by Davis earlier in his career, which inspired the reuse of the name for its fittingly simple connotation. Odie was originally intended to be named Spot but was renamed to avoid overlap with a dog character in Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey, following Davis's consultations with Walker.^[24]^[25] After Lyman's unexplained disappearance from the strip following his final appearance on April 24, 1983—later retconned in some storylines as moving out—Odie became Jon's pet and a permanent household member. Davis has stated that Lyman was created to give Jon a conversational partner in early strips, but as Garfield's personality developed to fill that narrative role, Lyman became redundant and was phased out without further explanation. Odie embodies pure, uncomplicated joy and loyalty, serving as a stark contrast to Garfield's lazy cynicism and providing opportunities for physical comedy, such as the recurring gag where Garfield kicks him off the kitchen table. His dim-witted traits, slobbery enthusiasm, and limited communication—mostly barks, pants, and occasional thought bubbles with basic words—heighten the strip's humor by positioning him as the innocent victim and straight man in the trio's dynamic.^[26]^[27] Since his debut, Odie has appeared in the vast majority of Garfield strips, evolving into one of the series' core characters and integral to the everyday household interactions. In animated adaptations, including the TV series Garfield and Friends (1988–1994) and various specials, Odie is voiced by Gregg Berger, whose performance captures the dog's exuberant, nonverbal energy through barks and sound effects.^[28]

Supporting Characters

Dr. Liz Wilson is a veterinarian who serves as the primary medical care provider for Garfield and Odie, first appearing in the comic strip on June 26, 1979.^[29] She is depicted as strong-willed and sarcastic, often interacting with Jon Arbuckle in professional settings before their relationship evolves into a romantic one, with them officially becoming a couple in July 2006 following reader feedback that highlighted the appeal of the pairing.^[30] Lyman was introduced as Jon Arbuckle's roommate on August 7, 1978, and is the original owner of Odie, whom he brought into the household.^[31] His presence in the strip gradually diminished, with his last regular appearance occurring on April 24, 1983, after which he largely vanished from the narrative without explanation, though he has made sporadic returns in later strips, such as brief cameos in 2013 and June 23, 2024.^[30]^[32] Members of the Arbuckle family, including Jon's parents and Grandma Arbuckle, appear periodically in the comic, often during holiday-themed storylines or visits to the family farm. Grandma Arbuckle, Jon's paternal grandmother, was first introduced on January 25, 1982, and is portrayed as a robust, energetic woman who shares a particular fondness for Garfield, contrasting with the more reserved depictions of other relatives like Jon's mother and father, who emphasize farm life and family traditions in their appearances. Nermal, a small gray tabby kitten, debuted on September 3, 1979, as the pet of Jon's parents and quickly established himself as Garfield's rival by proclaiming himself the "world's cutest kitten."^[33] He frequently taunts Garfield with his youthful charm and has a recurring gag of sending Garfield unwanted birthday gifts, such as cards or himself as a present, which Garfield often schemes to dispose of.^[30] Arlene is a pink-furred, gap-toothed female cat who serves as Garfield's occasional love interest, making her first appearance on December 17, 1980.^[34] Intelligent and short-tempered, she challenges Garfield's laziness and ego, engaging in on-again, off-again romantic interactions that highlight her sarcastic wit and independence.^[30] Pooky, Garfield's beloved teddy bear, was introduced on October 23, 1978, when Garfield discovered it in a dresser drawer.^[35] Despite being an inanimate object, Pooky is treated by Garfield as a trusted confidant and constant companion, symbolizing his softer, more vulnerable side amid the cat's typically cynical demeanor.^[30]

Comic Strip Content

Format and Humor Style

The Garfield comic strip follows a traditional newspaper format, consisting of three-panel daily strips where the setup builds across the first two panels, culminating in a punchline delivered in the third panel.^[36] Sunday installments, by contrast, are more elaborate full-page features in color, often structured with a title panel followed by multiple vignettes or a sequence of interconnected panels that allow for extended visual storytelling and layered gags.^[21] This structure emphasizes standalone episodes with minimal continuity between strips, enabling each one to function independently while maintaining the series' episodic rhythm.^[37] The humor in Garfield is characterized by deadpan sarcasm delivered through the titular cat's cynical narration, frequently incorporating visual gags, ironic twists on pet-owner dynamics, and occasional fourth-wall breaks where characters acknowledge the comic's artificiality. Central themes revolve around Garfield's obsessive love for food—particularly lasagna—his profound laziness, and the humorous irony of his mistreatment of hapless owner Jon Arbuckle and dog Odie.^[38] Creator Jim Davis drew influences from Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts, particularly in evolving Garfield's character for broader expressiveness, and from Dean Young and Chic Young's Blondie in crafting relatable domestic pet humor.^[39]^[37] Artistically, the strip employs clean lines and exaggerated facial expressions to heighten comedic impact, with Garfield's features—such as wide eyes and smirking mouth—designed for instant readability and emotional clarity. Color was introduced in the Sunday pages from the strip's debut in 1978, enhancing the vibrancy of these larger formats without altering the dailies' black-and-white simplicity.^[36] This approach targets a broad audience of all ages, with particular resonance among pet owners due to its observational take on feline independence and human-animal relationships.^[21]

Recurring Gags and Themes

One of the most iconic recurring gags in the Garfield comic strip is the character's profound hatred of Mondays, which has been a staple since its debut in 1978. The first explicit expression of this sentiment appeared on September 18, 1978, when Garfield declared, "I hate Mondays," tapping into a universal frustration with the end of the weekend and the return to routine.^[40] Creator Jim Davis noted that the gag's popularity exploded after its introduction, leading to an extended run of Monday-themed strips for over seven months due to overwhelming reader response, as it resonated with audiences' shared disdain for the start of the workweek.^[21] This motif often portrays Monday as an antagonistic force, manifesting through bad luck, exaggerated misfortune, or Garfield's futile attempts to ward it off, reinforcing the strip's humorous take on everyday drudgery.^[21] Food obsessions form another core recurring element, prominently featuring Garfield's unbridled love for lasagna and his repeated failures at dieting. Lasagna, introduced early in the strip's run, became Garfield's signature indulgence, symbolizing his gluttonous nature and providing endless comedic opportunities, such as elaborate schemes to obtain more servings or using it as a bargaining tool.^[21] Diets are a frequent punchline, with Garfield initiating weight-loss efforts only to sabotage them almost immediately—often by raiding the refrigerator or rationalizing overeating—highlighting his lack of self-control and aversion to exercise.^[41] These gags extend to chases involving pet food, where Garfield torments Odie by stealing or mocking his meals, underscoring the playful rivalry between the pets.^[42] The strip weaves in broader themes of sloth, vanity, and existential boredom, often through Garfield's lazy lifestyle and self-absorbed demeanor, while offering subtle commentary on the human-pet bond. Garfield embodies sloth by celebrating idleness, napping excessively, and rejecting societal pressures to be productive, which Davis describes as a rebellious act that alleviates readers' guilt over similar indulgences: "We’re made to feel guilty for overeating, oversleeping, and not exercising. Garfield does those things and he’s cool with it."^[21] Vanity appears in gags where Garfield admires his reflection in mirrors, complimenting himself or engaging in narcissistic monologues, as seen in strips where he woos his own image, emphasizing his inflated ego.^[43] Moments of existential boredom surface in Garfield's sarcastic asides about the monotony of life, blending humor with mild philosophical undertones that highlight the quirks of pet ownership, such as Jon's futile attempts to motivate his indolent cat.^[37] These elements collectively portray the interdependent, often exasperated dynamic between Garfield, Jon, and Odie, reflecting real-world pet-human relationships with wry affection.^[21] Garfield frequently invents or exaggerates national holidays to amplify absurd celebrations, turning ordinary days into over-the-top events tailored to his whims. A notable example is "National Stupid Day," a fictional holiday concocted in a 2010 strip where Garfield squashes a spider, prompting the insect to lament the occasion as a tribute to foolish acts, which sparked controversy for its timing on Veterans Day but exemplifies the strip's satirical take on holidays.^[44]^[45] Such gags often involve Garfield declaring pseudo-observances like days for laziness or indulgence, poking fun at human traditions while centering his self-centered worldview.

Notable Story Arcs

One of the most notable deviations from Garfield's typical standalone format occurred in the lead-up to Halloween 1989, in a seven-strip arc running from October 23 to October 28. In this storyline, Garfield awakens to discover the house empty and silent, with Jon and Odie nowhere to be found; as the days progress, he ventures outside to an abandoned neighborhood where no one acknowledges his presence, leading to a sense of isolation and existential dread. The arc culminates with Garfield fading away as he starves, only to wake up in a panic, revealing it as a nightmare—but the meta elements suggest a commentary on the character's fictional existence. This rare dark narrative, often interpreted as a "death hoax" exploring themes of neglect and unreality, stands out for its psychological depth in an otherwise lighthearted strip.^[46] The cancellation of the U.S. Acres spin-off comic in 1989 marked another significant transition, with its final Sunday strip on May 7 showing the character Orson reading a Garfield comic, effectively integrating the farmyard cast into the broader Garfield universe. U.S. Acres, which ran from March 3, 1986, to April 15, 1989, for dailies, featured animal characters like Orson the pig and Wade the duck on a farm; its end came due to declining syndication compared to Garfield's success, but the meta crossover nod allowed occasional appearances of U.S. Acres characters in subsequent Garfield strips and the shared Garfield and Friends animated series. This storyline closure highlighted Jim Davis's interconnected creative world while shifting focus back to the core Garfield narrative. Holiday-themed arcs frequently spanned multiple weeks, particularly around Christmas and Halloween, breaking from daily gags to build continuous tales centered on family traditions. For instance, annual December storylines often depicted Garfield, Jon, and Odie traveling to the Arbuckle family farm, where interactions with Jon's parents and brother Doc Boy revealed glimpses of Jon's rural upbringing, such as farm chores, holiday meals, and nostalgic reflections—emphasizing themes of reluctant participation turning to warmth. Similarly, Halloween arcs incorporated multi-day adventures like costume hunts or spooky escapades, with the 1989 sequence serving as a particularly intense example; these extended plots provided rare emotional continuity, contrasting Garfield's usual sarcasm with seasonal sentimentality. A meta anniversary arc celebrated the strip's 25th year in June 2003, coinciding with Garfield's "birthday" on June 19, spanning about two weeks from June 9 to 21. In this self-referential storyline, Garfield encounters a younger version of himself from the 1978 debut strips, leading to humorous clashes over changes in the character's design and personality, while reflecting on the passage of time and the strip's evolution. The arc included tributes like altered layouts mimicking early styles, underscoring Garfield's enduring appeal without delving into heavy drama. Recurring farm visit arcs, such as those in the 1980s and later years like May 1985's multi-week storyline involving Jon's cousins, occasionally introduced deeper backstories for Jon's family dynamics, portraying the Arbuckles as a quirky, close-knit rural clan with traditions that humanize Jon beyond his hapless owner role. These narratives, while not always strictly continuous, built over several strips to explore Jon's childhood influences and sibling rivalries with Doc Boy, adding layers to the supporting cast amid Garfield's disruptions.

Media Adaptations

Television Series and Specials

The Garfield franchise began its television presence with a series of primetime animated specials produced primarily by Film Roman, starting in 1982. These half-hour programs aired on CBS and adapted stories from Jim Davis's comic strip, focusing on Garfield's lazy antics alongside Jon Arbuckle and Odie. The first special, Here Comes Garfield, premiered on October 25, 1982, introducing the characters through vignettes and a plot where Garfield rescues Odie from a dog pound. Subsequent specials included holiday-themed entries like Garfield's Halloween Adventure (October 30, 1985), which depicted Garfield and Odie dressing as pirates to foil burglars, and A Garfield Christmas (December 21, 1987), where the trio visits Jon's family farm for the holidays.^[47] Over the next decade, twelve specials were produced through 1991, with later ones such as Garfield Gets a Life (May 8, 1991) exploring Jon's attempts to improve his social life. Several earned critical acclaim, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program for Garfield's Halloween Adventure in 1986 and A Garfield Christmas in 1988. The transition to weekly television came with Garfield and Friends, an animated series that aired on CBS from September 17, 1988, to December 10, 1994, spanning seven seasons and 130 episodes. Each half-hour installment featured two 7-minute Garfield segments bookending a segment from the companion strip U.S. Acres, showcasing farm animals like Orson the pig.^[48] Produced by Film Roman in association with Paws, Inc., the series captured the comic's humor through recurring gags like Garfield's disdain for Mondays and his love of lasagna.^[49] Lorenzo Music provided Garfield's signature lazy, sarcastic voice throughout the run, while Thom Huge voiced the hapless Jon Arbuckle, and Gregg Berger handled Odie.^[50] In 2008, the franchise returned to television with The Garfield Show, a computer-generated imagery (CGI) animated series co-produced by Dargaud Media and Paws, Inc., which ran for five seasons from November 2, 2009, to October 24, 2016, totaling 107 episodes (214 segments) in the U.S. on Cartoon Network and later Boomerang.^[51] The show adopted a serialized format with two 11-minute stories per episode, emphasizing adventure and moral lessons while retaining Garfield's gluttonous personality. Frank Welker succeeded the late Lorenzo Music as Garfield's voice starting with this series, delivering a gravelly tone close to the original, with Wally Wingert as Jon and Berger reprising Odie.^[52] The production marked a shift to modern animation techniques, allowing for more dynamic visuals in tales like Garfield battling robotic foes or exploring alternate realities.

Animated and Live-Action Films

The Garfield franchise has produced three feature-length films, blending live-action with CGI animation in the early 2000s and transitioning to fully animated formats in 2024. These theatrical releases expand on the comic strip's characters, focusing on Garfield's lazy persona amid comedic adventures involving his owner Jon Arbuckle and the dog Odie. While the initial films received mixed-to-negative critical reception, they achieved commercial success, particularly overseas, and the 2024 entry marked a revival with stronger audience approval and box office performance.^[53]^[54]^[55] The first film, Garfield: The Movie (2004), was a hybrid of live-action and CGI produced by 20th Century Fox and directed by Peter Hewitt. Released on June 11, 2004, it features Bill Murray voicing the titular cat Garfield, who lives a pampered life with Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) until Jon adopts the exuberant dog Odie to impress veterinarian Liz Wilson (Jennifer Love Hewitt). When Odie is dognapped by Jon's rival Persnik (Alan Cumming), Garfield must overcome his laziness to rescue the pup, ultimately forming a bond with him. The film earned a 14% Tomatometer score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who criticized its formulaic humor and uneven blend of effects, though audiences gave it a 38% approval rating. Despite the reviews, it grossed $75.4 million domestically and $203.2 million worldwide against a $50 million budget, driven by international appeal.^[53]^[56] The sequel, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006), continued the hybrid style under 20th Century Fox, directed by Tim Hill and again starring Murray as Garfield's voice. It premiered on June 16, 2006, following Jon and Garfield to England, where Garfield is mistaken for Prince, a royal cat and heir to Carlyle Castle, leading to a plot to thwart the scheming Lord Dargis (Billy Connolly) from evicting the castle's animals. Odie (voiced by Joey Lauren Adams in motion capture) accompanies them, adding slapstick chases and identity mix-ups. Critics were harsher, assigning a 12% Tomatometer score for its repetitive gags and weak script, with a 43% audience score reflecting mild family entertainment value. Box office results were solid but lower than the predecessor, totaling $28.4 million domestically and $143.3 million worldwide on a $60 million budget.^[54]^[57] In 2024, Sony Pictures Animation released the fully animated The Garfield Movie, directed by Mark Dindal and featuring Chris Pratt as Garfield's voice, marking a departure from the live-action hybrids. The film opened on May 24, 2024, exploring Garfield's origin as an abandoned kitten reunited with his street-smart father, Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), after Jon (Nicholas Hoult) and Odie track him down. Forced into a heist to steal food from a rival restaurateur (Ving Rhames), Garfield navigates family dynamics and outdoor perils while craving his indoor comforts. It holds a 36% Tomatometer score, with reviewers noting improved animation but uneven pacing, contrasted by a 79% audience score praising its humor and voice cast. Commercially, it outperformed expectations, earning $91.7 million domestically and $255.4 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, boosted by global family audiences.^[55]^[16]^[58]

Video Games

The Garfield franchise has inspired over 20 licensed video games since the mid-1980s, spanning platforms from early home computers and consoles to modern mobile devices and current-generation systems, with genres including platformers, adventures, puzzles, and party games.^[59] These titles, primarily developed by third-party studios under license from Paws, Inc., often emphasize the character's lazy, lasagna-loving personality through humorous scenarios involving Jon, Odie, and other supporting cast members. The earliest Garfield video game efforts date to the 1980s, beginning with an unfinished prototype for the Atari 2600 developed internally by Atari in 1984, which featured side-scrolling platforming but was canceled amid the video game crash of 1983.^[60] The first released title, Garfield: Big Fat Hairy Deal, arrived in 1987 as a platform-adventure game for platforms like the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, and Amstrad CPC, developed by Softek International and published by The Edge, where players control Garfield navigating levels to collect items and rescue Arlene from neighborhood hazards.^[61] A Japan-exclusive NES game, Garfield no Isshukan (A Week of Garfield), followed in 1989, developed by MARS Corporation as a simple side-scrolling platformer focused on rescuing Odie from enemies across weekly-themed levels.^[62] In the 1990s, Garfield games gained wider console visibility with Garfield: Caught in the Act, a 1995 platformer released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Acclaim (SNES) and Sega (Genesis), in which Garfield is pulled into a television world and battles cartoonish bosses across themed stages using power-ups like a slingshot and pogo stick.^[63] This era's titles often prioritized colorful, cartoon-inspired visuals and lighthearted puzzles reflective of the strip's humor, though reception varied due to simplistic controls and short length. The 2000s brought more diverse adaptations, including Garfield: Saving Arlene in 2005, an action-adventure game for PlayStation 2 and PC developed by Eko Software and published by Hip Games and Titus Interactive, where Garfield and Odie team up in 3D environments to solve puzzles and rescue Arlene from an evil lord, incorporating cooperative mechanics and mini-games.^[64] Mobile gaming expanded the franchise in the 2010s with titles like Garfield's Diner (2012), a time-management simulation for iOS and Android developed by Web Prancer, in which players help Garfield run a restaurant by serving food quickly to customers amid comedic interruptions from friends like Odie. Recent releases include Garfield Lasagna Party (2022), a multiplayer party game for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, and PC, developed by Ubit and published by Microids, featuring 32 mini-games across three modes set in iconic locations like Jon's house and a pizzeria, where up to eight players compete in lasagna-themed challenges such as obstacle courses and food fights.^[65] Following this, Garfield Kart 2: All You Can Drift, a sequel to the 2021 kart racing game, was released on September 10, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, featuring multiplayer drifting challenges with Garfield and friends.^[66] A tie-in game for The Garfield Movie was announced in December 2023 for mobile platforms but has not seen a confirmed release as of late 2025, leaving fans awaiting further developments.^[67] Overall, these games, while not always critically acclaimed, have sustained Garfield's interactive presence through licensed creativity, with developers like Traveller's Tales and publishers emphasizing accessible, family-friendly fun over complex narratives.

Other Adaptations

Garfield has been adapted into comic book format through a partnership with Boom! Studios, which began publishing original stories in 2012. The initial monthly series, written by Mark Evanier and illustrated by a rotating team of artists including Scott Nickel and Andy Hirsch, ran for several years and expanded into graphic novels collecting new tales of the lasagna-loving cat's misadventures alongside Jon and Odie. These comics maintain the strip's humorous style while allowing for longer narratives and visual experimentation.^[68] A stage musical adaptation, Garfield the Musical with Cattitude, debuted in 2010 at the Muncie Civic Theatre in Indiana, marking the character's first full-length theatrical production. Written by Jim Davis with music and lyrics by Michael Dansicker and Bill Meade, the 60-minute family comedy centers on Garfield's quest for the perfect birthday, blending songs, dance, and the cat's signature sarcasm. The show has enjoyed limited regional runs, including productions at venues like Adventure Theatre in Maryland in 2015 and The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati in 2021, emphasizing themes of friendship and home.^[69]^[70] The Garfield comic strip's daily and Sunday installments have been digitized and archived on GoComics.com, the official online platform launched in 2005 by Andrews McMeel Syndication, enabling global access to the complete run since 1978. This digital presence has preserved the strip's legacy, with millions of views annually and features like searchable archives and subscription options for ad-free reading. Complementing this, Garfield Originals, a series of short 2D-animated shorts created by Jim Davis and Philippe Vidal, premiered on December 6, 2019, in France before becoming available worldwide on YouTube. The series consists of 120 thirty-second shorts grouped into 24 compilation episodes (each featuring five shorts), exploring standalone gags in a minimalist style and appealing to a new generation through social media sharing.^[71]^[72] Art books dedicated to Garfield's creation offer insights into Jim Davis's process and the character's evolution. In 1998, Ballantine Books released Garfield's Twentieth Anniversary Collection: 20 Years & Still Kicking, a curated selection of Davis's 20 favorite strips accompanied by an exclusive interview reflecting on the franchise's growth from local newspaper feature to global phenomenon. This was followed in 2016 by The Art of Jim Davis' Garfield from Hermes Press, which reproduces hundreds of original sketches, production art, and developmental drawings, alongside an essay by comics historian R.C. Harvey tracing the artistic influences behind the character's iconic laziness and wit.^[73]^[74] Rare audio adaptations emerged in the 1980s, primarily as cassette recordings of the early TV specials. Titles like Here Comes Garfield (1982) and Garfield on the Town (1983), produced by MGM/UA Home Video, featured voice performances by Lorenzo Music as Garfield and Thom Huge as Jon, allowing fans to experience the stories through narrated dialogue and sound effects without visuals. These releases, though limited in distribution, captured the era's animated specials in a portable format for home listening.

Merchandising and Legacy

Books and Publications

The Garfield comic strip has been compiled into numerous printed collections since 1980, starting with Garfield at Large: His First Book, published by Ballantine Books. This volume gathered the earliest strips from the strip's debut in June 1978 through January 1979, establishing the format for subsequent anthologies that typically cover about six months of dailies and Sundays each.^[75] By November 2025, the core series has grown to 77 volumes, with the 78th scheduled for December 2025, along with additional larger-format treasuries collecting Sunday strips in full color and remastered editions under the Garfield Classics imprint reprinting the original 36 black-and-white books in enhanced layouts.^[76] These compilations, produced twice yearly, highlight recurring themes like Garfield's laziness and lasagna obsession, preserving the strip's humorous essence for print audiences.^[77] In the United States, Ballantine Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, has handled primary publication since the beginning, while Ravette Publishing has issued over 60 pocket-sized editions and specials in the United Kingdom since the 1980s.^[76]^[78] Globally, Garfield books have sold more than 135 million copies, contributing significantly to the franchise's enduring popularity. Special annuals and holiday-themed volumes expand the lineup, including Garfield's Thanksgiving (1985), a tie-in to the animated special featuring festive strips and recipes, and activity books like Garfield How to Party Book (1988) designed for younger readers with games, stickers, and coloring exercises. These supplementary publications often blend comic reprints with interactive elements to engage families.^[79] Internationally, the collections have been translated into over 40 languages and distributed in more than 80 countries, adapting cultural nuances while retaining core gags.^[80] In regions like Europe and Asia, localized editions from publishers such as Ravette in the UK and others maintain the strip's accessibility, with formats varying to suit local reading preferences.^[78] This global reach has amplified Garfield's appeal, making the books a staple in diverse markets.^[11]

Licensing and Commercial Products

Garfield's licensing began in the late 1970s through United Feature Syndicate, which distributed the comic strip starting in 1978 and initially handled merchandising rights.^[81] In 1981, creator Jim Davis established Paws, Inc. to oversee licensing and commercial products, focusing on expanding the character's presence beyond the strips into consumer goods.^[81] In 1994, Paws, Inc. acquired the copyrights to the Garfield comic strips from 1978 to 1993 from United Feature Syndicate, allowing for greater control over global partnerships and product development.^[81] Since then, Paws has managed hundreds of licensing agreements, covering categories like toys, apparel, and home goods, with King Features Syndicate handling select U.S. categories since 2016.^[82]^[83] The franchise's commercial success has generated substantial revenue, with Garfield merchandise estimated at $750 million to $1 billion in annual retail sales during its peak periods.^[84] This includes a wide array of plush toys, mugs, and clothing items that capitalize on the character's lazy, lasagna-loving persona. Paws, Inc. has partnered with numerous companies for these products, emphasizing durable goods and collectibles that appeal to both children and nostalgic adults.^[85] Food tie-ins have prominently featured Garfield's iconic love for lasagna, including promotional lasagna dishes at Olive Garden restaurants tied to the 2024 animated film. Pet food lines, such as Iams Proactive Health, have incorporated Garfield in advertising campaigns, often highlighting lasagna as a humorous contrast to healthy cat nutrition.^[86]^[87] Apparel and home goods form a core of Garfield's merchandising, with T-shirts featuring the famous "I hate Mondays" slogan remaining a bestseller since the 1980s. These items, produced through licensed partners, extend to hoodies, posters, and kitchenware, reinforcing the character's cultural quips in everyday consumer products. Digital merchandise has included mobile apps for games and interactive content, though experiments with NFTs in the 2020s have been limited and unofficial. The 2024 film provided a brief boost to merchandise sales, introducing new apparel and tie-in products.^[88]

Cultural Impact and Restaurants

Garfield has left a significant mark on popular culture through its satirical humor and relatable portrayal of laziness and indulgence, influencing generations of readers and creators in the realm of anthropomorphic animal comics.^[89] The strip's ironic tone and focus on everyday absurdities have resonated widely, contributing to its status as a cultural touchstone for themes of malaise and consumerism in late 20th-century media.^[90] One notable cultural milestone is the 2008 web parody "Garfield Minus Garfield," created by Dan Walsh, which removed the titular cat from selected strips, transforming them into poignant explorations of Jon Arbuckle's isolation and mental state.^[91] The project gained rapid online popularity, leading to official publication by Paws, Inc. starting in November 2008 and a book deal with Ballantine Books.^[92] Garfield has also appeared in episodes of The Simpsons, such as the Itchy & Scratchy segment "The Garfield Assassination" in the 2017 episode "The Cad and the Hat," highlighting crossovers between iconic animated properties.^[93] Creator Jim Davis received the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist from the National Cartoonists Society in 1989, recognizing his contributions to humor strips, along with Best Humor Strip awards in 1981 and 1985.^[94] The Garfield strip holds the Guinness World Record for the most syndicated comic, appearing in approximately 2,100 newspapers and journals worldwide as of its recognition.^[4] Garfield's legacy extends to its influence on pet-themed comics, popularizing lazy, food-obsessed anthropomorphic animals that blend human traits with feline behaviors, paving the way for similar characters in modern media.^[89] The 2024 animated film The Garfield Movie, voiced by Chris Pratt, revived interest in the franchise, sparking widespread memes on platforms like TikTok and Twitter that remixed scenes with the character's signature sarcasm and lasagna obsession.^[95] The fan community remains vibrant after over 40 years, with dedicated conventions like the Official Garfield Fan Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, featuring cosplay, panels, and collectibles, alongside extensive fan art shared on sites like Tumblr and Reddit. In terms of unique commercial ventures, Garfield inspired GarfieldEats, a licensed restaurant in Toronto that opened in 2019 as the first North American eatery officially sanctioned by Jim Davis, specializing in lasagna dishes and Garfield-themed items like "Garfuccinos."^[96] The pop-up-style venue emphasized interactive, "entergaging" experiences tied to the character's love of Italian food but closed in 2022 amid operational challenges.^[97]

Production and Ownership

Paws, Inc.

Paws, Inc. was founded in 1981 by cartoonist Jim Davis in Muncie, Indiana, to manage licensing rights and merchandising for the Garfield comic strip and its expanding franchise.^[98]^[99] The company quickly took on responsibilities for overseeing the production of Garfield book collections and animated television specials, ensuring creative consistency across media adaptations while employing artists and writers to support the strip's ongoing development and related projects.^[99]^[98] In the mid-1980s, Paws, Inc. expanded its portfolio by developing the U.S. Acres spin-off comic strip, launched in 1986 and targeted at younger readers, which ran alongside Garfield until 1989.^[100] The company also managed international rights for the Garfield properties, facilitating global distribution and licensing agreements that contributed to the character's worldwide popularity.^[101] Headquartered initially on Davis's farm, Paws, Inc. relocated to a dedicated facility near Albany, Indiana, in 1989 to accommodate growth.^[102] At its peak, the company employed nearly 50 artists, writers, designers, and administrators to handle operations.^[99] Jim Davis founded Paws, Inc. and served as its president and CEO.^[103]^[104]

Acquisition and Current Ownership

In August 2019, Viacom entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Paws, Inc., the company holding the global intellectual property rights to Garfield and U.S. Acres, for an undisclosed sum.^[101] This deal placed the franchise under Viacom's Nickelodeon division, enabling development of new animated content and consumer products while integrating operational oversight into Nickelodeon Animation Studio.^[104] Paws, Inc. transitioned into a shell entity focused on holding trademarks and IP assets, with its original website redirecting to Nickelodeon properties by mid-2020.^[105] Viacom merged with CBS Corporation later in 2019 to form ViacomCBS,^[106] which rebranded as Paramount Global in 2022.^[107] Under Paramount's stewardship post-2019, the company licensed film rights for the 2024 animated feature The Garfield Movie, produced by Alcon Entertainment and distributed by Sony Pictures, marking a significant theatrical revival.^[108] Daily comic strip production has continued unabated, with creator Jim Davis retaining oversight and syndication handled through Andrews McMeel Syndication (formerly Universal Uclick).^[109] As of November 2025, Garfield's IP falls under Paramount Skydance Corporation following the completion of Paramount Global's $8 billion merger with Skydance Media on August 7, 2025, approved by the FCC earlier that month.^[110] This structure supports ongoing daily strips, new media initiatives like an animated series in development for Nickelodeon with a premiere expected in early 2026, and expanded streaming availability, including classic specials on Paramount+.^[111] Davis maintains creative input, particularly on the comic strips, ensuring continuity in the franchise's core storytelling.^[1]

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Jim Davis (born July 28, 1945, Marion, Indiana) is an American cartoonist who is best known as the creator of the comic strip Garfield. The strip's titular ...
[100]
Viacom to Acquire Garfield for Nickelodeon Portfolio | Paramount
Aug 6, 2019 · Paws, Inc. , the entity holding global intellectual property rights to the Garfield and the U.S. Acres franchises--including corresponding ...Missing: spin- off
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On the prowl: Behind the scenes at Garfield HQ - The Star Press
Aug 29, 2015 · A conversation with Jim Davis. Part I: Life in Muncie. Jim Davis plans to keep drawing Garfield, as Campbell puts it, "until he's old and ...
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Jim Davis - Indiana Historical Society
Jim created a new character – a fat, lasagna-loving cat named Garfield. On June 19, 1978, the comic strip first appeared in 41 newspapers in U.S. cities like ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Viacom's Nickelodeon Acquires Comic-Strip Cat Garfield - Variety
Aug 6, 2019 · Viacom has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Paws, Inc., the entity that holds all global intellectual property rights to both “Garfield” as well ...Missing: international | Show results with:international
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'Garfield': Viacom Acquiring Classic Property; Nickelodeon Preps ...
Aug 6, 2019 · The media group has entered a “definitive agreement” to acquire the IP from owners Paws and will develop a new Garfield animated series.
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Viacom buys lasagna-loving Garfield for Nickelodeon - CNBC
Aug 6, 2019 · The company, which owns Nickelodeon, announced Tuesday that it has entered a deal to acquire Paws, a holding company that owns the rights to “Garfield” and the ...Missing: Inc international<|separator|>
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New 'Garfield' Series Set at Nickelodeon - The Hollywood Reporter
Aug 6, 2019 · The kid-focused cabler's parent company, Viacom, through a subsidiary is acquiring rights to Paws, Inc., the company that controls IP rights to ...Missing: headquarters size
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Garfield by Jim Davis for August 21, 2025 | GoComics
Aug 21, 2025 · Read Garfield—a comic strip by creator Jim Davis—for today, August 21, 2025, and check out other great comics, too!
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Paramount closes $8 billion merger with Skydance after settling '60 ...
Aug 7, 2025 · August 7, 20259:47 PM UTCUpdated August 7, 2025 ... Paramount and Skydance have completed their merger." Gomez criticized the company's ...
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Skydance Media and Paramount Global Complete Merger, Creating ...
Skydance Media and Paramount Global Complete Merger, Creating Next Generation Media Company ... LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire ...
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Viacom Puts Its Paws On 'Garfield' For Nickelodeon Portfolio - Forbes
Aug 7, 2019 · ... Inc., the entity that holds the intellectual property rights of Garfield as well as U.S. Acres (Davis' comic strip, that was introduced in 1986) ...<|separator|>