While most cats prefer lounging by the fire to seeking thrills, thislasagna-loving felinewas born for the screen. Don’t get us wrong,Garfieldloves lazing around as well. But every now and then, he’ll come across an adventure that’s too exciting to put off. Created by Jim Davis as a comic strip back in the 1970s, Garfield’s disdain for any sort of activity and unique wit made him a fan favorite. So when the opportunity to expand his tales beyond the Sunday funnies rose, the team grabbed it without a second thought.
In the 1980s, Garfield and his owner Jon Arbuckle leaped onto television with a series of specials. These TV specials brought the cranky feline’s world to animated life. Jon’s dog Odie later got along for the ride and took Garfield’s shenanigans far beyond the living room. From going trick-or-treating on Halloween and getting haunted by a pirate ghost to sleeping out of his owner’s car and reuniting with his long-lost family, these specials allowed Garfield to experience the most delightful things.
Over 30 years since the first special aired, it is time to look back at Garfield television specials and rank them based on humor, creativity, and how well each expanded on the character’s spirit and story. Each of these specials realized Garfield’s adventures in colorful, larger-than-life fashion and loving one over another is purely subjective. But here’s a stroll down memory late to see which one of the 12 TV specials is the ultimate small-screen Garfield glory.
12Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989)
Retaining the charm and sweetness of Garfield stories, the tenth TV special takes place as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. On their way home from the supermarket, Jon takes Garfield to the vet for a surprise visit, intending to ask Dr. Liz to join them for Thanksgiving dinner the entire time. When she refuses, Jon passes out. Annoyed, Dr. Liz agrees. Back home, Jon tries to prepare the perfect holiday meal but causes a huge disaster, forcing Grandma to come and save the day.
A Sweet Thanksgiving Holiday Special
Nothing extraordinary happens inGarfield’s Thanksgiving, and yet its saccharine-coatedpremise and executionare widely adored by fans. Director Phil Roman’s beautifully orchestrated and well-timed capers bring a lot of joy and deliver heartwarming messages about family holidays and treasuring the feeling of sharing a meal together. While the special lacks the emotional impact of the rest of the Garfield specials, it is still quite funny.
11Here Comes Garfield (1982)
The very animated television special based on the comic strip,Here Comes Garfieldwas directed by Phil Roman. Its premise is quite straightforward. Garfield and his canine friend, Odie, are playing outside when a dogcatcher arrives and takes Odie. Worried, Garfield decides to plot an escape. He makes it to the pound but after a series of mishaps, Garfield ends up behind bars himself.
The Original Goofball Arrives in Here Comes Garfield
Featuring the franchise’s first step into full animation,Here Comes Garfieldset the tone for the character’s most anarchic animated comics to be turned into television specials. Jim Davis’essence of the comicswas felt flawlessly, with the humor, amusement, easy-listening tunes, and Lorenzo Music’s iconic rendition of the voice of Garfield coming together to form a beloved time capsule that pioneered a decades-long relationship with fans.
10Garfield In Paradise (1986)
Rather dark and unpredictable,Garfield in Paradisestarts off as a typical special. Jon and Garfield take a third-class airline trip to Paradise World, which is basically a rip-off of Hawaii, looking for a good time at the beach. However, when they get there, Jon and Garfield realize that there is no water body in sight and Odie has snuck into the luggage to join them. What follows is an adventure involving sentient cars, villages, and volcanoes.
The Lasagna-Loving Feline on an Adventure in Garfield in Paradise
Bursting with the vibrant ambiance of Hawaii and the hilarity of outrageous imagination, this special offers pure joy. Director Phil Roman lets his creativity run wild by constructing riotously elaborate worlds and volcano set pieces. While focusing on characters, who are voiced by Lorenzo Music, regulars Thom Huge and Gregg Berger, and guest star Wolfman Jack,Garfield in Paradisealso delivers silly surprises.
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9Garfield Goes Hollywood (1987)
InGarfield Goes Hollywood, best pals Garfield and Odie come up with a great idea to go on “Pet Show,” a pet talent show. Jon agrees with them and they participate. Performing an Elvis-style trio called “Johnny Bop and the Two-Steps” earns them first place in the regional competition. They’re invited to compete nationally in Hollywood, but Garfield gets so caught up in the glitz and the glamor of it all that they end up losing.
Garfield Gets Sucked Into Stardom in Garfield Goes Hollywood
A rather overlooked special,Garfield Goes Hollywoodstill delivers non-stop entertainment with its endlessly clever jokes and self-aware characters. Every frame has delightful details that celebrate Hollywood and its balance of silliness and glamor. The main reason whyGarfield Goes Hollywoodworks so well is the chemistry between Garfield and Odie, which isadorable and nostalgic, with one particular dance number stealing the spotlight off the entire special.
8Garfield Gets a Life (1991)
The final TV special and perhaps the most heartwarming one of all,Garfield Gets a Lifeshifts its focus on Jon instead of the titular feline. In it, Jon realizes that he needs to branch out and have a life of his own. He signs up for the Lorenzo School for the Personality Impaired, and soon meets a woman named Mona and is extremely thrilled about having a new girlfriend. After discovering that Mona is allergic to cats, Jon is forced to choose between the two.
A Heartwarming Conclusion in Garfield Gets a Life
Directed by John Sparey,Garfield Gets a Lifehas a slicker character animation as compared to the specials that came out in the 1980s. A little cringeworthy but just as emotionally resonant, it has an interesting story to tell, one where Jon is upset about not having control over his life but ends up making a wise decision regardless. Garfield, who is so easy to love because of his misadventures and impeccable comic timing, also seems to be having fun.
7Garfield on the Town (1983)
Following the enormous success ofHere Comes Garfield, CBS ordered another Garfield special to air on television the following year.Garfield on the Towncenters around Garfield after he starts acting differently and Jon decides to take him to the pet hospital. But on his way, Garfield falls off and gets lost in town. After a strange encounter with unfriendly alley cats, Garfield reunites with his long-lost family, which includes his maternal grandfather, cousins, and half-brothers.
Garfield Reunites With His Family in Garfield on the Town
While paying homage to classics,Garfield on the Townalso weaves together humor and heart. The special is comic strip creator Jom Davis’ personal favorite. He once explained why, “Garfield actually meets his mother on that. It was very special.” Phil Roman directs the short with soul, style, and sophistication. And while there aresome tear-jerking scenesthroughout, its bittersweet message about home and family reunion is profoundly moving.
6Garfield: His 9 Lives (1988)
Garfield: His 9 Livesis an animated adaptation of the comic book of the same name. It is a one-hour-long television special divided into ten segments, each of which denotes the titular cat’s one of nine lives. In the first segment, we witness angels asking why God gives ten lives, and while Garfield does not show up on screen yet, it sets the tone for great adventures ranging from a pre-evolution cat learning how to talk to a laboratory cat escaping dangerous scientific experiments.
A Time-Traveling Tale to Remember in His 9 Lives
Directed with clever visual flair, this special fully embraces its premise. Having drawn from Jim Davis’ six collections of illustrated short stories, it tries to retain the authenticity of Garfield and joins the cat on zany journeys across its nine lives. Beyond Garfield’s deadpan reactions, there is a wide range of emotions and creativity that makesGarfield: His 9 Livesstand out from the rest of the specials.
5Garfield in the Rough (1984)
The third of twelve Garfield television specials made over the course of a decade,Garfield in the Roughtakes Garfield, Odie, and Jon on a camping trip to the forest. Disgruntled, Garfield tries to warm up to the idea of interacting with other camp rangers. Soon, the news of a deadly panther running loose in the Lake Woebegone area starts rotating. And even though Jon seems unbothered, Garfield is concerned for his and Odie’s safety.
The Lazy Kitty Fights a Deadly Panther in Garfield in the Rough
Ripe with slapstick action,Garfield in the Roughis likely remembered for its screwball humor. As the straight-faced Garfield battles the panther to save Jon and Odie toward the end of the special, the music catches on to a playful and catchy beat. As always, Phil Roman infuses every scene with his trademark creative staging and timing and Lorenzo Music’s clever wit to everybody’s favorite puss. The special won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program back in 1985.
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4A Garfield Christmas (1987)
‘Tis the season for miracles and wonder, and none are needed more than by Jon this holiday as Garfield drives him to the brink of madness with his holiday laziness and madness. More, after Jon reveals that they will be spending Christmas with the Arbuckle family on their farm. Despite initially being unenthused by the idea of traveling to a faraway farm, Garfield startsgetting into the Christmas spiritafter he’s asked to decorate the tree. It also doesn’t hurt that he hits it off with Grandma in the blink of an eye.
A Garfield Christmas Delivers Important Lessons
Rich with warmth, humor, and animation magic,A Garfield Christmasis a reminder that even the sourest of scrooges can find their holiday spirit. The special starts with Garfield being his usual curmudgeonly cat-self, saying things like, “Whoever invented Christmas trees should be shot.” But nearing the end, he ends up learning more about family, as well as lessons about making your own presents and the importance of giving. To this day, reruns of the special are adored by fans.
3Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)
Garfield TV specials are usually associated with the comedy genre. But in this fourth installment, things get a little spooky. A ghost story with a pirate theme,Garfield’s Halloween Adventuresees Garfield and Odie heading out to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. They cover almost all houses except for one isolated run-down mansion on the other side of the river. Garfield somehow convinces Odie to get on the boat with him, but it’s a bad idea because not only do they discover that the mansion is haunted by a pirate ghost, but they also get stranded in the river.
Biting Comedy With Spook to Spare in Garfield’s Halloween Adventure
Watching Garfield and Odie dressed as pirates and having an eerie encounter with a mysterious old man isn’t something fans expected to get from the franchise, but they sure were thrilled upon receiving it. The spooky special is just as imaginative and vibrant as the others; its absurd humor and slapstick gags appear more unique in the Halloween setting. Critics concluded it was just as good asIt’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
