The Garfield Show
Encyclopedia
The Garfield Show is a CGI
animated television series that premiered in France on France 3
on December 22, 2008. English-language episodes started airing on Boomerang UK on May 5, 2009. It premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network
on November 2, 2009 at 3:00pm. It also one of Cartoon Network's highest viewed shows (despite the show rarely being promoted). It also airs on YTV in Canada, but taken off the air on July 11th, 2011, due to the debut of Redakai: Conquer the Kairu
, and returned on September 6th, 2011 when the Summer is over.
Based on the American comic strip Garfield
, the series is executive produced by Garfield creator Jim Davis
and co-written and voice directed by Mark Evanier
, who also wrote most of the episodes for the Garfield and Friends
series. Returning from Garfield and Friends are the voice actors Julie Payne (Liz) and Gregg Berger
(Odie). Frank Welker
replaces the late Lorenzo Music
(because of his death in 2001) as the voice of Garfield
, whereas Thom Huge as the voice of Jon Arbuckle is replaced by Wally Wingert
. Also returning is David Lander
, reprising his role as Doc Boy from the earlier Garfield prime-time special A Garfield Christmas Special (1987). The show is produced by Dargaud Media and Paws Inc. and is animated by Dreamwall Animation. The show is directed by Philippe Vidal and the music is done by Laurent Bertaud and Jean-Christophe Prudhomme.
's usual antics and frolics, usually in function of his laziness and gluttony. It focuses on his quirky misadventures (often significantly darker, scarier and/or more bizarre than those found in the comic strip or previous animated adaptations), while always highlighting the fat cat's love for lasagna. Garfield lives with his owner, Jon Arbuckle
, and his owner's dog, Odie
, in a detached two story house (as opposed to the one story house in the comics and Garfield and Friends). The 1950s era television set
in the living room still has a rabbit-ears antenna, but it now has a converter box so the family can now watch television in HDTV (in fact, several allusions to 21st century technology are made in the series). The premise of the show, which is comedic slapstick, lies mainly in the events of each single episode. Usually Garfield has to solve problems that he himself causes, but always tries to skive off, and actually solves them in the end.
In the second season, Garfield began breaking the fourth wall more often, such as asking for the script for the episode, talking to the audience and even mentioning cartoon traditions, such as instant healing.
gave the show 3 stars out of 5, saying "Infamous cat's antics are fun, if not exactly message laden." The series has a current rating of 8.7 on tv.com. IMBD currently has a 3.8 rating for the series.
, was released in July 2010 for the Wii
. It includes over 12 minigames and supports the Wii Balance Board
and Wii Motion Plus.
, The Garfield Show scheduled aired on MNCTV
. In China, The Garfield Show （加菲猫的幸福生活） is shown daily at CCTV-Kids. In the USA, the series is aired on Cartoon Network
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
animated television series that premiered in France on France 3
France 3
France 3 is the second largest French public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5, and France Ô....
on December 22, 2008. English-language episodes started airing on Boomerang UK on May 5, 2009. It premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
on November 2, 2009 at 3:00pm. It also one of Cartoon Network's highest viewed shows (despite the show rarely being promoted). It also airs on YTV in Canada, but taken off the air on July 11th, 2011, due to the debut of Redakai: Conquer the Kairu
Redakai: Conquer the Kairu
Redakai: Conquer the Kairu is an entertainment and gaming property created by Spin Master. It featured an animated TV show produced by Marathon Media and Zodiak Kids, directed and designed by Stephane Berry , which aired on Cartoon Network on July 16, 2011...
, and returned on September 6th, 2011 when the Summer is over.
Based on the American comic strip Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...
, the series is executive produced by Garfield creator Jim Davis
Jim Davis (cartoonist)
James Robert Davis is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the comic strip Garfield, which he signs as Jim Davis. He has also worked on other strips: Tumbleweeds, Gnorm Gnat, U.S. Acres and a strip about Mr...
and co-written and voice directed by Mark Evanier
Mark Evanier
Mark Stephen Evanier is an American comic book and television writer, particularly known for his humor work. He is also known for his columns and blogs, and for his work as a historian and biographer of the comics industry, in particular his award-winning Jack Kirby biography, Kirby: King of...
, who also wrote most of the episodes for the Garfield and Friends
Garfield and Friends
Garfield and Friends is an American animated television series based on the comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis. The show was produced by Film Roman, in association with United Feature Syndicate and Paws, Inc., and ran on CBS Saturday mornings from September 17, 1988 to December 10, 1994, with...
series. Returning from Garfield and Friends are the voice actors Julie Payne (Liz) and Gregg Berger
Gregg Berger
Greggory "Gregg" Berger is an American voice actor, who is known for his longtime role as Odie the dog from the Garfield franchise...
(Odie). Frank Welker
Frank Welker
Franklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
replaces the late Lorenzo Music
Lorenzo Music
Lorenzo Music was an American actor, voice actor, writer, television producer and musician. His best-known roles include voicing the animated cartoon cat Garfield, and Carlton the doorman on the CBS sitcom Rhoda...
(because of his death in 2001) as the voice of Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...
, whereas Thom Huge as the voice of Jon Arbuckle is replaced by Wally Wingert
Wally Wingert
Wallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in...
. Also returning is David Lander
David Lander
David L. Lander is an American actor, comedian, composer, musician, and baseball scout. David is also the Goodwill Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.- Biography :...
, reprising his role as Doc Boy from the earlier Garfield prime-time special A Garfield Christmas Special (1987). The show is produced by Dargaud Media and Paws Inc. and is animated by Dreamwall Animation. The show is directed by Philippe Vidal and the music is done by Laurent Bertaud and Jean-Christophe Prudhomme.
Plot
The Garfield Show centers mainly on GarfieldGarfield (character)
Garfield is a fictional character and the title protagonist from the comic strip Garfield created by Jim Davis.-Personality:Garfield is an anthropomorphic ginger cat. He loves eating , and sleeping. He is teased about being overweight. He is also selfish...
's usual antics and frolics, usually in function of his laziness and gluttony. It focuses on his quirky misadventures (often significantly darker, scarier and/or more bizarre than those found in the comic strip or previous animated adaptations), while always highlighting the fat cat's love for lasagna. Garfield lives with his owner, Jon Arbuckle
Jon Arbuckle
Jonathan Q. Arbuckle is a character from the Garfield comic strip by Jim Davis. He has also appeared in the animated television series Garfield and Friends, the computer-animated The Garfield Show, and two live-action feature films....
, and his owner's dog, Odie
Odie
Odie is a fictional character in the Jim Davis comic strip Garfield. He has also appeared in Garfield and Friends, The Garfield Show, two live-action feature films, and 3 CGI films....
, in a detached two story house (as opposed to the one story house in the comics and Garfield and Friends). The 1950s era television set
Television set
A television set is a device that combines a tuner, display, and speakers for the purpose of viewing television. Television sets became a popular consumer product after the Second World War, using vacuum tubes and cathode ray tube displays...
in the living room still has a rabbit-ears antenna, but it now has a converter box so the family can now watch television in HDTV (in fact, several allusions to 21st century technology are made in the series). The premise of the show, which is comedic slapstick, lies mainly in the events of each single episode. Usually Garfield has to solve problems that he himself causes, but always tries to skive off, and actually solves them in the end.
In the second season, Garfield began breaking the fourth wall more often, such as asking for the script for the episode, talking to the audience and even mentioning cartoon traditions, such as instant healing.
Main characters
| Characters | Voice Actors | Replacing Actors |
|---|---|---|
| Garfield Garfield (character) Garfield is a fictional character and the title protagonist from the comic strip Garfield created by Jim Davis.-Personality:Garfield is an anthropomorphic ginger cat. He loves eating , and sleeping. He is teased about being overweight. He is also selfish... |
Frank Welker Frank Welker Franklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:... |
Lorenzo Music Lorenzo Music Lorenzo Music was an American actor, voice actor, writer, television producer and musician. His best-known roles include voicing the animated cartoon cat Garfield, and Carlton the doorman on the CBS sitcom Rhoda... (After his death in 2001) |
| Odie Odie Odie is a fictional character in the Jim Davis comic strip Garfield. He has also appeared in Garfield and Friends, The Garfield Show, two live-action feature films, and 3 CGI films.... |
Gregg Berger Gregg Berger Greggory "Gregg" Berger is an American voice actor, who is known for his longtime role as Odie the dog from the Garfield franchise... |
None |
| Jon Arbuckle Jon Arbuckle Jonathan Q. Arbuckle is a character from the Garfield comic strip by Jim Davis. He has also appeared in the animated television series Garfield and Friends, the computer-animated The Garfield Show, and two live-action feature films.... |
Wally Wingert Wally Wingert Wallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in... |
Thom Huge (Not returning from Garfield and Friends Garfield and Friends Garfield and Friends is an American animated television series based on the comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis. The show was produced by Film Roman, in association with United Feature Syndicate and Paws, Inc., and ran on CBS Saturday mornings from September 17, 1988 to December 10, 1994, with... ) |
Minor characters
- Nermal
- Arlene
- Eddie Gourmand
- Professor Thaddeus Bonkers
- Doc Boy
- Aunt Ivy
- Dr. Liz Wilson
- Squeak
- The Evil Space Lasagnas
- Harry
- Driscilla and Minerva
- T3000
- Patrick or Paddy The Leprechaun that appered in Luck Charm and Rain or Shine it is revealed in the epsiode Rain or shine that He is apparently able to speak fluent Irish.
English voices
- Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
- Garfield, Eddie Gourmand, Cleaning Robot - Gregg BergerGregg BergerGreggory "Gregg" Berger is an American voice actor, who is known for his longtime role as Odie the dog from the Garfield franchise...
- Odie, Squeak, Harry, Herman Post, Additional Voices - Wally WingertWally WingertWallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in...
- Jon Arbuckle, Al the Dog Catcher, Hercules, Happy Chapman - Audrey WasilewskiAudrey WasilewskiAudrey Wasilewski is an American actress and voice actress.-Life and career:Wasilewski's first role came in the 1994 Japanese animated film Heisei tanuki gassen pompoko, where she was one of the additional voices dubbed in English...
- Arlene, Newscaster - Jason MarsdenJason MarsdenJason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
- Nermal, Vito, Liz's Father, Pete the Dog Catcher, Dr. Bonkers, Additional Voices - Laura SummerLaura Summer- Anime Roles :* Digimon Adventure/Digimon Adventure 02 - Patamon* Flint the Time Detective - Princess Hightower* Mirmo! - Ponta* Hello Kitty - Mimi- Non-Anime roles :* The Real Ghostbusters - Janine Melnitz...
- Drusilla & Minerva the Twins, Additional Voices, - Julie Payne - Dr. Liz Wilson
- Laraine NewmanLaraine NewmanLaraine Newman is an American comedienne, actress, and writer, and was part of the original Saturday Night Live cast.-Personal life:...
- Aunt Ivy, Additional Voices
French voices
- Gérard Surugue - Garfield, Additional Voices
- Bruno ChoëlBruno ChoëlBruno Choël is a French actor who specializes in dubbing. He is the French voice of Ewan McGregor and Johnny Depp.-Television programs:*Angel *Argai: The Prophecy *Cold Case...
- Jon, Additional Voices - Gilbert LevyGilbert LevyGilbert Levy is a French actor and voice actor, best known for the French voices of Moe, Lenny, Willie, Frink, Cletus, etc. in The Simpsons animated sitcom, starting with the fifth season. He is also notable for dubbing over the roles of Jimbo, Jimmy, Mr. Mackey, etc. in the French dub of the...
- Squeak, Additional Voices - Véronique Soufflet - Arlène, Dr. Liz Wilson, Additional Voices
- Marc Saez - Nermal, Additional Voices
- Philippe Bozo - Harry, Additional Voices
Guest cast
- Stan FrebergStan FrebergStanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
- Dr. Whipple, Fluffykins, Additional Voices - David LanderDavid LanderDavid L. Lander is an American actor, comedian, composer, musician, and baseball scout. David is also the Goodwill Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.- Biography :...
- Doc Boy Arbuckle - Tress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeille is an American voice actress best known for providing various voices on the animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Disney's House of Mouse, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rugrats, All Grown Up!, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Dave the...
- Esmeralda - Susan SiloSusan SiloSusan Silo is an American actress and voice actress.-Early life and career:She was born in New York City, New York. Her acting career started in television on an episode of The Jack Benny Show. Silo also co-starred with Larry Blyden, Dawn Nickerson, and Diahn Williams in the NBC sitcom Harry's...
- Neferkitty - June ForayJune ForayJune Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
- Mrs. Cauldron - Jack Riley - Ghost Cat, Mr. Allwork
Reception
Common Sense MediaCommon Sense Media
Common Sense Media , commonly known as CSM, is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization which serves as a guide for parents that has reviews for most media types, including books, movies, video games, music, and websites, and rates them in terms of violence, sex, and profanity. The website...
gave the show 3 stars out of 5, saying "Infamous cat's antics are fun, if not exactly message laden." The series has a current rating of 8.7 on tv.com. IMBD currently has a 3.8 rating for the series.
Video game
A party video game titled The Garfield Show: Threat of the Space LasagnaThe Garfield Show: Threat of the Space Lasagna
The Garfield Show: Threat of the Space Lasagna is a Wii video game based on the Cartoon Network television series The Garfield Show. It is the first video game based on the series and was released Summer 2010. The game supports the Wii Balance Board and the Wii Motion Plus-Gameplay:The game...
, was released in July 2010 for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. It includes over 12 minigames and supports the Wii Balance Board
Wii Balance Board
The Wii Balance Board is a balance board accessory for the Nintendo Wii video game console. Along with Wii Fit, it was introduced on July 11, 2007 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo...
and Wii Motion Plus.
International airings
In IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, The Garfield Show scheduled aired on MNCTV
MNCTV
MNCTV is an Indonesian private television channel which headquarter's based in East Jakarta. TPI was established by Tutut Soeharto . It began broadcasting on the 23rd of January 1991...
. In China, The Garfield Show （加菲猫的幸福生活） is shown daily at CCTV-Kids. In the USA, the series is aired on Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....