In 1982, popular comic strip character, Garfield took to the small screen to appear in a half-hour, animated television special. The special – Here Comes Garfield – aired on CBS in the US and followed the story of Garfield and Odie’s encounter with a dogcatcher.
Upon making its debut, Here Comes Garfield was a ratings winner. The special was also nominated for two Emmy Awards, and was accompanied by a soundtrack album, as well as a children’s book, and home video releases.
Due to the popularity of the Garfield special, a second special called Garfield on the Town aired in 1983. This was then followed by Garfield in the Rough in 1984.
Further specials appeared throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, building a sizeable collection of animated Garfield tales in the process. But how many Garfield specials are there?
For all the details, keep reading.
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The Garfield television specials
Here Comes Garfield (1982)
The first Garfield television special aired in 1982 under the title Here Comes Garfield. In this animated offering, Garfield’s canine friend, Odie is captured by a dogcatcher and taken to the pound.
When Garfield realises how dull life is without his pal, he sets off to rescue him. However, Garfield finds himself locked up in the pound too, until he can mount an escape.
Garfield on the Town (1983)
Following the huge success of Here Comes Garfield, CBS ordered another Garfield special to air in 1983. This second special – titled Garfield on the Town – saw Garfield get lost in town, before meeting various family members.
Garfield in the Rough (1984)
With Garfield on the Town proving popular, a third special titled Garfield in the Rough aired in 1984. In this special, Garfield went on vacation to a campsite.
Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)
In this next offering, things got a little spooky as Garfield embraced the Halloween season for Garfield’s Halloween Adventure – the fourth television special. In this story, Garfield and Odie dressed up as pirates, in order to go trick-or-treating.
Garfield in Paradise (1986)
Airing in 1986, Garfield in Paradise was the fifth television special to appear on CBS. In this special, Garfield, Odie, and Jon Arbuckle took a trip to Paradise World – a low-rent version of Hawaii.
Garfield Goes Hollywood (1987)
With the Garfield specials continuing to remain popular with audiences, a sixth special hit television screens in 1987, titled Garfield Goes to Hollywood. As the title suggests, in this special, Garfield went to Hollywood to take part in a talent contest.
A Garfield Christmas Special (1987)
In this festive offering, Garfield spends the holiday season with the Arbuckle family on their farm. While here, he learns the true meaning of Christmas.
Garfield: His 9 Lives (1988)
Airing in 1988, Garfield: His 9 Lives was the eighth Garfield television special to appear on CBS. The hour-long offering featured ten different segments, with six adapted from the Garfield book of the same name.
Garfield: Babes and Bullets (1989)
Based on the short story of the same name, Garfield: Babes and Bullets was the ninth Garfield television special. In the special, Garfield imagined himself as a private detective under the name, Sam Spayed.
Garfield: Thanksgiving (1989)
In this holiday-themed special, Garfield is put on a diet after he is deemed overweight. This would be bad news for Garfield at the best of times, but at Thanksgiving it becomes his worst nightmare.
Garfield: Feline Fantasies (1990)
In the penultimate Garfield television special, the eponymous feline fantasises about a more adventurous life. This fantasy includes imagining himself as a James Bond/Indiana Jones-style adventurer.
Garfield Gets a Life (1991)
After a successful run on television throughout the 1980s, the Garfield specials came to an end in 1991 with the twelfth special, Garfield Gets a Life. For this instalment, Jon Arbuckle attempts to improve his love life, resulting in a potential new girlfriend named Mona.
List of Garfield TV specials in order
Between 1982 and 1991, CBS aired 12 animated Garfield specials. The Garfield specials are as follows:
- Here Comes Garfield (1982)
- Garfield on the Town (1983)
- Garfield in the Rough (1984)
- Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)
- Garfield in Paradise (1986)
- Garfield Goes Hollywood (1987)
- A Garfield Christmas Special (1987)
- Garfield: His 9 Lives (1988)
- Garfield: Babes and Bullets (1989)
- Garfield: Thanksgiving (1989)
- Garfield: Feline Fantasies (1990)
- Garfield Gets a Life (1991)
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Who provided the voice of Garfield in the television specials, and were the specials the work of the same director?
Across all 12 animated specials, the late voice actor, Lorenzo Music provided the voice of Garfield. During his lifetime, Music was a celebrated voice artist, who not only played the role of Garfield in the specials, as well as in animated shows and television commercials, he also provided voice work for a range of characters in shows including The Real Ghostbusters, Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Darkwing Duck, and many more.
In terms of the directors, the Garfield television specials are the work of the following directors:
- Phil Roman directed Here Comes Garfield, Garfield on the Town, Garfield in the Rough, Garfield’s Halloween Adventure, Garfield in Paradise, and Garfield Goes Hollywood
- Phil Roman and George Singer directed A Garfield Christmas Special
- Phil Roman, Doug Frankel, Ruth Kissane, Bill Littlejohn, Bob Nesler, Bob Scott, George Singer, and John Sparey directed Garfield: His 9 Lives
- Phil Roman, Bob Nesler, and John Sparey directed Garfield: Babes and Bullets and Garfield: Feline Fantasies
- Phil Roman, Gerard Baldwin, Bob Nesler, and John Sparey directed Garfield: Thanksgiving
- John Sparey directed Garfield Gets a Life
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Which is the best Garfield animated TV special?
According to IMDb the Garfield television specials are rated as follows:
- Here Comes Garfield (1982) – 7.7/10
- Garfield on the Town (1983) – 7.7/10
- Garfield in the Rough (1984) – 7.6/10
- Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985) – 8.1/10
- Garfield in Paradise (1986) – 7.2/10
- Garfield Goes Hollywood (1987) – 7.3/10
- A Garfield Christmas Special (1987) – 8.0/10
- Garfield: His 9 Lives (1988) – 7.8/10
- Garfield: Babes and Bullets (1989) – 8.0/10
- Garfield: Thanksgiving (1989) – 7.7/10
- Garfield: Feline Fantasies (1990) – 7.5/10
- Garfield Gets a Life (1991) – 7.1/10
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