Garfield Originals
A silent-film-inspired Garfield series using traditional animation.
Garfield Originals is a 2D animated short series co-created by Jim Davis and Philippe Vidal. It first aired in France on December 6, 2019, on France 3 and Okoo, and can also be streamed on France.tv, a platform limited to France. Half of the episodes debuted on that date, with the rest following on June 17, 2020. The series later aired on Radio-Canada on May 11, 2021, and was added to Nick.com in the United States on October 19, 2021, alongside an upload to the official The Garfield Show YouTube channel. Unlike most Garfield media, this series emphasizes physical comedy and draws inspiration from silent films. It also marks the first use of traditional animation in the franchise since the final episode of Garfield and Friends in 1994. The show was developed with France's Dargaud Media and Ellipsanime.
The characters include Garfield, Jon Arbuckle, Odie, Nermal, Dr. Liz Wilson, Arlene, Pooky, Squeak (a mouse), Big Dog, and Herman Post (the mailman). The voice cast features Gérard Surugue as Garfield, Véronique Soufflet as Nermal, Arlene, and Liz Wilson, Antoine Schoumsky as Odie, Squeak, Big Dog, and Herman Post, and Bruno Choël as Jon Arbuckle (uncredited).
The series consists of 120 shorts, each thirty seconds long. These are grouped into 24 segments, with five shorts per segment. The animation studio for the series is MadLab Animations, created by Ankama Animations and Ellipsanime Productions.
- field
- Animation
- nationality
- France / United States
- known_for
- First Garfield series since 1994 to use traditional animation; silent-film-inspired physical comedy
- premiere_date
- December 6, 2019 (France)
- number_of_shorts
- 120
- animation_studio
- MadLab Animations (created by Ankama Animations and Ellipsanime Productions)
Lore & Background
Garfield Originals is composed of 120 shorts of thirty seconds each, with one segment containing 5 shorts that make up 24 segments. Half of the show's episodes aired on December 6, 2019; the remaining half aired on June 17, 2020. The series also aired on Radio-Canada on May 11, 2021, and on October 19, 2021, it was added to Nick.com in the United States as well as being uploaded to YouTube by the official channel of The Garfield Show.
Reader's Guide
Garfield Originals represents a stylistic departure for the Garfield franchise, emphasizing physical comedy and silent-film aesthetics rather than the dialogue-driven humor of most previous incarnations. Its use of traditional animation marks a return to the hand-drawn look not seen in the franchise since Garfield and Friends ended in 1994. The series was developed with France's Dargaud Media and Ellipsanime, and its animation was produced by MadLab Animations, a studio created by Ankama Animations and Ellipsanime Productions. The voice cast includes Gérard Surugue as Garfield, Véronique Soufflet as Nermal, Arlene, and Liz Wilson, Antoine Schoumsky as Odie, Squeak, Big Dog, and Herman Post, and Bruno Choël as Jon Arbuckle (uncredited). The series' distribution across French broadcasters, a Canadian network, and U.S. digital platforms helped introduce a new generation to a classic character through a minimalist, gag-driven format.
Did You Know?
- Garfield Originals is the first installment in the Garfield franchise since the final episode of Garfield and Friends in 1994 to utilize traditional animation.
- The series relies on physical comedy and is inspired by silent films.
- Half of the show's episodes aired on December 6, 2019; the remaining half aired on June 17, 2020.
- The series was added to Nick.com in the United States on October 19, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Garfield Originals?
Garfield Originals is a 120-episode 2D animated short series featuring the iconic orange cat in wordless, slapstick-driven adventures. It was co-created by Jim Davis and Philippe Vidal and animated by MadLab Animations.
What makes Garfield Originals different from other Garfield shows?
The series relies entirely on physical comedy with zero spoken dialogue, channeling the visual storytelling style of classic silent films. It was also the first Garfield series since 1994 to be produced with traditional hand-drawn animation rather than digital methods.
Who created Garfield Originals and which studio animated it?
Jim Davis and Philippe Vidal co-created the series, while animation was handled by MadLab Animations, a studio formed from Ankama Animations and Ellipsanime Productions. The project carries a joint French-American production identity.
When and where did Garfield Originals first air?
The series premiered in France on December 6, 2019, on France 3 and the Okoo streaming service, with the second batch of episodes following on June 17, 2020. It later reached Canadian viewers through Radio-Canada in May 2021 and U.S. audiences via Nick.com in October 2021.
How many shorts are in Garfield Originals?
The series comprises 120 individual short episodes. Half debuted at the French premiere in late 2019, and the remaining half aired the following June.
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