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GarfieldGarfield is a popular comic strip created by Jim Davis featuring a cat, the pet dog Odie, and their socially inept owner Jon Arbuckle. The cat character is named after Davis's grandfather, who was named after former United States president James Garfield. Debuting June 19 1978 (also considered his birthday, the strips on June 19th always show the cat celebrating his birthday on that day), I guess the syndicated comic strip was suppose to poke fun at pet owners and their relationship with their pets, often portraying the pet as the true master of the home. The cat struggles with very human like problems, such as diets, hatred of Mondays, apathy, boredom, and so on. Over the course of the strip, Garfield's behavior has become more human and less cat-like. His appearance has also evolved, from an obese cat with flabby jowls and small round eyes to a slimmer cat with enlarged eyes. By this time, Garfield had begun walking on two feet, and the strip changed to more of an emphasis on sitcom situations (Garfield making fun of his owner's stupidity, Jon's inability to pick up girls) and less on the habbit of cats. The comic strip was turned into a cartoon special for television in 1982. Twelve television specials were made (through 1990) as well as another television series, which ran from 1988 to 1994. A live-action movie version of the comic strip also(with a computer-animated Garfield and live-action Odie), debuted in the USA on June 11, 2004. Popularity Factor Garfield is a cat who acts like a human being and deals with humanlike problems, making him an interesting character. Primary Characters
• Odie: the average dog, has a dopey yellow-fur, brown-eared dog constantly panting with his very large tongue, and the only character without a "voice". Often kicked off the table by Gar-field or the victim of some practical joke. • Jonathan Q. "Jon" Arbuckle: Gar-field and Odie's owner. A total nerd and clumsy individual who is extremely unlucky in the world of dating and coolness. Primary fodder and conversation partner to Gar-field and is often the butt of his jokes. • Arlene: Gar-field's on-and-off girlfriend. A thin pink cat who seems to be the one living thing in the world who can successfully crack jokes at Gar-field on a regular basis. • Pooky: Gar-field's teddy bear. • Nermal: cute kitten who flaunts his cuteness (the cutest kitten in the world, he says), which annoys Gar-field immensely. Often comes in unannounced, much to Gar-field's chagrin. He is owned by Jon's parents, and when we see him, it is usually because Jon has to babysit him. • Mom: Jon's mother who's always cooking up a meal, and sending Gar-field sweaters. • Dad: Jon's father who tends the family farm. • Doc Boy: Jon's younger and only brother who tends to the pigs on the farm, and as much a loser as Jon. • Grandma: She is a Harley-riding, leather-wearing old lady. She loves Jon and Gar-field, and occasionally makes appearances throughout the series. The most is revealed about her in Gar-field's Christmas special, where it is revealed that her husband has passed away and she talks about her life with him. • Lyman: Friend of Jon's who lived with him for a while and was the original owner of Odie. He disappeared from the comic in 1983 and his disappearance was never fully elaborated upon. • Irma: waitress and owner of "Irma's Diner," a diner occasionally patronized by Jon and Gar-field. • Dr. Liz Wilson: Gar-field's veterinarian and long-time crush of Jon Arbuckle. • Herman Post: Jon Arbuckle's mailman. He is constantly being tormented by Garfield, and perpetually trying to find a way to deliver the mail safely, but almost never succeeding.
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