Garfield’s Halloween Adventure

Jay’s Month of Scares, Day 10- Garfield

Back when I was a kid in school, the only entertainment I had were books. By the time I reached middle school, I was obsessed with reading Garfield in the library. With Halloween coming up, I’d figure I’d reignite my old passion for our fat and furry feline with his own Halloween special!

Garfield the Pirate

When Garfield wakes up and realizes that Halloween was that night, he gets pumped for free candy! So he grabs Odie, and together, they become Captain Orangebeard and his first mate, Odie the Stupid. The pair of pets sets out for a night of candy and fun, but Garfield’s greed lands them in hot water. After being stranded on a island in the river, they learn that it’s about to be visited by a crew of undead pirates. Pretty scary stuff.

As Good as the Great Pumpkin

Some may call me a heretic for saying this, but Garfield’s Halloween Adventure is almost as good as the Great Pumpkin special. Both are based on comic strips that have left a sizable impact on our culture, so some comparisons can be drawn. I happen to be a fan of both Peanuts and Garfield myself, so I’m happy with admitting this.

It may not be as timeless as The Great Pumpkin, though it does have a big advantage to it. It’s got Lorenzo Music, the man many consider to be the voice of Garfield before his death. I love listening to Lorenzo’s smooth voice, and as a bonus, he shows off his singing chops as Garfield.

Garfield’s Pretty Scary Halloween Adventure

While a grownup would react to it, I think this special’s pretty scary if you’re a kid. When Garfield and Odie are stranded on that island, the tone shifts from light-hearted to horror. The abandoned house is creaking and unsettling, like the last place you’d want to be stuck in. Then we get a good jump scare with the old man appearing out of nowhere, then disappearing once he tells his story. We never know if he’s a ghost, but I swear I saw him leave on Garfield and Odie’s boat.

The really scary thing, though, were the pirates themselves. The way they’re drawn and animated is something you’d see in an animated horror special. It’s the kind of thing that would scare kids! That’s getting into the spirit of Halloween

Award Winning Special

This special may not be as popular as it once was, but it’s still fun to watch. It’s got Garfield’s brand of humor, scares played for laughs, and actual scary stuff in it. It actually won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program. If you’re a fans Garfield, then this a Halloween special you don’t want to miss out on.

Click here to see the FANDOM Article I did for Halloween last year.

Click here to see my other animation stuff. Or here to see all holiday related posts.