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Paws, Inc.

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Paws, Inc.
Paws Incorporated
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1981; 43 years ago (1981), in Muncie, Indiana
FounderJim Davis
Headquarters,
United States
Key people
Jim Davis (CEO)
Products
Brands
ParentNickelodeon Group (2019–present)

Paws, Inc., doing business as Paws, Incorporated, is an American comic studio and production company founded by American cartoonist Jim Davis in 1981[1] to support the Garfield comic strips and its licensing. The company is located inside Paramount Global's headquarters building in New York City. It was originally located in Muncie, Indiana, relocated in 1989 from Davis' own farm when he was a boy.[2]

In 1994, the company purchased all rights to the classic Garfield comic strips from 1978 to 1993 from United Feature Syndicate, although United still holds the original black-and-white daily strips and original color Sunday strips. The full-color daily strips and recolored Sunday strips are copyrighted to Paws as they are considered a different product. The strip is currently distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication (formerly Universal Press Syndicate and Universal Uclick), while rights for the strip remain with Paws, Inc. By 2015, the company employed almost fifty artists and administrators.[3]

In 2019, Davis sold Paws, Inc. to Viacom, which would later merge with CBS Corporation to form ViacomCBS later renamed to Paramount Global, including global merchandising and existing licensees. The deal put Paws under Paramount's Nickelodeon banner (which itself is part of its Kids & Family division).[4] The deal excluded the rights to the live-action Garfield films from 2004 to 2006, which are still owned by 20th Century Studios,[4] as well as the animated film The Garfield Movie, which is owned and distributed by Sony Pictures under its Columbia Pictures label.[5] Although Paws, Inc. is now effectively located in Manhattan, Davis still continue to draw the comic strips in Indiana for newspapers and Andrews McMeel Syndication.[6]

Filmography

[edit]

Television specials

[edit]
Work Original release Studio Network
Here Comes Garfield 1982 Bill Melendez Productions
Lee Mendelson Film Productions
United Media Productions
CBS
Garfield on the Town 1983
Garfield in the Rough 1984 Film Roman
United Media Productions
Garfield's Halloween Adventure 1985
Garfield in Paradise 1986
Garfield Goes Hollywood 1987
A Garfield Christmas
Happy Birthday, Garfield 1988
Garfield: His 9 Lives
Garfield's Babes and Bullets 1989
Garfield's Thanksgiving
Garfield's Feline Fantasies 1990
Garfield Gets a Life 1991

Television series

[edit]
Work Original release Studio Network
Garfield and Friends 1988–1994 United Media Productions (seasons 1–6)
Lee Mendelson Film Productions (seasons 2–7)
Film Roman
CBS
The Garfield Show 2008–2016 Dargaud Media France 3 (France)
Cartoon Network (United States, seasons 1–3)
Boomerang (United States, seasons 4–5)
Garfield Originals 2019–2020 France 3
Untitled Garfield television series TBA Nickelodeon Animation Studio Nickelodeon

Feature films

[edit]
Work Original release Studio Notes
Garfield: The Movie 2004 20th Century Fox
Davis Entertainment
Live-action/CGI hybrid, theatrical feature
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties 2006 20th Century Fox
Davis Entertainment
Dune Entertainment
Major Studio Partners
Ingenious Film Partners
Garfield Gets Real 2007 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Davis Entertainment
The Animation Picture Company
Fully computer-animated, direct-to-video feature
Garfield's Fun Fest 2008
Garfield's Pet Force 2009
The Garfield Movie[5][7][8] 2024 Columbia Pictures
Alcon Entertainment
DNEG Animation
Prime Focus
One Cool Group
Wayfarer Studios
Stage 6 Films
John Cohen Productions
Andrews McMeel Entertainment
Fully computer-animated, theatrical feature

References

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  1. ^ Kirby, Audrey J. (June 4, 2019). "Garfield HQ up for sale, proceeds to support Ball State Foundation". The Star Press.
  2. ^ Shuey, Mickey (June 19, 2018). "On the prowl: Behind the scenes at Garfield HQ". The Star Press. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Today in Comics History: A Celebration of Garfield". Comics Alliance. June 19, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Mullin, Benjamin (August 6, 2019). "Viacom, Hungry For Hits, Gobbles Garfield". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (November 1, 2021). "Chris Pratt to Voice Garfield in Upcoming Animated Movie". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Porter, Rick (August 6, 2019). "New 'Garfield' Series Set at Nickelodeon". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  7. ^ Grobar, Matt (November 1, 2021). "'Garfield': Chris Pratt To Voice Title Character In Alcon Entertainment's Animated Film". Deadline. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 18, 2023). "Peter Luo's Stars Collective & China's Hana Investment Partner On Ambitious Fund; 'The Garfield Movie' Among First Collaborations". Deadline. Retrieved October 23, 2023.