Charles Schulz’s Peanuts and Jim Davis’ Garfield stand out as two of the most cherished comic strips in history. Their creators not only had a mutual influence on each other’s work, but Schulz also took the time to redesign Garfield as a personal gesture. This collaboration wasn’t a brief encounter; it led to a lasting change that fans recognize as Garfield’s modern aesthetic.
In a revealing interview with Heritage Auctions (featured below), Davis shares the story behind Schulz’s redesign of his famous tabby cat. While working on the first TV special for Garfield, titled Here Comes Garfield, Davis encountered a significant challenge: Garfield’s initial design posed difficulties for the animation, particularly for his movement during the ending credits.
Davis recalls the frustration he faced, admitting, “I was having a terrible time with it, because he had these tiny little feet and this big round body.” Fortunately, Schulz was nearby, engaged in his own Peanuts project. Recognizing Davis’s predicament, Schulz stepped in to offer a solution with a quick sketch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QmnA2JfuA4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QmnA2JfuA4
Schulz: The Secret Behind Garfield’s Balance
Schulz Shared an Artistic ‘Cheat’ for Balance
He grabbed my paper, and I was like ‘AH!’ – he’s drawing over my sketch – and he said, ‘When Snoopy is on all fours, he has little puppy feet, but when he stands up, his back feet get bigger, giving him better balance and nobody ever notices that, but he looks good standing up as well.’ So he drew these big cat feet with Garfield standing up, and all of a sudden Garfield was balanced.. .. From that day on, he walked, and it was thanks to Charles Schulz.
Schulz’s ‘cheat’ demonstrates the importance of maintaining artistic consistency, even if character designs vary subtly across different views. For instance, in Disney’s Frozen, Elsa’s hair defies physical logic by passing through her arm during a scene. Similarly, Snoopy and Garfield exhibit slightly different designs when in motion versus at rest. These variations, when executed carefully, often go unnoticed by audiences.
It’s remarkable to think that the interplay between Schulz and Davis not only led to Garfield’s clever redesign but also illustrated how collaborative ideas can craft a beloved character’s essence over time.
Evolution of Garfield’s Design: A Purposeful Transformation
Purposeful Adjustments to Garfield’s Features
While Schulz’s influence is evident in Garfield’s larger feet, Jim Davis has made even more substantial adjustments throughout the character’s journey. Initially portrayed as a more realistic feline, Davis gradually modified Garfield’s design to enhance his expressiveness and relatability. Reflecting on this process, Davis noted:
That was never intentional. That just kind of happened over time to allow Garfield to do the things he needed to do. To better reach a pie on a high shelf, or better move around.
Another notable change occurred out of necessity when a newsprint shortage in 1983 forced many publications to reduce the size of the Garfield comics. To maintain the clarity of his punchlines, Davis deliberately enlarged Garfield’s facial features, ensuring readability and expression for older audiences.
The outcome is a character design that has evolved through a confluence of creative necessity and fortuitous events, from Davis’s adaptations in response to industry challenges to Schulz’s nearby guidance during a creative crisis. This fascinating synergy ultimately helped shape the endearing Garfield that has captured the hearts of fans around the globe.
Source: Heritage Auctions