Garfield: His 9 Lives

The book that this animated special was based on came out in...84 or 85. Reading it was a BIG surprise for me, although a lot of it is the same artistic and writing style as the comic, it contains some stories and art that are decidedly NOT the usual Garfield thing, including some rather twisted segments. Only one of those really oddball segments made the TV special (the part where he's a laboratory cat, escapes the military facility, and changes into a dog before the guard dogs can catch him). One of the other segments from the book that does not appear in the show is called Babes and Bullets, which was of course later made as its own stand-alone (slightly rewritten) Garfield special. The show did include at least one segment that was not in the book (Diana's Piano).

If you ever come across the book, give it a read, but don't expect the entire thing to be typical Garfield. The part called "Primal Urges" contains some very...disjointed art, a la a comic book graphic novel (not the same style, but just as freaky as, say, Batman - The Arkham Asylum).

This Garfield TV movie is pretty much the most unique of it's kind.

The story begins when the Creator(who portrays as God) creates a cat also known as Garfield. And gives him 9 lives to create an interesting story.

Then we get to see Garfield intro each of his 9 lives. Each one is different from another. A lot of them were done in different animation to give it a different taste.

Pretty much Life #8 is similar to the common Garfield cartoons.

I consider this one a Garfield of a different color.

The idea of 9 different stories in one TV movie is really cool in my opinion. A must see for the Garfield fans.

Going in as a kid seeing it was about Garfield I went in assuming it was going to be like the other specials and movies, cynical funny jokes and moderate slapstick usually at Odie's expense. This movie was not like that... think Heavy Metal, but without the straight out adult material.

Life six ranked up there with Plague Dogs in terms of scare factor to 5 year old me. Life 7 still is capable of reducing me to tears and is more disturbing when you consider other factors of the life.

In a lot of ways it was a brilliant special... however its such a step away from the star character that it doesn't feel like it belongs in the Garfield canon.

Also his life from the book version babes and bullets got spun off into its own movie so in the animated version Garfield technically must have 10 lives.

Anyway if your in the mood for one of those specials from the 80s that feels magical but yet uncomfortable in a weird way this will give you some of that feel but not nearly as overwhelming as some things out of this time period for that.

Have always remembered Garfield with fondness. He has always struck me as very funny and endearing, one of the funniest animated characters ever when it comes to asides, and his specials and 'Garfield and Friends' hold up very well today (less so 'The Garfield Show' and the first live action film, the second was an improvement while still having its issues). Even better perhaps throughout adult eyes, and this is coming from somebody who is something of a child at heart but has become harder to please overtime.

'Garfield His Nine Lives' stands out among the other Garfield specials and in terms of structure and tone, as well as seeing a different Garfield, it is a contender for the most unique. It is not among my favourites of his specials, not in the same way that 'Garfield in Disguise' and especially 'A Garfield Christmas Special' are. It is still great though, with next to nothing to dislike about it, and those who love the book it's based upon will love it as the special does it justice. 'Garfield His Nine Lives' is an example of being different but in a good way, not in a way that disgraces the character.

The animation occasionally could have been smoother, but most of it sees some lovely detail and colour that was the right mix of vibrant and atmospheric. It was very interesting to see Garfield in these different varied settings for the stories, and some very imaginative moments are boasted here. The music always fits and never less than pleasant and infectious.

All nine stories featured entertain and charm with a wide range of emotions and tones not usually seen in Garfield specials, some parts are unusually twisted but not in a way that to me comes over as too scary. Again the entertainment value is constant, with some smart wry humour while there is also an emotional core that doesn't come over as too sentimental.

Funny and loveable as ever, Garfield does not disappoint and peerlessly voiced by Lorenzo Music who hasn't been bettered or equalled as the character since. Odie continues to be adorable and the chemistry between the two delights. The supporting characters are fun. Have no issues with the voice work either.

Overall, different but great. 9/10 Bethany Cox

I thought it would be a cute Garfield flashback from the 80s. 2 segments are not animated in the same genre as Garfield. One is OK where Garfield is a female cat who lives its life with a piano playing girl. The cat later grows old and dies which was a bit heavy for the kids but fine. The 7th life "Garfield" is Creepy. He a lab cat but the animation is more like a moonlighting Disney animator (per Jungle Book features) and the story is dark. The non-Garfield is in a military lab being injected with serum that genetically alters him into a dog. He later escapes and is chased by the military. Creepy lab scenes for kids.