Cardinal Cinema: The Story of Jim Davis (Garfield Documentary)

The story of the man behind America's favorite fat cat, Garfield. Jim Davis grew up with asthma on a midwestern farm with a bunch of cats and turned that experience into the most widely syndicated comic strip in history.

NATASLGL Emmy Award Winner for Nostalgia Program
NATASLGL Emmy Award Winner for Director Non-Live
NATASLGL Emmy Award Nominated Writer

Director - Ryan Shank
Producer - Emily Holland
Assistant Producer - Jay Fields
Assistant Director - Max Harp
Cinematographer - Garrett Finn
First Assistant Camera - Ben Thatcher
Second Assistant Camera - Matt McFarland
Production Assistants - Madison Krause, Kaylee Jones, Luke Stazy, Clayton Easton
Sound - Eric Heinzman
Editor -Nick Evans
Motion Graphics - Garrett Finn
Lower Thirds - Demi Hardrick
Colorist - Garrett Finn
Behind the Scenes - Allison Griffith

Special Thanks:
Jim Davis
PAWS, inc
Kim Campbell Beasley
Fairmount Historical Museum
Dan Lutz
Sue Bunner
Andrea Lutz
WIPB-TV
Josh Carroll
Cole Reeves
Arne Flaten
Madelyn Ferris

Faculty Advisor - Chris Flook

© 2018 Ball State University and WIPB-TV. All Rights Reserved.

[floobynooby]

As a life-long Garfield fan and television animation director, I must say, you did an amazing job with this. Classy, tasteful, informative, and charming in every way, congratulations.

[icandrawit]

Jim Davis always comes across as a very nice gentleman. He’s made Garfield an astounding success. It’s very impressive to me how much control he’s able to wield across different media. A brilliant man.

[joeybaseball]

Garfield is my favorite cartoon ever. I am a Garfield fanatic. And there are a few people in Garfield lore I idolize. Obviously Jim Davis. But also Lorenzo Music; the one and only *true* voice of Garfield. Garfield just doesn't sound right without him. Mark Evanier; the man responsible for 99% of the show, _Garfield and Friends._ Which also happens to be my all-time favorite show. And Phil Roman; the man who brought Garfield to life.

[joeybaseball]

I wish Jim had told you the story of how Garfield and Friends came to be. Yes, he was approached by CBS to do a Garfield show. But Jim Davis turned down the offer initially, as he felt that Garfield was famous enough, and didn't need any more press. Jim then counter-pitched CBS a US Acres show instead. A comic strip about farm animals he was doing at the time, hoping it would become as popular as Garfield. CBS wasn't very interested in a US Acres show, but was still very interested in doing a Garfield show. So they made a compromise to make a show with both Garfield and US Acres. And that's where the "and Friends" came from.

[joeybaseball]

There's two things I think Jim Davis has ever said he regrets about Garfield. One is that he originally was going to have Garfield eat pizza instead of lasagna. But changed it to lasagna because he felt it was a more unique food. But he found lasagna harder to draw than pizza. And his second regret was putting stripes on Garfield. Garfield was originally a completely orange cat. But someone at the syndicate requested Garfield to have stripes. So Jim, being eager to get his comic in a newspaper, fulfilled that request, and it became Garfield's signature look. But he says he wished he hadn't because it would've saved him from having to draw millions of stripes over the years.

[RGGRFLD]

As a lifelong Garfield fan, I am so glad I found this and got to watch it. Jim Davis is truly an underrated man.

[DanyTV]

Loved this mini documentary! As a fan of Garfield since I was a kid I can't be more thankful to Mr. Davis.

[Flyssac]

"Out of all articles of Garfield that I've seen, they're all cute"

*cut to Gorefeld*

[nathanhelix]

23:11 "The difficulty is saying something funny that's not offensive". Meanwhile, in another part of America, Gary Larson puts pen to paper.

[cheardsful]

one of my favorite cartoonists love his humility

[GuineaPigDan]

Really nicely done documentary. Great to hear Davis explain his whole thought process behind the comic.

[blablablabla]

Excellent documentary, thank you very much!

[claytonbouldin]

This is a wonderful interview with Jim Davis. Garfield is a part of my childhood as much as Star Wars, Transformers, He-Man and Star Trek. I still have all of my Garfield books.

[drewlovelyhell]

He must really love that character to still be drawing him after 40 years. I suppose it's hard not to be fond of someone who made you rich!
I'm surprised Jim Davis is such a country boy. I always got a strong East Coast vibe from the strip.

[mariesmith]

Love Garfield always wanted to go see Paws Inc. my brother Jerry Sisco which has done work for Jim had made plans several time take me to visit Paws Inc, but something would always happen and we didn’t make it but maybe I can get back up there soon....

[Margann]

The Garfield Thanksgiving special is comedy gold!

[MOVIESNCOMICS]

This is great! Garfield will always be an American classic

[SlobZombie]

He seems like he deserves everything he accomplished

[elliesuckz]

absolute unit of man, idk why everyone hates him and Garfield 😭😂 I luv garf tbh 💗

[Laufield]

Laufield are Garfield’s daughter ♥️♥️♥️ I love you, Garfield