Garfield in the Rough

I liked this tv show because I like Garfield. Garfield's my favorite cartoon character.

Did Desiree Goyette sing the songs for all the Garfield episodes? I'm just curious. I remember the voice for the shows, but haven't found any credits for the singing. I did notice, however, that on this site she is credited as a composer as well as an actress.

I totally love the Garfield TV specials. You can always rely on them for intelligent and classy humor and 'In the Rough' is no exception. In this one Garfield, Odie and Jon go camping in the Lake Wobegone forest. But there's a massive escaped Puma on the loose and it's looking for lunch.

Brilliant songs, a clever short story and undeniable cuteness make this one of the best Garfield TV specials (well they all are really). Catch it on TV whenever you can or just go out and buy the DVD. And I know I say it all the time, but if only the terrible Garfield movie was this good..

Even after 18 years, "Garfield in the Rough" holds up very well. One of the reasons is a strong script by Jim Davis, Garfield's original creator. He deftly weaves humor and tension.

Excellent voices help this production, too. Garfield, everyone's favorite overweight house cat, is voiced as always by the late, very talented Lorenzo Music. Thom Huge does the voice of his owner, Jon Arbuckle, a role he performed in every Garfield special (sadly, to date he has not found any success elsewhere). Gregg Berger, voice acting veteran, plays both the brainless but loyal dog Odie, and the first Ranger. The other Ranger is played by George Wendt, better known to millions as Norm on "Cheers." Woodland creatures Dicky Beaver and Billy Rabbit are played by highly respected actors Hal Smith and Orson Bean, respectively. And several girl cats, existing only in Garfield's fantasies, are played by Desirée Goyette.

Goyette, along with Music, and no less a figure than Lou Rawls himself sing several lovely songs in the show (and of course, Huge sings a couple as well). The music does a good job of setting the mood. Special notice must go to a song which is briefly heard on the radio, after the news report about the deadly panther. Not only is it an excellent joke (it's described as "Fun Music" but sounds like the most depressing song in the world), but the brief seconds we hear of it, combined with the report, do an excellent job of turning the frivolous atmosphere into one of foreboding.

The animation is perhaps the one area where it could have used some work. Occasionally it gets a bit rough, and not very detailed. But most of the time it was great.

Oddly enough, the rough look was the only possible look that would have worked for the show-stealer: the panther. If it was *more* detailed, it wouldn't have been as scary. And let me tell you, to children, that panther is terrifying. Even adults get chills down their spines from that beast. Garfield's attack on it is almost certainly the most selfless thing he's ever done.

All in all, "Garfield in the Rough" is a very good animation special that anyone can view over and over again.

I know this special premiered in 1984, but I saw this sometime in the early 90s. And let me tell you, seeing these cute characters in those dark and scary situations is too contrasting. Sure there are some funny moments like the fantasy sequences the Garfield goes through, as Garfield tries to impress a girl. There is an Italian-themed one, a Mexican-temed one, and a Hawaiian-themed one. They are funny and something of what I call, the saving graces. However, it is time to peel the band-aid off the skin. It has come to my attention that the panther on the loose is the one that makes it all dark and scary. Was I sacred when I first saw it in lower school? Yes, I was. I felt so sorry for the poor characters. It was dark. Dark in 1984, dark in 1991, dark in 2007, dark in 2012, dark today! How could they put this on national television?! The other good part was the ending. Where you know what happened. It is a feel-good one too, so I won't spoil it for you. You have to see it. I bet you were sacred by the panther in this cartoon. Let me tell you that this is suitable for kids seven and up. However, there are some scenes that can frighten not only younger viewers, but sensitive viewers too. This cartoon can teach kids about courage and learn to stand up for themselves.

Give it a watch at your own risk.