(Source: www.newsfromme.com)
Jim Davis and Paws Inc. are betting that, even after Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties bombed, people will still drop hard cash for that lazy, sarcastic cat. That's why they've put together a deal with France's Dargaud Marina S.A. to produce a new 26-episode television series.
Here's the press release, lifted from animator Mark Evanier's personal site:
"Paws, Inc. is thrilled to announce that they have entered into an agreement for Dargaud Marina S.A. (Paris, France) to produce and distribute a new fully animated half-hour television series beginning with 26 episodes for the first season.
"The series will be produced in the English and French languages, and animated in CGI with 3D tools. The television programming is intended for worldwide distribution.
"Mark Evanier will write the series in collaboration with French nationalist writers. Evanier wrote the highly successful Garfield and Friends series. Garfield and Friends started its first season on CBS-TV in 1988. The half-hour program was so popular, it was expanded to one hour for the second season. Garfield and Friends stayed at the top of the ratings chart for Saturday morning shows for 7 years. In fact, the show was the most popular children's program on television in 1993, with an audience that was 40% adult.
"The new series will be animated and produced by Ellipsanime, under the direction of Robert Réa, Director General, and Philippe Vidal, creative director.
"Paws has worked with Dargaud Editeur S.A., managed by Claude de Saint Vincent, on Garfield books, albums, journals, calendars, etc., for over 24 years."
There you have it, kids. Evanier also mentions that he will be voice directing, and that Bill Murray will not be the voice of Garfield in this new series, but that's about it. Basically, when he knows more, so will you.
Evanier also says that he's working on an as-yet unannounced project: "something involving a comic book artist with the initials 'J.K.'"
