Summary
One of the best known comic strips and comic characters,Garfieldis known for his large appetite and the humorous torment of his human companion, Jon. The titular cat has garnered immense success ever since his debut forty-eight years ago. This has included merchandise deals, animated series, and an upcoming animated feature film, as well as a giant parade balloon - though it hasn’t been seen in over a decade.
Jim Davis did an interview withMental Flossin 2018, revealing twenty assorted bits of information about his iconic work,Garfield,and things involving it. This included a discussion of the size of the Garfield balloon, which has flown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade a few times.
Garfieldbegan syndication in 1978, two years after its initial newspaper debut. The balloon replicating the lasagna-loving feline debuted in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1983. It last flew in 2006 and was retired shortly after.
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Garfield’s Larger Than Life in Every Way
Jim Davis, the creator ofGarfieldhas frequently discussed the series. From aspects of its creation to its major success, the cartoonist has provided many insights into his hit comic character. In his Mental Floss interview, Jim Davis discusses details about his creation of the strip, aspects of the series that have long been forgotten, and even one impressive achievement that was completely overlooked and overshadowed by a popular theme park mascot. It has held several Guinness World Records, including the most widely syndicated comic strip. However, it should have had another according to its creator. Davis says:
‘In the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, they had published that their biggest balloon ever, by volume of gas, was Shamu the Whale with over 18,000 cubic feet,’ Davis says. ‘The fact is that the Garfield balloon was filled with 18,907 cubic feet of helium. So we just confirmed that the Garfield balloon, in fact, was the largest one by volume of gas.’
Garfield has had two different balloon designs. The first is the one in question for the record, while the second flew from 2003 to 2006. The first balloon last flew in 1999 and took nearly 19,000 cubic feet of helium, making it the balloon taking the most helium. This record would be beaten in 1998 by a different balloon’s debut. The Baby Shamu balloon, which debuted in 1986, was significantly taller than Garfield’s but took less helium and, as a result, weighed less.
Garfield’s Size is Measured in Volume Over Other Size Components
The fact is that the Garfield balloon was filled with 18,907 cubic feet of helium.
Garfield is a greatly beloved comic characterwhose popularity continues to increase over time. He is a staple in comic strips, and it’s no surprise that representations of him would be as large as his appetite. However, with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day balloons largely being measured by height, length, and width - and with other balloons being larger in volume now -Garfieldlikely did miss out on a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade record for his first balloon at the time it was flying.
Source:Mental Floss
Garfield
Garfield is the central character in Jim Davis’s comic strip, which officially began in 1978 under the same name. Garfield is an orange tabby cat with a love of lasagna and a disdain for Mondays. He tends to torment his owner and dog while trying to secure more food - and quiet.
