Paws Inc

The official home of Garfield, from farm to film.

Paws, Inc., doing business as Paws, Incorporated, is the American animation studio and production company founded by cartoonist Jim Davis in 1981. Originally established to support the Garfield comic strips and manage its licensing, the company has moved through several significant locations over the decades. It began on a farm in Muncie, Indiana, relocated to New York City after a major acquisition, and now operates out of the Paramount Pictures studio lot in Los Angeles. This entity serves as the central hub for the Garfield franchise's rights, ensuring that Davis's creation remains under consistent control while expanding into global merchandising and media adaptations.

Quick Facts

Trade name

Paws, Incorporated

Founded

1981, in Muncie, Indiana

Founder

Jim Davis

Headquarters

Los Angeles, California, United States

Industry

Animation
Entertainment
Animation production

Products

Film production
Television production
Comics
Films

Brands

Garfield, U.S. Acres

Parent

Paramount Consumer Products (2019–present)

Lore & Background

Paws, Inc. was founded in 1981 by Jim Davis to handle the growing needs of his comic strip. By 1994, the company made a pivotal move, purchasing all rights to the classic Garfield strips published between 1978 and 1993 from United Feature Syndicate. However, this deal had specific boundaries; United still retained the original black-and-white daily strips and original color Sunday strips. In contrast, the full-color daily strips and recolored Sunday strips became copyrighted to Paws, Inc., as they were considered a distinct product. By 2015, the company had grown substantially, employing nearly fifty artists and administrators. The distribution of the strip is currently handled by Andrews McMeel Syndication, though all rights remain firmly with Paws, Inc.

Reader's Guide

For those navigating the Garfield franchise's corporate landscape, it is essential to distinguish between current and historical rights holders. While Andrews McMeel Syndication distributes the daily strips, Paws, Inc. retains all underlying rights. The company manages a complex portfolio where different media adaptations are owned by different studios; for instance, the 2004-2006 live-action films belong to Disney's 20th Century Studios, while the upcoming animated film is a Sony Pictures production. Fans should note that Paws, Inc. operates out of Los Angeles but maintains its creative heart in Indiana, where Jim Davis still works. The company's history reflects strategic shifts from a small farm operation in Muncie to a major player within the Paramount Global ecosystem, ensuring the longevity of the franchise while respecting the original creator's continued involvement.

Did You Know?

Paws, Inc. was originally located on Jim Davis's boyhood farm in Muncie, Indiana, before moving to New York City in 2019.
The live-action Garfield films (2004–2006) were explicitly excluded from the 2019 sale and remain owned by 20th Century Studios.