 | |
| Paws Incorporated | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1981, in Muncie, Indiana |
| Founder | Jim Davis |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Brian Robbins (CEO) |
| Products | |
| Brands | |
| Owner | Jim Davis (1981–2019) |
| Parent | Nickelodeon Group (2019–present) |
Paws, Inc., doing business as Paws, Incorporated, is an American comic studio and production company founded by American cartoonist Jim Davis in 1981[1] to support the Garfield comic strips and its licensing. The company is located inside Paramount Global's headquarters building in New York City. It was originally located in Muncie, Indiana, relocated in 1989 from Davis' own farm when he was a boy.[2]
In 1994, the company purchased all rights to the classic Garfield comic strips from 1978 to 1993 from United Feature Syndicate, although United still holds the original black-and-white daily strips and original color Sunday strips. The full-color daily strips and recolored Sunday strips are copyrighted to Paws as they are considered a different product. The strip is currently distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication (formerly Universal Press Syndicate and Universal Uclick), while rights for the strip remain with Paws, Inc. By 2015, the company employed almost fifty artists and administrators.[3]
In 2019, Davis sold Paws, Inc. to Viacom, which would later merge with CBS Corporation to form ViacomCBS later renamed to Paramount Global, including global merchandising and existing licensees. The deal put Paws under Paramount's Nickelodeon banner (which itself is part of its Kids & Family division).[4] The deal excluded the rights to the live-action Garfield films from 2004 to 2006, which are still owned by 20th Century Studios,[4] as well as the animated film The Garfield Movie, which is owned and distributed by Sony Pictures under its Columbia Pictures label.[5] Although Paws, Inc. is now effectively located in Manhattan, Davis still continue to draw the comic strips in Indiana for newspapers and Andrews McMeel Syndication.[6]
- ^ Kirby, Audrey J. (June 4, 2019). "Garfield HQ up for sale, proceeds to support Ball State Foundation". The Star Press.
- ^ Shuey, Mickey (June 19, 2018). "On the prowl: Behind the scenes at Garfield HQ". The Star Press. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Today in Comics History: A Celebration of Garfield". Comics Alliance. June 19, 2015.
- ^ a b Mullin, Benjamin (August 6, 2019). "Viacom, Hungry For Hits, Gobbles Garfield". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ChrisPrattGarfieldwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Porter, Rick (August 6, 2019). "New 'Garfield' Series Set at Nickelodeon". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 6, 2019.