Did Garfield Suction Cup Plushes Come About by Accident? The Surprising Origin Revealed

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Greetings for the 955th time as we delve into an episode of our series where we scrutinize three stories, rumors, and folklore to verify or disprove them. In the initial tale of this special Garfield-themed “Stuck on You” segment, uncover the story behind the creation of the famous suction cup doll, which surprisingly happened by chance.

Hey there! As someone who’s been around for a while, it’s no secret that Garfield is one of the most iconic comic characters ever. What might surprise you, though, is how much more people interact with him outside of his comics than within them. Given his popularity today, it’s safe to say he’s an integral part of many lives through various merchandise rather than just his strip in newspapers – a testament to his enduring appeal. Fun fact: Back in the 1980s, stepping into an American classroom felt like entering a Garfield store, thanks to the abundance of Garfield products everywhere, from pencil cases to posters.

Among the widely recognized merchandise tied to Garfield, the undisputed favorite was the Garfield “Stuck on You” dolls – soft, plush figurines equipped with suction cups. These dolls were a common sight on numerous automobile windshields during the late 1980s. They had such widespread popularity that they even made frequent appearances in films from that time period. For instance, Steve Martin’s character in the 1991 movie “L.A. Story” can be seen driving with a Garfield “Stuck on You” doll affixed to his rear car window.

However, amusingly enough, the dolls came about by accident!

How did one of Garfield’s first recurring gags play into the “Stuck on You” design?

From my perspective as a devoted fan, I’d express Jim Davis’ strategy for making Garfield a hit comic strip like this: “I believe he mastered the art of ‘working smart, not hard.’ Initially, Davis ensured that each day brought a fresh gag, and these early jokes primarily revolved around the humorous antics of cats. Remarkably, one of the earliest strips featured Garfield being stuck on the screen door.

Eventually, Davis opted for a more structured method in his comic strip, focusing on creating just ONE primary scene element each week and devising multiple jokes based around it. This approach, unsurprisingly, led to numerous repetitive humor elements. One such recurring joke was Garfield getting entangled in the curtains…

Davis found the feeling of familiarity incredibly beneficial. He thought that readers connected strongly with consistent elements, so he ensured his humor remained simple and widely relatable. In his own words: “I find comfort in simplicity.

Striving for inclusivity, I aim to cater to all readers, not just those who follow professional football. Referencing a football strike might unintentionally exclude people from around the world who don’t watch it. Garfield is a globally recognized character, so I avoid using elements like seasons, holidays, rhymes, wordplay, or colloquialisms to ensure he resonates with diverse societies. To maintain universal appeal, I predominantly focus on themes that are relatable to everyone, such as eating and sleeping, as these experiences transcend geographical boundaries.

By rephrasing, the original text aims to convey a similar idea in a more natural and easy-to-understand manner.

As a gaming enthusiast, one thing I aced under Davis was setting up Paws, Inc., a venture dedicated to managing licensing rights for everyone’s favorite feline, Garfield. Initially, the syndicate handled the business aspects of deals, but my company was responsible for exploring and capitalizing on potential licensing opportunities for our lovable striped friend, Garfield. Later down the line, I even managed to buy out the rights from the syndicate.

One idea involved using a Garfield plush toy as a decorative element for your curtains, but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out as planned…

How did the Stuck on You Garfield dolls come about via accident?

Among the well-known manufacturers of soft toys (often referred to as “plushies”), Dakin was particularly prominent. Davis held an agreement with this company to fabricate Garfield plush toys, and he conceived a unique idea: possibly creating a plush toy that could cling to curtains, similar to how Garfield is depicted in the comics. However, this concept didn’t materialize as planned.

As Davis explained to Mental Floss:

Originally, I created the first Stuck on You doll featuring Velcro paws, envisioning users would attach it to curtains. However, there was a mix-up and they were provided with suction cups instead. Users didn’t follow the instructions properly, so I attached one to a window and promised, “If it stays put for two days, we’ll give it our approval.” To my surprise, these suction cups were quite strong, and we ended up launching the product as is. I hadn’t considered that people might stick them on cars.

Well, sure enough, that’s exactly what people did, and it became …

Its surge in popularity means it’s poised to become a legend in this installment, so keep an eye out for more! Alternatively, you could say, “hang tight, as it’s about to make its mark!

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Please don’t hesitate to share ideas for potential new comic legends with me, whether you email them to cronb01@aol.com or brianc@cbr.com.

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2025-05-19 02:53