Paramount+ Greenlights New Garfield Animated Series Featuring Lamorne Morris
Paramount+ is expanding its animation lineup with one of the most recognizable comic strip characters in history. The streaming platform has officially ordered a new Garfield animated series, bringing the iconic lasagna-loving cat back to television.
The upcoming show will feature actor and comedian Lamorne Morris as the voice of Garfield. The project signals Paramount’s renewed effort to build stronger family and children’s programming while leveraging classic intellectual properties that still resonate with modern audiences.
For longtime fans and new viewers alike, this series marks another major chapter in the evolution of the Garfield franchise.
Paramount+ Expands Animation With Garfield’s Return
Garfield has remained one of the most commercially successful comic characters for decades. Now Paramount+ is reviving the brand with a new animated television series designed for a modern streaming audience.
The show will be produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, a company known for creating some of the most successful animated programs in television history.
Key production details include:
- Voice of Garfield: Lamorne Morris
- Studio: Nickelodeon Animation Studio
- Executive Producers: Dave H. Johnson and John Trabbic III
- Platform: Paramount+
The announcement represents a strategic move by Paramount+ to expand its catalog of animated content targeted toward younger audiences and families.
Industry observers note that legacy franchises like Garfield offer strong brand recognition, which significantly reduces risk for streaming platforms competing in an increasingly crowded market.
Why Paramount+ Is Investing in the Garfield Franchise
The Garfield intellectual property has been under Paramount’s umbrella since 2019. That year, Viacom acquired Paws Inc., the company that owns Garfield and its related rights.
The acquisition gave Paramount and Nickelodeon the ability to:
- Develop new animated series
- Produce movies and specials
- Create consumer merchandise
- Build location-based entertainment experiences
This new animated series appears to be the next step in maximizing the value of that acquisition.
The Garfield brand already generates significant revenue through:
- Apparel and merchandise
- Comic book licensing
- Streaming content
- Video games and digital media
With global recognition spanning more than four decades, Garfield remains a valuable entertainment asset.
Lamorne Morris Brings a Fresh Voice to Garfield
Casting Lamorne Morris as Garfield represents an interesting creative choice.
Morris is widely known for his roles in television comedies and dramas, particularly the hit series New Girl. He also gained critical recognition for his performance in Fargo.
His comedic timing and expressive voice work make him a strong fit for Garfield’s personality, which is defined by:
- Sarcastic humor
- Lazy charm
- Self-centered wit
- Deadpan commentary
Garfield’s voice has always played a crucial role in the character’s appeal. The new series aims to retain the classic personality while updating the tone for modern audiences.
For Morris, the role adds another high-profile project to a growing list of television and streaming credits.
Garfield’s Long History in Television and Film
Garfield originated as a comic strip created by cartoonist Jim Davis in 1978. The character quickly became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its relatable humor and simple storytelling.
Over the years, Garfield has appeared in multiple media formats.
Major Garfield TV Adaptations
The character has previously been featured in several animated television productions, including:
- Garfield and Friends (1988–1994)
- The Garfield Show (2009–2016)
These series helped establish Garfield as a staple of Saturday morning animation and children’s programming.
Garfield in Modern Movies
More recently, Garfield returned to the big screen with the 2024 animated film The Garfield Movie.
The movie featured actor Chris Pratt as the voice of Garfield. Although the film generated moderate box office numbers, it still grossed more than $250 million globally, demonstrating the character’s continued relevance in mainstream entertainment.
The film’s performance has reportedly encouraged studios to continue expanding the franchise with additional projects.
Paramount+ Strengthens Its Kids Content Strategy
The Garfield series will become part of Paramount+’s broader strategy to strengthen its children’s entertainment catalog.
Currently, the streaming platform already hosts several major family franchises, including:
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- PAW Patrol
- Dora the Explorer
Adding Garfield helps reinforce Paramount+ as a destination for family-friendly programming.
The platform has also recently approved additional animated projects, signaling a broader commitment to kids and family content.
Streaming services increasingly rely on recognizable characters and franchises to retain subscribers, and Garfield fits perfectly into that strategy.
How the Streaming Landscape Is Changing
The announcement of the Garfield series comes at a time when streaming platforms are aggressively expanding original content libraries.
Competition among services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Paramount+ has pushed companies to invest heavily in:
- Established intellectual properties
- Nostalgic franchises
- Cross-generational entertainment
Garfield checks all three boxes.
The character appeals to:
- Adults who grew up reading the comic strip
- Parents who remember earlier animated shows
- Children discovering the character for the first time
This multi-generational appeal makes Garfield especially attractive for streaming platforms seeking long-term subscriber growth.
Paramount+ Also Expands Sports With UFC Streaming
While Paramount+ continues investing in animation and entertainment content, the platform has simultaneously expanded into live sports.
One of the biggest developments is its new partnership with UFC.
Under a major media deal, Paramount+ now streams UFC fights and live events in the United States. The agreement spans seven years and includes both major fight cards and Fight Night events.
This means fans searching for where to watch UFC or UFC tonight increasingly turn to Paramount+ as a primary platform.
Is UFC on Paramount Plus?
Yes. UFC events now stream directly on Paramount+ with a standard subscription.
Subscribers can watch:
- Live UFC fights
- Archived fights
- Fight Night events
- Highlight libraries
This shift also marks a major change in the sport’s broadcasting model because many events are no longer traditional pay-per-view broadcasts.
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira
One example is UFC 326, which featured the highly anticipated fight Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira.
The event streamed live through Paramount+, with portions also airing on CBS.
Fans searching for topics such as:
- holloway vs oliveira
- charles oliveira fights
- ufc fights streaming
are increasingly encountering Paramount+ as the destination for live MMA events.
This combination of sports and entertainment content strengthens the platform’s value proposition for subscribers.
Can You Watch UFC on Paramount Plus?
Yes, viewers can stream UFC content directly through the Paramount+ app or website.
Steps to watch UFC on Paramount+:
- Subscribe to Paramount+
- Install the Paramount+ app on a smart TV, phone, or streaming device
- Navigate to the UFC collection
- Select live or on-demand fights
With the new broadcasting deal, Paramount+ hosts both upcoming events and an extensive library of historical fights.
The service also occasionally simulcasts events on CBS, making some fights available to traditional television viewers as well.
How to Turn Off Subtitles on Paramount Plus
Users streaming Garfield, UFC, or any other content sometimes want to disable subtitles.
To turn off subtitles on Paramount+:
- Open the video player
- Select the subtitle or CC icon
- Choose “Off” from the language options
This process works across most supported devices, including smart TVs, phones, and web browsers.
What the Garfield Series Means for Paramount+
The new Garfield animated series highlights a larger trend within the streaming industry: leveraging iconic intellectual property to build long-term audience engagement.
For Paramount+, the strategy involves three core pillars:
- Family animation franchises
- Major sports content like UFC
- Nostalgic entertainment brands
Garfield fits perfectly within that model.
By combining recognizable characters with modern animation and strong voice talent, the platform hopes to attract both younger viewers and nostalgic adults.
Final Thoughts
The announcement of a new Garfield animated series on Paramount+ represents more than just another reboot.
It reflects the streaming industry’s broader shift toward recognizable brands, multi-platform storytelling, and cross-generational entertainment.
With Lamorne Morris voicing the legendary orange cat and Nickelodeon Animation producing the show, expectations are high for Garfield’s return to television.
At the same time, Paramount+ continues expanding its ecosystem with major sports programming like UFC fights, making the platform increasingly diverse in content offerings.
If the Garfield series succeeds, it could pave the way for even more adaptations of classic comic characters in the streaming era.
