Forty years ago, Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (originally titled Garfield in Disguise) sent Garfield and Odie out on a candy and ghost filled adventure. The special begins with Garfield waking up to Binky the Clown (making his first animated appearance) announcing that it’s Halloween. Garfield gets excited at the prospect of free candy, so he and Odie head to the attic to find costumes.

The pair head out for trick ‘r treating dressed as pirates, and by the end of the night they find themselves at a boat dock. Garfield decides to head across the river to look for more houses, but instead they come upon a rundown mansion. They meet a scary old man who tells a story about pirates that want the treasure buried at the house. Then the old man disappears, the clock chimes midnight, and the ghost pirates invade the house to look for the treasure while Garfield and Odie cower in a cupboard. Once they are found, the pair scurry back across the river and head home to enjoy their candy.

The special originally aired on October 30, 1985. It was written by Garfield creator Jim Davis and directed by Phil Roman, who had directed previous Garfield specials and specials starring the Peanuts gang. Following years of working at other studios, Roman started his own company, Film Roman, to produce TV specials. Garfield in Disguise was one of the first specials under Film Roman.

It featured the regular Garfield voices of Lorenzo Music as Garfield, Thom Huge as Jon Arbuckle, and Gregg Berger as Odie. Producer Lee Mendelson hired C. Lindsay Workman to voice the creepy old man because he wanted someone with an imposing, deep voice. The ghosts were animated with a swirling cross-dissolve to give them an ethereal glowing appearance.

A book adaptation using the original title Garfield in Disguise was published in 1988. There are a few differences in the book, starting with Garfield telling Odie about the history of Halloween. The book suggests that the old man is a ghost, and the boat is pulled by the current instead of being stolen by the old man. Garfield steals a ring from the treasure and pirate ghosts follow him home and won’t leave until he gives back the ring. Another cute change was that the skull on Garfield’s hat would change its expression to match the one on Garfield’s face.

Garfield’s Halloween Adventure was an instant hit, gaining positive reviews from critics. The special won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program and was shown every Halloween for many years.