Summary

Although Gary Larson’sThe Far Sideended almost 30 years ago , the comic strip ’s forgotten video especial proves that a movie adaptation could still work . Gary Larson’sThe Far Sideran from 1979 to 1995 . The offbeat one - control panel comic was one of the most influential and dissentious newspaper comedian in the medium ’s history thanks to its unambiguously moody sense of humour and its deficiency of recurring characters . A phantasmagoric strip show , The Far Sideoften focused on aliens , talking animals , monster , murder , and all way of macabre , pathological subjects . Despite this , it was a genuinely hilarious and beloved strip .

Some of thefunniestFar Sidestripsmined grim comedy out of dreadful circumstances , while others were light , sillier one - off gag . All of Larson ’s strip played a part in comic history , inspire dozens of cartoonists in the ten that followed . Despite this , the fact thatThe Far Sidehad no master characters have in mind that the strip never spawn a movie adaptation . While2024’sGarfieldmovieis just the latest of many adaptations to bring the strip to life and thePeanutsfranchise produced innumerable television set movies , spinoffs , and specials , The Far Sidestill has n’t rack up the enceinte projection screen .

Tales From The Far Side Brought Gary Larson’s Comic To The Screen

The Far Side TV Special Aired in 1994

That say , there was one adaptation ofThe Far Sidethat make it as the strip was wrapping up its original run . taradiddle From The Far Sidedid a surprisingly solid caper of converting the comic to television , bring some of Larson ’s classic cartoon strip to life in animation while also adding some antecedently unobserved young gags . With a runtime of only 23 minutes , tale From The Far Sidewas far from a feature picture show . Despite its brevity , the short film advance some considerable acclaim , send on CBS at Halloween and winning the Annecy International Animation Film Festival ’s Grand Prix a year later .

WhileTales From The Far Sidewas draw a blank in the years after Larson ’s striptease ended and remains knotty to cut through down , the peculiar proves that the cartoonist ’s singular vision could be translated to the screen . Larson ’s work seems to hold easy adaptation thanks to its lack of recurring characters . However , Tales From The Far Sideproves that this is n’t really a problem , as the curt film jump from one jackass comedic interlude to the next . The jazz grade and the edgy animation style make the movie feel like toss through one of Larson ’s funny aggregation for an evening .

A Far Side Movie Could Borrow Tales From The Far Side’s Style

Gary Larson’s Iconic Strip Is Overdue A Movie Adaptation

Tales From The Far Sideis compose of entirely duologue - free vignette with undefined thematic liaison but few recurring theatrical role , hold it both a faithful adjustment of the slip and the perfect basis for a full - length reboot . Long beforeGary Larson’sFar Sideeven began , there was a cult of sketch funniness picture show in the ‘ LXX that bemock the advent of satellite TV by bouncing from one skit to another with gaga abandon . The Kentucky Fried Movie , The Groove Tube , Mr. Mike ’s Mondo Video , andImps*show that a movie adaptation ofThe Far Sidewouldn’t need a formal storyline .

alternatively , the movie could take its inspiration from the daring approach taken byTales From The Far Side . Sticking nearly to the beginning stuff , a movie version ofThe Far Sidecould revisit the funniest gag throughout the strip ’s account while add enough fresh material to keep longtime lecturer invest . A full movie of animatedFar Sidestrips would be even more fun thanTales From The Far Side , which already made an admirable stab at bringing Larson ’s anarchic drollery to the screen . The strip ’s enduring popularity makes this chance all the more appealing .

Why A Far Side Movie Makes Sense In 2024

A New Generation Could Discover Gary Larson’s Influential Work

Larson ’s employment influenced everything fromGravity FallstoThe Simpsonsand his unequaled , bizarre humor can be witness throughout the contemporary popping finish landscape painting . The best mode to put in a new generation of viewers to his work would be via a feature - length movie adaptation of his illustrious flight strip andTales From The Far Sideproves that this could figure out . Thus , Gary Larson’sThe Far Sideneeds to become a movie that does justice to the strip much like its long - forgotten short film adjustment decades ago .

indite and drawn by Gary Larson , The Far Side is a mirthful strip series that run from December 1979 to January 1995 . A worldwide hit , The Far Side explores spirit ’s surreal side and uses a premix of humans and anthropomorphous animal . As of 2020 , Gary Larson decided to find fault his pencil back up again and has started The Far Side up , circulating the comic strip on his prescribed website .

Far Side, cowboys with hands in the air (foreground) Union soldier giving general

far side phobias

gary larson far side cow and cavemen

2 hunters see a deer through the windshield from Tales From The Far Side

An animated image of a cow opening a door to a herd of sheep holding torches and pitchforks in Tales from the Far Side

A monster sneaks up to a boy in bed in Tales From the Far Side

The Far Side Comic Poster

The Far Side