Garfield the star at new Six Flags theme park

A still of Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties [Photo/VCG]

The president of Six Flags International Development Co, a US-based theme park company, has announced Garfield, the orange cartoon cat from the Garfield comic strip, will be the face and hero of China's first Six Flags theme park.

John Odum said tourists at the park, which was expected to open in 2019, will be able to experience the world of Garfield and his friends, with themed rides, attractions and live shows planned to feature the entertainment characters.

Since being founded in 1974, Six Flags, an amusement park equally popular as Disneyland and Universal Studios, now has 20 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The company also has an annual revenue worth of about$1.3 billion.

Garfield, who was created by an American cartoonist, Jim Davis, in 1978, has a love for lasagna, coffee and his remote control, and can be commonly seen in cartoons, books, stage performances and even emoji packages worldwide.

China's tourism and real estate developer Riverside Tourism Investment Group Co Ltd signed an agreement with Jim Davis' company, Paws Inc, to use the image of Garfield in the Six Flags theme park, which will be located in Hangzhou and Chongqing. The investment of each of these areas will be expected to reach 30 billion yuan ($4.6 billion).

"This alliance is another major step toward building a world class park for millions of visitors," Li Che, the chairman of the Riverside Tourism Investment Group, said.

"Garfield is already a beloved character in China and we look forward to bringing him to life inside Six Flags Zhejiang."

He added the Garfield theme park would provide innovative coasters, themed rides and water amusement for visitors.