More Season 2 episodes of The Snoopy Show arrived August 12, 2022 on Apple TV+
A second batch of 6 episodes - the second part of Season 2 - of The Snoopy Show arrived Friday, August 12, 2022 on the subscription streaming service Apple TV+. (This is one week later than originally announced.) (August 12, 2022)
New Earth Day special It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown premiered April 15, 2022 on Apple TV+
The new Earth Day-themed Peanuts special, It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown, premiered on the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service on Friday, April 15, 2022.
You can watch a trailer for the special on YouTube, and here's the short description of the show:
In celebration of Earth Day, It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown follows Sally’s bond with a special little flower on the baseball field that may spell disaster for the big game. For Charlie Brown and the team, it’s just the inspiration they need to make a positive impact on their environment.
(April 1, 2022)
New Mother's Day special arrived on Apple TV+ on May 6, 2022
Another new Peanuts special, To Mom (and Dad), With Love, celebrating Mother's Day, arrived on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 6, 2022. Here's Apple's description of the show:
To Mom (And Dad), With Love is a sweet Mother’s Day celebration of friendship and family featuring the beloved Peanuts gang. While the other kids are excited to celebrate the special day, for Peppermint Patty it’s just a reminder that she didn’t grow up with a mom. With her good friend Marcie by her side, she soon realizes that real families come in all shapes and sizes, and that Mother’s Day is an opportunity to thank that special person in your life who means the most to you. Meanwhile, Snoopy and Woodstock embark on an epic adventure to find Woodstock’s long-lost mom.
(February 23, 2022)
Season 2 of The Snoopy Show arrived March 11, 2022 on Apple TV+
The first part of Season 2 of The Snoopy Show premiered Friday, March 11, 2022 on the subscription streaming service Apple TV+.
The season initially consisted of 6 new episodes; 6 more were added on August 12, 2022. See the trailer for the new season.
For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (February 23, 2022)
New Peanuts special For Auld Lang Syne premiered December 10, 2021 on Apple TV+
A new, original New Year's-themed Peanuts special debuted December 10, 2021 on the subscription streaming service Apple TV+.
The plot of the special, titled simply For Auld Lang Syne, is described in the press release as: "after the Peanuts gang experience a disappointing Christmas because Grandma can't visit, Lucy resolves to throw herself the best New Year's Eve party ever, while Charlie Brown struggles to accomplish just one of his resolutions before the clock strikes twelve."
Apple released a trailer for the show, you can watch it on YouTube.
In a poorly conceived break with tradition, the title of the show included nothing to brand it as a Peanuts special... although Apple's second press release about the show attempted to rectify that some by calling the show Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne.
The new special joined a handful of classic Peanuts television specials - including the original Happy New Year, Charlie Brown from 1986 - as well as the new series Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show, as exclusives to the Apple TV+ streaming service.
For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (December 1, 2021)
Snoopy in Space Season 2 starts streaming on Apple TV+ on November 12, 2021
A new 12-episode season of Snoopy in Space is now available to watch on the subscription streaming service Apple TV+. Titled Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life, Apple describes this season as follows:
Join Snoopy on an epic interstellar road trip as our intrepid beagle tackles one of the most compelling mysteries of humankind: is there life out there in the universe? Snoopy and his friends bring NASA’s most exciting current research to life, from searching for traces of ice and ancient fossils on Mars, to drilling into oceans hidden inside of distant moons, and even seeking out exoplanets far beyond our own solar system. Of course, like any good road trip, Snoopy and Woodstock’s journey includes lots of extra adventures along the way, plus plenty of support from Charlie Brown, Franklin, Marcie, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang back at Johnson Space Center. Let the adventure begin!
You can watch the trailer for the new season here, and read the full press release here. The episodes premiered on November 12, 2021.
As part of the season 2 launch, Apple has released a 6-minute video titled "DIY Snoopy Space Lab," with instructions for three space-themed activities for kids - making galaxy slime, building a satellite, and creating moon sand. Watch it on YouTube here.
For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support page. (November 11, 2021)
New episodes of The Snoopy Show arrives July 9, 2021 on Apple TV+
Get ready for more adventures with Snoopy, his bird pals, and the rest of the Peanuts gang - Apple has announced that new episodes of The Snoopy Show will premiere Friday, July 9, 2021 on the subscription streaming service Apple TV+.
The new batch will add seven more episodes of the kid-oriented show based on the characters from Charles M. Schulz's comic strip. These episodes constitute the second part of season 1. Like the first batch of Season 1 episodes, each will consist of three, seven-minute stories.
For information on how to watch and subscribe to Apple TV+, visit tv.apple.com and this Apple support webpage. (June 9, 2021)
New documentary Who Are You, Charlie Brown? premieres June 25, 2021 on Apple TV+
Apple has announced that a new documentary on Charles Schulz and Peanuts, titled Who Are You, Charlie Brown? will premiere on the streaming subscription service Apple TV+ on Friday, June 25, 2021.
You can watch the trailer on YouTube.
According the press release:
Narrated by Lupita Nyong’o and hailing from Imagine Documentaries, the special is executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, and features interviews with friends, family, cartoonists and famous fans of the comic strip, to create a heartwarming portrait of the late “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz.
Honoring the “everyman” creator, Charles “Sparky” Schulz, “Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” celebrates the significance and global multi-generational popularity of the comic strip and its timeless artistry and design to profile the man whose simple characters would touch the lives of millions through the decades and become beloved cultural icons. Featuring interviews with Jean Schulz, the widow of Charles Schulz, along with Drew Barrymore, Al Roker, Kevin Smith, Billie Jean King, Paul Feig, Ira Glass, Noah Schnapp, Miya Cech, Keith L. Williams, Chip Kidd, Lynn Johnston, Robb Armstrong and more, the documentary interweaves a new animated story that follows Charlie Brown on a quest to discover himself.
You can read the full press release about the new documentary here.
Other Peanuts content currently available on Apple TV+ includes the series Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show, plus several of the classic Peanuts holiday specials.
The Apple TV+ streaming service costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year (in the United States) and is ad-free, with a 7-day free trial when you first sign up.
You can watch Apple TV+ shows either by installing the Apple TV+ app on a supported device, or by going to the tv.apple.com website on any computer.
Devices that support AppleTV+ include: Apple devices such as iPad, iPhone, Apple TV set-top boxes, and Macs; Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV streaming devices; select gaming consoles; and select smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, or Sony. For more information about supported devices and setting Apple TV+ up on them, see this Apple support webpage.
(June 5, 2021)
The Snoopy Show now available on Apple TV+
The Snoopy Show, a new animated Peanuts series, is now available to stream exclusively on the subscription service Apple TV+ . Each episode consists of three, seven-minute cartoons. The first season was released in two batches - Season 1 Part 1 (6 episodes) on February 5, 2021, and Season 1 Part 2 (7 episodes) on July 9, 2021.
Season 2, consisting of 6 more episodes, premiered March 11, 2022.
You can watch trailers for The Snoopy Show on YouTube: Season 1 trailer, and Season 2 trailer.
Created together by Peanuts Worldwide and Wildbrain Entertainment, the press release describes the show as follows:
The Snoopy Show is an animated series for kids of all ages that stars the internationally beloved beagle and his feathered best friend Woodstock as they tackle all-new adventures. Snoopy may seem like just a happy-dancin', bone-lovin', doghouse-sittin' pup, but he's much more than that. He's Joe Cool: hippest kid in school. He's surfer king and famed arm-wrestler Masked Marvel. He's World War I Flying Ace who battles the Red Baron. All of his bold, beloved personas are on full display in this brand-new animated comedy.
Offering multi-generational viewing for children 4-11 years old and their caregivers, each episode of The Snoopy Show will consist of three, seven-minute cartoons based on the iconic comic series. Featuring the unique animation style that has entertained millions around the globe for seven decades, the nostalgic new series also showcases everyone's most cherished characters from Peanuts including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Franklin, Schroeder, Peppermint Patty and more!
In addition to The Snoopy Show, AppleTV+ is home to the 2019 series Snoopy in Space and several of the classic Peanuts holiday specials; Apple has announced that other new Peanuts shows are also in the works (see news article below).
The Apple TV+ streaming service costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year (in the United States) and is ad-free, with a 7-day free trial when you first sign up.
You can watch Apple TV+ shows either by installing the Apple TV+ app on a supported device, or by going to the tv.apple.com website on any computer.
Devices that support AppleTV+ include: Apple devices such as iPad, iPhone, Apple TV set-top boxes, and Macs; Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming devices; and select smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, or Sony. For more information about supported devices and setting Apple TV+ up on them, see this Apple support webpage.
(February 5, 2021)
Other new Peanuts shows announced for Apple TV+
On October 19, 2020, Apple and WildBrain Entertainment announced that the subscription streaming service Apple TV+ will "become the home for all things 'Peanuts,' bringing together new original series and specials, along with iconic beloved specials to fans around the world, all in one place."
In addition to being the new home of the classic Peanuts television specials, the new series and brand-new specials coming to Apple TV+ will include:
- The Snoopy Show (Season 1 Part 1 premiered Feb 5, 2021; Season 1 Part 2 premiered July 9, 2021; Season 2 Part 1 premiered March 11, 2022; Season 2 Part 2 will premiere August 5, 2012);
- For Auld Lang Syne, a New Year's Day special, premiered December 10, 2022 - yes, there was already a New Year's special from 1986, but they made another one;
- It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown, celebrating Earth Day, premiered on Friday, April 15, 2022;
- To Mom (and Dad), With Love, celebrating Mother's Day, premiered on Friday, May 6, 2022;
- Lucy's School, about "going back to school", premiered on Friday, August 12, 2022;
- Who Are You, Charlie Brown?, a brand-new documentary on Charles Schulz and Peanuts (premiered June 25, 2021 - see above for more information);
- A second season of Snoopy in Space (second season premiered November 12, 2021 - see entry above; the first season has been part of Apple TV+ since the service launched).
(originally posted October 20, 2020; last updated June 8, 2022)
New animated show Snoopy in Space now available to watch on Apple TV+
The new animated series Snoopy in Space, is now available to watch exclusively on the Apple TV+ streaming subscription service.
The first season of Snoopy in Space consists of 12 short episodes, each 8 minutes long. All episodes are available now; it first premiered on November 1, 2019.
Apple's description of the series: "Blast off with Snoopy as he fulfills his dream to become a NASA astronaut. Joined by Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang, Snoopy takes command of the International Space Station and explores the moon and beyond."
A second season of Snoopy in Space started streaming on Apple TV+ on November 12, 2021.
You can find out more about the episodes and watch trailers on the Apple TV+ page for Snoopy in Space on the web , or by searching for Snoopy in Space in the Apple TV app. Or you can watch the full trailer on YouTube.
The Apple TV+ streaming service launched November 1, 2019, costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year (in the United States) and is ad-free, with a 7-day free trial when you first sign up. You can watch shows in several ways: via an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple TV box updated to the most recent software; using a web browser by going to tv.apple.com ; and an Apple TV+ app is now available for Roku and Amazon Fire streaming boxes/sticks or on select recent Samsung, LG, Vizio, or Sony televisions. AppleTV+ is available in "more than 100 countries."
If you use the Apple TV app on an Apple device, you can also watch the first two episodes of Snoopy in Space (and most other shows) for free, even without signing up for the free trial subscription. Unfortunately, this is not an option when using a web browser or the Apple TV+ app on a Roku or Amazon Fire.
Snoopy in Space is one of the nine premiere shows/movies on Apple TV+ launches; five more (non-Peanuts) shows are confirmed for the following months, and Apple says they plan to have a steady stream of new shows. For more information, visit Apple's website or this article from CNET.
And while you're in the Apple TV app, don't forget you can also watch the short, free spoof documentary Peanuts In Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 (see just below for further details). Many of the classic Peanuts TV shows and movies are also available to rent or purchase via the Apple TV app (but they are not included as part of the monthly Apple TV+ subscription). (November 1, 2019)
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 "Documentary" now available on Apple TV
May 18, 2019 was the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 10, where the command module and lunar lander module were named "Charlie Brown" and "Snoopy," respectively. (For more information about the anniversary of Apollo 10 and Peanuts, see this FiveCentsPlease.org blog post.)
In celebration, Ron Howard's Imagine Documentaries and DHX Media have released a short 9-minute "documentary of sorts" titled Peanuts In Space: Secrets of Apollo 10, free to watch on the Apple TV app. The documentary is "an affectionate, lighthearted look at NASA and Charles Schulz's beloved Peanuts characters" and "seek to answer the question: was Snoopy a world famous astronaut?" (As if we didn't already know the answer!) The video stars Ron Howard and Jeff Goldblum, and was directed by Morgan Neville. See a teaser trailer here.
For now, to view it you'll need to use the Apple TV app on a supported device. Supported devices include Apple devices such as iPad, iPhone, Apple TV set-top boxes, and Macs; Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming devices; and select smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, or Sony. For more information about supported devices and setting Apple TV+ up on them, see this Apple support webpage.
To find the video, open the Apple TV app and search for "Peanuts in Space". If you can't find it, you may need to update your device's operating system to at least iOS 12 or tvOS 12. (May 18, 2019)
New Peanuts video content coming to Apple's streaming service
According to reports from the Hollywood Reporter and Variety, DHX Media - the current owners of the Peanuts franchise - have struck a deal with Apple to produce "new series, specials and shorts" based on the Peanuts characters for Apple's yet-to-launch streaming service.
Details in the initial announcement were scarce, but one component will be videos that focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) content featuring Snoopy as an astronaut. (Peanuts Worldwide and NASA announced plans earlier this year to collaborate on creating educational content with Astronaut Snoopy.
Apple's streaming service - a planned competitor for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu - won't launch until fall 2019. No information about how it will be available or how much it will cost have been revealed yet, or whether the Peanuts videos will be ready and part of the service when it launches, or added later on. But it sounds like the first announced show, Snoopy in Space, will at least be available soon after the launch, if not on the launch date. [Edit: indeed, Snoopy in Space was one of the premiere shows on the streaming service - see more recent articles for more details.]
Stay tuned! (December 18, 2018)
Peanuts Shorts on Boomerang (2016-2017)
From May 9, 2016 through March 3, 2017, the US cable channel Boomerang aired a series of 104 animated shorts starring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang are airing on the US cable channel Boomerang. The show was titled simply "Peanuts." The episodes are still shown from time to time on Boomerang.
The shorts, created by French animation studio Normaal Animation, first aired in France in 2014 and 2015. Each short is based on a comic strip by Charles Schulz, and are drawn in a traditional 2D animation style, unlike the recent theatrical "Peanuts" movie. According to the PR, the shorts were designed to feel like the comic strips they are based on, with "watercolor art style, textured backgrounds and framing." Normaal created 500 of these shorts (!!), each about 1-2 minutes long.
(Back in December 2014, the Los Angeles Times ran a nice article about the shorts, which you can read here.)
For the United States broadcast, the shorts were re-dubbed in English by child actors who auditioned for parts in 2015's "Peanuts" movie and who were rated highly, but didn't quite make the cut for the movie. Having watched the shorts, I can say they were up to the task! The shorts were grouped together into 104 different approximately 7-minute "episodes;" all 104 aired at least once on Boomerang.
See the Boomerang/Normaal Shorts section for a list of all 104 episodes with their US titles and broadcast dates.
The broadcast history through March 2017:
May 9, 2016- May 13: Two episodes, both new, aired each weekday from 11:30 - 11:45 AM (Eastern)
May 16 - June 24: One new episode, and one repeat, aired each weekday from 11:30 - 11:45 AM (Eastern)
June 27 - July 15: Six episodes, all repeats, air each day from 11 AM - 12 noon and again from 4 - 5 PM (Eastern)
July 18 - Sep 2: Six episodes, one new and the rest repeats, air each day from 11 AM - 12 noon and again from 4 - 5 PM (Eastern)
Sep 5 - Sep 30: Six episodes, all repeats, air each day from 11 AM - 12 noon and from 4 - 5 PM (Eastern)
Oct 3 - Nov 4: Six episodes, one new and the rest repeats, air each day (including weekends) from 11 AM - 12 noon (Eastern); six repeat episodes also air Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM - 12 noon
Nov 5 - Jan 1, 2017: At least six episodes, all repeats, air each Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM - 12 noon (Eastern); on some days, more episodes air, starting earlier than 11 AM, but the schedule is irregular.
Jan 2, 2017 - Mar 3, 2017: Three episodes, all repeats, air each weekday (Mondays through Friday) from 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM (Eastern)
The shorts aired irregularly on Boomerang through 2018, at which point the channel stopped airing them.
For the first week only - Monday May 9 through Friday May 15, 2016- the shorts aired as a "preview" on the more widely available Cartoon Network channel, from 10:00 - 10:15 AM Eastern (7:00 - 7:15 AM Pacific). But other than that first week, the shorts are aired only on Boomerang.
On YouTube, you can see Boomerang's 60-second promo spot for the new Peanuts shorts,, and you can find several samples of the shorts themselves on Normaal's website.
Warner Home Video has started releasing DVDs of them. So far three sets have been released: "Peanuts by Schulz: Snoopy Tales" (with 32 shorts), "Peanuts by Schulz: Go Team Go" (with 19 shorts), and "Peanuts by Schulz: School Days" (with 29 shorts). (November 21, 2017)
Special Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas Aired November 30, 2015 on ABC
ABC aried a special commemorating the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas on Monday, November 30, 2015 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown was hosted by Kristen Bell and produced by Lee Mendelson, who also produced the classic special 50 years ago! According to the press release, the show featured "spectacular live performances, from the memorable music of Vince Guaraldi, to Kristen Chenoweth singing 'Happiness' from the Peanuts Broadway hit 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and a performance from Matthew Morrison of an original song, 'Just Like Me.' Other musical guests set to perform classic songs are Sarah McLachlan, Boyz II Men, Pentatonix, David Benoit and The All-American Boys Chorus." There was also"Hollywood notables reminiscing about their most treasured A Charlie Brown Christmas moments."
Sensibly, ABC aired A Charlie Brown Christmas itself the same evening, from 9-10 PM (Eastern/Pacific). Both shows aired again on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24 at the same times. (Nov 6, 2015)
The Peanuts Movie (2015)
(Sorry, this section is missing a lot of the news about the movie from 2015.) Peanuts Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, and Blue Sky Studios are producing a new Peanuts theatrical film for release on November 6, 2015, timed to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip.
The film, apparently titled simply Peanuts, has script written by Craig Schulz (Charles Schulz's son), Bryan Schulz (Craig Schulz's son), and Cornelius Uliano (writer of several short films). Directing the film will be Steve Martino, who has directed two other films for Blue Sky Studios: the 2008 feature film version of Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who! and the 2012 film Ice Age: Continental Drift. The film is being produced by Craig Schulz and Paul Feig.
In contrast to all previous Peanuts theatrical movies and television specials, the Peanuts 2015 movie will be computer animated and in 3D.
For a taste of what this will look like, you can watch the film's first trailer (released Nov 18, 2014) and teaser trailer (released March 18, 2014) on YouTube.
While no real plot details have been announced, according to interviews in USA Today on March 18, 2014 (read them here and here), "the story will bring together the entire cast from the strips and television specials" and will also feature a large on-screen role for the "little red-haired girl" (who was an off-screen character in the comic strips, but who did appear on-screen in the TV special It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown). Also appearing as a love interest for Snoopy will be Fifi, a poodle who appeared in the TV special Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown. Other small reveals are that we'll see the World War I Flying Ace in action and familiar strip locations such as the skating pond and "the wall" where characters often ponder life. Both Schulz and Martino promise that "the settings will not be updated to the present, continuing with the eternal look of the strip."
Another USA Today article from November 18, 2014 has additional comments from producers Paul Feig and Craig Schulz and director Steve Martino, as well as five new still images.
At Beaglefest XIII - the convention of the Peanuts Collector Club held in June 2014 - it was revealed that Christophe Beck will be writing the soundtrack music for the movie. Christophe Beck has a long resume of composer credits, including recently the scores (but not songs) for Frozen, Muppets Most Wanted, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. It's expected that some Guaraldi themes will be used together with original compositions.
You can also read the initial press release from October 2012 at Blue Sky Studio's website, and visit the movie's official website at http://peanutsmovie.com . The movie also has an official Facebook page and Twitter account.
This isn't the first Peanuts theatrical film, as some PR might lead you to beleive; as fans will know, there were four earlier films that were released and shown in movie theaters - A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969), Snoopy Come Home (1972), Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (1976), and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (1980).
(November 18, 2014)
No Follow-up Television Show After Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown
When they produced and released 2011's Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, Peanuts Worldwide did have a two-show deal with Warner Home Video. If Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown performed well in Warner's eyes, there might have been a second new show. Unfortunately, a second show was never produced as part of this deal. (July 6, 2012)
New Animated Peanuts Show Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown Now Out on DVD
Peanuts Worldwide, the company that oversees Charles Schulz's legacy and provides creative oversight and art direction to Peanuts licensees, have worked together with animator Andy Beall and Warner Home Video to create a new 45-minute animated special titled Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown.
Warner Home Video's description of the show is as follows:
"In this heartwarming new tale, Linus is pushed to his limits when he learns his grandmother is coming to visit and plans to rid him of his most cherished possession, his beloved security blanket. As grandma’s impending arrival looms closer, the Peanuts gang finds ways to try and help Linus lose his dependence on his fuzzy crutch.
"Lucy is particularly eager to cure Linus’ emotional attachment and applies her own psychiatric techniques. Charlie Brown on the other hand does his best to help but he just does not have the heart to see Linus suffer. Snoopy constantly agitates matters because he longs to have the blanket himself. In the end, insightful Linus points out that everyone has their own type of “security blanket” and that in life, a little security is a valuable thing."
The new show is based solely on material from the original comic strips, as the other new specials produced since Charles Schulz's death have been. Andy Beall has worked as an animator on a variety of Pixar features and the film The Iron Giant — but don't worry, the new Peanuts show was done in traditional, hand-drawn 2D animation, and was also hand-painted (both cels and backgrounds). The animators did this so they could capture the style of the original, and most famous, TV specials from the 1960's, instead of the later, more polished looking specials; the show will also include characters such as Violet, Patty, and Shermy who disappeared both from the strip and the specials in the 1970's. Well-known soundtrack composer Mark Mothersbaugh is writing the music for special; while it will be in the style of Guaraldi's music with similar instrumentation, all the songs will be original works by Mothersbaugh. Neither Lee Mendelson Productions nor Bill Melendez Productions are involved in the creation of this new show.
The show is now available on DVD from Warner Home Video as of March 29, 2011, and is now available on Blu-ray everywhere in the United States. (For the first few months, Walmart had an exclusive deal to distribute a Blu-ray version in the United States.) The show is also available on Blu-ray and DVD in Canada. (See the DVD & Video Release News section for more details.)
The television premiere of the special was on the FOX network, from 8:30-9:30 PM on Thursday, November 24, 2011 (Thanksgiving Day); it was repeated on Friday, December 16 from 8:00-9:00 (all times Eastern/Pacific).
Two different print adaptations of the special will be available - a more traditional prose-and-pictures adaptation from Running Press, and an 80-page hardcover graphic novel version from Kaboom! comics - see a preview of it here.
A trailer for and behind-the-scenes peek at the new show can now be seen on the official Peanuts YouTube channel. Don't be put off by the pixelated, digitized look of the trailer on YouTube; the actual special doesn't look like that. The trailer also appears on the Warner Home Video A Charlie Brown Valentine DVD.
(Thanks to Andy Beall and the folks at the Schulz Museum and Creative Associates for sending along information about this project.) (November 27, 2011)
Special Benefit Screening and Panel Discussion of Happiness is a Warm Blanket at the Schulz Museum on March 31
The Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California hosted a special debut screening of the new Peanuts special Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, together with a panel discussion and wine reception, on March 31. It was hosted by Bravo Channel personality Andy Cohen, with Jean Schulz and Craig Schulz. Proceeds benefited the Schulz Museum's Educational Programs. For more information, visit the Schulz Museum website , where you can see photos from the event. (April 21, 2011)
New Peanuts "Motion Comics" on iTunes and Amazon.com
Warner Home Video has created 10 new "motion comics" (also described as "webisodes") featuring the Peanuts gang. The motion comics are 7- to 8-minute videos based directly on material from 1964 Peanuts comic strips. The videos are "all new," drawn with Flash animation, and feature new voices and a limited musical score. The webisodes were created by Warner Brother's Motion Comics division, with the involvement of the Schulz family and estate. (Neither Melendez Productions or Mendelson Productions were involved.) The new videos are available both on iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand.
The episodes are:
Linus for President / The Election (released Mon 11/3/08)
The Sore Arm / Independence Day (released Mon 11/10/08)
Eraserophagia / The Great Pumpkin (released Mon 11/17/08)
A Fall Rain / Some Advice (released Mon 11/24/08)
Ready to Pitch / Back on the Mound (released Mon 12/1/08)
Dear Santa / I'm New At It (released Mon 12/8/08)
Science Project / April Fool (released Mon 12/15/08)
Crabby Little Girl / Mother's Day (released Mon 12/22/08)
All Your Faults / Services Rendered (released Mon 12/29/08)
The Good Brother / Valentine's Day (released Mon 1/5/09)
You can use this link to find the episodes on iTunes (note this will open iTunes on your computer) and this link to find the episodes on Amazon Video on Demand.
The episodes are priced at 99 cents each, or you can get all 10 as a "season" for $7.99.
The videos from iTunes can be viewed using iTunes on your Macintosh or Windows computer, or using an iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV device. The videos on Amazon on Demand can be viewed using a web browser, or downloaded to a Windows PC or a TiVo DVR. Note that videos purchased from either place cannot be burned to a DVD or viewed on a DVD player. However, a DVD of the Motion Comics was released in 2010 and is available on Amazon.com.
You can also read the press release and listen to an NPR interview with Craig Schulz about these new animations. (January 26, 2009)
New Charles Schulz Documentary Aired Monday October 29, 2007 on PBS
A new, 90-minute video biography of Charles Schulz aired Monday October 29, 2007 as part of the PBS series American Masters. The documentary, titled "Good Ol' Charles Schulz," was created by Lumiere Productions, a New York film production company, who have produced a number of award-winning and critically acclaimed documentaries, and have worked hard to make the documentary as in-depth as possible. In part, they worked with David Michaelis, whose 650-page biography of Charles Schulz was also published in October.
Here's the description from Lumiere's website:
"Charles M. Schulz always insisted he was ordinary and boring. But his ordinary life—like those of the Peanuts characters he created—was in fact chock-full of drama: mundane cruelties, transcendent hopes, and the daily collisions of insiders and outsiders. Interviews with those who knew him best (including the real-life Linus and Little Red-Haired Girl) will propel this feature-length documentary, the first American Masters tribute to a comic-strip artist."
PBS also issued a full press release about the show.
Amusingly, the documentary premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 11 (that's Woodstock, New York).
Unfortunately, a DVD release of this show is unlikely.
(October 31, 2007)
He's a Bully, Charlie Brown
The new TV special He's a Bully, Charlie Brown aired Monday, November 20, 2006 from 8:30-9:00 (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC, after this year's broadcast of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. This special tells the story of a game of marbles that becomes too fiercely competitive for some of the children. When Charlie Brown is called upon for help, he finds that the only way he can finally prove himself to be a neighborhood hero is to match wits with the marble-playing bully. Is he up to the challenge? The show is based on Peanuts comic strips from April 1995. Charles Schulz was working on the idea for this special when he passed away, although he did not complete a script for it. No rebroadcast or DVD release of this show has been announced yet. (December 6, 2006)
"Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" Storyboards at the Charles M. Schulz Museum
From June 6 until September 29, 2003, a reproduction of the complete storyboard for the new TV special "Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" was on display at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California as part of a baseball-themed exhibit at the Museum. In addition, there were several other baseball-related cels from previous shows. (June 6, 2003)
"A Charlie Brown Valentine" - February 14, 2002 on ABC
"A Charlie Brown Valentine," the new Peanuts TV special, aired Valentine's Day, Thursday, February 14, 2002 at 8 PM EST/PST on ABC.
The special was based solely on previous published comic strips drawn by Charles Schulz. It was produced and animated, like all past specials, by Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez. David Benoit performed and arranged Vince Guaraldi's music for the special.
From the ABC press release: "The Valentine's Day special marks the first newly created programming from the PEANUTS team in several years. It is taken directly from the vast number of archived strips that Schulz themed to the popular February holiday. In this special, Charlie Brown finally works up the courage to call the little red-haired girl to ask her to the Valentine's Day dance. But once again he ends up broken-hearted and empty-handed when he dials the wrong number and reaches Peppermint Patty instead."
ABC is also the new home of the three classic specials "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving", and "A Charlie Brown Christmas".
You can read the original 2001 press release announcing the show and the shorter more recent 2002 press release. (February 21, 2002)
New "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas" TV Documentary!
Immediately following this year's broadcast of the classic TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC will be an all-new documentary titled "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas." Produced by Lee Mendelson Productions, who created the original special, the 17-minute documentary hosted by Whoopi Goldberg will focus on the creation of the first Peanuts TV special, including segments with Bill Melendez, Lee Mendelson, some of the original voice actors, and an example of the earliest Peanuts animations, one of the Ford Falcon TV commercials, and a tribute to Vince Guaraldi.
A Charlie Brown Christmas and "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas" will both air on ABC on Thursday December 6 and Sunday December 16 from 8-9 PM (EST) each night. (November 15, 2001)
Will There Be More Shows?
(This article was obsoleted when the "A Charlie Brown Valentine" was announced in 2002.)
Now that Charles Schulz has passed away, it's unclear whether new shows beyond the It's the Pied Piper will be made. The Schulz family has said they don't want new specials to be made, and reports that Schulz expressed a desire for the animated shows to end as well. But United Media hopes to continue making them, and Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez have expressed willingness to create new shows if asked. Bill Melendez says that Schulz had sent him an outline for a new story, provisionally titled "It's Only Marbles, Charlie Brown," based on a series of comic strips where a marbles hustler comes to town, cheating little kids at marbles, until Charlie Brown stops him. Lee Mendelson is talking with the Schulz family about making this and possibly more shows, but emphasizes that any decision to produce new ones "will be unanimous." Discussions on producing "It's Only Marbles" are continuing, and while they are looking positive, no final decision has been made.
ABC recently acquired the broadcast rights to show for the holiday specials and when they announced this, said that they are "taking a look" at producing new specials.
An article in the 3/10/01 Los Angeles Times about animator Bill Melendez says that he is "working on some of Schulz's uncompleted Peanuts projects." (March 17, 2001)
"Pied Piper" Direct-to-Video Special Now Out
It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown, the new direct-to-video show, is now available on VHS and DVD. See Video & DVD Release News for more details. (September 14, 2000)
A Charlie Brown Christmas not broadcast on television in 2022, streamed free on Apple TV+ from December 22 - 25, 2022
A Charlie Brown Christmas was be shown on broadcast television in 2022.
This was the first time since its original broadcast in 1965 that A Charlie Brown Christmas did not have an over-the-air television outing; Apple TV+ deserves a big lump of coal.
Instead the classic holiday special was only available via streaming for free - without a subscription - via the Apple TV app from Thursday, December 22 through Sunday, December 25, 2022. It's not as widely accessible as a free TV broadcast, but it's the best on offer this year.
You do not need an Apple device to use the Apple TV app. It is also available on a variety of streaming devices, including Rokus and Amazon Fires, and on many different smart TV brands. You can also watch using a web browser on any device by going to tv.apple.com . See this Apple support page for a more detailed list of supported devices and how to watch.
While you won't have to subscribe to Apple TV+, you will need to either have, or create, an Apple ID to sign in and watch. After you sign in, search for A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The special also remains available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray as an alternative. (November 21, 2022)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving not broadcast on television in 2022, streamed free on Apple TV+ from November 23 - 27, 2022
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was not shown on broadcast television in 2022. Instead the classic Thanksgiving special was available to stream for free via the Apple TV app, without an Apple TV+ subscription, from Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, November 27, 2022. (November 21, 2022)
It's the Great Pumpkin and other Peanuts holiday specials won't air on PBS in 2022, will be free on Apple TV+ for a limited time
Bad news for traditionalists: Apple TV+ and PBS have confirmed that It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and the other Peanuts holiday specials will not be airing on PBS or another over-the-air broadcast television station this year.
Instead, in 2022, the Apple TV+ streaming service will make the three big Peanuts holiday specials available to view for free without a subscription for a limited period around each holiday, as follows:
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - October 28 - 31, 2022 (Friday - Monday)
- A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - November 23 - 27, 2022 (Wednesday - Sunday)
- A Charlie Brown Christmas - December 22 - 25, 2022 (Thursday - Sunday)
To stream the specials for free, you don't need an Apple device. The Apple TV+ app is also available for a variety of streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire, and on a variety of different smart TV brands. You can also watch using a web browser on any device by going to tv.apple.com . See this Apple support page for a more detailed list of supported devices and how to watch.
You do not need to subscribe to Apple TV+, but you will need to either have, or create, an Apple ID to sign in and watch. (Apple fails to mention this in their instructions, below.)
(If you're already an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can watch the specials at any time, on any day.)
Apple's instructions for streaming Great Pumpkin for free are:
- Go to tv.apple.com or download the Apple TV app from the app store wherever you watch (streaming) shows and movies.
- Search for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and hit Play to stream for free from October 28-31.
This is not the first time that It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving haven't been seen on broadcast TV - Great Pumpkin didn't air in 2020, and Thanksgiving failed to make it to TV screens a few times over the past decades.
But unless something changes - and right now there's no indication that it will - this will be the first time since its original broadcast in 1965 that A Charlie Brown Christmas will not have an over-the-air television broadcast.
The three holiday specials remain available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray as an alternative. (October 25, 2022)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales coming to Apple TV+ on December 2, 2022 (with subscription)
Two additional classic Peanuts holiday specials are finally available on Apple TV+: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales were added to the service on December 2, 2022.
They joined A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown, meaning that all four classic Peanuts Christmas specials are now available on Apple TV+. (October 15, 2022)
Nine more classic Peanuts specials available on Apple TV+ as of September 9, 2022
On September 9, 2022, Apple made nine more classic Peanuts specials available for streaming on Apple TV+. (These were originally announced as coming on August 5, but it took another month for them to show up.
The shows listed were:
- A Charlie Brown Celebration
- He’s A Bully, Charlie Brown
- He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown
- It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown
- It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
- There’s No Time For Love, Charlie Brown
- Why, Charlie Brown, Why?
- You’re In Love, Charlie Brown
- You’re The Greatest, Charlie Brown
You can find these specials listed as part of "season 1" under the title "The Peanuts Classics."
These specials remains unavailable to watch or rent on other streaming services, however they were released on DVD (but you may have to look for used copies). (October 4, 2022)
More classic Peanuts specials coming to Apple TV+ in Spring 2022
Fve more classic Peanuts specials are available for streaming on Apple TV+ as of Friday, March 4, 2022:
- Charlie Brown's All-Stars
- You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
- She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown
- It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown
- Snoopy's Reunion
You can find these five specials listed as a "season" under the title "The Peanuts Classics."
It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown joined them on Apple TV+ on April 29, 2022.
These specials remains unavailable to watch or rent on other streaming services, however they have been released on DVD. (April 1, 2022)
A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on PBS on December 19, 2021
The classic Peanuts special A Charlie Brown Christmas was broadcast from 7:30 - 8:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Sunday, December 19, 2021 on PBS and PBS KIDS stations across the country. Check your local station's listings to confirm the time.
This was the second year the show was shown on PBS, in addition to streaming on the subscription service Apple TV+.
Unlike the previous year, there was no free streaming period on Apple TV+ for non-subscribers, and the special remained unavailable to watch or rent on other streaming services. (A widely circulated Associated Press article claiming there would be a free streaming period in 2021 was incorrect.)
If you prefer not to wait for the broadcast, subscribers can view A Charlie Brown Christmas at any time on Apple TV+, and is still available on DVD or Blu-ray. (November 17, 2021)
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown premiered December 3, 2021 on Apple TV+ (with subscription)
The 1992 special It's the Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown premiered on the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service on Friday, December 3, 2021. No over-the-air television broadcast of it was scheduled for 2021. You need to subscribe to Apple TV+ to watch it; it remains unavailable to watch or rent on other streaming services. (December 1, 2021)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving aired on PBS on November 21, 2021
The traditional turkey-day Peanuts special A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was broadcast from 7:30 - 8:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Sunday, November 21, 2021 on PBS and PBS KIDS stations across the country. Check your local station's listings to confirm the time.
This was the second year the show has been shown on PBS, in addition to streaming on the subscription service Apple TV+.
Unlike the previous year, there was no free streaming period on Apple TV+ for non-subscribers, and the special remains unavailable to watch or rent on other streaming services.
If you prefer not to wait for the broadcast, subscribers can view A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving at any time on Apple TV+, and is still available on DVD or Blu-ray. (November 11, 2021)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired on PBS on October 24, 2021; Thanksgiving and Christmas also return to PBS
The classic Halloween Peanuts special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown returned to broadcast television in 2021. PBS and Apple announced that It's the Great Pumpkin would air from 7:30 - 8:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Sunday, October 24, 2021 on PBS and PBS KIDS stations across the country.
The show didn't air on television in 2020, due to the changeover of the Peanuts specials to become Apple TV+ exclusives, so it's great that it returned to free, broadcast television in 2021.
PBS and Apple also announced that A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas will likewise air on PBS and PBS KIDS in 2021 (as they did the previous year), on Sunday, November 21 and Sunday, December 19, 2021, respectively.
Unlike 2020, there was no free streaming period on Apple TV+ for non-subscribers for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown or the other two Peanuts holiday specials in 2021. And the specials remained unavailable to stream or rent from other streaming services.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is available to watch at any time on Apple TV+ for subscribers, and is also still available on DVD or Blu-ray. (October 5, 2021)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown now available on Apple TV+ (with subscription)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown premiered on the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service on Friday, March 26, 2021. There was no over-the-air television broadcast of it in 2021. You need to subscribe to Apple TV+ to watch it. (March 20, 2021)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown now available on Apple TV+ (with subscription)
The 1975 special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is now available to watch on the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service; it premiered on the service on February 5, 2021. There was no over-the-air television broadcast of it in 2021, and there was no free viewing period like there was for the Thanksgiving and Christmas specials. You need to subscribe to Apple TV+ to watch it. (February 5, 2021)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown now available on Apple TV+ (with subscription)
As of December 26, 2020, the special Happy New Year, Charlie Brown is now available to watch on the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service. There was no over-the-air television broadcast of it in 2020, and there was no free viewing period like there was with the other holiday specials. You need to subscribe to Apple TV+ to watch it. (December 29, 2020)
A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on PBS on Sunday December 13, 2020; also streamed for free on Apple TV+ from December 11 - 13, 2020
For the 56th consecutive time since it first aired in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas was broadcast television after all, thanks to an agreement between Apple and PBS (announced on November 18).
A Charlie Brown Christmas was broadcast commercial-free on local PBS (public broadcasting) stations on Sunday, December 13, 2020 from 7:30 - 8:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
The special also aired on PBS Kids, which is a broadcast sub-channel available over the air in many areas as well - so if you don't see it on your local PBS station, check PBS Kids, if you receive it.
You can read the full press release from PBS.
The Christmas special was also available to watch for free, without a subscription, via the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service for three days: Friday, December 11 - Sunday, December 13, 2020.
To watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on Apple TV+, you'll need to either install the Apple TV+ app on a supported device; or watch it via a web browser, on any computer, at tv.apple.com .
Supported devices include: Apple devices including the iPad, iPhone, Apple TV set-top boxes, and Macs; Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming devices; and select smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, or Sony. For more information about supported devices and setting Apple TV+ up on them, see this Apple support webpage.
You do not need to subscribe (or even start a free trial) to Apple TV+ in order to install the app on any of those devices and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas during the free period. However, you will have to sign in with a new or existing account Apple account (such as the one you use for iTunes, Apple Music, or iCloud). Signing in does not subscribe you to Apple TV+.
Once you're in the Apple TV+ app, the show will likely be featured on the front page of the app, or can be found in the "Kids" section. At the tv.apple.com website, if you don't see the show listed right away, you may need to scroll quite a ways through the list of shows to find it.
See Apple's website for more information about the AppleTV+ streaming service in general. (November 29, 2020)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving broadcast on PBS on Sunday November 22, 2020; also streamed for free on Apple TV+ from November 25 - 27, 2020
Great news - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will air on broadcast television this year after all. (And so will A Charlie Brown Christmas!)
And no, that's not a typo in the headline - via an agreement with Apple (announced on November 18), the classic holiday special will be shown commercial-free on your local PBS (public broadcasting) station, a change from airing on ABC in previous years.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is scheduled to air Sunday, November 22, 2020 from 7:30 - 8:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
Check the listings for your local PBS channel to confirm; note that this broadcast was just announced, so it may take a day or two for your station's listings to be updated.
The special will also air on PBS Kids, which is a broadcast sub-channel available over the air in many areas as well - so if you don't see it on your local PBS station, check PBS Kids, if you receive it.
You can read the full press release from PBS.
The Thanksgiving special will also still be made available to watch for free, without a subscription, via the Apple TV+ subscription streaming service, as previously announced, for three days: Wednesday, November 25 to Friday, November 27, 2020. (November 18, 2020)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown not shown on broadcast TV in 2020; instead it streamed for free on Apple TV+ from October 30 to November 1, 2020
For the first time in over 50 years, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was not broadcast on network television in 2020. Instead, the classic Peanuts specials moved exclusively to the subscription streaming service Apple TV+ (see more details, below).
However, the Halloween classic was available to watch for free, without a subscription, on the Apple TV+ app or website for three days: Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1, 2020. (October 30, 2020)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown & A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired Friday, February 14, 2020 on ABC
ABC broadcast the 1975 special Be My Valentine Charlie Brown, together with the 2002 special A Charlie Brown Valentine, from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on the timely date of Friday, February 14, 2020.
A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts holiday special broadcast times for December 2019
The full, unedited A Charlie Brown Christmas, accompanied by the Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales shorts, was shown from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Thursday, December 5, 2019 on ABC. Both were shown again on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
Then I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown aired from 7-8 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Sunday, December 22, 2019, also on ABC.
Finally, ABC broadcast Happy New Year, Charlie Brown and She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Thursday, December 26, 2019 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (December 11, 2019)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving aired Wednesday, November 27, 2019 on ABC
ABC aired A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, together with This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers, on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific time). That's the night before the holiday - plan your travels so that you arrive at your destination in time to catch it!
And the brand-new Astronaut Snoopy balloon floated down the streets of New York in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which aired from 9 AM to Noon (same broadcast time, all time zones) Thursday, November 28, 2019 on NBC. (November 21, 2019)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired October 22 & 29, 2019 on ABC
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was broadcast twice on ABC in October 2019.
First, an edited version aired on Tuesday, October 22 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM.
Then the full, unedited special together with You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown aired on Sunday, October 27 from 7:00 - 8:00 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific) - note the second showing started an hour earlier than it had in past years. (October 10, 2019)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown & Snoopy Come Home limited theatrical re-releases in August and October 2019
2019 is the 50th anniversary of the first Peanuts theatrical film, A Boy Named Charlie Brown. To mark the occasion, CineLife Entertainment and CBS partnered to bring "digitally remastered" presentations of both A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home (the second Peanuts movie) to actual movie theaters in August and October 2019, respectively.
Each film wias shown on only a select few dates and times (not for an entire week or two, like current movies). The dates for A Boy Named Charlie Brown were Sunday August 18, Wednesday August 21, and Saturday August 24, 2019. The dates for Snoopy Come Home were Sunday September 29, Thursday October 3, and Saturday October 5, 2019.
To find out if they'll be showing in a movie theater near you, visit the CineLife Entertainment website's pages for each movie: A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home. If a local theater isn't listed, be sure to check back closer to the screening dates, as additional locations may be added. In some cases, you can also purchase tickets online via those links. (July 21, 2019)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown & A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired February 8, 2019 on ABC
ABC broadcast Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown together with A Charlie Brown Valentine from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Friday, February 8, 2018. (January 23, 2019)
A Charlie Brown Christmas Aired December 6 & 20, 2018 on ABC + other December 2018 programming
Get your aluminum Christmas trees ready!
The full, unedited version of A Charlie Brown Christmas, together with Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, was broadcast twice on ABC in December 2018.
The first outing was on Thursday, December 6, from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and then again on Thursday, December 20, also from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
And as usual, ABC aired two additional Peanuts holiday specials in December 2018:
I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown airs Friday, December 21, 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown + She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown airs Thursday, December 27, 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
(November 22, 2018)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired Wednesday, November 21, 2018 on ABC
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, along with This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (That's the night before Thanksgiving.) (October 31, 2018)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Twice in October 2018 on ABC
ABC broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown twice in October 2018: an edited version on Thursday October 18 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM, and the uncut version together with You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown on Friday, October 26 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific). (October 4, 2018)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown & A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired February 9, 2018 on ABC
ABC broadcast Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown together with A Charlie Brown Valentine from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Friday, February 9, 2018. (January 29, 2018)
A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts holiday specials broadcast times for December, 2017
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Christmas, together with Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, twice in December 2017: first on Thursday, November 30 and again on Thursday, December 21. The shows aired from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) both nights, and were uncut.
Also in December 2017: I Want A Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Saturday, December 16 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, December 26, again from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (November 21, 2017)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired November 22, 2017 on ABC
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, together with This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Wednesday, November 22, 2017.
And on Thanksgiving Day itself (November 23), the "Charlie Brown and his kite" balloon flew inthe Macys' Thanksgiving Day Parade from 9 AM - noon (all time zones) on NBC. (November 4, 2017)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired October 19 and 29, 2017 on ABC
ABC broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown twice in October 2017: first in an edited version on Thursday, October 19 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM, and then the full, unedited special together with You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown on Sunday, October 29 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific). (October 10, 2017)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown & A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired February 10, 2017 on ABC
It's the annual hour of love and heartbreak for the Peanuts gang: ABC showed Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown together with A Charlie Brown Valentine from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Friday, February 10, 2017. (February 7, 2017)
December 2016 Peanuts Special Airdates: A Charlie Brown Christmas and more
ABC has announced the airdates for the usual roundup of December Peanuts specials as follows (all times Eastern/Pacific):
Thursday December 1, 8-9 PM - A Charlie Brown Christmas (unedited) + Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
Saturday, December 17, 8-9 PM - I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
Thursday December 22, 8-9 PM - A Charlie Brown Christmas (unedited) + Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
Monday, December 26, 8-9 PM - Happy New Year, Charlie Brown + She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown
Unlike some years, both 2016 broadcasts of the classic Christmas special were unedited. (December 3, 2016)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired November 23, 2016 on ABC
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving had its annual outing on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. As usual, the show was accompanied by This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers. (October 30, 2016)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired October 19 & 28, 2016 on ABC
ABC broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown twice in October 2016: an edited version on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and the full unedited version together with You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown on Friday, October 28, 2016 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
October 2016 was the 50th anniversary of the It's the Great Pumpkin - it was first broadcast on October 27, 1966. While there was no TV commemoration of the anniversary, at least the original unedited special aired 50 years and 1 day after its first broadcast! (October 13, 2016)
The Peanuts Movie Aired on HBO
The Peanuts Movie, 2015's CGI-animated theatrical outing of the Peanuts gang, aired on the premium cable channel HBO (and HBO-related channels such as HBO2 and HBO Family) from August 2016 through March 2017. The film was also available to watch via HBO Now and HBO Go. (February 7, 2017)
New Peanuts Shorts Aired on Boomerang in 2016 & 2017
New animated shorts starring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang aired on the on the US cable channel Boomerang from May 9, 2016 through March 3, 2017, and after a short break, returned in April 2017. (March 10, 2017)
ABC Broadcast Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Valentine on Friday, February 12, 2016
The old and new double-feature of Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975) and A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002) was shown on ABC on Friday, February 12, 2016 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (January 30, 2016)
ABC Celebrated the 50th Anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas on November 30, 2015 & December 24, 2015
In December 2015, it had been 50 years since the classic holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted, and ABC commemorated the event with a new hour-long retrospective special, It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown, airing from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on both Monday, November 30 and again on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24.
Each evening, the uncut original 1965 special aired immediately following the retrospective, from 9 - 10 PM (the rest of that hour was filled out, as usual, by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales).
It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown was hosted by Kristen Bell and produced by Lee Mendelson, who produced the classic special 50 years ago. According to the press release, the show featured "spectacular live performances, from the memorable music of Vince Guaraldi, to Kristen Chenoweth singing 'Happiness' from the Peanuts Broadway hit 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and a performance from Matthew Morrison of an original song, 'Just Like Me.' Other musical guests set to perform classic songs are Sarah McLachlan, Boyz II Men, Pentatonix, David Benoit and The All-American Boys Chorus." There were also be "Hollywood notables reminiscing about their most treasured A Charlie Brown Christmas moments."
So tune in one or both nights for two hours of Christmas memories with the Peanuts gang!
(December 1, 2015)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown Will Also Air in December 2015
In addition to the 50th anniversary broadcast of and special celebrating A Charlie Brown Christmas, ABC broadcast I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 from 9 - 10 PM, and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown together with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Monday, December 28, 2015 from 8 - 9 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific).
(The broadcast date & time for I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown was changed to the 15th from the originally announced date of the 19th, because ABC was scheduled to show a Democratic presidential primary debate on the 19th. Thanks for pointing this out, Amy M!) (December 11, 2015)
ABC Broadcast A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Warm up the popcorn maker so it's ready on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 for ABC's annual broadcast of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving together with This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers, from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (November 6, 2015)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired October 20, 2015 (edited) and October 29, 2015 (full length) on ABC
ABC broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown twice in 2015. First it was shown in a version edited to fit a half-hour timeslot on Tuesday, October 20 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM. The full, original length version was broadcast on Thursday, October 29, from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific), accompanied by You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. (Early reports that the second showing would be edited too turned out to be incorrect.) (October 18, 2015)
No It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on TV in 2015
Unfortunately, ABC did not broadcast It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on TV in 2015. Rats! (March 28, 2015)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown & A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired Friday, February 13, 2015 on ABC
You'll be able to get ready for Valentine's Day by watching Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975) and A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002) on Friday, February 13, 2015 evening. ABC broadcast the two specials back-to-back from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific time). (January 27, 2015)
A Charlie Brown Christmas Aired December 2, 2014 (edited) and December 16, 2014 (unedited); Two Other Peanuts Specials Also Aired in December 2014
ABC's holiday special broadcasts for December 2014 included two outings of the very first Peanuts TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. The initial broadcast of the 1965 classic aired on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 8:30 - 9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific); this showing was edited to fit into the half-hour timeslot.
The second showing was on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). It was unedited and accompanied by the 2002 skit compilation Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales.
Also in December 2014 on ABC were I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown together with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Monday, December 29, 2014 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (November 11, 2014)
ABC Broadcast A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 26, 2014
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving together with This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (November 5, 2014)
No Peanuts Movie Marathon on ABC Family in 2014
It appears that ABC Family's tradition of showing a Peanuts movie marathon during Thanksgiving week has come to an end - none of the movies were broadcast this year in November 2014. Too bad, considering last year they aired all four movies back-to-back. (November 18, 2014)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Wednesday, October 15 & Thursday October 30, 2014 on ABC
ABC broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown twice in October 2014.
The first broadcast, rather early in the month on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, was from 8:30-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and was edited to fit into the half-hour timeslot (because networks show more commercials now than they did back in 1966).
The second outing of the classic Halloween television special was on Thursday, October 30, 2014, from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific), was not only more timely, but was unedited and accompanied by You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, as in previous years.
So if you want to see the whole pumpkin, tune in October 30 - although of course, ABC would be even happier if you tuned in both times! (October 10, 2014)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown & Charlie Brown's All-Stars Aired Sunday, April 20, 2014 on ABC
The Easter Beagle made a timely visit to television screens on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014. ABC broadcast the traditional springtime special It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown together with the baseball-themed special Charlie Brown's All-Stars from 7-8 PM (Eastern/Pacific time).
In 1974's It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, Linus tries to convince the gang that there's no need to decorate their own eggs, because the Easter Beagle will bring them - but given Linus' history with the Great Pumpkin, his friends are skeptical. Meanwhile, Peppermint Patty and Marcie (ignoring Linus' advice) go through a series of mishaps preparing eggs for coloring.
Charlie Brown's All-Stars was the second-ever Peanuts television special, airing in 1966, just six months after the successful broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas. In this special, Charlie Brown tries to keep his baseball team together with the lure of getting actual uniforms and playing in a real league, but he faces a tough decision when he learns that the sponsor will only provide them if he takes the girls and Snoopy off the team. (March 31, 2014)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown & A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired Friday, February 14, 2014 on ABC
ABC celebrated Valentine's Day 2014 by airing two Peanuts specials that evening - the 1975 special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and the 2002 special A Charlie Brown Valentine. They were broadcast back-to-back from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific time) on Friday, February 14, 2014. (January 28, 2014)
ABC Extends Contract for Peanuts Holiday Specials Through 2020 & A Charlie Brown Christmas Tops Poll Results
On December 6, 2013, ABC announced that they have extended their contract to show the Peanuts holiday shows - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; and A Charlie Brown Christmas - through 2020. The specials moved to ABC in 2001, and have consistently garnered good ratings; in fact, on December 5, 2013, the 48-year old A Charlie Brown Christmas attracted a larger audience than the FOX network's new show Almost Human. You can read the full press release here.
So it's not surprising to hear that in a new December 2013 Harris Interactive poll about the holidays, Americans chose A Charlie Brown Christmas as their favorite animated holiday special. You can read the full press release and poll details at Harris Interactive's website. (December 11, 2013)
A Charlie Brown Christmas & Other Holiday Specials 2013 Broadcast Dates
ABC's December holiday special schedule for 2013 included four Peanuts outings. All times are Eastern/Pacific.
A Charlie Brown Christmas was shown twice, Monday, December 2 and Thursday, December 19, from 8-9 PM both nights. It aired unedited both times, and was accompanied by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales. (Note there wasa change from the originally announced dates; initially the second showing was announced for December 5, but showing it a couple weeks later made a lot more sense!)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown aired Saturday, December 21, from 8-9 PM.
Finally, Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, together with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown, was broadcast on Monday, December 30 from 8-9 PM.
(December 16, 2013)
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown Returned to FOX on Friday, December 20, 2013
While it's not a holiday-themed special, FOX treats it like one: the 2011 TV special Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown aired Friday, December 20, 2013 on the FOX Network from 9-10 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (November 29, 2013)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired Thursday, November 28, 2013 on ABC
Be sure to finish your turkey dinners early, because ABC is showing A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving evening, Thursday November 28, 2013, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). The special will air uncut together with a slightly shortened version of This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; the special first aired on November 20, 1973.
If you missed the show, you can watch it online at hulu.com for the first couple of weeks of December. (November 1, 2013)
Peanuts Movie Marathon on ABC Family, Wednesday, November 27, 2013
ABC Family has traditionally shown the first two Peanuts films during the week of Thanksgiving. This year, the cable channel brought something new to the tradition - they broadcast all four Peanuts theatrical films in a seven-hour long movie marathon starting at 4 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. The broadcast times were (all Eastern/Pacific):
Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Snoopy Come Home 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown 7:30 - 9:00 PM
A Boy Named Charlie Brown 9:00 - 11:00 PM
I believe this was the first time all four movies had been shown back-to-back on television in at least twenty years. (It's slightly puzzling why they weren't shown in chronological order, but nifty nevertheless.) (October 16, 2013)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Thursday, October 31, 2013 on ABC
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown made its annual visit to television screens on Halloween night, Thursday, October 31, 2013 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. Happily, unlike the previous year, ABC gave the classic Peanuts special an hour-long time slot, so it aired unedited together with a shortened version of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. (November 1, 2013)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown's All-Stars Aired Sunday, March 31, 2013 on ABC
ABC broadcast It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown together with Charlie Brown's All-Stars on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 from 7 - 8 PM (Eastern/Pacific time). This was a welcome return for It's the Easter Beagle, which last aired on TV in 2010.
In 1974's It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, Linus tries to convince the gang that there's no need to decorate their own eggs, because the Easter Beagle will bring them - but given Linus' history with the Great Pumpkin, his friends are skeptical. Meanwhile, Peppermint Patty and Marcie (ignoring Linus' advice) go through a series of mishaps preparing eggs for coloring.
Charlie Brown's All-Stars was the second-ever Peanuts television special, airing in 1966, just six months after the successful broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas. In this special, Charlie Brown tries to keep his baseball team together with the lure of getting actual uniforms and playing in a real league, but he faces a tough decision when he learns that the sponsor will only provide them if he takes the girls and Snoopy off the team. (March 11, 2013)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired February 9 on ABC
ABC broadcast two Valentine's Day-themed specials on Saturday, February 9, 2013. Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Valentine aired back-to-back from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific time).
In 1975's Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown hopes for Valentine's cards at the school Valentine's Day party while Linus worries about how to show his affection for his teacher, Miss Othmar. Then in A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002), Charlie Brown tries to impress the little red-haired girl, but instead Peppermint Patty asks him to a Valentine's Day dance. (February 13, 2013)
December 2012 Broadcast Dates & Times for Peanuts Holiday Specials on ABC: A Charlie Brown Christmas; I Want a Dog, Charlie Brown; Happy New Year, Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Christmas aired twice on ABC this year. The first broadcast was on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific time); the second broadcast was Tuesday, December 18, 2012, also from 8 - 9 PM.
The classic Christmas special aired unedited both times. The hour-long time slot was filled out with a shortened version of Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and the non-Peanuts short Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa.
ABC also broadcast I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Thursday, December 20, 2012 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
Finally Happy New Year, Charlie Brown was shown Thursday, December 27, 2012 from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). Happy New Year, Charlie Brown aired unedited together with a shorted version of She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown. (November 12, 2012)
Two Peanuts Movies Broadcast Monday, November 26, 2012 on ABC Family
The cable channel ABC Family showed A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home, the first two Peanuts theatrical movies, on Monday, November 26, 2012.
Snoopy Come Home airs from 5 - 7 PM, and A Boy Named Charlie Brown aired from 7 - 9 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific).
This was slight change of schedule from the previous few years, when ABC Family broadcast the two movies on the weekend following Thanksgiving. (November 16, 2012)
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown Returned to TV on Friday, November 23, 2012 and Monday, December 17, 2012
The FOX television network broadcast Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, the most recent Peanuts animated special, twice in 2012 - on Friday, November 23, from 8 - 9 PM and Monday, December 17, from 9 - 10 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific).
Happiness is a Warm Blanket first aired on television in November 2011, after being released on DVD earlier in the year. In 2011, it was broadcast at the same time as the classic special A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; thankfully, that wasn't the case in 2012 - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was shown the day before Thanksgiving (November 21) and Thanksgiving Day (November 22), while Happiness is a Warm Blanket was shown the day after Thanksgiving (November 23). (November 12, 2012)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired Wednesday, November 21 and Thursday, November 22, 2012 on ABC
ABC aired A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving twice in 2012: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 (the day before Thanksgiving) and Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving day itself). The special was broadcast from 8 - 9 PM (Eastern/Pacific time) both nights.
The hour-long time slot means A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was shown uncut, together with an abbreviated version of This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers. (November 12, 2012)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Wednesday, October 31, 2012 on ABC
This 2012 broadcast of the classic Peanuts TV special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC.
Unfortunately, the half-hour time slot meant that It's the Great Pumpkin was edited to make room for commercials (when the special first aired, there were only 5 minutes of commercials per half-hour; now there are 9 minutes of commercials per half-hour). With the network having to carve out time in 2012's schedule for the presidential debates and election coverage, it seems they were only willing to allot half an hour to the Great Pumpkin. (October 16, 2012)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home on ABC Family, Sunday, June 24, 2012
The cable channel ABC Family broadcast the movies A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home at 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM (Eastern/Pacific) respectively on Sunday, June 24, 2012. (June 20, 2012)
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown on HDNet Movies During April 2012
The cable channel HDNet Movies broadcast the movie Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown several times during April 2012. (Thanks to Gerry Dorman for the tip.) (April 2, 2012)
No Easter Beagle Broadcast in 2012
Unfortunately, neither ABC nor any other network broadcast It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on television in 2012.
The special is available on DVD and from iTunes, though, if you don't already own a copy. (April 2, 2012)
Peanuts Valentine's Day Special Double Feature Aired February 11, 2012 on ABC
ABC broadcast two Valentine's Day-themed Peanuts television specials on Saturday, February 11, 2012.
First was Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975), in which Charlie Brown hopes for Valentines cards at the school Valentine's Day party and Linus worries about how to show his affection for his teacher, Miss Othmar.
Then in A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002), Charlie Brown tries to impress the little red-haired girl, but instead Peppermint Patty asks him to a Valentine's Day dance.
The two half-hour shows aired back-to-back from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (January 24, 2012)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown Aired Thursday, December 29, 2011 on ABC
ABC broadcast the 1986 special Happy New Year, Charlie Brown together with a slightly edited version of She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown on Thursday, December 29, 2011 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (December 20, 2011)
December 2011 Broadcast Dates for Peanuts Christmas Specials on ABC
The classic 1965 special A Charlie Brown Christmas was broadcast on ABC twice, first on Monday, December 5 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM, and again on Thursday, December 15 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific).
The December 5th broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas was edited to fit into a half-hour time slot; ABC used it as a lead-in for their new Prep & Landing 2 special, which aired in the following half-hour. The unedited version of A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on December 15 broadcast, when A Charlie Brown Christmas had a full hour time slot and ran together with Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales.
(This wasn't the first time ABC broadcast the edited version of A Charlie Brown Christmas first and then the unedited one later; they did the same thing in 2009 when the first Prep & Landing special aired. Considering ABC received quite a few complaints from viewers who didn't realize an unedited version of the special was airing a week later, it's a little surprising they did the same thing again. A variety of TV critics took them to task in 2011 for showing an edited version.)
In addition to the original Christmas special, the 2003 special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown aired twice on ABC in December 2011. The first broadcast was Monday, December 12 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM, and the second on Thursday, December 22 from 9:00 - 10:00 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific). (November 22, 2011)
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown Broadcast Twice in December 2011
The latest Peanuts TV special, Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, received its premiere TV broadcast on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2011.
The FOX network aired Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown from 8:30-9:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) as part of a block of animated specials (including an "Ice Age" and "Simpsons" special). This was the first time a Peanuts TV special aired on the FOX network; and although Happiness is a Warm Blanket was released on DVD and Blu-ray earlier in the year, this was its first time on broadcast television. FOX repeated the show on Friday, December 16 from 8:00-9:00 PM.
In Canada, CTV broadcast Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown on Thursday November 24 from 8:30-9:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (November 27, 2011)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2011
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 24, 2011 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific). As before, the classic special aired unedited, followed by a shortened version of This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers.
Unfortunately this meant that two Peanuts specials airing in overlapping time slots on Thanksgiving evening. What's a fan do to?
As much as we love A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, we think you should tune into Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown when it starts at 8:30. Good ratings for the new special might encourage the production of other new Peanuts TV specials - plus, Happiness is a Warm Blanket new, whereas you've probably seen A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving before.
However, there are other options. First, even though A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is listed as running from 8:00 - 9:00 PM, really the special will only be on air until about 8:32 PM (then there's a commercial break and The Mayflower Voyagers). So you could finish watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and then quickly switch to FOX to watch Happiness is a Warm Blanket, missing only the first few minutes. But the first few minutes of the new special are good, so as before, we think you should just plan to watch Happiness is a Warm Blanket from the beginning and catch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving next year (or watch it on DVD or hulu.com). Or, option #2: Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown will be repeated on Friday December 16, 2011 on FOX, so there will be another chance to catch it. But FOX will probably pay more attention to the ratings for the first broadcast.
Despite the misfortune of both specials being aired on the same night, Peanuts fans should count themselves lucky to have two different specials on broadcast TV to choose from. The fact that one special was made in 1974 and the other was made 37 years later, in 2011, is a testament to the staying power of the Peanuts gang. (November 4, 2011)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown online on Hulu or ABC.com in January 2012
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown together with She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown were available streaming over the Internet from either hulu.com or ABC.com in January 2012. (December 31, 2011)
A Charlie Brown Christmas and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Hulu or ABC.com in December 2011
The complete, unedited A Charlie Brown Christmas together with Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown were available for streaming over the Internet from both hulu.com and ABC.com in December 2011. (December 15, 2011)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Hulu.com in November 2011
If you were too busy eating leftovers to catch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving when it aired Thanksgiving evening, you could have watched it streaming over the Internet from hulu.com from late November through mid-December 2011. (November 27, 2011)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home Aired on ABC Family, Friday, November 25 & Saturday, November 26, 2011
The cable channel ABC Family's annual broadcast of the first two Peanuts theatrical movies was on Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26, 2011. The schedule was:
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Fri Nov 25, 7-9 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Fri Nov 25, 9-11 PM
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Sat Nov 26, 2-4 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Sat Nov 26, 4-6 PM
(All times Eastern/Pacific.)
(November 15, 2011)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Thursday, October 27, 2011
ABC broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Thursday, October 27, 2011 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific). As usual, Great Pumpkin was broadcast unedited together with a shortened version of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown.
The special was first broadcast on October 27, 1966, so that means the 2011 broadcast of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown happened 45 years to the day after the original broadcast. (October 23, 2011)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Hulu.com in November 2011
If you missed the TV broadcast of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - or just wanted to watch it again - and didn't have it on DVD, you could have watched it streaming over the Internet from hulu.com during the month of November 2011. (October 31, 2011)
Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown Aired Wednesday, July 13, 2011
ABC broadcast Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, from 8:00 - 8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (July 10, 2011)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Not Broadcast in 2011
Unfortunately, ABC did not broadcast It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on TV in April 2011. The special is available on DVD, however. (April 21, 2011)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired Friday, February 11, 2011 on ABC
ABC paired old and new Valentine's Day specials once again by broadcasting both Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975) and A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002) on Friday, February 11, 2011 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (January 30, 2011)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown & She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown Broadcast on ABC on December 30, 2010
The special Happy New Year, Charlie Brown was broadcast by ABC on Thursday, December 30, 2010, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and was accompanied by the special She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown. The 2010 showing was the first time She's a Good Skate had been shown on prime-time TV in 22 years (and the first time it had been shown on ABC). Happy New Year, Charlie Brown aired unedited, but there were a few edits in She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown. (December 30, 2010)
Charlie Brown Christmas Specials Broadcast Schedule for December 2010
In December 2010, ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Christmas on Tuesday, December 7 and Thursday, December 16 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) both nights. The special was broadcast uncut version, and it was accompanied by an edited version of Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and a new (non-Peanuts) "Prep & Landing" short.
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown aired Tuesday, December 14 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) and Saturday December 18 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), also on ABC. (December 14, 2010)
A Charlie Brown Christmas and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Shown Online at hulu.com or ABC.com During December 2010
For the second year in a row the uncut version of A Charlie Brown Christmas together with Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales were available to watch online at both hulu.com or ABC.com during December 2010 (and unlike the broadcast version in 2010, Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales was uncut). I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown was also available to watch onlne at hulu.com and ABC.com. (December 22, 2010)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired Twice in November 2010
ABC aired A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving twice in 2010, Thursday November 18 and Thanksgiving Day itself, Thursday November 25. It was shown from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) both nights, and the hour was filled out by a shortened version of This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers, as in years past. (October 29, 2010)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home aired on ABC Family November 26 & 27, 2010
In what seems to have become a yearly tradition, ABC Family showed the Peanuts feature films A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home on the days following Thanksgiving. The broadcast times were (all times Eastern/Pacific):
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Fri Nov 26, 7-9 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Fri Nov 26, 9-11 PM
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Sat Nov 27, 1-3 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Sat Nov 27, 3-5 PM
(November 21, 2010)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Twice Again This Year: Thursday, October 28 and Friday, October 29, 2010
ABC broadcasted It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on two successive nights this year: Thursday, October 28 and Friday, October 29 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) both nights. The broadcasts included the uncut Halloween special followed by a shortened version of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. Apparently broadcasting It's the Great Pumpkin twice in a row last year was a ratings success, so ABC did it again this year. (October 29, 2010)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving at hulu.com or ABC.com in 2010
Both ABC.com and hulu.com offered A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving online in late November and early December 2010. The special was uncut and was accompanied by a shortened version of This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers, just like the broadcast version. (November 21, 2010)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Watchable Online in 2010
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, was available to watch online at both ABC.com or hulu.com during October and November 2010. The special was uncut and was accompanied by a shortened version of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, just like the broadcast version. (November 1, 2010)
Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown Aired Wednesday, July 14, 2010
ABC will aired the special Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (June 26, 2010)
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown and Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown on HDNet Movies During June & July 2010
The theatrical movies Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown and Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown were broadcast in high definition on the cable channel HDNet Movies during the months of June and July 2010. While both movies were broadcast in high definition, they were broadcast in the 4:3 aspect ratio instead of 16:9. However, this is the aspect ratio the films were originally created in, so this was not a mistake and the sides of the movies were not been chopped off. Thanks to Andy Dursin for the tip! (June 10, 2010)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Broadcast Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Perennial spring favorite It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown was broadcast on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (March 16, 2010)
A Charlie Brown Valentine Returned on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
ABC broadcast the 2002 special A Charlie Brown Valentine on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). In some previous years, ABC broadcast the older Valentine's Day special as well, but not this year. (January 26, 2010)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown Aired Wednesday, December 30, 2009
You could have rung in the new year with the Peanuts gang by watching Happy New Year, Charlie Brown when it aired on Wednesday, December 30, from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (December 20, 2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas Officially Appeared Online During December 2009
During the month of December 2009, both ABC.com and Hulu.com had A Charlie Brown Christmas together with Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales available to watch online for free. While initially both sites had edited versions of the special (missing about 4 minutes), after about a week they both updated their video to include the full, unedited special and the bonus shorts as well. The special is no longer available online, perhaps it will be back next December. iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand continue to offer it online for a fee. (December 20, 2009)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Was Also Online in December 2009
ABC.com or Hulu.com also offered I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown for free viewing online from late December 2009 through January 12, 2010; the special is no longer available online. iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand continue to offer the show online for a fee. (December 20, 2009)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Aired Monday, December 21, 2009
The more recent holiday special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown was broadcast Monday, December 21, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (November 4, 2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas Aired December 8 & 15, 2009
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Christmas twice in December 2009 — a shortened, edited version on Tuesday, December 8 from 8-8:30 PM and the full, unedited version on Tuesday, December 15 from 8-9 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific). The unedited December 15 broadcast was followed by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales.
This was a change from previously announced plans; originally these broadcasts were going to be on December 1 and December 8 respectively, but after President Obama announced he would give a televised speech on December 1st, ABC rescheduled the A Charlie Brown Christmas broadcasts. (December 1, 2009)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired Thursday, November 26, 2009
ABC made A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving part of the Thanksgiving day celebration when they broadcast the special on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). The special was followed by an shortened version of This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers. (October 11, 2009)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home Aired on ABC Family Channel, November 28 & 29, 2009
The first two Peanuts feature films, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home, were shown on the ABC Family cable channel on Saturday November 28, 2009 and Sunday November 29, 2009. The broadcast times were (all times Eastern/Pacific):
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Sat Nov 28, 7-9 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Sat Nov 29, 9-11 PM
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Sun Nov 29, 10 AM-12 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Sun Nov 29, 12-2 PM
(November 18, 2009)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Twice: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 and Wednesday, October 28, 2009
ABC broadcasted It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown twice in 2009. The first broadcast was on Tuesday, October 27, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) and featured the uncut special followed by a shortened version of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. The second broadcast was the following night, Wednesday October 28, 2009, from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific); this repeat broadcast was edited for time. (October 17, 2009)
ABC Broadcast It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown's All-Stars on Tuesday, April 7, 2009
ABC broadcast another hour of seasonal specials to TV when they aired It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, followed by Charlie Brown's All-Stars, on Tuesday April 7, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (In case you were wondering, it had been 27 years since Charlie Brown's All-Stars previously aired on network prime-time!) (March 10, 2009)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired Tuesday, February 10 and Saturday, February 14, 2009
ABC dug into the vaults again and pulled out another Peanuts special that hadn't been broadcast in primetime for over 20 years. The special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown — first broadcast in 1975, and previously last seen on network primetime in 1987 — aired together with the more recent special A Charlie Brown Valentine on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 from 8-9 PM and again Saturday, February 14, 2009 on ABC (all times Eastern/Pacific). (February 7, 2009)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown Aired Tuesday, December 30, 2008 and Saturday, January 3, 2009
ABC closed out 2008 and welcomed 2009 by broadcasting Happy New Year, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 from 8-8:30 PM, and again Saturday January 3, 2009 from 8-8:30 PM (all times Eastern/Pacific). This was the first time this special had aired on network prime-time television in 20 years! (January 3, 2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas Aired December 8 & 16, 2008
A Charlie Brown Christmas accompanied by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales aired on Monday, December 8, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and again on Tuesday, December 16, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (November 12, 2008)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Aired on December 15 & 20, 2008
Also in December, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown aired twice on ABC: on Monday, December 15, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) and Saturday, December 20, 2008 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (December 2, 2008)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired Tuesday, November 25, 2008 and Thursday, November 27, 2008
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving twice in 2008 - first on Tuesday, November 25, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and then again on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27 from 8-9 PM. Both times it was accompanied by an edited version of This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers, which is also a Thanksgiving-themed show. (November 12, 2008)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home aired on Family Channel, November 29 & 30, 2008
The first two Peanuts feature films, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home, were shown on the cable channel the Family Channel on Saturday November 29, 2008 and Sunday November 30, 2008. The broadcast times were (all times Eastern/Pacific):
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Sat Nov 29, 7-9 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Sat Nov 30, 9-11 PM
A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Sun Nov 30, 12-2 PM
Snoopy Come Home - Sun Nov 30, 2-4 PM
(November 23, 2008)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired Tuesday, October 28, 2008
ABC broadcast It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, October 28, from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). The special once again aired uncut, and was followed by a shortened version of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. (October 13, 2008)
Documentary About the MetLife "Snoopy One" Blimp Aired Saturday August 16, 2008
This admittedly only has a tenuous Peanuts connection, but on Saturday, August 16, CBS broadcast an hour-long show titled The Best Shot in Golf, which was all about the MetLife blimp, "Snoopy One."
According to the PR, "The MetLife blimp, Snoopy One, stars in the hour-long documentary, The Best Shot in Golf presented by MetLife. The documentary goes inside the operations of the MetLife blimp, giving viewers the opportunity to soar 1,500 feet in the air with camera man Bob Mikkelson as he crafts amazing shots of the picturesque course below, watch pilot Charlie Smith battle time and Mother Nature on his first solo transcontinental flight, and follow the 14 team members of the MetLife Snoopy One blimp crew as they choreograph each take-off and landing."
The show aired Saturday, August 16, from 2-3 PM Eastern time (11 AM - 12 noon Pacific time) on CBS.
You can watch a trailer for the show on YouTube.
(This was actually a repeat broadcast of the show; it first aired back in May, but there was almost no advance notice, so most people missed it, including me!) (Aug 12, 2008)
"It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" Aired Tuesday, March 18, 2008
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown returned to TV again on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (February 27, 2008)
"A Charlie Brown Valentine" Aired Saturday, February 12, 2008
ABC broadcast the special A Charlie Brown Valentine once again on Saturday, February 9, 2008 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (January 22, 2008)
"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" Aired Monday, December 10, 2007
ABC will broadcast the special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown on Monday, December 10, 2007 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (November 27, 2007)
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" Aired Tuesday, November 27, 2007 and Monday, December 3, 2007
ABC broadcast the classic special A Charlie Brown Christmas together with the short Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales on Tuesday, November 27 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) and again on Monday, December 3 from 8-9 PM. Memo to ABC: if you're going to repeat the show, maybe you should wait and do it closer to Christmas? (November 15, 2007)
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" & "He's a Bully, Charlie Brown" Aired Tuesday, November 20, 2007
ABC broadcast the classic special A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving together with the more recent special He's a Bully, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, November 20. "A Charlie Brown Thankgiving" aired from 8-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific), "He's a Bully" aired from 8:30-9:00 PM. (November 15, 2007)
New Documentary "Good Ol' Charles Schulz" Aired Monday, October 29, 2007
The new 90-minute video biography of Charles Schulz, titled "Good Ol' Charles Schulz," aired from 9:00-10:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Monday, October 29, 2007 as part of the PBS series American Masters. See above for a description of the show. (October 31, 2007)
"Peanuts Gallery" Documentary Aired Again Monday, October 29, 2007 on Many PBS Stations
Many PBS stations broadcast the short documentary "Peanuts Gallery," about Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's Peanuts-inspired symphonic work, on Monday October 29, 2007, from 10:30-11 PM (Eastern/Pacific), following the new video biography "Good Ol' Charles Schulz."
In 1990, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Zwilich composed a short symphonic work based on the Peanuts comic strip. The piece was titled, appropriately enough, "Peanuts Gallery." It premiered at Carnegie Hall, and while sheet music is available, the piece has never been released on CD. This half-hour TV special tells how the Peanuts characters went from the daily comics to Carnegie Hall, features interviews with Zwilich and Jeannie Schulz, and concludes with a performance of "Peanuts Gallery for Piano and Orchestra" by the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra.
This documentary first aired on a very limited number of PBS stations in October 2006, and it was good to see it getting wider distribution at last. While not all PBS stations are showing it, many are - definitely check your local listings and watch this show in addition to the new Schulz documentary. (October 22, 2007)
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" Aired Tuesday, October 30, 2007
This year, ABC broadcast the classic special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, October 30 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) - once again ABC showed the entire, uncut special along with an edited version of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. (October 28, 2007)
"Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" Aired Friday September 7, 2007
ABC re-broadcast the 2003 special Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown from 8:30-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Friday, September 7, 2007. (August 26, 2007)
"A Charlie Brown Valentine" Aired Saturday February 10, 2007
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Valentine from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Saturday, February 10, 2007. (February 2, 2007)
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" Aired Tuesday November 28 & Sunday December 17, 2006
A Charlie Brown Christmas, along with "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales," aired twice on ABC in 2006 - on Tuesday, November 28 from 8:00-9:00 PM and on Sunday, December 17, from 7:00-8:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific). The special received excellent ratings both times. The show was also broadcast in Canada on December 17 on the cable channel YTV from 7:00-7:30 PM (Eastern). (December 6, 2006)
"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" Aired Tuesday December 19, 2006
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown, the recent Christmas special starring ReRun and Spike, aired again on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (December 6, 2006)
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "He's a Bully, Charlie Brown" Aired Monday November 20, 2006
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving aired Monday, November 20, 2006 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. It was followed by the new TV special He's a Bully, Charlie Brown, which aired from 8:30-9:00 the same night. (November 1, 2006)
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" Aired Friday October 27, 2006
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired on Friday, October 27, 2006 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. As befitted the 40th anniversary broadcast, the special was broadcast uncut (in previous years, some scenes had been cut to make room for commercials), and it was followed by a bonus special, the 1972 show You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, which mentions the "Great Pumpkin" briefly. (November 1, 2006)
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's "Peanuts Gallery" Aired on PBS in October 2006
In 1990, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich composed a short symphonic work based on the Peanuts comic strip. The piece was titled, appropriately enough, "Peanuts Gallery." It premiered at Carnegie Hall, and while sheet music is available, the piece has never been released on CD. Finally the piece reached a somewhat wider audience in October, 2006. A selection of PBS stations around the country (unfortunately, far from all of them) aired a half-hour special telling how the Peanuts characters went from the daily comics to Carnegie Hall, and concludes with a performance of "Peanuts Gallery for Piano and Orchestra" by the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra. The special was titled "Peanuts Gallery." (October 1, 2006)
"It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" Aired April 11, 2006 on ABC
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown returned for another outing on network TV in spring 2006. It was broadcast Tuesday, April 11 on ABC from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (April 3, 2006)
"A Charlie Brown Valentine" Aired Tuesday February 14, 2006
A Charlie Brown Valentine aired Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 8 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (February 10, 2006)
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" 2005 Airdates
A Charlie Brown Christmas along with the short "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales" aired on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) and again on Friday, December 16, 2005 on ABC in the US. 2005 was the 40th consecutive year the special has been shown on TV! (January 2, 2005)
"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" Aired Friday, December 9 on ABC
The recent hour-long Peanuts Christmas special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (first broadcast in 2003) was shown again this year on Friday, December 9 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC in the US. (November 27, 2005)
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" Aired Thursday, November 24, 2005
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was broadcast on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2005 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC in the US. (November 12, 2004)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired October 25, 2005 on ABC
In 2005, ABC broadcast the classic TV special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (October 6, 2005)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Broadcast on ABC in 2005
In 2005, ABC picked up the rights to broadcast the 1974 holiday special It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, and aired it Friday, March 25, 2005 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (February 26, 2005)
A Charlie Brown Valentine 2005 Aired Saturday, February 12
ABC broadcast A Charlie Brown Valentine on Saturday, February 12, from 8:00-8:30 (Eastern/Pacific). (February 15, 2005)
Christmas Special 2004 Broadcast Dates
A Charlie Brown Christmas along with "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales" was shown on Tuesday, December 7 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC, and again on Thursday, December 16 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC.
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown was shown on Tuesday, December 14 from 8:00-9:00 (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. (December 13, 2004)
Christmas Specials on Canadian TV in 2004
The Canadian cable channel YTV broadcast the following Peanuts TV specials at the following times in December 2004. All times Eastern.
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown - Monday, December 13 at 7:30pm
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Sunday, December 19 at 7pm
I Want A Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown - Monday December 20 at 5pm
I Want A Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown - Friday December 24 at 7:30pm
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Friday December 24 at 8pm
(December 13, 2004)
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" Aired on Thursday, November 25, 2004
In 2004, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, which was broadcast on Thursday November 25 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC in the US. (November 28, 2004)
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" Aired Tuesday, October 26, 2004
The perennial classic It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired on Tuesday, October 26 on ABC from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) in the US. (October 27, 2004)
ABC to Show Peanuts Specials Again in 2004-05
In June, ABC announced that they will once again broadcast a variety of Peanuts TV specials during the 2004-05 television season. The shows include three classic Peanuts TV specials, and the more recent ones created for ABC.
The specials ABC will be showing in the upcoming year are:
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Valentine
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
"Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" already aired again, on June 12. (June 18, 2004)
Lucy Must Be Traded Aired Again June 12, 2004
The 2003 special Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown aired again on ABC Saturday, June 12, 2004 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (May 5, 2004)
No More Peanuts Shows on NickToons
As of May 1, 2004, NickToons removed the Peanuts TV shows from their schedule, as a result of the Nickelodeon contract to air the shows expiring. (May 2, 2004)
A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired Feb. 14, 2004 on ABC
A Charlie Brown Valentine once again was broadcast on ABC on Saturday, February 14, 2004 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific). (January 23, 2004)
A Charlie Brown Christmas Aired December 2 & 13, 2003
The classic TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas aired twice on ABC in the U.S. in 2003: first on Tuesday, December 2, 2003 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and again on Saturday December 13 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific). Like the previous year, both times the classic special was followed by Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales to fill out the hour-long slot. (January 3, 2004)
New TV Show "I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown" Aired December 9, 2003
The new hour-long Peanuts TV special, I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown!aired Tuesday, December 9, 2003 from 8:00-9:00 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC in the U.S.
According to the ABC press release, the show "centers on Rerun, the lovable but ever-skeptical younger brother of Linus and Lucy. It's Christmas vacation and, as usual, Rerun's big sister is stressing him out, so he decides to turn to his best friend, Snoopy, for amusement and holiday cheer. However his faithful but unpredictable beagle companion has plans of his own, giving Rerun reason to ask Snoopy to invite his canine brother Spike for a visit. When Spike shows up, it looks like Rerun will have a dog for Christmas after all... but then the real trouble begins." Read the full press release here. (November 6, 2003)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired November 23, 2003
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving aired Sunday, November 23, 2003, from 7:00-7:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC in the US. (November 3, 2003)
"Great Pumpkin" Gets Good Ratings in 2003
According to ABC, the October 28, 2003 broadcast of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown "led its time period in Total Viewers (13.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.0/14)," was one of "the Top 2 TV Shows of the night among Adults 18-49," and "attracted its largest audience in 12 years, since 10/30/91." (October 30, 2003)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Aired October 28, 2003
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired Tuesday, October 28, from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC in the USA. (October 10, 2003)
"Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" Aired August 29, 2003
The new TV special "Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown," based on the series of strips where Charlie Brown trades Lucy off the team in hopes of getting a better player, was broadcast Friday, August 29, 2003 from 9:00-9:30 PM (EDT/PDT) on ABC. (July 3, 2003)
ABC To Air Classic Specials Again
In their "upfront" presentation about the 2003-2004 TV season, ABC announced that they plan to broadcast the classic specials It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas once again later this year. (May 16, 2003)
"Easter Beagle" Canadian Broadcast April 20, 2003
Canadians can catch It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown at both 12 PM and 6 PM EDT on Sunday, April 20 on the cable channel YTV.
Unfortunately no USA channel is scheduled to show it this year. (April 17, 2003)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Does Not Air on Nickelodeon After All
Despite advance listings indicating the cable channel Nickelodeon would show the 1975 special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown at 1 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on Friday February 14, 2003, they did not in fact show it. (February 28, 2003)
A Charlie Brown Valentine Aired February 15, 2003
The special A Charlie Brown Valentine, first broadcast last year, is scheduled to air again this year on Saturday, February 15 from 8:00-8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC. Too bad that's one day after Valentine's Day! (February 28, 2003)
A Charlie Brown Christmas & Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales Aired December 8 & December 13
The classic holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas, along with a new short special titled Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales, aired twice on ABC in the U.S: first Sunday, December 8, 2002 from 8-9 PM (Eastern/Pacific), and then again Friday, December 13, from 9-10 PM (Eastern/Pacific).
The original special was broadcast uncut, just as it was last year, and the remainder of the hour was filled out with "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales," a series of new Christmas-themed animated shorts. The five shorts, each focusing on a specific Peanuts character (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and Sally), are based directly on stories from the Peanuts comic strips. Here is the full ABC press release about the broadcast and new show. (December 17, 2002)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving 2002 Ratings
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving faced tough competition in its 8-8:30 P.M timeslot on Thursday, November 21, 2002, up against an episode of "Survivor: Thailand" on CBS and NBC's "Friends." The show came in a distant third with a 5.8 rating/8 share. Despite this, it was still ABC's best Thursday night score of the season. (November 25, 2002)
It's the Great Pumpkin 2002 Ratings
This year, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired Friday, October 25, at 8 PM (Eastern/Pacific) on ABC in the US.
The special received a 5.8 rating/10 share. It came in third in the ratings during the 8-9 PM hour, behind "Providence" on NBC and "48 Hours Investigates" on CBS, but ahead of "Firefly" on FOX. But it was tops in the 18-to-49-year-old bracket for the 8-8:30 slot! For the week of October 21-27, the special ranked 60th out of 131 shows overall. (October 30, 2002)
Peanuts Shows Coming to Boomerang UK
Boomerang UK, a 24-hour "classic cartoon" channel available in the United Kingdom, has acquired the rights to show 30 half-hours of prime-time Peanuts specials and all 18 half-hours of the Saturday morning show The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. The shows are supposed to start airing in August - check your schedules! It's been a long time since the Peanuts shows were aired regularly in the UK, so this is a welcome change. (July 27, 2002)
"A Charlie Brown Valentine" Gets Respectable Ratings
The new special "A Charlie Brown Valentine" received good ratings when it was broadcast Thursday 2/14 on ABC, all things considered, since the competition was the men's skating finals in the Winter Olympics!
According to the Neilsen Ratings, the show ranked 31 out of 116 shows for the week of Feb. 11-17, 2002; and consider that the top 7 shows for the week were the Olympics. The show received a 5.7 share, equivalent to a little more than 6 million homes.
Other tidbits:
"The first original Charlie Brown special in more than eight years was last week's most watched prime-time program among kids... [it] beat every night of NBC's Games coverage among the younger set." (Washington Post)
"ABC's A CHARLIE BROWN VALENTINE, the first new Charlie Brown TV special in eight years, delivered the strongest nonsports 18-49 score in Thursday's 8 p.m. half-hour (3.5/10) since last March." (Reuters)
Reportedly ABC was pleased with the ratings results. (February 24, 2002)
Other Broadcast Info
Nickelodeon has removed the Peanuts specials from their lineup temporarily. See the TV schedule for upcoming broadcasts of movies on other channels. (September 2, 2000)
A Charlie Brown Christmas to Air December 6 & December 16 on ABC
A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on Thursday December 6 and Sunday December 16 on ABC. The show was paired with a new documentary about the making of the classic special--see news item above! Important note for VCR users: the original special plus new documentary are scheduled for an 8-9 PM hour-long block; the original special will air uncut, so with commercials, it will run over the half-an-hour mark - set your VCR for the full hour (you wouldn't want to miss the documentary anyway). (December 7, 2001)
ABC Edits "Great Pumpkin" & "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"
For those of you who have been asking, yes, ABC did make edits in its initial broadcast of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
Three minutes of material were cut from It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The edited scenes were:
- The scene near the beginning where Lucy tries to get Charlie Brown to kick the football (1 min, 15 secs);
- Snoopy dances to music Schroeder plays on the piano at the Halloween party (1 min, 45 secs);
Plus, the final title card saying "The End" and one repetition of Linus's outraged statements about "next year" were lopped off (1-2 seconds).
Two scenes were edited from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving to make room for more commercials:
- Around mid-show, after Snoopy sets plates and napkins on the table: Snoopy puts on a pilgrim outfit, forces Woodstock into one, and walks to Charlie Brown's door (Woodstock has trouble getting up the stoop);
- At the end of the show after the gang sings "To Grandmother's House We Go": Snoopy and Woodstock make and eat a real turkey dinner, Woodstock gets the wishbone.
The two "Thanksgiving" cuts totaled 3 minutes, 40 seconds - even more time than was cut from "Great Pumpkin!"
While we realize that networks include more commercial time than they did 30 years ago, this is more than CBS ever edited out from the shows--we hope that ABC will consider making fewer edits (or none at all!) in future showings and in the other specials.
We're pleased to confirm that ABC aired A Charlie Brown Christmas uncut and unedited in its initial showing on Dec. 6, although the timing of the commercial breaks was less than optimal.
Feedback can be sent to ABC's Audience Relations Department at netaudr@abc.com or by writing ABC, Inc., 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521 .
The Paramount VHS and DVD releases are complete and unedited. (December 7, 2001)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Aired on November 16, 2001 on ABC
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving aired Friday, November 16, 2001 at 8 PM (EST) on ABC. This was the first time in over ten years the show had been broadcast on TV in the U.S.! (November 17, 2001)
"Great Pumpkin" Gets Good Ratings
ABC's 10/30/01 broadcast of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was ABC's highest rated show of the evening, gathering an overall 8.4 rating/12 share. It was third overall for the 8:00-8:30 timeslot (behind the World Series pre-game show and "JAG"), and sixth overall for the entire evening (out of 21 network shows).
And here's some demographic breakdowns from an ABC press release:
Repeat telecasts of the Halloween classics "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "Boo! To You, Too, Winnie the Pooh," drew an average audience of 11.9 million viewers.
Among Kids 2-11 (8.6/26), ABC delivered a higher rating in the hour than CBS, NBC, Fox, UPN and the WB combined. In addition "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "Boo! Too You, Too, Winnie the Pooh" generated ABC's strongest Kids delivery in the hour in 2-1/2 years &endash; since the series finale of "Home Improvement" aired in the time slot on 5/25/99.
ABC's rebroadcast of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was the top-rated entertainment program in its half-hour among young adults. Among Adults 18-49, "Charlie Brown" (5.1/13) beat the first half-hour of CBS' original episode of "JAG" by 38% (3.7/9) and NBC's original "Emeril" by 113% (2.4/6). Outscoring Fox's World Series baseball pre-game coverage in the half-hour, "Charlie Brown" won the time period among Adults 18-34 (4.8/14), Women 18-49 (6.4/16), Women 18-34 (6.5/17) and Kids 2-11 (7.8/23).
ABC's airing of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" generated the animated program's strongest Adult 18-49 rating in over 5 years. Versus its most recent telecast on CBS (10/29/99 &endash; CBS had rights to the franchise prior to ABC), ABC's performance with the program was up by 31% among Adults 18-49 (5.1 vs. 3.9).
All the "ratings" numbers above are of the form (rating/share), where "rating" is the percent of all television households, regardless of whether the TV was on or not; "share" is the percent of household that were actually watching television. (November 2, 2001)
Holiday Specials Moved to ABC in 2001
After 35 years on CBS, the three classic holiday specials--A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving--moved to ABC in 2001. ABC outbid CBS for the rights to air them, and has a three-year contract starting in 2001 to broadcast the shows. (The broadcast rights for all the other shows remain with Nickelodeon.) Unlike CBS, ABC "has every intention" to air all three shows each year. For more details, see this news article. (September 29, 2000)
Peanuts 70th Anniversary Holiday Collection Limited Edition Blu-ray released October 1, 2019
Do we need another yet another release of the Peanuts Holiday Collection video set? Warner Home Entertainment thinks so. On October 1, 2019, they released what they're calling the Peanuts 70th Anniversary Holiday Collection Limited Edition Blu-Ray set.
This new iteration of the set features 9 classic Peanuts specials on Blu-ray, three of which haven't been released widely on Blu-ray before. (More on that in a bit.)
The specials included are:
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
It's Magic, Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown's All-Stars
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
The Mayflower Voyagers
Play It Again, Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Christmas
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown
Codes for digital copies of all the specials are also included.
The supposed lures of the set are that it features "brand-new bonus content" and comes in a "limited edition Snoopy doghouse giftset."
The new special features are: a new 19-minute featurette titled It's Not the Holidays Without Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown! and audio commentaries for It's the Great Pumpkin , Charlie Brown (from comedian Robert Smigel); A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (from cartoonist Lynn Johnston); and A Charlie Brown Christmas (from cartoonist Patrick McDonnell ). Oddly, the commentaries do not appear on the main discs, but on a bonus disc that has duplicate copies of the specials, but with the optional commentaries.
The older behind-the-scenes featurettes from previous Warner DVD and Blu-ray releases of these shows are included as well - "We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown!"; "Popcorn and Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic"; and "A Christmas Miracle: The Making of a Charlie Brown Christmas."
In addition to the doghouse packaging, inside the you set will also find an "exclusive Snoopy figurine" and a 64-page book of holiday Peanuts comic strips. Finally, it will be "a numbered, limited edition set with only 25,000 total sets available."
All this for $99.99 suggested retail.
The three mostly new to Blu-Ray shows are Charlie Brown's All-Stars; Play It Again, Charlie Brown; and It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown. But wait, I hear you say, weren't those released on the Peanuts Holiday Collection Deluxe Edition 4K UltraHD set in 2017? Well, sort of. They were on the 4K Ultra HD discs in that set... and It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown was on the Blu-rays in that set... but the other two shows weren't. So, if you don't have the means or desire to play Ultra HD discs, you can now get those three shows on Blu-ray in this set. Assuming you don't mind getting an expensive gift set that duplicates the other 6 shows you likely already have on Blu-ray.
(Also, it turns out those three specials were released on Blu-ray as Target exclusive versions of the Blu-rays in 2018. Unfortunately, those Target exclusives are no longer available.)
One final note: the name of the set is a mouthful to begin with, but is made more ridiculous by the fact that was released one day before what was actually only the 69th anniversary of Peanuts. The 70th anniversary isn't until October 2, 2020. The marketing department at Warner seems quite overeager to get there... (October 10, 2019; updated Jan 25, 2021 with additional information)
Peanuts by Schulz: Happy Holidays DVD With 4 Previously Unreleased Boomerang Shorts Released September 10, 2019
Warner Home Video has released a seventh DVD in the "Peanuts By Schulz" series, titled Peanuts By Schulz: Happy Holidays, featuring 26 shorts taken from the library of 104 shorts that aired on the Boomering channel in 2016.
This volume dispenses with the bogus "all new shorts" claim that Volumes 4-6 had, and instead simply says it has "26 shorts" on the cover.
Which is appropriate, since 22 of the shorts are repeats from previous volumes. 4 shorts are new, and this means across all 7 Peanuts By Schulz volumes, all but one of the Boomerang shorts has now been released on DVD. However, you'd have to buy an awful lot of repeats to get them all (and you'd still be missing that one).
As I've said before, it's difficult to recommend purchasing this or the previous few releases due to all the repeated content. Warner's failure to just provide a striaghtforward way to get all the shorts without extra repeats (and extra cost to the consumer) is inexcusable.
Another reason it's hard to recommend is that this is a single disc release, yet contains 26 shorts (totaling 3 hours and change) on just the one disc. This means the video quality of the shorts is likely to suffer due to over-compression (animation, in particular, fares poorly when too much is crammed on a DVD).
Peanuts By Schulz: Happy Holidays was released on September 10, 2019 and has a list price of $14.97, but should typically have a sale price of around $10-12.
For reference, the 4 new shorts on this DVD are:
The Winter Games
Do Not Watch Until Christmas
Kind of Spooky
That Day
(September 15, 2019) |
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Peanuts by Schulz: Lucy & Friends DVD With 6 Previously Unreleased Boomerang Shorts Released June 4, 2019
Warner Home Video is at it again: they've released another DVD release in the "Peanuts By Schulz" series, titled Peanuts By Schulz: Lucy & Friends, and once again they're falsely claiming that it contains "16 all new shorts" drawn from the library of 104 shorts that aired on the Boomering channel in 2016.
As with the previous two volumes, the "all new" claim is bogus, because only 6 of the Boomerang shorts on this DVD are previously unreleased. The other 10 are repeats from previous volumes.
Like before, I cannot recommend purchasing this release. For further commentary, see my article about the other recent "Peanuts By Schulz" releases, just below.
Peanuts By Schulz: Lucy & Friends was released on June 4, 2019 and has a list price of $14.97, but usually has a sale price of around $10.
For reference, the 6 new shorts on this DVD are:
A Clean Sweep
A New Best Friend
Brothers and Sisters
Classic
Out of Order
Weird Little Brother
(July 21, 2019) |
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Peanuts by Schulz: Springtime and Peanuts By Schulz: It's Only Love DVDs: Very little is "All New" on these collections of Boomerang Shorts
Readers will recall that back in 2016, the Boomerang channel aired 104 shorts based directly on Peanuts comic strips, each about 6-7 minutes long.
In 2017, Warner Home Video released three Peanuts by Schulz DVDs that compiled those shorts. Between them, the DVDs contained 80 of the 104 shorts. The last DVD went on sale in October 2017... and for 15 months, there have been no further releases, leaving 24 shorts unreleased on DVD.
The good news: Warner released two more Peanuts by Schulz DVD in early 2019.
The bad news: We still didn't get all the shorts on DVD, not even close, and the DVDs make false claims on their covers.
The first DVD, Peanuts by Schulz: It's Only Love, came out on January 8, 2019, and proclaims "18 all-new shorts" on its cover. (Unlike previous volumes, this one is a single disc.)
The problem is... that's false. Only 10 of the shorts on the disc are new to DVD. 8 are repeats, already released on the previous DVDs.
That makes Peanuts by Schulz: It's Only Love a fairly poor value, even at the normal sale price of $9.99, and it left 14 Boomerang shorts unreleased.
(Note that Amazon lists this DVD's title incorrectly... they call it Peanuts by Schulz: The Complete Series, which is most certainly isn't.)
The next DVD, Peanuts by Schulz: Springtime, arrived on February 26. Its cover claims "15 all-new shorts"... which is an even more egregious falsehood, since in reality only 3 of the 15 shorts are new to DVD. The other 12 are repeats from previous DVD volumes. That's an abysmal value for the sale price of $9.99.
When the It's Only Love DVD was released with only half of the shorts being new, I was willing to consider that it perhaps it was just sloppiness. But with the release of the Springtime DVD, having only 3 new shorts while claiming they are all new, it's difficult to accept sloppiness on Warner Home Video's part as an excuse, and instead one has to consider if there are less charitable explanations as to why the cover misleads potential purchasers.
If Warner Home Video's goal is to provide themed collections of these shorts, that would be fine, if they didn't say "all new" on the cover. While we would be disappointed that they didn't include the last of the unreleased shorts, at least the cover would be honest. But instead the repeated use of "all new" when neither DVD has been all new is... suspect.
My recommendation is to avoid buying the Peanuts by Schulz: Springtime DVD, or cancel or return your order if you've already placed one. And refuse to buy any future releases in this series unless it can be proved they truly include all-new shorts.
For reference, the 10 new shorts on Peanuts by Schulz: It's Only Love are:
The Little Red Haired Girl
The Mysteries of Love
Nobody Likes Me
Not Your Day
Love is in the Air
It's Only Love
Go for It, Charlie Brown
A Fascinating Friend
Misunderstanding
Just for Love
And the 3 new shorts on Peanuts by Schulz: Springtime are:
Being Nice
Birds of a Feather
Philosophy
Meanwhile, all 104 of the Boomerang shorts are available from iTunes as digital streams/downloads, in four separate Peanuts by Schulz collections (or one big complete one with all of them). However, the shorts not released on DVD yet are spread out across each of the four digital collections, so you'd have to re-buy everything to get the rest of the shorts; and of course, you can't put the digital downloads on DVD. (For what it's worth, the digital downloads are available in high definition as well as standard definition.) (These collection had been available on Amazon, but as of February 25, 2019, they had at least temporarliy been removed from that service.)
In fact, in another apparent attempt to confuse and mislead consumers , Warner added a fifth digital collection, matching the It's Only Love DVD, even though it just repeats shorts that are already in the other digital collections. Sheesh!
(February 25, 2019) |
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Warner Releases 4K Ultra HD Version of the Peanuts Holiday Collection Video Box Set
On Tuesday, October 17, 2017, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing a new version of the Peanuts Holiday Collection video box set, titled Peanuts Holiday Collection Deluxe Edition 4K Ultra HD.
This latest incarnation of the set includes 9 animated Peanuts TV specials, supposedly on regular Blu-ray discs, Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, and digital copies. However, not all 9 specials are on all formats - see more below. (DVDs are not included, but a DVD version of the set - albeit with fewer specials - has been previously released and remains available.)
If you're wondering what the heck 4K Ultra HD discs are and whether you need them, also see further below.
The 9 specials advertised as being in the set are as follows (each group appears together on one disc):
A Charlie Brown Christmas
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
It's Magic, Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown's All-Stars
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers
Play It Again, Charlie Brown
This is the first time 3 of these specials have been released in high definition - although, again, see important warning below. The new-to-HD specials are It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown; Charlie Brown's All-Stars; and Play It Again, Charlie Brown.
Warning: despite the PR and the back box cover implying that all 9 shows - including the 3 that are new to high definition - are on both the Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs in the set, that is not the case. Only the Charlie Brown Christmas Blu-ray disc includes 3 shows; the Great Pumpkin and Thanksgiving Blu-ray discs are the copies of the old Blu-ray discs, with only 2 shows each. Which means that the only way to see 2 of the 3 new-to-HD shows is if you have an Ultra HD disc player. This apparently is the case will all sets currently shipping; I do not know if this is intended, or a mistake. And even if it is a mistake, the chances of Warner Home Video fixed it are very small. If I find out more, I will update this blog post
The Blu-ray discs also include the "behind-the-scenes" featurettes that were created when Warner Bros. first released the specials on DVD in 2008. (They have appeared previously on all other Warner DVD and Blu-ray releases as well.) There are no new behind-the-scenes features.
The box set retails for $44.98 SRP.
Given the fact that the new-to-HD specials do not appear on the Blu-ray discs of this set, you should buy it only if you want the Ultra HD discs.
The three Ultra HD Blu-ray discs mark the first time that the Peanuts specials have been released in 4K Ultra HD with HDR, which theoretically has four times the resolution and better colors than regular HD and Blu-ray.
However, you need a 4K-enabled Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a 4K TV to take advantage of this. The Ultra HD discs will not play in regular, older Blu-ray players.
If you don't have a 4K Blu-ray player and/or TV, you could still use the three Blu-ray discs that are also included - but will not get to enjoy the 3 new-to-HD specials this way (see warning above).
You might be wondering, can the Peanuts specials actually look better when viewed in 4K Ultra HD than in just regular high definition? It seems doubtful - the regular 1080p high definition picture on the Blu-rays already reveal pretty much all the details available in the source material. Most of these shows were created on a budget in the 1960's and 1970's... so it is unlikely that, beloved as they are, they will be the best material to showcase the extra details of 4K resolution.
Each holiday special will also be released individually as separate releases containing an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, a regular Blu-ray disc, and digital copy. Although again, likely only the Ultra HD disc includes both bonus shows; the Blu-ray discs may only include 1 bonus show. The individual releases have a retail price of $29.98, so getting the set with all 9 shows is a much better deal. The individual releases dates are September 26 for It's the Great Pumpkin, October 24 for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and October 31 for A Charlie Brown Christmas. (Oct 10, 2017) |
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Peanuts By Schulz: School Days DVD Featuring 29 more of the Boomerang Peanuts Shorts Now Available
Warner Home Video has now released a third DVD containing Peanuts shorts that aired on the cable channel Boomerang last year. Titled Peanuts by Schulz: School Days, the 2-disc set includes 29 more of the shorts, with a total runtime of 3 hours 27 minutes.
(The initial press release for this DVD incorrectly said it only included 19 shorts. However, the front and back cover confirm that the actual number included is 29 shorts.)
The shorts were created by French animation studio Normaal Animation and first aired in France in 2014, and then in the United States in 2016; there are 104 in all. Each short is 6-7 minutes long, and is based directly on the comic strips by Charles Schulz. Drawn in a traditional 2D animation style, they were designed to be reminiscent of the printed comic page. The shorts were newly dubbed into English for the United States broadcast and DVD releases.
The 29 shorts included on the DVD set are as follows (note that the order of the shorts on the DVD is not the same as the Boomerang broadcast order):
Miss Othmar
Novel Idea
Have a Nice Day, Linus
Technical Difficulties
The Eye of the Beholder
A Friend Indeed
It's Raining, It's Pouring
Frieda
The School of Hard Knocks
A Little Nap
On the Campaign Trail
Leave Me in Peace
The Last of the Bunch
True or False
Beauty Contest
Best Friend
School Chums
Back to School
Sally
Go to School!
Marcie
It's Just No Good
Get Lucky
School Anxiety
Keep Your Chin Up, Charlie Brown
Too Cute
Colors
School Tomorrow
Problems
Between this and the previous two DVD sets (Peanuts by Schulz: Snoopy Tales and Peanuts By Schulz: Go Team Go), 80 of the 104 Boomerang shorts are now available on DVD.
Peanuts By Schulz: School Days was released on August 29, 2017, has a suggested retail price of $18.94 . (Oct 1, 2017) |
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Peanuts By Schulz: Go Team Go! DVD Featuring 19 more of the Boomerang Peanuts Shorts Now Available
Peanuts By Schulz: Go Team Go!, a 2-disc DVD set containing 19 more of the new Peanuts shorts that aired on the cable channel Boomerang, is now available from Warner Home Video. This is the second set of the shorts Warner has released.
The shorts were created by French animation studio Normaal Animation and first aired in France in 2014, and then aired in the United States in 2016; there are 104 in all. Each short is 6-7 minutes long, and is based directly on the comic strips by Charles Schulz. Drawn in a traditional 2D animation style, they were designed to be reminiscent of the printed comic page. The shorts were newly dubbed into English for the United States broadcast. (See the Boomerang/Normaal Animation Shorts section for some additional information.)
The 19 shorts included on the DVD set are as follows (note that the order of the shorts on the DVD is not the same as the Boomerang broadcast order):
No Strings Attached
Snoopy the Superstar
Don't Worry, Charlie Brown
Show Dog
Good Sports
Doing It Right
Like Skates on Ice
Tennis
Even-ing the Score
School Is Out
Black and White
The Great Outdoors
Strike Out
Autumn Is Here
A Bad Mood
Amateurs
Team Spirit
Trust Me
Creepy Crawlies
Peanuts By Schulz: Go Team Go! was released on April 25, 2017, and has a suggested retail price of $18.99. (April 25, 2016) |
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Peanuts By Schulz: Snoopy Tales DVD Featuring 32 of the Boomerang Peanuts Shorts Now Available
Peanuts By Schulz: Snoopy Tales, a new 2-disc DVD set containing 32 of the new Peanuts shorts that aired on the cable channel Boomerang, is now available from Warner Home Video..
The shorts were created by French animation studio Normaal Animation and first aired in France in 2014, and then aired in the United States in 2016; there are 104 in all. Each short is 6-7 minutes long, and is based directly on the comic strips by Charles Schulz. Drawn in a traditional 2D animation style, they were designed to be reminiscent of the printed comic page. The shorts were newly dubbed into English for the United States broadcast. (See the Boomerang/Normaal Animation Shorts section for some additional information.) They are well done and fun to watch, although perhaps best enjoyed in small doses (your kids may disagree!)
The 32 shorts included on the DVD set are as follows (note that the order of the shorts on the DVD is not the same as the Boomerang broadcast order):
Come on Snoopy!
A Day with Snoopy
My Blanket
Crazy Mutt
Good Dog
Sound & Sensibility
Train Your Dog
Going My Way
The Call of the Wild
A Pretty Picture
Beware of the Dog
Winter Wonderland
A Hard Winter
Word of Mouth
Too Cold
Woodstock
Christmas is Coming
Telling Stories
Man's Best Friend
Off Key
Not My Day
A Little Love
Good for Nothing
Let It Snow
Security
Nice Doggy
Company
Reach for the Stars
Fly
Feeling Insecure
Always Right
Even the Score
Peanuts By Schulz: Snoopy Tales was released on January 24, 2017, and has a suggested retail price of $18.94. (January 23, 2016) |
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A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home Blu-rays Released September 6, 2016; Double-Feature Set Released November 1, 2016
Want to enjoy "I Before E Except After C" and "Fundamental-Friend-Dependability" in high definition? Soon you'll be able to, because the first two Peanuts theatrical films, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home, were released by CBS/Paramount on separate Blu-ray discs on September 6, 2016.
A double-feature set, with both films on two discs in one case, was released on November 1. This release is much cheaper than buying the two films separately, so if you're interested in both films, get the double-feature set. (Releasing a cheaper, double-feature set less than two months after the first release is quite the insult to those of us who supported CBS/Paramount by buying the films in September.)
Unlike the DVD releases, on the Blu-rays the films are presented in the 4:3 (1.33:1) aspect ratio. This is how the movies were originally animated; the widescreen aspect ratio used on the DVDs cut off the top and bottom of the picture, and resulted in a very cramped look. So this is a welcome change. Audio options on each disc are 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo mixes. Alas, no bonus features are included on the discs.
Even though the back covers of the disc say that the "music has been changed for home video," there is no evidence of any music changes - probably this is just boilerplate text that someone forgot to remove.
Also worth noting is that the A Boy Named Charlie Brown Blu-ray includes the full 86-minute version of the film (as was the case with the DVD). A shortened 79-minute version had been released on VHS, Laserdisc, and was used for TV broadcasts. It's good to know that when CBS went back to master the film in high definition and 4:3, they also used the unedited version of the movie.
Both films were released on Blu-ray disc in Australia last year; the Australian A Boy Named Charlie Brown was incorrectly stretched out and distorted. Fortunately this is not the case with the US release.
The list price for each disc separately is $24.99; the double feature disc lists for just $29.99. For reviews of the Blu-rays, visit The Aisle Seat, written by entertainment critic and fellow Peanuts fan Andre Dursin. (Spoiler: he says they look good and he recommends them.)
And no, there's no word on when or if the other two classic animated Peanuts movies will be released on Blu-ray - they were only recently finally released on DVD! - but we'll keep our fingers crossed, and in the meantime, we'll be able to enjoy seeing every little detail of the first two. (September 26, 2016) |
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Charlie Brown All-Stars DVD Re-release includes New-to-DVD A Charlie Brown Celebration
Meanwhile, Warner Home Video has also released a "new" Peanuts DVD - the so-called Charlie Brown's All Stars 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. However, the baseball-themed 1966 special - the Peanuts gang's second television outing - is not the interesting part of this relese, as it has already been released on DVD in the US before, as part of Warner's Peanuts 1960's Collection box set (and even before than, on Paramount's now out of print Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown disc).
This is Warner's first release of Charlie Brown's All Stars on a stand-alone disc.
The real reason for Peanuts fans to pick up this disc is that the "bonus episode" is the 1982 special A Charlie Brown Celebration, a 45-minute show consisting of skits based on storylines from the Peanuts comic strip (similar to The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show episodes). This is the first US DVD release of this show. The special is introduced by Charles Schulz himself, and some of the skits are: Peppermint Patty accidentally enrolls in dog-training classes; Charlie Brown goes to the hospital, and Lucy promises not to pull away the football if he gets better; and while on a field trip, Linus meets a new paramour "Truffles," gets trapped on top of a barn and must be rescued by helicopter (aka Snoopy).
Unfortunately, A Charlie Brown Celebration has not been restored or remastered for this release, looking particularly rough at the beginning, and suffers from scratches, dust spots, and occasional washed out colors throughout. (Which is ironic considering how the press release touts that All Stars has been given "completely remastered in beautiful high definition.") It's probably still better than the special not being released on DVD at all, but it's disappointing that Warner made no effort to clean A Charlie Brown Celebration up. It is likely the poorest quality I've seen on a Peanuts DVD release.
The disc does not contain any other bonus material.
The Charlie Brown All Stars 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition DVD was released on October 4, 2016, and has a suggested retail price of $19.98.
If you're just interested in Charlie Brown's All Stars, you would probably be better off getting the similarly priced Peanuts 1960's Collection box set instead, which also includes several other fine 1960's Peanuts specials; however, if you want to own all the Peanuts specials on DVD, you'll want to pick this one up in order to get the new-to-DVD A Charlie Brown Celebration. (October 4, 2016) |
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The Peanuts Movie Now Available on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, and DVD
The Peanuts Movie, 2015's CGI feature film starring the Peanuts gang, was released on home video on March 8, 2016 by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
The film is available in several formats and packaging:
- A DVD "combo pack" - includes DVD disc and HD digital download (list price $29.98)
- A Blu-ray "combo pack" - includes 2D Blu-ray disc, DVD disc, and HD digital download (list price $39.99)
- A 3D Blu-ray "combo pack" - includes 3D Blu-ray disc, 2D Blu-ray disc, DVD disc, and HD digital download (list price $49.99)
Actual sale prices are typically cheaper than the list prices. Note that you need a 3D television to watch the movie in 3D at home.
The Fox press release lists a variety of bonus features that will accompany the film; note that a couple of them are only available on the Blu-ray discs. Sadly, it doesn't sound like the film's amusing trailers will be included at all. Descriptions are from the press release:
- Snoopy Snippets – Can’t get enough of your favorite Peanuts characters? These six all-new Snoopy Snippets will brighten your day!
- You Never Grow Up, Charlie Brown (Blu-ray only) – In this fascinating documentary, you’ll learn about Charles Schulz, the history of the Peanuts gang, and their journey to the big screen!
- Snoopy’s Sibling Salute (Blu-ray only) – It’s a Snoopy family reunion as The Peanuts Movie filmmakers introduce viewers to Snoopy’s siblings: Andy, Olaf, Spike, Belle and Marbles.
- Learn To Draw Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown – Director Steve Martino provides fun, step-by-step tutorials on how to draw Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown.
- Get Down With Snoopy and Woodstock Music Video – Clap, dance and sing along with Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown to an all-new version of everyone’s favorite Peanuts song!
- “Better When I’m Dancin’” Meghan Trainor Music Video – Escape to a wonderful, whimsical world with Meghan Trainor’s music video for her hit song “Better When I’m Dancin’.”
- “Better When I’m Dancin’” Meghan Trainor Lyric Video – The Peanuts gang is dancing up a storm with moves like you've never seen before—and on-screen lyrics so you can sing along.
- Behind The Scenes of “Better When I’m Dancin’” – Meghan Trainor takes you on an exclusive tour behind the scenes and on the set of her “Better When I’m Dancin’” music video!
- Snoopy’s Playlist – Now the music from the movie is at your fingertips—use Snoopy’s Playlist to jump directly to your favorite songs.
- Five trailers and teasers
- Photo galleries showing concept art, color keys, character studies, and final art
When the film was first released, a "limited edition gift set" that included a Blu-ray disc, DVD disc, HD digital download, and a Snoopy dressed as the WWI Flying Ace plush toy was available, but is no longer being sold.
Likewise, Target was offering a special version of this "limited edition gift set" that included a third disc, a Target-exclusive bonus DVD with "over 25 minutes of extra content;" this special version is also no longer available. Targets's description of the bonus material was: "Meet the cast in the The Voices of the Peanuts Movie featurette, visit the Nickelodeon 'Orange Carpet' to learn how an animated film is made with Owen Joyner from 100 Things to Do Before High School, and explains how to make cool stuff with 3 'Art of Dreaming Big' activities."
And if that's not enough options for you, The Peanuts Movie was one of the first movies released in the new "Ultra HD Blu-ray" disc format. Ultra HD Blu-ray has four times the resolution (four times as many pixels) as current Blu-ray discs; this is commonly known as "4K." Of course, you need a new, Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a TV with 4K resolution to take advantage of this format - so probably it will appeal to a limited number of buyers. The Peanuts Movie Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack includes the Ultra HD disc, a regular Blu-ray disc, and an HD digital download (but does not include a DVD). Presumably it includes the same bonus features as the regular Blu-ray, but no official list of features was announced. The list price for this version is $39.99, and it can be ordered from Amazon.com and other retailers.
Finally, The Peanuts Movie is available as a digital-only download from Amazon and iTunes and similar services; however, considering those downloads cost $14.99 and the discs will only cost around $18-22 and include an HD digital download, you probably want to wait and get the disc! (March 5, 2016) |
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Peanuts 4-Movie Collection, Containing All Four Classic Peanuts Theatrical Movies, Released February 16, 2016
Now that all four classic Peanuts movies have been released on DVD, Paramount has put them together in one box set, titled Peanuts: 4-Movie Collection. Released onFebruary 16, 2016, the set contains:
A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)
Snoopy Come Home (1972)
Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977)
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (1980)
The movies are on 4 separate discs. No new bonus material is included with this set (although presumably it includes the few bonus features that are on the individual DVD releases), so if you have the previous DVD releases of the movies, you don't need this set. But if you don't, the set's a good deal - list price is $26.99, but you can get it for around $20. (January 25, 2016) |
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Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown Comes To DVD At Last on October 6, 2015
As of October 6, 2015, fans can finally complete their collection of Peanuts theatrical movies on DVD, when Paramount Home Video releases the fourth and final classic Peanuts animated movie, Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown. In this 1980 film, Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and Snoopy travel to France as exchange students, and encounter mystery, history, and humor (of course). The film's main location is based on the chateau that Charles Schulz was billeted at for six weeks in World War II.
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown is presented in 16:9 widescreen on the DVD, which also includes the movie's theatrical trailer and a new making-of featurette with new interviews with Jean Schulz, Lee Mendelson, and Steve Melendez (son of animator Bill Melendez). It's nice to see Paramount actually including a bonus feature!
Even though Paramount's press release touts that the film has been "digitally remastered in 4K," there will only be a DVD release - no Blu-ray release is planned. (A high-definition download is available on iTunes, but that's not the same as a real disc.)
The Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown DVD has a suggested retail price of $14.99, and can be ordered from Amazon and other retailers. (October 13, 2015) |
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Peanuts: Emmy Honored Collection DVD Set, Featuring DVD Debut of Two Specials, Now Available
In September 2015, Warner Home Video released the Peanuts: Emmy Honored Collection, a two-disc DVD collection of 11 Peanuts specials that were either Emmy Award winners or nominees.
The set features two specials that are being released on DVD for the first time in the U.S.: What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? and Why, Charlie Brown, Why? Inconveniently, however, you'll also get nine other previously released specials that may already be in your Peanuts DVD collection.
The full list of specials included in the collection are:
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975) (Emmy winner)
You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979) (Emmy nominee)
She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980) (Emmy nominee)
Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown (1980) (Emmy winner)
It's Magic, Charlie Brown (1981) (Emmy nominee)
Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown (1981) (Emmy nominee)
Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (1983) (Emmy nominee)
What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (1983) (Emmy nominee) (new to DVD)
It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984) (Emmy nominee)
Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985) (Emmy nominee)
Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990) (Emmy nominee) (new to DVD)
Note that this set is neither a complete collection of Emmy Award winning Peanuts specials, nor of the Emmy nominated specials. The better known specials A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving also won Emmy Awards, and 13 other animated specials not on this collection received nominations. You can see a complete list of all the winning and nominated Peanuts shows further down this page.
Warner touts that the shows have been "brilliantly remastered in all-new 4K Ultra HD transfers," and while that is true, the difference in quality between this release and earlier Warner DVD versions of the shows is likely to be small. All the previously released shows had already been remastered and looked quite good for their initial appearances on Warner Home Video DVDs, and more to the point, since DVD is a standard-definition format, it cannot take advantage of the high resolution of the remasters. Sadly, no high definition Blu-ray version of this set, which would have shown the remasters to much better effect, has been announced.
One thing that is new to this release is that the audio for all the specials has been remixed to 5.1 surround sound. While these 5.1 mixes sound fairly nice -unlike the dreadful surround mixes on the Blu-ray releases of the Christmas, Great Pumpkin, and Thanksgiving specials - unfortunately they are the only English audio option; the original mono soundtrack mixes are not included.
There are no bonus or special features on the set.
The Peanuts: Emmy Honored Collection DVD set was released on September 15, 2015, has a suggested retail price of $26.99, and can be ordered from Amazon and other stores now. (May 6, 2015) |
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He's a Bully, Charlie Brown DVD Repackaging Out October 6, 2015
Warner Home Video has also released a "new" Peanuts DVD in October, although it's less exciting, since all the shows have been released by Warner Home Video previously. The DVD is titled He's a Bully, Charlie Brown, and features that 2006 television special as its main feature, together with It's a Short Summer, Charlie Brown and The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Episode 2: Snoopy - Team Manager as "bonus" episodes. There are no extra features. The DVD was released on October 6, 2015, has a suggested retail price of $19.97 and is available for order now.
Be warned that the copy of It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown on this DVD is edited and missing three minutes of the show, for reasons unknown. If you want to own that show on DVD, you should get the Peanuts 1960's Collection box set instead, where the show is presented in its full length.
He's a Bully, Charlie Brown is also available on the You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD; It's a Short Summer, Charlie Brown is available on the Peanuts 1960's Collection box set; and the Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show episode is available on the complete Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show DVD set. So if you have all those, you don't need this repackaging; and if you don't have them, the other DVDs are better choices than this DVD, especially given that It Was a Short Summer is unnecessarily edited. (July 17, 2015) |
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Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown Finally Arrives on DVD
Fans have been asking about DVD releases of the third and fourth Peanuts theatrical movies for years, and at last Paramount Home Video has released Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977) on DVD.
Released on February 10, 2015, the DVD presents the film in 16:9 widescreen, and the only bonus feature is the film's theatrical trailer.
(The trailer is something of a curiosity, featuring narration by a voice that sounds an awfully lot like Bill Hinnant, who played Snoopy in the original 1967 off-Broadway production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Either that or it's his brother Skip.)
Interestingly - as was the case with the A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home DVDs - the Race For Your Life DVD actually shows less picture than the VHS release of the movie. The entire movie was originally drawn as a 4:3 (square) image, like the Peanuts TV specials, and that is what was released on VHS. When the movie was presented in theaters, the top and bottom of the image were removed, and the DVD replicates that 16:9 (rectangular) image. This is not necessarily good or bad, but just noting the difference, since typically DVD releases include more of the picture than the VHS tape. Regardless, it's great to be able to add a DVD with better picture quality to our collections.
While there isn't a Blu-ray disc release to go with the DVD (alas), Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown is also now available in high definition as a digital rental or purchase from iTunes or Amazon Instant Video (and possibly other providers). None of the other three theatrical movies are available as digital files at this time, although many of the TV specials are.
While the initial announcements (here and here) of the Race For Your Life DVD said that the fourth movie, Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (1980) would also be coming out this year, so far there's no sign of it - no release date has been announced and no preorder listings have appeared. (TVShowsOnDVD.com reported that Paramount said they were delaying the release until October 2015 in order to tie the release in with the 35th anniversary of the film... which is kind of odd since the film first hit theaters in June 1980.)
The first two Peanuts movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) and Snoopy Come Home (1972), have been available on DVD for some time, and will be re-released on February 10, 2015 as well - it's just a re-packaging with no new features. (February 12, 2015) |
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Rumor Control: Video Distribution Rights for Classic Television Specials Are NOT Switching to Fox Home Video, Anniversary DVDs HAVE NOT Been Announced
For some time, Wikipedia pages claimed that in 2015, the video distribution rights for the classic Peanuts television specials on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital would switch from Warner Home Video to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, and an variety of new and exciting DVDs will be coming in 2015. According to reliable sources I consulted, this is not correct. The home video rights are staying with Warner Home Video. This could change in the future, but at the moment, no new deals have been signed. The Wikipedia articlse claimed there was an announcement from Fox about taking over. No such announcement exists. Fortunately, most of these claims have been removed from Wikipedia now.
A variety of additional claims have been made: that current DVDs and Blu-rays are going out of print; that a "65 Years Collection" containing all the TV specials is coming from Fox in 2015; and that there will be "65th Anniversary" releases of currently unreleased TV specials. These are all also false. The DVDs and Blu-rays remain in print, and while the Peanuts: Emmy Honored Collection coming out in 2015 will include a couple of new-to-DVD shows, it does not contain them all.
An unsourced claim on Wikipedia is NOT a valid announcement or proof of anything. You should be very skeptical of Wikipedia claims that do not include a link to a source announcement, or "news" where Wikipedia is the only webpage where you can find the information - as was the case with these supposed "announcements." If such changes or DVDs had been announced, there would be other webpages with official news from 20th Century Fox. In these cases, no such alternative sources existed. Remember that anyone can edit a Wikipedia page, and it seems that lately someone who is at best indulging in wishful thinking, or at worst working to deliberately mislead Peanuts fans, has been adding this information to Wikipedia.
Given that 20th Century Fox is releasing the new Peanuts theatrical movie in 2015, any video releases of it will almost certainly come from Fox, similar to how the video rights for the first four theatrical movies are held by Paramount.
But the classic television specials remain with Warner Home Video. (September 5, 2014)
DVD Re-release of A Charlie Brown Christmas On December 2, 2014
Some readers have noticed that Amazon.com listed a new "50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" of A Charlie Brown Christmas on DVD, released December 2, 2014. Be advised this release is no different from the previous DVD release other than a new cover and title.
While the advance Amazon listing claimed the package would contain 2 discs, that was an error - there is just 1 disc, with the same contents as before.
The cover says the DVD includes It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown and a bonus "making of" featurette; both these were included with the previous Warner DVD release of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The back cover also says "brilliantly remastered in an all -new Ultra HD transfer" - which may be true, but irrelevant, since DVDs are not high-definition. Even if this is a different transfer than before, it's very unlikely the DVD will show enough difference to make it worth repurchasing.
Also, A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired on December 9, 1965, making this December the 49th anniversary. The true 50th anniversary is next year, December 2015 - so releasing a DVD with a 50th anniversary label this year is quite premature! After all, what are they going to do when the real 50th anniversary comes around? (December 27, 2014) |
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This is America, Charlie Brown Returns to DVD on June 17, 2014
On June 17, Warner Home Video re-released all eight episodes of This is America, Charlie Brown in a two-disc DVD box set.
Promoted as "the first animated miniseries ever," the specials were broadcast in prime-time on CBS during the 1988-89 television season. Meant as both education and entertainment, the shows find the Peanuts gang witnessing and participating in historic events and discoveries. For more details, see the This is America, Charlie Brown section of this page.
The eight episodes are:
The Mayflower Voyagers
The Birth of the Constitution
The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk
The NASA Space Station
The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad
The Great Inventors
The Smithsonian and the Presidency
The Music and Heroes of America
This isn't the first time all the episodes of This is America, Charlie Brown have been released on DVD - Paramount released a DVD set with the exact same contents back in 2006 - but that set has been out of print for many years, so this is a welcome reissue. (Given the previous release, Warner's claim on the cover that the specials are "together for the first time" is hogwash.) The Mayflower Voyagers appears as a bonus feature on the A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving DVD and Blu-ray, but otherwise, there is no duplication with other Warner Peanuts DVDs.
The list price for the set is $26.99, and it's available now now. (June 17, 2014) |
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Warner Adds "Peanuts Holiday Classics" in High-Definition to iTunes Offerings
Warner Brothers Home Entertainment announced that they are now offering a package of six Peanuts television specials in HD (high definition) video on iTunes. Titled "Peanuts Holiday Classic," the six shows are: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965); It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966); A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973); It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974); Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1986); and This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers (1988).
The six shows can only be purchased together $29.99; or $24.99 for the six in standard definition (SD) video. They can be found on iTunes using this link.
The high definition versions cannot be purchased individually, they are only available when you buy the "Peanuts Holiday Classics" bundle; however, most of the shows are available separately in standard definition. For a complete list of Peanuts releases on iTunes, see the iTunes Releases section of this page.
A Charlie Brown Christmas; It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; and This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers have been previously released in high-definition on Blu-ray discs (and those discs remain available), and air in high-definition on television. It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown are not available on Blu-ray, so this is the first high-definition release of them. (Conversely, the Blu-ray discs include two shows that are not available in HD on iTunes.) (October 17, 2013)
Touchdown, Charlie Brown! Deluxe Edition DVD: A "New" DVD That's Neither New Nor Deluxe, Released January 21, 2014
Warner Home Video has released a "new" Peanuts DVD release titled Touchdown, Charlie Brown!, on January 21, 2014.
Unfortunately, as has been the case with Warner's other recent Peanuts DVD releases, there's nothing new on this DVD; all the shows on this disc have been released on other, still available Warner DVDs; all they've done is slap a fresh title on the outside to make it sound new.
The shows on the Touchdown, Charlie Brown DVD are:
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Episode 1: Snoopy's Cat Fight
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Episode 4: Lucy vs. The World
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Episode 11: Chaos in the Classroom
(The DVD itself lists incorrect episode numbers for The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show episodes; the above list is correct.)
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown was previously released on the Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD; the three episodes of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show were previously released on The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show: The Complete Series DVD set.
And while Warner has labelled Touchdown, Charlie Brown! a "Peanuts Deluxe Edition DVD," unlike all previous Peanuts Deluxe Edition DVDs, there apparently aren't any special or bonus features on this disc. Together with the fact that there aren't even any new-to-DVD shows on the DVD, calling it a deluxe edition is a serious case of title inflation.
The Touchdown, Charlie Brown! DVD will have a list price of $19.98. But really, if you're interested in any of the shows on this DVD collection, I recommend that you avoid this disc and get one of the other, earlier, more complete DVD releases containing the shows instead.
It continues to be disappointing that instead of releasing the several Peanuts specials that have never been released on DVD in the US, Warner Home Video is recycling previously released shows under new titles that seem designed to confuse the customer. (January 22, 2014) |
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Warner Releases Snoopy's Holiday Collection DVD set, Repackaging Several Previously Released DVDs
On October 1st, 2013, Warner Home Video released a 3-disc DVD collection titled Snoopy's Holiday Collection, which is simply a repackaging of previously released DVDs. The DVDs included are:
I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales DVD
Happiness Is Peanuts: Snow Days DVD
If you have all those previous DVD releases, you don't need this repackaging.
Each of those DVDs included two shows each; so the complete list of shows on Snoopy's Holiday Collection are:
I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?
She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Episode 18: Sally's Sweet Babboo
It also includes the bonus feature "Sibling Rivalry: Growing Up Van Pelt" that originally appeared on the I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD.
The best thing that can be said about this repackaging is that at a list price of $19.98, it's cheaper than buying the three DVDs separately. (October 6, 2013) |
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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition DVD - Exactly the Same As the Previous Deluxe Edition DVD
Also on October 1, 2013, Warner Home Video released a DVD titled A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition DVD. Don't be fooled: this is just a renaming of the previously released A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Deluxe Edition DVD. There's absolutely nothing new other than the title. (October 6, 2013)
4 Kid Favorites: Happiness is... Peanuts Collection Repackaging Four Previously Released DVDs Due June 4, 2013
Warner Home Video has announced they will be releasing a 4-disc collection titled 4 Kid Favorites: Happiness is... Peanuts on June 4, 2013. This collection contains nothing new, it is a repackaging of four previously released DVDs:
Happiness is... Peanuts: Snoopy's Adventures
Happiness is... Peanuts: Go Snoopy Go!
Happiness is... Peanuts: Team Snoopy
Happiness is... Peanuts: Snow Days
Each of those discs contained one prime time TV special and one episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show; so 4 Kid Favorites contains the following 8 shows:
It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown
Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown
She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown
Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep 12: It's That Team Spirit, Charlie Brown
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep 14: Snoopy and the Giant
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep 15: Snoopy's Brother Spike
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep 18: Sally's Sweet Babboo
The list price of 4 Kid Favorites: Happiness Is... Peanuts is $14.99, making it a bargain when you consider each individual DVD originally cost the same. If you didn't buy the previous releases and want one of the four prime-time TV specials, this set is worth picking up; however, if you're interested in The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show episodes, you should instead get the The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show: The Complete Series set (see details below) which contains all 18 episodes of that show.
And needless to say, it's disappointing that all Warner Home Video is doing is repackaging old DVDs, instead of releasing DVDs containing the Peanuts specials that have never yet been released on DVD. (April 19, 2013) |
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Peanuts Specials on Netflix Instant Streaming
During 2013, the online streaming and DVD rental service Netflix had a small selection of Peanuts television specials available via the Instant streaming feature. As of January 2014, they are no longer available. They included:
A Charlie Brown Valentine
A Charlie Brown Celebration
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown
This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Note that the best known specials, such as A Charlie Brown Christmas or It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, are not available on Netflix Instant streaming. However, they and many other Peanuts specials are (and have been) available from Netflix as DVDs.
This was the first time that A Charlie Brown Celebration and It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown had been made available in a digital format; they haven't been released on DVD in the United States or on other online services.
Many Peanuts TV specials are available as digital downloads from iTunes or Amazon Instant Video, although they are only available to buy, not as cheaper short-term rentals.
Thanks to Jeremi Smith for the tip! (January 16, 2013)
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show: The Complete Series Now Available on DVD
On Tuesday, November 20, 2012, Warner Archive released The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show: The Complete Series, a DVD set containing all 18 episodes of the Peanuts Saturday morning cartoon show from 1983 and 1985.
While a few episodes of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show have been released individually on the various "Happiness Is... Peanuts" line of DVDs, this is the first time most of the episodes have been released on DVD in the United States, and also the first time they have all been released together as a set. (5 episodes have been released previously; 13 are new to DVD in this set.)
The 18 episodes are on 2 discs with a total running time of 402 minutes. The set can be ordered for $29.95 directly from Warner, or it can also be ordered from Amazon.com (although at the time of writing, it cost several dollars more at Amazon, so be sure to compare prices).
The full list of episodes included on this set is:
Disc 1
Episode 1 - Snoopy's Cat Fight
Episode 2 - Snoopy: Team Manager
Episode 3 - Linus and Lucy
Episode 4 - Lucy vs. the World
Episode 5 - Linus' Security Blanket
Episode 6 - Snoopy: Man's Best Friend
Episode 7 - Snoopy the Psychiatrist
Episode 8 - You Can't Win, Charlie Brown
Episode 9 - The Lost Ballpark
Disc 2
Episode 10 - Snoopy's Football Career
Episode 11 - Chaos in the Classroom
Episode 12 - It's That Team Spirit, Charlie Brown
Episode 13 - Lucy Loves Schroeder
Episode 14 - Snoopy and the Giant
Episode 15 - Snoopy's Brother Spike
Episode 16 - Snoopy's Robot
Episode 17 - Peppermint Patty's School Days
Episode 18 - Sally's Sweet Babboo
For more details about each episode, see the Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show section below.
It's worth noting that Warner Archive DVDs are not the manufactured, pressed DVDs that you typically find in stores; they are recordable DVD-Rs that are burned on demand as customers order them. While they should play without problem in any DVD player produced in the last 10-12 years and the video quality should be as good as a regular DVD, they may not be quite as durable or long-lasting as regular DVDs. For more information, see the Warner Archive FAQ.
However... it turns out that for the first batch of discs of any box set, Warner Archive actually makes pressed DVDs instead of recordable DVDs. So if you order this set within a month or two of its release date, you're likely to get "real" DVDs instead of DVD-Rs. (I can verify this - the set that I ordered on release day is pressed DVDs.) But eventually they will switch to using DVD-Rs instead.
I's likely that this will be the only box set of the Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show that's ever released on DVD, and certainly it's more economical (and space efficient!) than buying the individual "Happiness Is... Peanuts" releases. Plus there's no guarantee that all the episodes of the Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show will be released individually (consider that after two years, only five episodes have been released that way). So if you're interested in getting these episodes on DVD, this set is the way to go. (November 28, 2012) |
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Happiness is... Peanuts: Go Snoopy Go DVD featuring It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown and Episode 12 of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Snow Now Available
The next DVD from Warner Home Video, titled Happiness is... Peanuts: Go Snoopy Go, has been released on October 9, 2012. Like it's predecessors, the DVD features two half-hour shows: the 1992 show It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown and "It's that Team Spirit, Charlie Brown," episode #12 of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show from 1983.
It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown has a story similar to the classic 1966 special Charlie Brown's All-Stars: a local business will sponsor Charlie Brown's team and give them uniforms if the team can win the first game of the season. But will an early round of spring training in the snow and new team member, the tiny Leland, be enough help to get the win? It's Spring Training was previously released on DVD by Paramount, but that DVD has been out of print for several years.
This will be the first U.S. DVD release of "It's That Team Spirit, Charlie Brown." The episode consists of five skits: "Vulture," "Blanket," "Peppermint Patty," "Rerun," and "Rainy Day."
There are no special features on the DVD. Happiness is... Peanuts: Go Snoopy Go has a suggested retail price of $14.97. (July 6, 2012) |
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Happiness Is... Peanuts: 3-Pack Fun DVD Set Released October 9
On October 9, Warner will be collecting three of their previous Peanuts DVD releases together into a "gift pack." Titled Happiness Is... Peanuts 3-Pack Fun, this set will contain the Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown DVD; the Happiness is.. Peanuts: Team Snoopy DVD (featuring The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 15: Snoopy's Brother Spike and Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown); and Happiness is Peanuts... Snoopy's Adventures DVD (featuring The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Ep. 14: Snoopy and the Giant and Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown).
There is absolutely nothing new in this set except for a new slip cover. All the DVDs and shows in it have been released previously on separate DVDs. The set will have a retail price of $19.98 that makes it cheaper than buying all three DVDs separately. So, if you don't have any of these DVDs and were thinking of picking them up, you can save a few bucks with this set. (Note that some sites, such as Amazon.com, are listing this set's title as just Happiness is Peanuts.) (October 7, 2012)
Happiness is... Peanuts: Team Snoopy DVD featuring Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown and Another Episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Snow Now Available
Warner Home Video has released the Happiness is... Peanuts: Team Snoopy DVD. Released on May 1, 2012, the DVD features two half-hour shows: the 2003 special Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown and "Snoopy's Brother Spike," episode #15 of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show from 1985.
(This DVD was originally announced for May 8, but the release date was moved up one week to May 1.)
In Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown trades Lucy to Peppermint Patty's baseball team in hopes of getting a better player and winning some baseball games. Lucy Must Be Traded was released on DVD by Paramount, but that DVD has been out of print for several years. The Warner DVD has the same extended version of Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (a few minutes longer than the broadcast version) as the Paramount DVD.
This will be the first U.S. DVD release of "Snoopy's Brother Spike." The episode consists of three different skits: "The Pelicans," "Great Pumpkin," and "Spike."
There are no special features on the DVD. Happiness is Peanuts: Team Snoopy has a suggested retail price of $14.97. (May 2, 2012) |
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Happiness Is... Peanuts: Friends Forever DVD Featuring Episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Now Available
The third DVD in Warner Home Video's "Happiness is... Peanuts" series of DVDs, titled Happiness is... Peanuts: Friends Forever, is now available.
Like the previous "Happiness is... Peanuts" DVD releases, the DVD contains one prime-time Peanuts TV special and one episode of the Saturday morning cartoon show, The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.
Unfortunately, this time the prime-time special is a repeat. It's 1967's You're in Love, Charlie Brown, which has been released on DVD twice already by Warner Home Video. (It appears on the Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD and the Peanuts 1960's Collection DVD box set.)
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show episode is "Lucy Love Schroeder", featuring skits titled "Kite-Eating Tree," "Sally," "Camp," "Lucy Loves Schroeder," and "Scared Snoopy" (click the link for short synopses of each skit). This episode has never been released on DVD in the United States before.
There are no bonus features.
Based on the titles of the two shows and the DVD cover, Warner appears to be aiming for a Valentine's Day theme. But releasing You're in Love, Charlie Brown a third time, forcing collectors who already own it (possibly twice!) to buy it again just to get one new episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show is simply inexcusable. Including another unreleased episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show instead would have made a lot more sense. But it seems Warner has no interest in giving Peanuts fans sensible DVD releases... they are unlikely to be happy with this "Happiness Is..." release.
As with the earlier "Happiness is... Peanuts" DVD releases, the DVD cover and other marketing material proclaim this DVD to be "An All-New Collection." This is a particularly misleading claim this time around, since the shows themselves are not new, and it's not even the first time one of them has been released on DVD.
The total running time of the DVD is 47 minutes, and it has a suggested retail price of $14.97. It was first available on December 27, 2011. (December 27, 2011) |
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She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown and Another Episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show Now Available on DVD
Warner Home Video has released the new Peanuts DVD , Happiness is... Peanuts: Snow Days. It is available in stores as of October 18, 2011.
Like the previous "Happiness is... Peanuts" DVD release, the DVD contains one prime-time Peanuts TV special and one episode of the Saturday morning cartoon show, The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.
The prime-time special is fan favorite She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown, from 1980, in which Peppermint Patty decides to compete in a figure skating competition. To prepare for this, she of course enlists Snoopy as her coach.
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show episode is "Sally's Sweet Babboo" (episode 18), featuring three shorter segments, "The Play," "Sweet Babboo!," and "Snoopy's Story."
This is the first time these shows have been released on DVD in the United States. There are no bonus features.
As with the earlier "Happiness is Peanuts" DVD releases, the DVD cover and other marketing material proclaims this DVD to be "An All-New Collection," but all that's new is that this is the first time these two shows have been released on DVD in the United States. The shows themselves are not new, and both were previously released on VHS.
Given that She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown is one of the more popular non-holiday Peanuts specials, it's baffling that Warner hasn't made that the title of the DVD instead.
The total running time of the DVD will be 47 minutes, and it will have a suggested retail price of $14.97. (October 23, 2011) |
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Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown DVD and Blu-ray Now Available
The new Peanuts special, Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, is out on DVD and Blu-ray now.
In addition to the special (see above for a description of the show), the discs include a generous amont of bonus features:
- "Deconstructing Schulz: From Comic Strip to Screenplay" - How the Peanuts comic Strip Was Made into a Movie (13 mins)
- "Happiness Is... Finding the Right Voice" - Meet the Stellar Voice Cast (12 mins)
- "24 Frames a Second: Drawing and Animating a Peanuts Movie" (14 mins)
- Deleted Scene with an introduction by Director Andy Beall (4 mins)
Even though Warner describes Happiness is a Warm Blanket as a "movie," the show is actually only 45 minutes long. It is in widescreen. Both the show and bonus features are in high-definition on the Blu-ray disc.
A trailer for and behind-the-scenes peek at the new show can now be seen on the official Peanuts YouTube channel. Don't be put off by the pixelated, digitized look of the trailer on YouTube; the actual special doesn't look like that. The trailer also appears on the Warner Home Video A Charlie Brown Valentine DVD.
The DVD includes English and Spanish audio tracks, and English, French, and Spanish subtitles. The list price is $19.99, and the original release date was March 29, 2011.
The Blu-ray disc has the same special features as the DVD. The package includes a DVD and a digital copy of the show as well as the Blu-ray disc. The list price of the Blu-ray is $24.98. The Blu-ray was exclusive to Walmart for about two months after the initial release, but that period of exclusivity is now over.
Happiness is a Warm Blanket is available on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video as well. It costs $9.99 accompanied by two of the bonus features, "Deconstructing Schulz: From Comic Strip to Screenplay" and "Happiness Is... Finding the Right Voice."
The DVD and Blu-ray disc are also available in Canada. (June 14, 2011) |
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Snoopy's Adventures DVD Featuring Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown Now Available
The DVD titled Happiness is... Peanuts: Snoopy's Adventures is now available; it was released by Warner Home Video on June 14, 2011.
The DVD features the 1985 primetime special Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown, together with "Snoopy and the Giant," one of the episodes (#14) of Saturday morning cartoon show, The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. There are no bonus features.
Despite the fact that the DVD cover and other marketing material proclaims this DVD to be "An All-New Collection," all that's new is that this is the first time these two shows have been released on DVD in the United States. The shows themselves are not new, and both were previously released on VHS.
It is disappointing that Warner has apparently chosen to release episodes of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show piecemeal, instead of together in a set, and abandon bonus features and the "deluxe edition" approach.
The DVD's running time is 46 minutes, with a suggested retail price of $14.97. (June 14, 2011) |
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"Double-Feature" Release of A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home
Paramount has re-released their DVDs of the first two Peanuts theatrical movies together in one package, calling it Peanuts Double Feature: Snoopy Come Home and A Boy Named Charlie Brown. The list price is $16.99, so this release is cheaper than buying both movies separately. The double-feature is on 2 discs, not both movies crammed on one disc. No bonus features or extras are expected to be included. The re-release came out on March 15, 2011. (March 16, 2011)
A Charlie Brown Valentine DVD Re-issue Now Available
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The last Peanuts DVD release of 2010 was A Charlie Brown Valentine from Warner Home Video. The 2002 special is accompanied on disc by the 1981 special Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown. The DVD was released on December 28, 2010.
This DVD is not listed as a "deluxe edition," and no bonus features are included; however the list price of $14.95 is somewhat lower than the deluxe edition DVDs.
Both specials have been released on DVD before. Paramount also released an A Charlie Brown Valentine DVD. That DVD included a third special, There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown, that will not be included on the Warner version of the DVD; however, it does already appear on Warner's Peanuts 1970's Collection Vol. 1 box set.
Like the Paramount release, the Warner Home Video release of A Charlie Brown Valentine is an extended version of the special, running 4 minutes longer than the broadcast version. (January 23, 2010)
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Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales DVD Now Available Everywhere
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Last year, Warner Home Video released a DVD featuring Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?, but that DVD was available only at CVS stores for a couple of months (and not all CVS stores at that, many people reported having difficulty finding it). Fortunately, this fall the same DVD has been re-released and is now available everywhere, so if you had trouble finding it last year, now you should be able to get it easily.
The DVD contents are identical to the original limited release DVD, containing just the two shows and no extra bonus material. Unlike Warner's other Peanuts DVD releases, this one is not labelled as a "Remastered Deluxe Edition." The list price is $14.97, and the re-release was first available on October 5, 2010. (October 8, 2010)
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Blu-ray Version of Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection Available Now In Two Editions: Regular Edition and "Ultimate Edition"
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In addition to the two new single Blu-ray releases (see below), Warner Home Video has released a Blu-ray version of the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection box set, which contains the newly released Blu-ray Disc versions of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving together with the already-released A Charlie Brown Christmas Blu-ray. The contents of the box set is the same as the individual Blu-ray releases, which means the set actually contains 3 Blu-rays and 3 DVDs that duplicate the contents of the Blu-Ray discs.
The box set will be released in two versions. First is the regular edition, released on October 5, 2010, containing just the 3 Blu-ray discs (and matching DVD discs) and no add-ons, for a list price of $42.93.
Second is the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection Ultimate Edition, which contains the same 3 Blu-Ray discs and matching DVDs, but also includes a "snowglobe lucite lenticular" featuring the Peanuts gang skating and "3 Peanuts windows clings." From the images Warner Home Video provided, it doesn't look like the so-called snowglobe is a real globe filled with water and snow that you can shake - instead it seems to be some sort of flat circular object. This so-called "ultimate edition" is now available and has a list price of $69.97. $27 seems like a lot extra to pay for these few trinkets, so we're glad that Warner is releasing a disc-only version of this box set as well.
Note that some stores are offering a price on the regular edition of the Blu-ray box set that's cheaper than buying the two new Blu-ray releases (Great Pumpkin and Thanksgiving) separately, so when purchasing, you may want to check the prices and see if getting the box set would be cheaper than getting the two new discs separately, even if that means you end up with an extra copy of the Christmas Blu-ray disc. (October 8, 2010)
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I Got a Blu-ray! It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Now Available in High Definition
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Arguably the second most famous Peanuts TV special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, has been released as Warner Home Video's second Peanuts Blu-ray disc.
The Blu-ray disc includes the same contents as the Deluxe Edition DVD release: the famous Halloween special, the "bonus" episode It's Magic, Charlie Brown, and the making-of featurette We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown.
Both It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and It's Magic, Charlie Brown are in full 1080p high definition; the bonus feature is in standard definition. The audio for the specials is nominally DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, but surround effects are minimal as the specials were originally created with mono sound; and unfortunately the original monaural soundtracks are not included, only the modified "surround sound" track.
In addition to the Blu-ray disc, this release also includes a "bonus" DVD whose contents duplicate the Deluxe Edition DVD release. You cannot buy the Blu-ray disc separately without the "bonus" DVD.
The It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Blu-ray disc will also be released as part of the Blu-ray version of the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection, which will be available on October 5 (see above for details).
The Blu-ray disc has a list price of $24.98. (Sep 26, 2010)
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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Blu-ray Now Available
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Warner Home Video has released the third Peanuts Blu-ray - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was released in high-definition on September 7, 2010, the same day as the new It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Blu-ray disc.
Like the other Peanuts Blu-ray releases so far, the Blu-ray disc will have the same features as the Deluxe Edition DVD: the title special, the "bonus" episode This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers, and the making-of featurette Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic.
Both A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers are in full 1080p high definition; the bonus feature is in standard definition. The audio for the specials is nominally DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, but surround effects are minimal as the specials were originally created with mono sound; and unfortunately the original monaural soundtracks are not included, only the modified "surround sound" track.
In addition to the Blu-ray disc, this release also includes a "bonus" DVD whose contents duplicate the Deluxe Edition DVD release. You cannot buy the Blu-ray disc separately without the "bonus" DVD.
The A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Blu-ray disc will also be released as part of the Blu-ray version of the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection, which will be available on October 5 (see above for details).
This Blu-ray disc has a list price of $24.98. (Sep 26, 2010)
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He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD Now Available
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Warner Home Video has released the He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD.
The DVD includes the title special from 1968, a bonus episode, Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown (first broadcast in 1980), and a bonus featurette titled Snoopy's Home Ice: The Story of the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. (The Redwood Empire Ice Arena is an indoor skating rink built by Charles Schulz in Santa Rosa, California, within walking distance of his former office, and is now next door to the Charles M. Schulz Museum.)
Note that He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown has already been released on DVD by Warner Home Video; it was one of the specials in the Peanuts 1960's Collection box set. However, Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown has never been released before on DVD in the United States, although one might think it will show up on a box set of the 1980s specials eventually (but no such box set has been announced yet). The bonus Redwood Empire Ice Arena featurette is new, and based on past history, will probably not appear elsewhere.
Unlike previous Warner Home Video Deluxe Edition DVDs, this DVD does not come with a cardboard slipcover.
The DVD will have a list price of $19.98, will have English and Spanish mono audio, English, French, and Spanish subtitles, and was released September 21, 2010. (September 26, 2010)
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Peanuts 1970's Collection, Volume 2 DVD Box Set Now Available
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Warner Home Video has released the third in their series of chronological box sets of the Peanuts TV specials. The Peanuts 1970's Collection, Vol. 2 is a two-disc DVD set containing all of the animated Peanuts TV specials from 1975-1979.
This box set contains six Peanuts specials, including one that is new to DVD in the US. The specials included are:
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975)
It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (1976)
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977)
What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown (1978)
You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979)
All the specials except for What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown are available on other Warner Home Video DVDs, making this box set less interesting than the previous box sets, if you've bought all the individual DVD releases so far. What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown has not been released previously on DVD in the United States.
The box also includes a new featurette titled You're Groovy, Charlie Brown: A Look at Peanuts in the '70s; described by Warner Home Video as follows: "This featurette takes a look at the Peanuts in the ‘70s. From the daily work rituals and comic strip techniques of Charles Schulz, to the environment of Creative Associates, Peanuts is examined in this loving tribute to the comic strip and animation. This is the story of how Peanuts and the 1970s were the perfect blend."
The Peanuts 1970's Collection, Vol. 2 has a suggested retail price of $29.98, and was released on June 1, 2010.
You can watch an on-line trailer for the DVD set here.
Note that this DVD set does not include the bonus documentaries that appear on the separate Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown DVDs; as before, to get those bonus features, you must also purchase the individual DVD releases.
Warner has not announced plans to release What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown on DVD separately; for now this box set is the only way to get it. (June 10, 2010)
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You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD Now Available
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The first Peanuts DVD release of 2010, the 1985 animated version of the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, is now available. This is the first time this special has been released on DVD in the United States.
In addition to the 48-minute animated adaptation, the You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD includes a bonus featurette titled Animating a Charlie Brown Musical, which according to Warner PR, "explores the 20-year journey of the Clark Gesner album that evolved into an off-Broadway hit before becoming this animated TV special." This DVD does not include a bonus episode; also unlike previous Warner Peanuts DVD releases, it does not come with a slipcover.
The suggested retail price is $19.98. The DVD was released on January 26, 2010 by Warner Home Video.
You can watch a trailer for this DVD here.
Note that the animated version of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is not the entire musical; some edits were made to fit it into an hour-long TV time slot. Also note that this DVD is only the animated adaptation; it does not include any live-action version of the musical. (February 1, 2010)
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Peanuts Motion Comics Now Available on DVD
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The Peanuts Motion Comics, animated shorts based on Peanuts comic strips from 1964, are now available on DVD from Warner Archive and Amazon.com. The DVD is titled Peanuts: Motion Comics Collection, and features all 20 shorts. The shorts include stories about Christmas, Halloween, school elections, baseball, and Valentine's Day. Each short is about 3 1/2 minutes long, so the disc has an overall runtime of about 70 minutes. The Peanuts Motion Comics were first released as digital downloads on iTunes and Amazon at the end of 2008 have never aired on television. While iTunes and Amazon bundle paired shorts together to form 10 "episodes," the shorts are each listed individually on the DVD. The titles of the shorts are:
Linus for President
The Election
The Sore Arm
Independence Day
Eraserophagia
The Great Pumpkin
A Fall Rain
Some Advice
Ready to Pitch
Back on the Mound
Dear Santa
I'm New At It
Science Project
April Fool
Crabby Little Girl
Mother's Day
All Your Faults
Services Rendered
The Good Brother
Valentine's Day
The DVD can only be ordered directly from Warner Home Video's on-line store, WBShop.com — you can find the DVD by clicking this link; it can also be ordered from Amazon. The DVD has a list price of $14.95, plus tax and shipping. The video is anamorphic widescreen (16x9 enhanced for widescreen televisions).
It's important to note that Warner Archive DVDs are not manufactured, pressed DVDs that you typically find in stores; they are actually recordable DVD-Rs that are burned on demand as customers order them. While they should play in any DVD player produced in the last 8-10 years, they may not be quite as durable or long-lasting as regular DVDs. For more information, see the Warner Archive FAQ.
Thanks to Lon Cseplo for the initial tip! (January 1, 2010)
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Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales DVD Available Exclusively at CVS Pharmacy Stores
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During November and December 2010, CVS Pharmacy stores were selling an exclusive Peanuts DVD release of the holiday short Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales. This 18 minute long show of Christmas-themed skits was first broadcast in 2002. The DVD also includes a "bonus episode," Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?, the 1983 special where Linus and Lucy's father gets a new job and they move to a new town. (Seems a rather odd pairing of episodes, doesn't it?) The DVD does not contain any other bonus features. It retails for $12.99, and was first available at CVS on November 3, 2009.
While the spine of the DVD has the description "deluxe edition," this term doesn't appear on the front or the back of the DVD, unlike all other Warner Home Video releases, so it seems unlikely the DVD was intended to be regarded as a deluxe edition release. (The price is also cheaper than all other "deluxe edition," releases.)
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales was previously released on DVD by Paramount, but that DVD is now out of print. This is the first time Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? has been released on DVD in the US.
For the 2009 holiday season, the DVD was sold exclusively at CVS Pharmacy stores. Since the holiday season is past, the stores are no longer stocking the DVD. It's not known if the DVD will be available again for the 2010 holiday season or not. (Thanks to Nat Gertler and Brenda Maupin for the initial tips about this DVD.) (March 16, 2010)
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Peanuts 1970's Collection, Vol. 1 DVD Box Set Now Available
Following on from this year's previous box set of the 1960's Peanuts specials, Warner Home Video has released the Peanuts 1970's Collection, Vol. 1, a two-disc DVD set containing all of the animated Peanuts TV specials from 1970-1974.
This box set contains six Peanuts specials, two of which are new to DVD in the US. The specials included are:
Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971)
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972)
There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974)
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown are available on other Warner Home Video DVDs; There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown was previously released on a Paramount DVD, which is now out of print; and Play It Again, Charlie Brown and It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown have never been released on DVD before in the United States.
The box set also includes a 13-minute featurette titled Woodstock: Creating Snoopy's Sidekick, which the press release describes as follows: "A documentary focusing on Woodstock, Snoopy's best friend. He might be a little yellow bird, but the character of Woodstock has a huge personality. Conceived as a loveable pest to Mr. Joe Cool himself, Woodstock is as much a comedic sidekick as he is a sarcastic thorn in the side of Snoopy. The perfect compliment to Snoopy, is Woodstock that agent of chaos in the calm and organized universe of everyone's favorite beagle, or was he the device for Charles Schulz to further his social commentary on all things under the sun?" It includes interviews with Jean Schulz, Peanuts specials producer Lee Mendelson, Peanuts historian Derrick Bang, cartonist Alexis Fajardo, and author Phil Cousineau.
Finally, the box set includes an offer to get two songs by digital download from iTunes: "Thanksgiving Theme" and "Charlie's Blues." Both of these tracks have been released previously as part of the Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits CD.
You can watch an on-line trailer for the DVD set here.
The Peanuts 1970's Collection, Vol. 1 has a suggested retail price of $29.98, and was released on October 20, 2009.
Note that this DVD set does not include the bonus episodes and documentaries that appear on the separate A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown DVDs; to get those bonus features, you must also purchase the separate DVD releases (rats!).
Warner has not announced plans to release Play It Again, Charlie Brown, There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown, or It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown on DVD separately; for now this box set will be the only way to get them. (October 22, 2009)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD Now Available
The I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD from Warner Home Video is now available.
This 2003 special was previously released on DVD by Paramount, but that DVD is now out of print. The new Warner DVD video release includes different bonus material from the old Paramount DVD. First, the new DVD includes Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1986) as a bonus episode; this is the first U.S. DVD release for that special. Second, there is a new featurette, Sibling Rivalry: Growing Up Van Pelt, "about how Charles Schulz came to create Rerun Van Pelt, Lucy and Linus' younger brother."
Unfortunately, this means the two bonus features from the Paramount DVD — the short animated show Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and the 2001 Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas documentary — are missing in action.
You can watch a trailer for the DVD by clicking this link.
The I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD has a suggested retail price of $19.98, and was released on October 6, 2009. (October 6, 2009)
First High Definition Peanuts Released: A Charlie Brown Christmas Arrives on Blu-ray Disc Out Now
Also now available is the first-ever release of a Peanuts special on a high-definition home video format. Warner has released the classic special A Charlie Brown Christmas on Blu-ray Disc.
The Blu-ray Disc features the main special remastered in high-definition 1080p video with a "newly remixed" Dolby Surround 5.1 soundtrack. However, it only includes the remixed surround audio; the original, monaural soundtrack for the special is not present on the Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray disc includes the same bonus material as the Deluxe Edition DVD from last year — a "bonus" episode, It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown, and the featurette A Christmas Miracle: The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The bonus episode is also in 1080p high definition with a Dolby Surround 5.1 soundtrack (the original mono soundtrack is not included); however, the behind-the-scenes featurette is only in standard-definition video.
In addition to the Blu-ray disc, the release also includes a "bonus" DVD whose contents duplicate the Deluxe Edition DVD — it includes the title special, the bonus episode, and the featurette. You cannot buy the Blu-ray disc separately without the "bonus" DVD.
The DVD also includes a "digital copy" of A Charlie Brown Christmas, for copying to your computer's hard drive or "compatible portable device." However, unlike the digital copies included with many DVDs, the digital copy here only works on Windows computers and portable devices that support Windows "PlaysForSure" — which does not include iPods.
The Blu-ray disc will has a suggested retail price of $29.99, and was released on October 6, 2009. Note that you need to have a special Blu-ray Disc player to play this disc; it will not work in regular DVD players. The "bonus" DVD does work in regular DVD players, however (but if all you have is a DVD player and don't plan on buying a Blu-ray player soon, you may as well get the cheaper DVD-only release of this special). (October 6, 2009)
Snoopy's Reunion DVD Now Available!
The 1991 special Snoopy's Reunion was released on DVD from Warner Home Video on April 7, 2009.
The remastered deluxe edition DVD also includes the 1984 special It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown as the bonus episode. This is the first time both specials have been released on DVD in the US.
The DVD also includes a behind-the-scenes featurette titled Together Again: The Peanuts Voice Cast Reunion. The suggested retail price will be $19.98. (July 3, 2009)
Peanuts 1960's Collection DVD Box Set Now Available
The Peanuts 1960's Collection, a two-disc DVD set containing all of the animated Peanuts TV specials from the 1960's, has been released by Warner Home Video and is now available.
This box set contains six Peanuts specials, two of which have never been released on DVD in the US before. The specials included are:
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown's All-Stars (1966)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
You're in Love Charlie Brown (1967)
He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown (1968)
It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (1969)
A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and You're In Love, Charlie Brown are available on other Warner Home Video DVDs; Charlie Brown's All-Stars was previously released on a Paramount DVD, which is now out of print; but this is the first time He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown and It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown have been released on DVD in the United States.
The box set also includes a bonus feature titled The Maestro of Menlo Park, a new 35-minute documentary about jazz musician Vince Guaraldi, who composed the music for the first 14 Peanuts TV specials (including all the ones in this set). The documentary features contributions from David Guaraldi (Vince's son), Lee Mendelson, pianist George Winston, and other jazz musicians.
You can watch an on-line trailer for the DVD set here.
The Peanuts 1960's Collection has a suggested retail price of $29.98, and was released on July 7, 2009.
Note that this DVD set does not include the bonus episodes and documentaries that appear on the separate A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown DVDs; to get those bonus features, you must also purchase the separate DVD releases (sigh!).
Warner has not announced plans to release Charlie Brown's All-Stars or It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown on DVD separately; for now this box set will be the only way to get them. However, He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown will be getting a separate DVD release on September 7, 2010. (July 14, 2009)
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown DVD Now Available!
The deluxe edition DVD of the 1975 special You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown from Warner Home Video is now available! In this special, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, and the Masked Marvel (aka Snoopy) compete in a motocross race.
This remastered deluxe edition also includes the thematically related 1979 special You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown, where Charlie Brown, Marcie, and the Masked Marvel enter the Junior Olympics Decathlon as the bonus episode. Neither You're a Good Sport or You're the Greatest have been released on DVD in the US before.
The DVD also includes a behind-the-scenes featurette titled Dust Yourself Off and Pick Yourself Up, Charlie Brown. The suggested retail price is $19.98. This DVD was released on January 27, 2009. (January 27, 2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas Deluxe Edition DVD Now Available
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The A Charlie Brown Christmas Deluxe Edition DVD features the TV specials A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992), plus a new mini-documentary, A Christmas Miracle: The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Warner describes the new mini-documentary as follows: "A Christmas Miracle: The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas - An in-depth look at how the producers brought a newspaper comic strip to animated life in a new medium. Under tense pressure and with many doubters, the show creators were able to create Peanuts in a new medium and make the show a smash success."
The Paramount DVD of A Charlie Brown Christmas included both these specials; new to this deluxe edition DVD is the "making of" documentary. Note that this is a completely new documentary, with new interviews; it is not the same as the "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas" show that aired on ABC in 2001 and that appeared on the Paramount I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown DVD.
The initial DVD release included a free download coupon for two Vince Guaraldi tracks from the iTunes Store. The two tracks are "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Christmas Time is Here (vocal)." Neither of these tracks are new; they are both from the CD A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The DVD includes English, Spanish Japanese, and Portuguese mono audio, and English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Thai subtitles. The suggested retail price is $19.98. This DVD was released on October 7, 2008 and is also available as part of the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection DVD box set.
You can watch a trailer for this DVD (together with the A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Deluxe Edition DVD). (October 7, 2008)
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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Deluxe Edition DVD Now Available
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The A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Deluxe Edition DVD features the TV specials A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) and This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers (1988), plus a new mini-documentary, Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic.
Warner describes the new mini-documentary as follows: "Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic - A look at the final installment of the Peanuts holiday trilogy and what it meant to its creators and to us."
Both these specials were previously released on the Paramount DVD of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; new to this release is the behind-the-scenes documentary and remastered video. Also, this DVD restores a scene in The Mayflower Voyagers where the pilgrims shoot a turkey; this had been edited out of all previous home video releases.
The initial DVD release included a free download coupon for two Vince Guaraldi tracks from the iTunes Store. The two tracks are "Thanksgiving Theme" and "Camptown Races." Neither of these tracks are new; they are both from the CD Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits. (And in fact, only the "Thanksgiving Theme" is from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special; "Camptown Races" is not from the A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or any other Peanuts television special soundtrack.)
The DVD includes English, Japanese, and Portuguese audio, and English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Thai subtitles. This DVD was released on October 7, 2008 and is also available as part of the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection DVD box set.
Warner has put a trailer for this DVD online. (December 7, 2008)
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You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition Now Available
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The You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD features the TV specials You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972) and He's a Bully, Charlie Brown (2006), plus a new mini-documentary, The Polls Don't Lie: The Making of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown.
Warner describes the new mini-documentary as follows: "The Polls Don't Lie: The Making of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown - Offers viewers an in-depth look at this program, which happens to be the eighth Peanuts television special. This featurette explores the political leanings (or lack thereof) of its producers, as well as the way in which they set out to create a politically-themed piece within the realm of Peanuts. Civic duty meets Charlie Brown!"
You're Not Elected was previously released on DVD by Paramount as the bonus episode on their It's the Great Pumpkin DVD; Warner Home Video has decided to give You're Not Elected its own DVD release (perhaps because 2008 is a presidential election year?). The Warner DVD's bonus episode, He's a Bully, Charlie Brown, has never been released on DVD or video before - it's great to see that it's available at last. So, between the remastered video, new featurette, and He's a Bully, there's a lot of new stuff on this DVD.
The DVD includes English, Japanese, and Portuguese audio, and English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Thai subtitles. The suggested retail price is $19.98. The DVD was released on October 7, 2008. (October 7, 2008)
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DVD Release of He's a Bully, Charlie Brown Now Available!
As mentioned above, He's a Bully, Charlie Brown, the last new animated Peanuts special to air on TV, is finally available on DVD as of October 7, 2008. It is the "bonus episode " on the Warner Home Video DVD release of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. See above for more information about that DVD release. He's a Bully has not been previously released on home video. (October 7, 2008)
"Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection" Box Set Now Available
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In addition to the individual DVD releases detailed below, Warner has released the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection box set, which includes the A Charlie Brown Christmas Deluxe Edition, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Deluxe Edition DVDs, plus an CD containing 6 tracks from the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi. If you have the soundtrack CD already, you've got all these tracks plus more — there's nothing new on the CD. But it's a nice little bonus for people who might not already own the soundtrack.
This box set was released on September 23. The list price for the boxset is $44.98, so if you want all three specials, it's cheaper to buy this set than the three separate DVD releases. (September 22, 2008)
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Exclusive Barnes & Noble DVD Box Set Bundles All 6 Deluxe Edition DVDs Together
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Barnes & Noble has an exclusive Peanuts DVD box set, titled the "Peanuts Deluxe Collection," for sale. It contains all 6 of the Warner Deluxe Edition Peanuts DVDs that have been released so far — which means it includes the A Charlie Brown Christmas; It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown; It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown; and Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVDs.
The set doesn't contain anything you can't get by purchasing the DVDs separately; the only thing exclusive about it is that you can buy all 6 DVDs together in one box. It does not include the bonus soundtrack CD that comes with the regular 3-DVD Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection box set. The set is available both at Barnes & Noble stores and on-line at www.barnesandnoble.com . The list price is $99.99, although it may retail for cheaper — it has been $69.99 on-line at some points. Note that even at $69.99, it's not necessarily a better deal than just buying the regular Holiday DVD box set and the other 3 DVDs separately; you should check the prices instead of assuming the Barnes & Noble set is cheaper. But it is the only way you can get all 6 DVDs in one box! (Thanks to reader Michael Pajak for the tip.) (November 5, 2008)
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It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD Now Available
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The new Warner Home Video DVD release of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is now out.
The It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD features both the title special and the 1981 special It's Magic, Charlie Brown, and a new behind-the-scenes documentary titled We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown.
Warner describes the new behind-the-scenes documentary as follows: "We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown - Documentary featurette focusing on the myth and tradition of the Halloween staple television program, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Revealed along the way, through original interviews with the Schulz family and producers, are the pressures and challenges of following up an underdog hit with a bigger and better TV special."
This will be the first time It's Magic, Charlie Brown has been available on DVD in the United States. The old Paramount DVD release of It's the Great Pumpkin included You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown as its bonus episode, but Warner Home Video is releasing You're Not Elected on its own DVD on October 2, 2008.
The initial DVD release included a free download coupon for two Vince Guaraldi tracks from the iTunes Store. The two tracks are "Great Pumpkin Waltz" and "Oh Good Grief." Neither of these tracks are new; they are both from the CD Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits. (And in fact, only the "Great Pumpkin Waltz" is from It's the Great Pumpkin; "Oh Good Grief" is not from the Great Pumpkin or any other Peanuts television special soundtrack.)
Audio options include English, Spanish, Japanese, and Portuguese; subtitle options include English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Thai. The DVD has a retail price of $19.98, and was released on September 2, 2008.
You can watch a trailer for this DVD. (September 2, 2008)
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Warner Home Video Website for New Peanuts DVD Releases
Warner Home Video has set up a special website for the Peanuts DVD releases at http://www.peanutsdvd.com, featuring information and trailers about the DVD releases, as well as short video clips and pictures. (August 16, 2008)
Peanuts TV Specials Available For Download on iTunes, Amazon Unbox, XBox, Sprint Cell Phones
In addition to the new DVD releases, the Peanuts specials are also being made available as digital downloads in several different ways.
First, you can now purchase a variety of Peanuts shows from Apple's iTunes Store, using the iTunes software for Macintosh and Windows. Once purchased, you can watch the shows on your computer's monitor, or transfer them to an iPod or iPhone for viewing. (Presumably they can also be purchased and viewed using the Apple TV device, but I have not verified this.) Shows sold on iTunes are "near DVD quality," and having downloaded a couple and viewed them, I agree that the video quality is close to the DVD releases, although there are more compression artifacts. Note, however, that videos purchased from iTunes cannot be burned to a DVD or viewed on a DVD player.
For details of what specials are available, see the list of iTunes Releases.
Second, Amazon Video on Demand (formerly Amazon Unbox) - another digital video service, run by the giant on-line retailer Amazon.com - is offering Peanuts TV shows for on line viewing (and, in some cases download) as well. The video quality of Amazon Video on Demand offerings are generally not quite as good quality as the iTunes offerings or DVDs; there is more blockiness visible. Note that videos purchased from Amazon Video on Demand cannot be burned to a DVD or viewed on a DVD player.
For details of which specials are available on Amazon Video on Demand, see the list of Amazon Video on Demand Releases.
Reader Leo Ames wrote to say that Warner has also released two of the Peanuts specials as digital downloads on the Xbox Live video marketplace. If you're an XBox owner (the Xbox is a videogame console), you can buy, download, and watch these Peanuts specials through your XBox. Currently only Be My Valentine and It's the Easter Beagle are available (along with their associated bonus features from the DVD releases), but perhaps more will be available in the future.
Finally, reader Keith Hendricks reports that select specials are available to watch on video-enabled Sprint cell phones. 4-5 specials are available at a time, with a rotating selection. I do not know if the shows are available on other cell phone networks, or how much it costs to view the shows, or how long the shows will be available. But if you have a capable phone on Sprint, check it out! (November 5, 2008)
Paramount Peanuts DVD Releases Out Of Print
Because they've lost the home video rights to the Peanuts TV specials, all of the Paramount DVD releases of the Peanuts TV specials are now out of print, except for the two movie DVDs A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home (Paramount retains the rights to the theatrical movies). Some stores may be selling off the remaining stock, but that's it. Hopefully, since Warner's Peanuts DVD releases have already started arriving, we won't have to wait long for the big-name specials to be back in print — and hopefully neglected specials will make their way to DVD soon. (December 4, 2007)
VHS Releases Out of Print
Unfortunately all of the US Paramount VHS releases have gone out of print, even though the specials have not all been released on DVD in the US yet. You may be able to find used copies are eBay or Amazon.com. Also, the four theatrical movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Snoopy Come Home, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown, and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown are out of print, although at least the first two are now available on DVD. (October 2, 2007)
Classic Holiday Specials and You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown Now Available from iTunes, Amazon on Demand
The classic holiday specials It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, as well as You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, are now available for purchase and download from both iTunes and Amazon Video on Demand. Each are accompanied by two bonus episodes.
See the list of iTunes releases and list of Amazon Video on Demand releases for more details, and for general information about iTunes and Amazon video downloads. (November 3, 2008)
DVD Promotional Deals - Cap'n Crunch, Skippy Peanut Butter, Birds Eye Voila
In conjunction with their release of four new Peanuts DVD in fall 2008, Warner Home Video partnered with a variety of folks to promote and give away DVDs and other prizes. These deals and promotions have now expired. From the press release for the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection:
"This November and December [2008], 1 million boxes of Limited Edition Cap'n Crunch's Christmas Crunch(R) Cereal will feature a $3.00 mail-in rebate good towards Peanuts DVD titles. Plus, in support of the seasonal offerings, Wendy's will feature a kid's meal promotion with a $3.00 off coupon on the gusset of 12 million kid's meals bag this November and December, and Skippy will host a sweepstakes offer on 6 million jars of peanut butter giving consumers a chance to win a Peanuts DVD or a four day trip to Cedar Point, featuring world class coasters and the all new Planet Snoopy, in Sandusky, Ohio.
"Additionally, Birds Eye Voila! will promote the partnership between Birds Eye Voila! and Warner Home Video as they team up to offer a special DVD giveaway to Voila! consumers. Buy 3 bags of Birds Eye Voila!, and get a WHV Peanuts Holiday DVD FREE. Partnering with Peanuts licensee Rail Events, Birds Eye will offer a chance to win a trip for four to ride the 'The Great Pumpkin Express' along with other weekly and monthly prizes. Visit birdseyevoila.com for more details." (September 2, 2008)
"It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" Deluxe Edition DVD Now Available
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Warner Home Video's second DVD release, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition is now available. In addition to It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974), the DVD also includes It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown as a "bonus" special. These are the same two specials that were released on Paramount's DVD release of It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.
New to the Warner Home Video release is a bonus featurette titled "In Full Bloom: The Peanuts at Easter," described in the Warner press release as follows:
In Full Bloom: The Peanuts at Easter – An exploration of Easter holiday, and what the Easter Beagle means to the creators through the Peanuts gang, and fans both immediately and metaphorically.
The video for the main feature is, like on Warner Home Video's first DVD release, noticeably improved, and the short documentary feature is a nice addition.
The DVD was released on February 19, 2008, and retails for $19.98. The running time for both specials together is 50 minutes. (February 21, 2007)
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"Deluxe Edition" DVD Release of "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" Now Available
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Warner Home Video's first DVD release, the Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition, is now available. In addition to the title show from 1975, the DVD includes two "bonus" specials, You're In Love, Charlie Brown (1967) and It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977). These are the same specials that were released on Paramount's DVD release of Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.
New to the Warner DVD is a 15-minute featurette titled Unlucky in Love: An Unrequited Love Story. It's actually a very nice little piece about the themes of love in the comic strip and background on the Be My Valentine special, with new interviews with Schulz family members, producer Lee Mendelson, director Phil Roman, and others. Also new are Spanish audio and subtitle tracks for all three shows, in addition to the English audio and subtitles. The video and audio for all shows has been modestly improved.
Read my full Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition review.
The Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition DVD was released on January 15, 2008, and retails for $19.98. The running time for all three specials together is 75 minutes. (January 15, 2008)
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Warner Home Video Takes Over Peanuts Home Video Releases
In late 2007, the Peanuts television specials moved to a new home for video releases - Warner Home Video took over the home video license previous held by Paramount Home Video.
Warner has a multi-year license to distribute 50 of the Peanuts TV specials on DVD, as well as the 18 episodes of the Saturday morning cartoon show The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. The deal does not include the 4 theatrical movies; the home video rights for those remain with Paramount.
The first titles Warner released were "deluxe editions" of Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown on Jan. 15, 2008 and It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on Feb. 19, 2008. They had remastered video, featured "newly created bonus features," and came in "new collectable packaging." The other big name holiday specials received similar treatments and were released in fall 2008.
At the time of the announcement, it was speculated that the lesser-known Peanuts specials — many of which have never been released on DVD — would be packaged in "Golden Collection" sets similar to the Warner "Looney Tunes Golden Collection" sets. While plans have been announced for big DVD collections, they are not being released under the "Golden Collection" moniker (which Warner has also retired for the Looney Tunes line).
Warner is also hoping to produce new, original Peanuts features for home video release. At the time it was said these will be produced by Melendez/Mendelson Productions, as always; however, the first new productions from Warner — the Peanuts Motion Comics released in fall 2008 — were done without the involvement of Melendez or Mendelson Productions, so it remains to be seen what their involvement with future productions will be.
And finally, Warner also announced plans to create "original shortform content for digital distribution through wireless, electronic sell-through and VOD platforms." The Peanuts Motion Comics, released through the iTunes Store and Amazon Video on Demand, were the first such releases. (December 4, 2007; revised March 10, 2009)
The Complete "This is America, Charlie Brown" Series Comes to DVD
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All eight episodes of the animated mini-series This is America, Charlie Brown are now available as a 2-DVD set from Paramount Home Video. Meant as both education and entertainment, in each episode the Peanuts gang witnesses and participates in different historic events and discoveries. The eight episodes, originally broadcast in 1988 and 1989, are:
Disc 1:
The Mayflower Voyagers
The Birth of the Constitution
The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk
The NASA Space Station
Disc 2:
The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad
The Great Inventors
The Smithsonian and the Presidency
The Music and Heroes of America
Short review: Like the other Paramount releases of Peanuts TV specials, the "This is America, Charlie Brown" episodes look very nice on DVD — the video is very colorful and clean. The audio is clear if not spectacular; while the packaging says English Stereo, I couldn't detect any significant stereo separation. The DVDs are minimalist, with no extras, no subtitles, and not even scene selection menus, although there are chapter stops in each show. The episodes are presented in their original broadcast order (unlike the VHS releases, which were out of order). The DVDs come in two slimcases with attractive inserts and fairly detailed descriptions of each episodes, inside a slim cardboard box. It's great that Paramount released the entire series in one nice little package, and thus it's easy to recommend this DVD set.
"The Mayflower Voyagers" is already available on DVD on the "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" DVD, but the rest are new to DVD in North America. The list price is $19.98. (June 15, 2006)
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"A Boy Named Charlie Brown" DVD Finally Released in UK or Australia
The theatrical movie A Boy Named Charlie Brown was finally released on DVD in the UK and Australia in summer 2006 (after initially being announced for spring 2005). (October 1, 2006)
Nothing New on "Great Pumpkin: 40th Anniversary Edition" DVD
While a variety of news stories and DVD release lists announced that Paramount released a DVD called "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: 40th Anniversary Edition" in August 2006, there is nothing new on this DVD - the only difference between this edition and the previous one is a "It's the Great Pumpkin 40th Anniversary" badge on the front cover. Still, it was good to see Paramount promoting the disc again. (August 25, 2006)
"It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown" DVD Released in the UK
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A new Peanuts DVD, "It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown", was released on May 15 in the UK. It is now available from Amazon.co.uk and other British on-line retailers.
The DVD has a list price of £7.99. No matching VHS release has been announced.
Note that UK DVDs are in PAL video format, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs. (May 23, 2006)
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"A Boy Named Charlie Brown" and "Snoopy Come Home" DVDs Details
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Paramount Home Video has released the first two Peanuts theatrical movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home, on DVD. They were released on March 28, 2006.
Both DVDs feature remastered widescreen transfers of the movies, enhanced for 16:9 TVs (also known as "anamorphic widescreen"). This is the first time the movies have been released in widescreen on home video.
A Boy Named Charlie Brown comes with an English 5.1 Surround soundtrack and an English Stereo soundtrack. Snoopy Come Home has just a Dolby 2.0 Surround track. There are no extras on the DVDs, just the films themselves. However...
The best bit of news is that the DVD of A Boy Named Charlie Brown features the longer, 86 minute version of the movie, as opposed to the shorter 79 minute version that was previously released on VHS. This means fans can finally enjoy two major missing scenes — Lucy showing Charlie Brown a slow-motion replay of his failure to kick the football as "therapy," and Charlie Brown's entire conversation with hotel room service near the end of the movie — plus many short extensions to other scenes.
Read my review of the two movie DVDs. The short summary: overall they look and sound good, and it's great to have the longer version of "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" available at last. Definitely recommended.
The DVDs have a list price of $14.98 each, and are available now at most major on-line DVD retailers. (March 26, 2006)
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1963 Peanuts Documentary Available on DVD from Schulz Museum
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Not only is the movie "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" soon to be released on DVD, but the rare, unbroadcast 1963 television documentary of the same name is also now available on DVD from the Charles Schulz Museum.
The movie and the documentary actually have little to do with each other, except for their name. The A Boy Named Charlie Brown documentary—a great little time capsule examining both the Peanuts comic strip and its creator just as the strip was hitting the big time—was Lee Mendelson's first collaboration with Charles Schulz, but once they were finished, they were unable to convince any network or sponsor to buy the half-hour piece. So despite the great success of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and other Peanuts television specials, this documentary remained unaired.
Up until now, the only way you could see this unaired gem was to visit the Charles Schulz Museum and hope they were showing it in their auditorium that day. Now you can order your very own copy for $14.95 (plus shipping)—call them at 707-579-4452 to order.
For more information about the documentary's contents, see the A Boy Named Charlie Brown documentary entry below. (March 12, 2006)
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"You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown" DVD Released in the UK
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You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown, along with You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown on the same disc, has been released in the UK. This DVD was previously only available in a box set of four other Peanuts DVDs.
The DVD has a list price of £7.99. A VHS release is also available for £5.99.
Note that UK DVDs are in PAL video format, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs. (August 31, 2005)
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"Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" DVD Released in the UK
A Box Set of UK Peanuts DVDs
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A box set of four Peanuts DVDs has been released in the UK.
According to sendit.com and play.com, the box set contains the previously released UK DVDs of A Charlie Brown Celebration, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy the Musical, as well as a previously unreleased DVD, You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown.
According to Firefly Entertainment, You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown should be available as a separate release in the UK later this year. So if you already have the other 3 DVDs, you don't have to buy this box set - you just need to be patient! However, if you don't have any of the DVDs, this set is a good way to start your Peanuts video collection.
The box set lists for £24.99.
Note that UK DVDs are in PAL video format, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs. (February 15, 2005)
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"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" US DVD and VHS Released
"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" + "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Released in UK
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On November 15, Firefly released a UK DVD featuring both the latest Peanuts TV special and the very first Peanuts TV special. I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown features the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas as a secondary feature!
The DVD retails for £9.99. A UK VHS tape release is also available for £7.99. Both can be ordered at most UK on-line stores, such as Amazon.co.uk.
Note that UK DVDs are in PAL video format, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs; however both these shows are also available on US format DVDs. (November 28, 2004)
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Next UK Peanuts DVDs - "Snoopy - The Musical"
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The latest UK Peanuts DVD from Firefly Entertainment, featuring the hour-long 1988 animated adaptation of Snoopy - The Musical, was released on September 27, 2004 and is now available.
The DVD retails for £9.99, a slightly higher price than the previous Firefly UK DVD releases. Both can be ordered at most UK on-line stores, such as Amazon.co.uk.
A UK VHS tape is also available for £7.99.
Snoopy - The Musical is not available on DVD in the US. However, note that UK DVDs are in PAL video format, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs. (October 7, 2004)
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UK "Snoopy Come Home" DVD Released
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Paramount released the movie Snoopy Come Home on DVD in the UK on July 12, and it is now available.
The DVD is identical to the Australian release of the title from earlier this year. The movie is presented in fullscreen, and is not restored or a new transfer - it uses exactly the same transfer as the US VHS release of Snoopy Come Home, and is very average as a result.
All the Peanuts theatrical movies were originally created in the 4:3 aspect ratio, so the aspect ratio of this DVD is not necessarily incorrect - however, the movie may have been presented in a widescreen aspect ratio when it was shown in theaters.
No extras are included on the DVD, although in addition to English, the audio is available in three other languages - Spanish, German, and Italian. Even the songs are sung in the alternate languages! Italian subtitles are included as well. List price is £12.99.
There are still no plans for a US release of any of the Peanuts theatrical movies at this time.
Note that UK DVDs are in PAL video format, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs. (August 10, 2004)
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Second UK Peanuts DVD Released
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The second UK Peanuts DVD from Firefly Entertainment was released on June 14, 2004 - it contains the hour-long 1982 TV special A Charlie Brown Celebration, and has a retail price of £5.99. It's available now at most UK on-line stores, such as Amazon.co.uk. A Charlie Brown Celebration is not available on DVD in the US.
A UK VHS tape of A Charlie Brown Celebration is also available.
Note that UK DVDs are in PAL video format, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs. (June 18, 2004)
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Australian "Snoopy Come Home" DVD Now Out
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The Australian DVD of the movie Snoopy Come Home, delayed from last fall, is now out. This is the first time one of the theatrical Peanuts movies has been released on DVD anywhere.
The DVD is fullscreen, and is not restored or a new transfer - it uses exactly the same transfer as the US VHS release of Snoopy Come Home.
No extras are included on the DVD, although in addition to English, the audio is available in three other languages - Spanish, German, and Italian. Even the songs are sung in the alternate languages!
Unfortunately, Paramount says that there are no plans for a North American release at this time.
Note that this is both a PAL and Region 4 DVD, so most North American DVD players cannot play this DVD. (March 9, 2004)
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"Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" Now Out on DVD and VHS
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On March 2, 2004, Paramount Home Video released, Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown on both DVD and VHS.
Both DVD and VHS releases include an extended version of Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown with 4 minutes of previously unseen material!
The DVD includes 2 additional shows, Charlie Brown's All-Stars and It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown. The VHS release just contains Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown, as the other shows are already available on VHS. The suggested retail price for the DVD is $14.99, the VHS is $12.95. (March 5, 2003)
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UK "Easter Beagle" DVD Released
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Good news for Peanuts fans in the UK - a company named Firefly Entertainment has been licensed to release the Peanuts shows on DVD in the UK.
The first DVD, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, was released on March 22, 2004, and also includes Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown. It's up for pre-order now at most UK on-line stores, such as Amazon.co.uk.
Note that UK DVDs are PAL and Region 2, so most North American players cannot play UK DVDs. (April 5, 2004)
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Extended Version of "A Charlie Brown Valentine" on Home Video
In a completely unannounced surprise, the just released Paramount Home Video DVD of the 2002 special A Charlie Brown Valentine contains previously unseen material! (As does the VHS release, in fact.)
The version of the special on the home video releases is not the broadcast version, with the video version running 4 minutes longer than the broadcast version - considering the length of the show, that's not a trivial amount of extra animation. The home video version contains five completely new scenes and one extended scene. Also, two other scenes are edited slightly differently, a couple of scenes appear in a different order than they did in the broadcast version, and there's a new version of the credits.
The two older shows on the DVD, "There's No Time For Love, Charlie Brown" and "Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown," are the same as their previous VHS releases and do not include any new material.
And further good news is that the upcoming home video releases of "Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown" and "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" should feature similarly extended versions of those shows.
So, if you haven't picked up "A Charlie Brown Valentine" on home video yet, there's another excellent reason to do so! (January 15, 2003)
"A Charlie Brown Valentine" Released on DVD and VHS
No More DVD Releases In 2003
(This article was superseded by the announcement of the first 2004 DVD.) Unfortunately, Paramount confirms that no more Peanuts DVDs are on the schedule "for now," as of March 4, 2003. This probably means there won't be any further releases for at least six months, if not longer (hopefully we won't have to wait two years like we did between the last set of releases). (March 4, 2003)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown DVD Released
Paramount released It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on DVD on March 4, 2003. The DVD includes It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown as a "bonus episode." As with previous Peanuts DVD releases, the specials are in full-frame format and English Mono (both as originally aired), with English sub-titles as an option. Retail price is $19.99 (C$26.95 in Canada). Read the full Paramount press release, and then read my review. (March 4, 2003)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown DVD Released
On January 7, 2003, Paramount released the 1975 special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown on DVD. The DVD also includes two bonus episodes: You're In Love, Charlie Brown, (1967) and It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977). The shows are in full-frame format and English Mono (both as originally aired), with both closed-captions and English sub-titles. Retail price will be $19.99 (C$26.95 in Canada). Read the full Paramount press release, and then read my review. (January 7, 2003)
"Charlie Brown Around Town" Video
A video featuring all 102 of the Charlie Brown statues that were displayed in St. Paul, MN this summer is now available. Similar to last year's video featuring the Snoopy statues, "Peanuts on Parade: Charlie Brown Around Town" was produced by Craig Schulz, features "up close and personal" look at each statue with a classic Peanuts music accompaniment. Proceeds from sales of the video will be donated to the Charles M. Schulz Fund in support of the bronze statues being designed for St. Paul's new downtown park. The video runs 35 minutes, sells for $19.95, and is available from either Camp Snoopy or Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop. (November 5, 2001)
First Two Movies Move to Paramount Home Video
The first two Peanuts movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Snoopy Come Home, previously released on home video by CBS Fox and recently out of print, will now be distributed by Paramount Home Video. The Paramount-labeled VHS re-releases are scheduled for May 29, 2001. (No DVD releases are scheduled at this time.)
Paramount picked up the films as a result of the Viacom-CBS merger, as Paramount is owned by Viacom.
Unfortunately, the same source tapes will be used for the Paramount releases, so the video of A Boy Named Charlie Brown will continue to be missing some footage (see the movie's entry for more details). (April 27, 2001)
German Videos Now Available
German-language video releases of the Peanuts specials are now available in Europe from Baumhaus Medien AG. You can see nice photos of them at the following web links: http://www.netwear.de/peanuts/videos.html and http://www.netwear.de/snoopy/videos.html (these links are not an endorsement of the store linked to, they're just where I found good photos and descriptions). (May 21, 2001)
"Peanuts on Parade" Video Now Available
It doesn't star the Peanuts gang per se, but this video, created by Charles Schulz's son Craig, features footage of all 101 Snoopy statues that were displayed in St. Paul, Minnesota during the summer of 2000, accompanied by classic Peanuts background music performed by David Benoit. The video is 28 minutes long, costs $19.95, and is available from Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop. (January 15, 2001)
No DVD Releases Scheduled for 2001
Paramount says that currently they have no new Peanuts DVD releases planned for 2001. Rats! (January 6, 2001)
"Pied Piper" Comes to Video and DVD
It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown has been released as a direct-to-video title on both VHS and DVD. Based on the legend of the Pied Piper, it stars Snoopy as the title character, who tries to rid the Peanuts' gang's hometown of sports playing, loudly dancing mice by playing his accordion in return for a year's supply of dog food. You can see a trailer for the "Pied Piper" at reel.com (although it's fairly poor quality).
Both the VHS and DVD also include an 11-minute "retrospective interview with creator Charles M. Schulz." The DVD also includes an English Dolby Stereo and English subtitles. The video release also includes a sweepstakes card to win an actual animation cel from the special, and a coupon for Pillsbury Peanuts cookies. (September 15, 2000)
Classic Holiday Specials Come to DVD
In addition, three other Peanuts DVDs have been released, each containing a "classic" special and one other special:
A Charlie Brown Christmas & It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown & You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers
The pictures quality on all the DVDs is excellent, the shows have never looked better!
Each disk has the original English mono soundtrack as well as English subtitles. The discs are priced at US$19.95 and C$26.99, and there will also be a three-disc gift set available for US$57.95 and C$80.99 (no bonuses included with the set except for the enclosing box). See the full press release for more details. (September 15, 2000)
Classic Holiday Specials Video Gift Set
In addition to the DVDs, Paramount has reissued the videotapes of A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in a gift box for US$38.85 and C$44.85. The gift set will also include a "free inflatable kid's chair" for a limited time. The videos will continue to be sold individually as well. See the full press release for more details. (September 14, 2000)
Schulz Memorial Service Video
You can order a very well-done videotape of the February 21, 2000 memorial service for Charles Schulz, put together by the Schulz family, from Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop. Proceeds from the video will go to the D-Day Memorial Fund. (July, 2000)
