The 8 Underrated Charlie Brown Specials
Ever since 1965 the Peanuts Gang has graced our screens big and small, and everyone holds the holiday specials close to their hearts. But what about the other specials that came on primetime or in theaters? Or were part of a marathon lineup? Well, that's what this post is about. Let's put on some jazz and have a party with Charlie Brown and Snoopy, this is the top 8 underrated Peanuts Specials.
8: Happiness Is A Warm Blanket
The first Peanuts film without the Charles Schultz and Lee Mendelson production being a part of the process, Happiness Is A Warm Blanket is about Linus's love for his blanket, his tactics for keeping his blanket when his grandma wants him to give it up, and his emotional breakdown every time he loses it. It's a sweet funny special that left little fanfare when it came out in 2011. The 1960's animation style returns and it brings back that nostalgic feeling you get when watching the short. It's a good warm one to watch on a cold autumn day.
7: Some Day You'll Find Her Charlie Brown
I picked this one as number 7 because of the lasting change of perspective this short gave me. Linus is actually Charlie Brown's worst friend in this one. This short is basically Charlie Brown trying to find a girl he saw at a televised football game and through his search he's also trying to find the courage to ask her out. Honestly this short is a little creepy for Charlie Brown's characterization but we'll let that go for now. Once they find her Charlie Brown freezes and sends Linus to help him introduce himself. Linus does that—except he doesn't introduce Charlie Brown. At the sight of the little girl having a security blanket of her own, Linus falls in love and asks her out and leaves Charlie Brown to go home alone where he is then attacked by a bobcat that Snoopy has been warning him about throughout the whole short.
You're probably wondering why this is on the list when I'm basically ranting about it. Because a short like this from the Peanuts is not seen often. We don't usually see Charlie and Linus go about their day outside of their neighborhood, out of school or even interacting with people outside of their friend group. And for a change of scenery short I guess it's a good one, but also for a Peanuts fan seeing Linus's character go through this 180 is kind of hilarious just because of the audacity. So I recommend watching this one even if it's admittedly not the best.
6: You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown helps Sally with a locker and Linus runs for school president, and that's pretty much the special. Actually, there's more than that but the end result of the special is so cute and funny I dare not ruin it. Fun facts about this one are that it was aired before the election between Nixon and McGovern and that it was nominated for an Emmy. It's a great short to show a kid who doesn't quite understand elections yet. I recommend it. 10/10
5: A Boy Named Charlie Brown
The first theatrical Peanuts film, A Boy Named Charlie Brown follows...well...Charlie Brown as he navigates as a second-grade spelling bee speller. When he gets a chance to go national Charlie Brown studies so hard that things don't go so well for him which is par for the course for good ole' Charlie Brown. Not many people talk about the first Peanuts film much, and it deserves to be talked about at least for its introduction efforts to what would become a full series of films, specials, and shorts for the Peanuts gang. Also, the songs in this are bangers, guys. Please don't sleep on this movie.
4: Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?
Being one of the specials that is verbatim to its comic, Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown centers around Charlie Brown as he tries to navigate life when Linus and Lucy tell him that they're moving. It's a heart-tugging special, especially for those who have had friends growing up move away. In this short also we get the introduction to Joe Cool, Snoopy's other persona. What's not to like? No one talks about this special, and they should. It's really underrated and cute.
3: Snoopy's Reunion
Snoopy's Reunion is a great special that shows the origins of how Charlie got Snoopy. At a puppy farm, a mother dog births 7 puppies, and all of them get sold but when Snoopy is returned to the mill after his first owner can't have him due to a no-pets rule at her apartment, Snoopy is then adopted by Charlie Brown who goes there with Linus after seeing an ad in the paper. After years pass Charlie realizes that Snoopy misses his siblings and arranges for them to reunite. This special is so cute and a nice flashback episode to learn how Snoopy and Charlie Brown met. The different personalities of Snoopy's siblings, one of whom will be returning to this list later, are a treat to watch as they interact with Snoopy and Charlie Brown. More people should check this one out. It's delightful.
2: I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown
A cute little special centering Linus and Lucy's little brother Rerun who wants a dog thinking it would cheer him up after getting in trouble in school, a request which their mother denies. After a trial run with Snoopy goes well, Reruns temporarily adopts Snoopy's visiting brother Spike who lives in the desert and is heartbroken when he has to leave. This special is so sweet and a great cozy Christmas special spin-off. It has laughs for the family and heartwarming emotions for the littles who want a dog but can't. It's fantastic.
1: Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown
This special is arguably the funniest Charlie Brown episode ever. After baseball season opens, Charlie Brown's fledgling baseball team gets worse when Lucy, who is notoriously bad at baseball, returns as their right fielder. In an effort to get her off the team without outright firing her, Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty trade each other's worst players, Lucy and Marcy. This special is chock-full of comedic moments and the best one-liners from Charlie Brown.
One of my favorite scenes is when Lucy is sitting on a fence trying to catch the ball and falls over on the other side, and Charlie Brown asks Shroeder: “Do you think we can get the ball back and leave her on the other side of the fence?”
It's lines like that and visual comedy in this special that makes it great and makes me wish more people watched it.
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