A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), was produced by Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Bill Melendez Productions, and United Feature Syndicate. Based upon the successful comic strip 'Peanuts' (1950-2000) by Charles M. Schulz the 25 minute long special sees Snoopy and the gang’s first outing as animated characters.
The animation successfully transfers the 'semi-adult neurosis' humour of the comic strip as we see Charlie Brown struggle with his depression during the Christmas holidays. We then follow his attempts to direct a neighbourhood Nativity play before he finds the true meaning of Christmas. On the way the story touches upon views about the over-commercialisation and secularism of Christmas in the U.S.
The special first aired on the ABC network Christmas 1965 and has played annually since. Its popularity with a younger audiences proved that children could understand the adult world via animation and its continuing popularity with adults has seen it shown more times on American television than the Wizard of Oz...
..and would you believe that 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' is now 45 years old?
Christmas Time is Here - Opening
Involvement
Schroeder & Lucy - Jingle Bells
Schroeder, Lucy, & Snoopy - The famous Snoopy Dance
Christmas Dance
The End
Really enjoyed watching this. I Remember watching Snoopy, Woodstock and the rest of the gang as a child.
ReplyDeleteThis episode, Charlie is voiced by (in my opinion) the best child voice actor of his time - Peter Robbins, who to this is day is still heard in Charlie Brown episodes by way of his trademark 'AUUGHHH!' which is still the original sample made by Robbins!
Actually put me in a very festive mood :)
Glad it wove its Christmas magic on you Elliot.
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