Peanuts TV Specials (Pt.1)

   I have started watching TV specials of Peanuts online. As you can see I'm really enjoying it! I don't remember this being aired in our local tv channel when I was a kid... or maybe I have just missed it. I really like watching the cartoons. It's not only the story that I'm after but also I love seeing the drawings. What makes me like the cartoons even more is that its not only humorous, but it has depth in every story. It's not your usual cartoons wherein its only entertaining. For example today I have seen the episode entitled, 'Why Charlie Brown, Why?' The episode tackles about the realities of life, about cancer. It's not a fantasy cartoon. It is the truth. It's the real thing.

This is just the part one of my blog post. This is a short blog post about each and every episode that I have seen. I'll just write a short description on each episode, based on what I have understood. Sometimes I get so fixated on the drawings only, that I realized I watched the whole episode without understanding the story. I love to copy one of the scenes in some of the episodes that I have watched. They are in my mini-Moleskine sketchbook.

So without further ado, here are the episodes that I have seen. These are the cartoons that were shown in the U.S. and not in another country. I think they also have a Peanuts French produced cartoons, I read that these episodes were not shown in the U.S.

Peanuts cartoons

1. A Boy Named Charlie Brown - We are introduced to Charlie Brown here who thinks he is a failure. Here we also see Snoopy, as a fighter pilot (his dog house is his plane, we all love this! right?). Here we also get to see Lucy runs his sort of Psychiatric kiosk, and Charlie comes for to her for advice, but he's just tortured by Lucy telling him all his faults/mistakes/deficits which made Charlie feel even more bad about himself. Then he joins a spelling quiz bee, and he represents their school. Here he tries hard to be the best. Linus, has separation anxiety with his blanket, but soon finds it. Charlie loses the quiz bee. He has no desire to go to school to show his face, but Linus gave him a real good advice, the truth is the world did not end when he lose. So life goes on for Charlie again, and he tries to kick that football, but still didn't hit it.

2. You're A Good Man Charlie Brown - this tv special was made into a Broadway musical. I've been wanting to watch this for a long time and I'm glad this year I was able to see it. I guess, everyone is familiar with the 'Happiness' song. That song was familiar to me because Lea Salonga (A Disney singer, and a Tony awardee from her perfomance in Ms. Saigon), recorded that song in when she was still a kid. This episode is about Charlie Brown's life musings, and of course about the 'Little Red-Haired Girl' which I can so relate, ah! unrequited love. We get to see here that Lucy likes Schroeder but he doesn't seem to care, and is gets annoyed. Also we get to see them writing an essay, about, 'Peter Rabbit'. Lots of happenings here, anyway in the last part Charlie Brown noticed that his crush, 'The Little Red-Haired Girl', nibbles her pencil just like the way he does. So he comes to the conclusion that this day has not been a bad day after all. Closing song is the Peanuts gang sing 'Happiness' song all- together.

3. Happiness is a Warm Blanket Charlie Brown - This episode is about Linus and the separation anxiety that he has again with his blanket. His sister Lucy decided that he must part with his blanket, especially their grandma is going to visit them. We get to see here Snoopy chasing Linus blanket. I like how Linus explained to everyone, and make them understand how each of us has his own 'security blanket'.

4. It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown - This is about Linus believing in the Great Pumpkin. Actually, never heard of that, only the Santa Claus and elves thing. Snoopy was mistaken by Linus as the Great Pumpkin. Linus never quit believing about the Great Pumpkin until the end.

5. Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown - I like this episode. Very cute! They write each other a valentine card, Charlie Brown expecting he will get a lot brought his own suitcase. But in fact he never got one. Sally pines for Linus. Linus has his eye set on their teacher Miss Othmar. We see Snoopy and Woodstock eating chocolates that was thrown by Linus out of disappointment.

6. She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown - This is about Peppermint Patty and her ice-skating skills. We see that Marcie tried hard making Peppermint Patty a dress for the competition. Snoopy can do some stuffs here make a nice costume for Peppermint Patty, and even be a dj in the competition. We also get to see Woodstock and his humming skills, he's a bird after all he!he!he!

7. Chaos in the Classroom - Marcie is chosen here as a traffic patrol. Peppermint Patty filled for her when she fell asleep on the classroom.

8. You're the Greatest Charlie Brown - Here Charlie Brown enters the Decathlon. We get to see Marcie tries her hand in sports but we know she's not really that sporty. We see Snoopy here as the 'masked marvel' joining the competition together with the egotistic, Freddie Fabulous.

9. You're not Elected Charlie Brown - Sally has her frustrations with her locker she can't open it. She doesn't want to go to school. Charlie Brown says he will help her. Linus thinks Charlie Brown is fit to be a candidate as a school body president, but Lucy thinks there's a better candidate and that's his brother Linus. Linus becomes elected as the student body president.

10. The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk - Charlie Brown and Linus visits Linus cousin Dolly. They meet the Wright brothers here. Snoopy and with woodstock tries to fly too. Peppermint and Marcie were shown as mechanics here.

11. You're in the Super Bowl Charlie Brown - We get to see Snoopy here as a coach and woodstock and his fellow birds are his team. Charlie Brown and Linus liked the same girl Melody, and they decided to get his attention by entering a contest kicking a football. In the end, Melody won because she's in fact a good kicker.

12. Why, Charlie Brown Why? - I've just seen this episode today. This is a touching episode. I like this one. It shows Linus friend, Janice getting bruised easily. At school she said she's not feeling well, Linus said she should go home of go to the school nurse. Charlie Brown and Linus noticed that Janice has been gone for days, they decided to visit her to the hospital. I like this episode because it shows life's realities. It also shows the soft-side of Linus, he cried on the way home after visiting Janice. It hurts to see a loved-one suffering. Janice has cancer. It also is an informative show. Janice explains to Charlie and Linus the tests that she has undergone, and the treatments that the doctors gave her. Linus promises when she gets better she will push her in the swing, like Charlie does for her sister Sally. Spring came and Linus sees Janice. They go to the swing. Janice said she has a surprise for Linus. In the end, we see Janice cap, fell and her hair has grown again. I like the message of this that even if someone has a cancer there is hope.

So that's all for now. I'll just post next time if I ever get to watch other Peanuts cartoons online. Hope you check it out also!