A Charlie Brown Christmas is a highly beloved holiday short film from the Peanuts gang. It follows the titular character who seeks the true meaning of Christmas. Ever since the flick’s debut, it’s become a broadcast staple for the season of giving. The special’s been around so long that watching it feels like a national tradition. This year marks a memorable time as this miniature movie reaches an impressive milestone.
A Brief History of Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang hit the scene in 1950. Their big debut came in a newspaper comic strip by Charles M. Schultz. Since then, readers have enjoyed the characters’ slice-of-life moments inspired by Schultz’s childhood. Most typically focused on Charlie Brown, the Peanuts’ unlucky yet insightful protagonist. His imaginative beagle Snoopy, frenemy Lucy, and best friend Linus appear alongside him. Their stories started in seven newspapers but appeared in new venues over time.
Shortly after appearing in papers, Charlie Brown and friends entered books. The first works featured reprints of the strips, each containing a year’s worth of comics. This concept returned in the 2000s with the arrival of The Complete Peanuts volumes. Of course, the most significant expansion came when Charlie Brown appeared in animation. The Peanuts gang began starring in television specials, and most of them are holiday-themed. It started with the instantly loved and critically acclaimed A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Recapping A Charlie Brown Christmas
In this first Peanuts animated special, Charlie Brown is depressed about Christmas. He doesn’t understand the meaning of the holiday and is bothered by commercialism. Lucy suggests he needs involvement and makes him the director for their upcoming play. Charlie meets the other kids at the school’s auditorium, with Lucy hyping him up. Unfortunately, everyone else is more interested in goofing around and dancing to Schroeder’s piano playing. He and Lucy manage to assign each kid a role, yet everyone still gets sidetracked.
Charlie Brown suggests they get a tree to help set the proper mood. He and Linus head into town and find a lot selling gaudy false trees. Despite the wide selection, Charlie settles on a twig of a living pine sapling. The boys return, and everyone ridicules Charlie Brown and laughs at his tree. Seeing his friend distraught, Linus reminds Charlie that Christmas is about peace and goodwill. The Peanuts gang, afterward, decorates the saplings with the trimmings from Snoopy’s doghouse.
The First Peanuts Special Gets Older
A Charlie Brown Christmas became a massive hit after premiering on December 9, 1965. Half of the nation tuned in to watch it on CBS. Audiences adored its message about holiday commercialism and depiction of seasonal depression. It also reminds people of Christmas’ true meaning through the story of Jesus Christ’s birth. These factors led to this miniature movie winning an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program. The Library of Congress Music Registry even inducted it for its significance.
Countless fans love watching this timeless classic, which gets better this year. 2024 marks its transition into 59 years of age, closer to a prominent milestone. Sadly, this occasion goes without a televised celebration due to its broadcast run ending. A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the final time on PBS in 2021. Its new home has been Apple TV+ since the company bought the rights in 2018. Luckily, there are days when it’s available for viewing without an account.
Final Thoughts
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a revolutionary piece of animated history. It single-handedly jump-started the entire line of Peanuts cartoons, leading to other beloved holiday specials. This film makes its watchers think about what Christmas is about underneath the bright lights. It even reminds people to embrace older traditions such as living trees. While not on television anymore, A Charlie Brown Christmas will always be around.
