No matter how society changes over the years, there’s a timeless quality to Peanuts that is simply unmatched. Created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz as a syndicated comic strip, Peanuts experienced a surge in popularity starting in the 1960s, with the release of the first of many animated TV specials–and now a long list of those specials are coming to Blu-ray later this year. If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can preorder the Peanuts: Ultimate TV Specials Collection for $77 ahead of its release on October 7.
$77 | Releases October 7
This Blu-ray collects 40 Peanuts animated specials from the very first one in 1965 through 2011. Each one has been remastered in 1080p and the five-disc set comes with a 28-page collectible booklet featuring art and tidbits of information on each special. For audio, each title is present in English and Dolby 5.1 surround sound, with optional subtitles in various languages also supported. In total, you’re getting over 18 hours of Peanuts in this expansive collection.
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang have had a major impact on pop culture since they first debuted, and the specials have been visual comfort food thanks to the charming characters. While each episode varies in quality, there have been several standout classics over the last 50 years, like Lucy’s attempts to court Schroeder as he devotes himself to his music, Charlie Brown being chosen to escort his crush, the Little Red-Haired Girl, to the school dance, and Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise in another classic special.
Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy, has also been a main event star in several specials, as A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Easter Beagle, and He’s Your Dog, helping to cement the canine as a pop culture icon. One thing to note about this collection is that while it’s massive, it doesn’t include every Peanuts special. Several classic specials have been omitted here, including Snoopy: The Musical, It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown, and It’s the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown. Here’s the full list so you can see if your favorite special has made the cut:
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980)
- Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown (1980)
- It’s Magic, Charlie Brown (1981)
- Someday You’ll Find Her, Charlie Brown (1981)
- A Charlie Brown Celebration (1982)
- Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (1983)
- It’s an Adventure, Charlie Brown (1983)
- What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? A Tribute (1983)
- It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984)
- Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985)
- You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1985)
- Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)
- Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990)
- Snoopy’s Reunion (1991)
- It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)
- It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown (1996)
- Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)
- Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales (2002)
- Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003)
- I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003)
- He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown (2006)
- Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (2011)
$16
What you can also pair this with is the 2015 Peanuts movie. While fans of the cartoon strip might scoff at the shift to CG animation for this feature film, the Peanuts Movie uses the digital medium effectively well to create a unique 2.5D effect that complements the art style pioneered by Schulz. Combined with the vibrant colors, and Peanuts looks fantastic under a modern lens. The film is also accompanied with a stack of extra content, like vignettes, documentaries, art lessons, and art galleries.
The Peanuts Movie Bonus Features
- Snoopy Snippets vignettes
- You Never Grow Up, Charlie Brown featurette
- Snoopy’s Sibling Salute featurette
- Learn to draw Snoopy
- Learn to draw Woodstock
- Learn to draw Charlie Brown
- Get down with Snoopy and Woodstock music video
- “Better When I’m Dancin'” Meghan Trainor lyric video
- “Better When I’m Dancin'” Meghan Trainor music video
- Behind the Scenes of Better When I’m Dancing
- Snoopy’s Playlist
- Concept art gallery
- Color Keys gallery
- Characters art gallery
- Final Art art gallery
- Trailers
The Complete Peanuts Omnibus Collections
Another great way to catch up on Peanuts is with the original cartoon strip source material. There have been numerous collections over the years, but one of the best is the line of hardcover omnibus editions known as The Complete Peanuts. Each one is around 340 pages in size, and these collect all of Peanuts chronologically, starting from 1950 and extending through to the final strip released in February 2000.
The entire collection comprises 25 volumes in total, plus a 26th book filled to the brim with Schulz’s rare Peanuts art that includes storybooks, comic book stories, single-panel gags, advertising art, book illustrations, photographs, and even a recipe.
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