In case you were unaware, we’re in the midst of an animation renaissance. While the bulk of the new animation landscape is predicated by TV shows like Bob’s Burgers, Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and more, animated films have found steady crossover success with films like The LEGO Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and the standard fare from Studio Ghibli and Pixar. The success of such properties has been a mix of great writing, memorable characters, and the creators’ penchant to adapt new trends in modern humor to make them feel more timely.
The Peanuts Movie, however, follows the classic standard established by creator Charles M. Schulz more than 65 years ago, with everything ranging from the Red Baron, Joe Cool, Lucy’s psychiatric help, and more, without having to rely on pop-culture references, one-liners, and hyperactive quick cuts. What results is a brand new Peanuts story that feels just as timeless as every time Charlie Brown missed the football.
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The Peanuts Movie
Director: Steve Martino
Rating: G
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp) is well-liked by his peers, despite not being very good at… anything. His chance for a clean slate is presented, however, with a new kid moving into town – the Little Red-Haired Girl (Francesca Capaldi). All of his initial attempts to talk to her end up in typical Charlie Brown fashion; however, he suddenly finds some luck that results in him becoming the most popular kid at school. Meanwhile, his pet dog Snoopy (Bill Melendez) embarks on dog fights against his long-time arch-nemesis, the Red Baron, in his quest to rescue his love interest, Fifi (Kristin Chenoweth).
The biggest strength of The Peanuts Movie is its simple plot. So often, many franchise reboots/remakes try too hard to add unnecessary exposition or complicated stories in misguided attempts to “modernize” them for contemporary audiences. The Peanuts Movie, however, relies on the simplicity that made Peanuts so timeless. While the audience at my screening were mostly quiet, I did find myself chuckling more than my peers as Peanuts staples found their way subtly worked into the plot.
The animation style also stayed true to the characters’ 2D images, albeit modernized into a faux-3D style. It was fun to see little things like Pig-Pen’s dust cloud, Charlie Brown’s iconic single hair, and their simple, yet fun facial expressions. The style is similar to South Park‘s cardboard cutout-style of animation that truly benefits when the characters are on a flat plane, but don’t look that awkward when they have to interact in 3D.
The Peanuts Movie is an ode to Schulz and his long-lasting franchise. You can tell that the crew for the film, from producer Paul Feig to director Steve Martino, truly love and appreciate Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus, and the entire Peanuts crew. The Peanuts Movie will be a great addition to the Peanuts animated canon alongside A Charlie Brown Christmas and the other Charlie Brown specials.