Charlie Brown & The Gang
Throughout your childhood, it is more than likely that you have watched one if not all of the holiday specials that Charles M. Schulz has contributed to society through his legendary Peanuts cartoons. Whether it’s “The Great Pumpkin” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, Schulz’s animations have remained a tradition in American families’ homes for years. With his endearing characters and moral lessons, Schulz has created an archive of masterpieces that don’t seem to be leaving our culture anytime soon.
At its start, Peanuts was actually a weekly comic strip called “Lil Folks” that was featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. However, in the 1950s when Schulz created “Lil Folks”, “Lil Abner” was also popular, and the name was …show more content…
For starters, there is the one and only Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown is the “lovable loser”. He is thrown all of life’s misfortune, yet refuses to give up. He is often teased and taunted but remains true to who he is, although significantly melancholy. The main character of Charlie Brown is formed around the average person, just wanting to fit in and do well, yet has to go through the suffering that comes with life. His character is one of reality, leaving his fans with hope and encouragement. Next, there is the unforgettable Snoopy. As Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy plays the role of his owner’s opposite. In contrast to Charlie, Snoopy is confident and cares free. He has an infinite imagination and is often considered the dreamer of the group. Snoopy’s influence on Peanuts is a peace-making one. As the only animal featured as a character in the animation, Snoopy has the freedom to escape to fantasy worlds, an attribute the other characters do not have. However, not all the characters can be as lovable as Charlie Brown and his pet. The character of Lucy is a sassy young girl who, despite how she treats her friends, has an ambitious mind and confident attitude. Confirming the idea that Schulz created his characters from different parts of himself, he …show more content…
Even though Woodstock is misunderstood and small in size, he keeps his head up and creates a positive image to coincide with his insecurities. As made apparent through their distinguishable traits, what makes Schulz’s characters of Peanuts so endearing is the ability for it’s readers and viewers to relate to the situations that they experience. The story lines follow common themes and conflicts that people are facing in their daily lives. For instance, Charlie Brown often feels neglected and left out by his friends, an inevitable experience children and adults have throughout life. By seeing these beloved characters struggling with similar issues as them, the Peanuts audience can be comforted by the commonality of these conflicts and be inspired to rise above them as Charlie Brown and the rest succeed in. Another belief to why Peanuts is so influential is Schulz’s use of children in his animation. As mentioned earlier, using children to portray adult situations allows for more serious content because of the light-hearted feel that children create. However, that is not the only reason why this child-focused cartoon works so well. One other of the many great things about Peanuts is its cross-generational appeal. Adults and children both love it! For children, the stories
Throughout your childhood, it is more than likely that you have watched one if not all of the holiday specials that Charles M. Schulz has contributed to society through his legendary Peanuts cartoons. Whether it’s “The Great Pumpkin” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, Schulz’s animations have remained a tradition in American families’ homes for years. With his endearing characters and moral lessons, Schulz has created an archive of masterpieces that don’t seem to be leaving our culture anytime soon.
At its start, Peanuts was actually a weekly comic strip called “Lil Folks” that was featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. However, in the 1950s when Schulz created “Lil Folks”, “Lil Abner” was also popular, and the name was …show more content…
For starters, there is the one and only Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown is the “lovable loser”. He is thrown all of life’s misfortune, yet refuses to give up. He is often teased and taunted but remains true to who he is, although significantly melancholy. The main character of Charlie Brown is formed around the average person, just wanting to fit in and do well, yet has to go through the suffering that comes with life. His character is one of reality, leaving his fans with hope and encouragement. Next, there is the unforgettable Snoopy. As Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy plays the role of his owner’s opposite. In contrast to Charlie, Snoopy is confident and cares free. He has an infinite imagination and is often considered the dreamer of the group. Snoopy’s influence on Peanuts is a peace-making one. As the only animal featured as a character in the animation, Snoopy has the freedom to escape to fantasy worlds, an attribute the other characters do not have. However, not all the characters can be as lovable as Charlie Brown and his pet. The character of Lucy is a sassy young girl who, despite how she treats her friends, has an ambitious mind and confident attitude. Confirming the idea that Schulz created his characters from different parts of himself, he …show more content…
Even though Woodstock is misunderstood and small in size, he keeps his head up and creates a positive image to coincide with his insecurities. As made apparent through their distinguishable traits, what makes Schulz’s characters of Peanuts so endearing is the ability for it’s readers and viewers to relate to the situations that they experience. The story lines follow common themes and conflicts that people are facing in their daily lives. For instance, Charlie Brown often feels neglected and left out by his friends, an inevitable experience children and adults have throughout life. By seeing these beloved characters struggling with similar issues as them, the Peanuts audience can be comforted by the commonality of these conflicts and be inspired to rise above them as Charlie Brown and the rest succeed in. Another belief to why Peanuts is so influential is Schulz’s use of children in his animation. As mentioned earlier, using children to portray adult situations allows for more serious content because of the light-hearted feel that children create. However, that is not the only reason why this child-focused cartoon works so well. One other of the many great things about Peanuts is its cross-generational appeal. Adults and children both love it! For children, the stories