This is the newest special we've looked at for the Peanuts and as of this writing the last new special to appear so far. "Happiness is Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown" came on out in 2011. It was the first new one since 2006 "He's a Bully, Charlie Brown" . Even though ABC currently has (again as of this writing in 2018) rights to the Peanuts specials, this one aired on Fox in 2011 , 2012 ,and 2013. It was released to purchase for home viewing too.
Like the other specials made after Schulz death and some before, this one is mostly based off strips themselves. This was the first special made after the death of Bill Melendez, so it was the first and so far only one made without his direction, his voices for Snoopy and Woodstock were used though as recorded with director Andy Beall doing any extra voices. The voices of the characters continues the tradition of using children as per normal.
Since music is as noted part of the specials, this one uses scores done by the head Mark Mothersbaugh whom you may know did the music for the Rugrats and was the frontman for Devo. He does try to keep it a feeling of jazz so it's off putting. The animation is not CGI they found a Korean animation studio to do the basic 2D hand-drawn animation, but it not done in 4:3 but 16:9 HD so their is one change from past specials.
That's enough background, here's a look at "Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown".
It starts with Woodstock flying past familiar characters doing their familiar things they are known for then it reaches Linus where he digging holes looking for his blanket. This is going to be a flashback special. Linus is playing baseball with his blanket, which does seem to go well, then he 's walking with Charlie Brown who asks him isn't he afraid of what kids think of his carrying around a blanket, but Linus shows him why he's not. Snoopy drags Linus around with the blanket.
Linus that day started a new country/ copyright Peanuts
Now we get a Schroeder playing piano scene and tossing Lucy off the Piano. Linus watches television with his blanket, while Snoopy acts like a vulture targeting the blanket , and he enters the house. (don't ask how, he's magic) Lucy tells Linus it's wash day and she takes the blanket away.
More after the Jump