Peanuts
Woah, another new Peanuts special, since that Apple thing exists and they proceeding to make more. Better than us waiting 40 years right? This is "It's The Small Things, Charlie Brown" (wasn't expecting a Blink-182 reference ) is a Peanuts special that came out on April 15, 2022. I am happy it's using the name conventions of the classic specials, compared to "For Auld Lang Syne".
Since this is one of those streaming exclusive specials and that means it has a unquie run time of 38 minutes, which seems to be the same length as "Auld Lang Syne" it's kind of interesting how that length is shorter than what would fill an hour long slot on network TV, but longer than what would fill a 30 minute slot. If lengths affect things, I would think that filler would be less happening, there are specials where stuff just happens to fill out time. (Though Peanuts filler is like an extra treat sometimes, minus that birthday special.)
The animation of the special has the same look as the other one (I'm not going to keep typing the name) it's a very nice high quality 2D animation. Again , I do wish the feature film had this look. Wild Brain is like yeah were putting money into this. The backgrounds look less detailed than before, they look like they are going for a simplified look, but a comic strip look, the backgrounds are more detailed than the strips, it's almost like a painted look. The characters are walking through a painted world, it's an interesting design choice. It's moves fluidly too and it feels pretty nice, and not too off putting for media that has been done more stilted ,by nature, before. The character designs go back to their classic known looks that tends to happen now, so Lucy in the blue dress instead of pants (80's -90's strips and some later specials had her and other girls wearing pants). It's full spirited though.
The music is once again done by Jeff Marrow who seems to do an alright job of capturing the right tone of jazz for the specials, if you are picky about your Peanuts jazz music. It also has grand music like at the start giving it a movie quality sound during the baseball game at the start.
The special starts with Charlie Brown playing baseball in a large field against Peppermint Patty's team. I can tell it's a dream , because I'm me, and I can tell. Charlie Brown is able to throw a pitch so powerful that it makes Peppermint Patty collapse. (You're going to prison for murder, Charlie Brown) Like I said, it's a dream, because Snoopy wakes him accidently, with a water hose. They did change Charlie Brown's voice actor from the last special, and to me, it seems little off, most of the time they've been able to capture the same voice type for Charlie Brown, but this one doesn't seem as Charlie Brown. I'm not going to be mean to kid voice actor; I find it a little off for Charlie's voice though. Linus' voice was retained from the last special and he sounds like how Linus usually sounds, even when there's been different voices.
Ahhhh Charlie Brown is heavy/ Copyright Peanuts/ Wild Brian
Charlie and Linus walk around and Charlie talks to him about the dream we saw. Linus is a realist against Charlie Brown's more up spirit and thinks they don't have the best chance to beat Peppermint Patty's team. (Also we don't ask the question of how many years directly they've been losing that will hurt your head and time in general will rip apart) I do like how it fits the characters: Charlie Brown is an optimist and wants to have the spirit that he'll win, Linus is a realist and doesn't go for an outcome that seems far fetched from past data.
When your baseball team loses/ Copyright Peanuts/ Wild Brain
This special decided to bring back Shermey into usage, they went deep again. Snoopy comes into the special, like how he's been treated in Peanuts media for years. (wow roar) They really have Snoopy come in trying to steal the scenes, the special has become sentient. (help!) Sally shows up and she wants to play in the baseball team, because Charlie Brown made a promise when she turned 5 she would get to join the team.
Home run? / Copyright Peanuts/ WildBrain
Sally has the same voice actress that's been used through out the WildBrain Studios era of Peanuts. Sally seems to very excited on the idea of playing on the baseball team I don't think it makes sense, Charlie Brown, to give Sally an oversized uniform. (Lucy almost dies, so that's something) It tries to show that Sally isn't good at baseball, which sure she wouldn't be, Charlie Brown's optimism and care are what is at play here.
Same/ Copyright Peanuts / Wild Brain
Someone remembered "You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown" Peppermint Patty shows up on a motocross bike. (We've won You're a Good Sport bros!) Her team also shows up on the same kind, minus Marcie is made to suffer. (poor Marcie) I find it interesting that Thibault is on Peppermint Patty's team and that they decided to use Thibault for something, then again Franklin is on Charlie Brown's team instead of Peppermint Patty's , so, they are going for 100% accuracy here. Also odd to see Peppermint Patty's character be more antagonistic than she normally would be, even with baseball. There is a difference in her role has been shown and how it was here, but it might only distract a person like me who does too much Peanuts stuff, than a casual viewer.
it's a gang! run!/ Copyright Peanuts/ Wild Brain
Sally also gets to take up the plot, where Sally feels left out and then she meets a flower that's on the pitcher's mound and starts talking to it. Charlie Brown tries to give his team a pep talk, after they feel bad. I like that Charlie Brown keeps his spirit and wants to rally his team to a victory. Then something happens, the flower plot shows up.
You're watching HGTV....back when we used to do gardening shows/ Copyright Peanuts/ WildBrain
The team is bothered that Sally is just laying there looking at the dandelion. Sally says that she's not going to move and she's going to protect the flower. No matter what they try. (I wasn't expecting Horton Hears a Who in my Peanuts special) Plan B is to just play around Sally until she gets bored. ( I do wonder where Sally got a book though)
This is what they mean by dandelion tea/ Copyright Peanuts / Wild Brain
More after the jump
