It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown

Last updated

It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown
ItsPiedPiperCB-TC.png
GenreAnimated television special
Created by Charles M. Schulz
Based on Pied Piper of Hamelin
Written byCharles M. Schulz
Directed by Bill Melendez
Theme music composer David Benoit
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers Lee Mendelson
Bill Melendez
Mike Wallis
Running time25:16
Production companies United Media
A Lee Mendelson-Bill Melendez Production
Original release
ReleaseSeptember 12, 2000 (2000-09-12)
Related

It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown is the 39th and last animated special produced under the supervision of Charles M. Schulz. Based on characters from the comic strip Peanuts , it was originally released exclusively in VHS and DVD formats on September 12, 2000, seven months after Schulz's death. [1]

Contents

Plot

Charlie Brown tells his little sister Sally the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin (she rejects the other choice War and Peace" because it weighs more).

The town in this version of the story is infested with mice (Sally demands the change because she can't stand rats) whose antics (mostly sports and dancing) disrupt the daily lives of the town citizens. In hopes of solving the problem, the mayor hires the "Pied Piper Beagle" (Snoopy) and promises to pay him with a year's supply of dog food. Playing his concertina, Snoopy lures the mice out of town. When the mayor refuses to pay Snoopy (despite a previously signed contract), the "Pied Piper Beagle" uses his instrument to lure the mayor and his assistants out of town as well.

Charlie Brown finishes his story and Sally insists such a thing would not happen in real life. From his doghouse outside, Snoopy begins playing music. Linus, Lucy, Franklin and Peppermint Patty dance around the doghouse to the beat, with Lucy demanding that Charlie Brown make Snoopy stop.

Cast

Violet, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, Marcie, and Franklin also appear but have no lines.

Related Research Articles

<i>Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown</i> 1966 animated Halloween television special

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a 1966 American animated Halloween television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. The third Peanuts special, and the second holiday-themed special, to be created, it was written by Schulz along with director/animator Bill Melendez and producer Lee Mendelson. The cast included Peter Robbins as Charlie Brown, Christopher Shea as Linus Van Pelt, Sally Dryer as Lucy Van Pelt, and Melendez as Snoopy. The special features music composed by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, whose contributions include the theme song "Linus and Lucy". It aired on broadcast television every year from its debut in 1966 until 2020 when it became an Apple TV+ exclusive.

<i>Its Magic, Charlie Brown</i> 1981 television special

It's Magic, Charlie Brown is the 21st prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on April 28, 1981.

<i>A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving</i> 1973 television special

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is the tenth prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on the CBS network on November 20, 1973, and won an Emmy Award the following year. It was the third holiday special after A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965 and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown in 1966. Except for the opening football gag, it is the first Peanuts TV special to have a completely original script without relying on the strip.

<i>Its Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown</i> 1984 television special

It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown is the 27th prime-time animated musical television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on CBS on April 16, 1984.

<i>Its a Mystery, Charlie Brown</i> 1974 animated television special

It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown is the 11th prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on the CBS network on February 1, 1974. This was the first Charlie Brown television special that Bill Melendez did not direct, but he still served as producer and provided the voices of Snoopy and Woodstock.

<i>Hes Your Dog, Charlie Brown</i> 1968 television special

He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown is the fifth prime-time animated TV special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally broadcast on the CBS network on February 14, 1968.

<i>Its the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown</i> 1974 animated television special by Phil Roman

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! is the 12th prime-time animated TV special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. In the United States, it debuted on CBS on April 9, 1974 at 8 PM.

<i>Its Arbor Day, Charlie Brown</i> 1976 animated television special

It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown is the 15th prime-time animated television special based on Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. The subject of the special is Arbor Day, a secular holiday devoted to planting trees. It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown premiered on the CBS network on March 16, 1976, which is near the dates in which most U.S. states observe Arbor Day. This is the first special to feature the character Rerun van Pelt, who had debuted in the Peanuts comic strip in March 1973.

<i>Its Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown</i> 1977 television special

It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown is the 16th prime-time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on October 24, 1977, on the CBS-TV network. In this special, Charlie Brown worries when he is chosen to kiss his crush in a homecoming parade.

<i>A Charlie Brown Celebration</i> 1982 animated television special

A Charlie Brown Celebration is the 23rd prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, who appears in a live-action prologue, and the first hour-long special. It originally aired on the CBS network on May 24, 1982, and consists of a number of stories adapted from the comic strip.

<i>Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?</i> 1983 US animated television film

Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? is the 24th prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on February 21, 1983. In the special, Charlie Brown tries to cope with learning that Linus and Lucy are moving away. The special is adapted from a storyline from the comic strip that lasted from May 9 to May 21, 1966.

<i>Snoopys Getting Married, Charlie Brown</i> 1985 Peanuts television special

Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown is the 28th prime-time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on March 20, 1985.

<i>Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown</i> 2003 television special

Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown is the 42nd prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on the ABC network on August 29, 2003.

<i>Its Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown</i> 1992 animated Christmas television special

It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown is the 36th prime-time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1992.

<i>Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown</i> (TV special) 1985 animated television musical

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is the 29th prime-time animated musical television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. This adaptation of the 1967 musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown originally aired on the CBS network on November 6, 1985, and rebroadcast on June 14, 1988. The special was produced by Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Mendelson-Melendez Productions.

<i>It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown</i> 1997 direct-to-video special directed by Bill Melendez

It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown is the 38th animated television special based on characters from the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts. It is one of two direct-to-video Peanuts specials that have yet to air on U.S. television.

<i>Snoopy! The Musical</i> (TV special) 1988 animated television musical

Snoopy! The Musical is the 31st prime-time animated TV special based on characters from the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts. It is an animated adaptation of the musical of the same name, and originally aired on the CBS network on January 29, 1988.

<i>Hes a Bully, Charlie Brown</i> 2006 animated television special

He's a Bully, Charlie Brown is the 44th prime-time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the ABC network on November 20, 2006. The special is primarily based on a story from the Peanuts comic strips originally appearing in April 1995. He's a Bully, Charlie Brown was an idea Schulz had pitched, and worked on before his death on February 12, 2000. Schulz's working title for the special was It's Only Marbles, Charlie Brown. Animation was produced by Toon-Us-In.

Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years is a documentary television special featuring a tribute to Charles M. Schulz and his creation Peanuts. This was the final Peanuts project that Charles M. Schulz ever worked on before his death, and it was originally aired on the CBS Television Network in 2000 making it the last Peanuts special to air on CBS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snoopy</span> Peanuts comic strip character

Snoopy is an anthropomorphic beagle in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. He can also be found in all of the Peanuts films and television specials. Since his debut on October 4, 1950, Snoopy has become one of the most recognizable and iconic characters in the comic strip and is considered more famous than Charlie Brown in some countries. The original drawings of Snoopy were inspired by Spike, one of Schulz's childhood dogs.

References

  1. Solomon, Charles (2012). The Art and Making of Peanuts Animation: Celebrating Fifty Years of Television Specials. Chronicle Books. pp. 41, 175. ISBN   978-1452110912.