Peanuts DVD/Blu-ray Discussion

[zackisthewalrus]

So, there have been oh so many Peanuts releases, and there are definitely more to come! So that there's not a bunch of different threads, let's put all Peanuts home video news in this thread. So let's list all of Warner's releases so far and upcoming here:

Now available:
A Charlie Brown Christmas (also on Blu-ray)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (also on Blu-ray)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (also on Blu-ray exclusively at Walmart)
He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (also on Blu-ray)
Peanuts Motion Comics Collection (available from Warner Archive)
Snoopy's Reunion
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

Sets:
Peanuts: 1960's Collection
Peanuts: 1970's Collection, Vol. 1
Peanuts: 1970's Collection, Vol. 2
Peanuts Deluxe Collection
Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (also on Blu-ray)
Peanuts Holiday Collection: Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray)

Movies (available from Paramount):
A Boy Named Charlie Brown
Snoopy, Come Home
Peanuts Double Feature (contains the 2 movies listed above)

Coming Soon:
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (General Release Blu-ray)
Happiness is Peanuts: Snoopy's Adventures (1 special/1 episode of "The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show")

[Escapay]

Awesome thread, zack.

Be sure to include the two boxsets on the Now Available List:

Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Target also has an exclusive edition with a six-track CD sampler)
--"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
--"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"
--"A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Peanuts Deluxe Collection
--"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
--"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
--"You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown"
--"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"
--"It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown"
--"Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown"

Anyways, to discuss the actual DVDs/Blu-Rays, I only have the Deluxe Holiday Collection, but I'm holding on to my old Paramount DVDs for "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown". The former because it just has nostalgic value, and the latter because it has "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales" and the Whoopi-Goldberg-hosted "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas" from 2001, which is (IMO) better than the featurette on the Remastered Deluxe Edition.

I can't remember if Warner has the rights to the Charlie Brown movies too, or if Paramount retained them. I'm still waiting for Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!) to hit DVD. It would be great if Warner simply packaged all four films together in a two-disc set. Would be even greater if they were able to do a general release for the 1963 documentary "A Boy Named Charlie Brown".

albert

[zackisthewalrus]

Be sure to include the two boxsets on the Now Available List:

Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection (Target also has an exclusive edition with a six-track CD sampler)
--"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
--"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"
--"A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Peanuts Deluxe Collection
--"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
--"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
--"You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown"
--"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"
--"It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown"
--"Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown"

Fixed with movies added!

[slave2moonlight]

Currently, I just have "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" and the old Paramount holiday set of the Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving specials.

What do you guys think for future purchases? Go with the decade collections? The 60's one tempts me every time I see it at Wal-Mart and Target. And, what specials, extras, whatever that were released on the Paramount discs are not or will not be available among the newer stuff? I'm wondering if I will have to hang on to them or not so as not to lose a special.

[PixarFan2006]

I only own the followling:

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Paramount)
Peanuts 1960s Collection (Warner)
Snoopy, Come Home (Paramount)

I plan on getting the Peanuts 1970s Collection Vol 1 sometime.

[Mickeyfan1990]

I only got:

A Charlie Borwn Christmas Deluxe Edition DVD
I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown DVD (both original Paramount release and new Deluxe Edition)


I plan/hope to get It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition sometime before Halloween (though I do have it on VHS).

[Escapay]

And, what specials, extras, whatever that were released on the Paramount discs are not or will not be available among the newer stuff? I'm wondering if I will have to hang on to them or not so as not to lose a special.

Regarding extras, the only extra that was ever on a Paramount Peanuts DVD was "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas" which is on I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown.

Here's a list of the Paramount DVDs and what specials are included. Items with an * are NOT yet on a Warner DVD (be it a Remastered Deluxe Edition, a bonus special, or in the Decades Collections, so far):

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): Peanuts Classic - September 12, 2000
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966): Peanuts Classic - September 12, 2000
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972)

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973): Peanuts Classic - September 12, 2000
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
The Mayflower Voyages (1988)

It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (2000): Peanuts Classic - September 12, 2000
It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (2000)*

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975): Peanuts Classic - January 7, 2003
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977)
You're in Love, Charlie Brown (1967)

It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974): Peanuts Classic - March 4, 2003
It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974)
It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (1976)

A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002): Peanuts Classic - January 6, 2004
A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)*
There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973)
Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown (1981)*

Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003): Peanuts Classic - March 2, 2004
Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003)*
Charlie Brown's All Stars (1966)
It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown (1992)*

I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003): Peanuts Classic - October 26, 2004
I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003)
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002)*
The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas (2001)*

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) March 28, 2006
A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)*

Snoopy, Come Home (1972) March 28, 2006
Snoopy, Come Home (1972)*

This Is America, Charlie Brown (1988 to 1989) June 13, 2006
Disc One:
The Mayflower Voyagers (1988 )
The Birth of the Constitution (1988 )*
The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk (1988 )*
The NASA Space Station (1988 )*

Disc Two:
The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad (1988 )*
The Great Inventors (1988 )*
The Smithsonian and the Presidency (1988 )*
The Music and Heroes of America (1988 )*

albert

[JiminyCrick91]

I've been unsure which way to get the WB DVDs for CB and pals. I still have all the Paramount DVDs but This is America and It's the Pied Piper. But I think I may end up with the decade sets as having the specials is more important than extras. I just hope they go through all 5 decades and don't just stop part way.

-Sky

[slave2moonlight]

Thanks for all the info, Escapay. Wow, I thought that "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" DVD was one of the new releases (since I found it at Wal-Mart not so long ago).

[zackisthewalrus]

The first post has been edited to add "Peanuts: 1970's Collection, Vol. 1."

I never actually posted which specials I have, so I'll post them now.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Blu-ray)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Paramount DVD)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown
Snoopy's Reunion

[Ioz]

The only set I have is the remastered deluxe Holiday Collection (with the X-Mas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween specials). Target had it priced wrong too, so I got it for like $12.99 last year. I can't believe that with the latest special coming out on DVD that they aren't even going to include a bonus special. They were pricey enough the way it is, they could at least keep the bonus special tradition they had going.

[ajmrowland]

I only have Snoopy's Reunion. I may love Peanuts, but the prices are still a bit high.

[not2foul]

Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you would know what Peanuts will not be included in these awesome chronological sets?

I'm assuming that the Charlie Brown and Snoopy show may not be included, and maybe the Charlie Brown and America series (I've got the great Paramount release a few years back). But are there any other possible/definites that won't be included in the respective years? Like some of the hour long ones?

The reason that I ask, is that, like most of you, I'm a hopeless completist!!! (Who else is frustrated with Disney, that we only have a handful of cartoons not released on the WDT? or the Looney Tunes Golden Collections finishing up, and still waiting on about 700 cartoons?). And I have some of the Paramount releases, a horrible Chinese set that has 56 specials with the worse voice syncing I have ever seen, totally unwatchable and next month in Australia, they are releasing a 60th Anniversary set that will contain the C.B and Snoopy show plus I think 26 of the specials, which seems quite tempting. Its not released by Warners over here, its through a cheapy but good quality distributor who, I believe will use a decent transfer, and it will be quite reasonably price.

So heres the dilema, the completist in me would like to get this set, as it is a step closer to owning the whole series, but the sensible side of me says wait to see what warners does, as I really like the chronological sets, even though we are missing some of the special features from the single sets (how frustrating is that!!!!).

Anyway, in short, if some Peanuts Guru out there has some kind of inclination of what will not be included in the Chronological set, it may help out not only me, but others as what to expect.

Thanks for reading my ramble!!!!

Greg.

[Escapay]

Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you would know what Peanuts will not be included in these awesome chronological sets?

Since the chronological sets seem to be based on cartoon specials that are...well, just pure cartoons, I have a feeling we won't see the following TV specials: (most information taken from wikipedia)

A Boy Named Charlie Brown - a 1963 made-for-TV documentary about Charles Schultz that eventually didn't air on TV. It also features the very first animated version of Charlie Brown. A segment of it is shown briefly in the 2001 ABC special "The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas". It doesn't have a general release, and can only be acquired through the Charles M. Schultz Museum.

Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz - a 1969 TV special about Charles Schultz, also featuring footage from the then-forthcoming animated film A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown - a 1976 TV special hosted by Carl Reiner, about the first 25 years of "Peanuts".

Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown - a 1979 TV special hosted by Phyllis George, celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Peanuts" and the 15th anniversary of the animated specials.

It's Your 20th Television Anniversary, Charlie Brown - a 1976 TV special hosted by Charles Schultz.

You Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown - a 1990 TV special hosted by Michele Lee, featuring a reunion of actors and actresses who voiced Peanuts characters from 1965 to 1989, a B.B. King performance of Joe Cool, and clips from Hallmark Hall of Fame's 1973 live-action production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Good Grief, Charlie Brown: A Tribute to Charles Schultz - a 2000 TV special about Charles Schultz.

Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years - a 2000 TV special about Charles Schultz and "Peanuts".

The Making of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" - a 2001 TV special hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, about the making of the first "Peanuts" special. It was featured as a bonus program on Paramount's DVD for "I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown", but wasn't included in Warner's Remastered Deluxe Edition for "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Pity too, as I think it's better than the RDE featurette (which is good, too, but not as good as the Whoopi one).

I'm assuming that the Charlie Brown and Snoopy show may not be included, and maybe the Charlie Brown and America series (I've got the great Paramount release a few years back).

Yeah, I have a feeling those won't be included in the Chronological sets either. As for the hourlong ones, two of them have/will have a Remastered Deluxe Edition: 2003's "I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown" and 1985's "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown", and since all the other RDEs were included in Chronological sets (so far), I'm sure those will be too. There's no word yet on "It's An Adventure, Charlie Brown" and "Snoopy!!! The Musical", though I'm sure the latter could get a Remastered Deluxe Edition, while the former will be relegated to a Chronological set.

Based on the pattern established by the previous sets (basically 6 shorts across 2 discs), I have a feeling we'll see the following:

Peanuts: 1970's Collection - Volume Two
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975)
It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (1976)
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977)
What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown (1978) - new to DVD
You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979)

Peanuts: 1980's Collection - Volume One
She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980) - new to DVD
Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown (1980) - new to DVD
It's Magic, Charlie Brown (1981)
Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown (1981)
Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (1983) - new to DVD
It's An Adventure, Charlie Brown (1983) - new to DVD

Peanuts: 1980's Collection - Volume Two
It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984)
Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985) - new to DVD
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1985)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)
Snoopy!!! The Musical (1988 ) - new to DVD
It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown (1988 ) - new to DVD

Peanuts: 1990's Collection
Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990) - new to DVD
Snoopy's Reunion (1991)
It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown (1992)
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)
You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown (1994) - new to DVD
It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown (1997) - new to DVD

Peanuts: 2000's Collection
It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (2000)
A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002)
Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003)
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003)
He's a Bully, Charlie Brown (2006)

albert

[not2foul]

Thanks Albert, thats awesome, I've been trying to figure it out for a while, and have only confused myself!!!! But that kind of confirms what I have been thinking.

Cheers GReg.

[zackisthewalrus]

For those who have seen it, what did you think of "I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown"? I wanna get the new DVD, but don't wanna be disappointed.

[Escapay]

Thanks Albert, thats awesome, I've been trying to figure it out for a while, and have only confused myself!!!! But that kind of confirms what I have been thinking.

Cheers GReg.

You're welcome, Greg!

For those who have seen it, what did you think of "I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown"?

It's one of those mid-level specials that isn't all too memorable, and suffers from being too long. It's focused on Rerun Van Pelt and not Charlie Brown, and I think that's why I fell asleep the first time I watched it. IMO, Rerun never was as well-developed in the "Peanuts" universe as the other characters, and he essentially became the new Linus and Sally, being the younger sibling who looks up to the older kids. His Back-of-the-Bike musings are cool, but grow repetitive, and his adventures in the kindergarten classroom (or whatever grade he is in) don't seem very "Peanuts"-y.

Regarding the actual special, like I said earlier, it's a mid-level one that isn't really memorable and is too long. "Peanuts" in 25 minutes is near perfect, and the four movies they did were hit and miss. One would assume 45 minutes could be that happy medium, but when the story isn't very engaging (Rerun wants a dog, he tries out Snoopy, then Spike), it feels padded and dragged out. Try renting it first before blindbuying it. Or, wait for ABC to air it and watch it then.

They gave Rerun a better story, IMO, in "He's A Bully, Charlie Brown" (which to date is the last Peanuts TV special).

albert

[Mickeyfan1990]

I think "I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown" was actually pretty good.

[chadhobbick]

In the list posted above about how the sets might be broken down, where does "What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?" and "This is America, Charlie Brown" fall? I'm more than likely wrong here, but those were tv specials so wouldn't they be included somewhere on the sets?

[slave2moonlight]

I remember really liking Dog For Christmas when I saw it, which was nice, because I am often hard on new holiday specials, ha. I definitely had to warm up to those other new Christmas Peanuts specials that were just animated strips, basically.