A Charlie Brown Valentine
Encyclopedia
A Charlie Brown Valentine is an animated television special
, based on characters from the Charles M. Schulz
comic strip
Peanuts
. It features the Peanuts characters during the week leading up to Valentine's Day
. It was the first Peanuts special to be produced for ABC
after previous programs aired on CBS, and in the case of You're In the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown
on NBC
, airing on the network for the first time on February 14, 2002. The special was released to DVD
and VHS
on January 6, 2004. It was also the second television special to revolve around the Valentine's Day
holiday, the first being 1975's Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
.
in 2000. It also marked the first time a Peanuts special was animated with Digital ink and paint as opposed to Traditional cel animation. It also utilized the drawing style similar to the comic strip
, with a white outline around Lucy's hair and Snoopy's ears (this was dropped in future specials).
The bulk of the music score is classic melodies composed by Vince Guaraldi
, some tunes which had only be utilized once ("Heartburn Waltz"). Other more notable tunes, such as "Charlie Brown theme", "Peppermint Patty
" and a jazz/rock version of "Linus and Lucy
", were used as well.
A Charlie Brown Valentine also depicts the Little Red-Haired Girl
in full view, though she remains unnamed in this special (in contrast to her first full-view appearance in It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
when she was named Heather).
sitting on a bench at lunch, trying to get the nerve to talk to the Little Red Haired Girl
, but of course, chickening out. He says he feels silly to chicken out, because he knows he is the type of person she would like. He says "I may not be the greatest guy who ever lived, but after all, who is? I'm just a nice type of guy who never gets to meet little red haired girls". Just then, the Little Red Haired Girl walked by, and dropped her pencil
. Charlie Brown notices it, picks it up, and sees it has teethmarks in it. He realizes, this means she nibbles on her pencil, and is human
. Charlie Brown wanted to use the Little Red Haired Girl's lost pencil as an excuse to talk to her while returning it to her, but unfortunately, Lucy
took the pencil from Charlie Brown and returned it to the Little Red Haired Girl before Charlie Brown had a chance to.
Later that day, Charlie Brown buys a box of chocolates for the Little Red Haired Girl (A cheap one since he knew he wouldn't have the nerve to give it her), and decides to hide behind a tree and give it to her, commenting "Love
makes you do strange things".
The next day, Marcie is seen making a Valentine's card for Charlie Brown, and telling Peppermint Patty
that she is very found of him. Later that day, Marcie goes over to Charlie Brown's house to ask him if he likes her, and all Charlie Brown said was, "Do I what?". Marcie
then walks away angry. Later, Charlie Brown receives a letter saying "I know you like me and I like you". Charlie Brown gets very excited thinking it's from the Little Red Haired Girl, but Peppermint Patty
yells at him, telling him "That letter was from me. You like me, Chuck". She left Charlie Brown standing there, saying "I do?". And the next day Marcie called Charlie Brown to ask him if he liked her, and he got confused again.
Charlie Brown buys the Little Red Haired Girl a valentine, and then he wants to practice giving it to her. He tells Snoopy
to pretend to be the little Red Haired Girl while he practices delivering the valentine. When Charlie Brown knocks on his door (while practicing), Snoopy answers with a wig on, which annoys Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown tells Linus he still doesn't know what to do about the Little Red Haired Girl. Linus
suggested Charlie Brown should invite her to the school Valentine's Day dance. Charlie Brown agreed, but first asked Linus to talk to her to find out if she likes him. Linus went over and asked her if she likes Charlie Brown, however, the Little Red Haired girl had no idea there was a kid in their class named Charlie Brown.
Later, in class, Charlie Brown tries to impress the Little Red Haired Girl, by winking at her. However, before she could notice him, the teacher sends Charlie Brown to the nurse because she thinks he is winking because his eye hurts him.
The next day, Valentine's Day
, Charlie Brown notices the Little Red Haired Girl handing out valentines. He gets excited that she might give him a valentine, but becomes discouraged when she doesn't give him one.
Later, when Charlie Brown and Linus are at the wall, Linus suggests that Charlie Brown calls her to invite her to the Valentine's Day dance. Charlie Brown says he can't because he is worried she might hang up in his face. Linus tells him that's the beauty of calling on the phone. If she hangs up on one ear, that is not considered the whole face.
Later, Charlie Brown with Linus dialing on the phone. He calls operator
and says he would like to talk to a little red haired girl. Charlie Brown says, he has her number, but doesn't know what to say when she picks up. Then you see Charlie Brown finally calls her. However, on the other side of the line, Marcie picks up. Charlie Brown realizes he dialed the wrong number. He tells that to Marcie, and Marcie says she understands, and she thinks he probably meant to call Peppermint Patty. She tells him lucky for him, that Patty is here. She gives the phone to Patty. Peppermint Patty asks Charlie Brown if he called to invite her to his school's Valentine's dance, but before Charlie Brown could answer her, she accepted the offer.
That night, Charlie Brown put on a suit, because he has to go to the with Peppermint Patty. He invites Snoopy to come with him, and Snoopy puts on a bowtie and goes with him. When they arrive at the party, Charlie Brown is told that Snoopy can't come in because dogs aren't allowed at this party. Charlie Brown tells a fib to the person that Snoopy is really a person who came dressed as a dog because he thought it was a costume party, so Snoopy was allowed in.
At the party, Charlie Brown sees Linus, and Linus tells him the Little Red Haired Girl is at the party, so he should ask her to dance with him. Charlie Brown decided Linus is right, and starts walking towards the Little Red Haired Girl, getting more nervous with every step he takes. But before he could make it over to her, Peppermint Patty and Marcie find him, and start dancing with him, much to Charlie Brown's annoyance. When the two girls finally let him go, Charlie Brown realizes the Little Red Haired Girl was already dancing with somebody else. And that somebody else is Snoopy.
After the dance, Peppermint Patty and Marcie complained to Charlie Brown that he was not a good date. He was a horrible dancer, and he shouldn't invite them to any more dances.
The special ends with Charlie Brown upset that he didn't get to dance with the Little Red Haired Girl, and didn't even receive one valentine. Just then, Snoopy brings Charlie Brown a valentine, and Charlie Brown becomes excited. The special ends there, and it is not revealed who the valentine is from.
and DVD
on January 6, 2004, retailing at $14.98.
on Valentine's Day, immediately after Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.In 2010. it was viewed by 7.51 million viewers coming 2nd in the timeslot.
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
, based on characters from the Charles M. Schulz
Charles M. Schulz
Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was an American cartoonist, whose comic strip Peanuts proved one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, and is still widely reprinted on a daily basis.-Early life and education:Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Schulz grew up in Saint Paul...
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
. It features the Peanuts characters during the week leading up to Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
. It was the first Peanuts special to be produced for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
after previous programs aired on CBS, and in the case of You're In the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown
You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown
You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown is the 37th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It first aired on January 18, 1994 on NBC, making it the first Peanuts special to air on a different network after 27 years on CBS...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, airing on the network for the first time on February 14, 2002. The special was released to DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
on January 6, 2004. It was also the second television special to revolve around the Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
holiday, the first being 1975's Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is the 13th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on January 28, 1975. ABC will next air it on February 11, 2011....
.
Significance
A Charlie Brown Valentine was the first Peanuts special to be produced after the death of Peanuts creator Charles M. SchulzCharles M. Schulz
Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was an American cartoonist, whose comic strip Peanuts proved one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, and is still widely reprinted on a daily basis.-Early life and education:Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Schulz grew up in Saint Paul...
in 2000. It also marked the first time a Peanuts special was animated with Digital ink and paint as opposed to Traditional cel animation. It also utilized the drawing style similar to the comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
, with a white outline around Lucy's hair and Snoopy's ears (this was dropped in future specials).
The bulk of the music score is classic melodies composed by Vince Guaraldi
Vince Guaraldi
Vincent Anthony "Vince" Guaraldi was an Italian American jazz musician and pianist noted for his innovative compositions and arrangements and for composing music for animated adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip...
, some tunes which had only be utilized once ("Heartburn Waltz"). Other more notable tunes, such as "Charlie Brown theme", "Peppermint Patty
Peppermint Patty
Patricia "Peppermint Patty" Reichardt is a fictional character featured in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. A freckle-faced auburn/brunette, she is one of a small group in the strip who lives across town from Charlie Brown and his school friends...
" and a jazz/rock version of "Linus and Lucy
Linus and Lucy
"Linus and Lucy" is a popular jazz piano tune written by Vince Guaraldi appearing in many of the Peanuts animated television specials. Named for the fictional siblings Linus and Lucy van Pelt, it was released in 1964 on the Vince Guaraldi Trio's album Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown...
", were used as well.
A Charlie Brown Valentine also depicts the Little Red-Haired Girl
Little Red-Haired Girl
The Little Red-Haired Girl is an unseen character in the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, and is a symbol of unrequited love. While never seen in the strip, she appears onscreen in several television specials. Her name is sometimes cited in these as Heather. She serves as the object of...
in full view, though she remains unnamed in this special (in contrast to her first full-view appearance in It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown is the 16th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz...
when she was named Heather).
Plot
This special begins with Charlie BrownCharlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
sitting on a bench at lunch, trying to get the nerve to talk to the Little Red Haired Girl
Little Red-Haired Girl
The Little Red-Haired Girl is an unseen character in the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, and is a symbol of unrequited love. While never seen in the strip, she appears onscreen in several television specials. Her name is sometimes cited in these as Heather. She serves as the object of...
, but of course, chickening out. He says he feels silly to chicken out, because he knows he is the type of person she would like. He says "I may not be the greatest guy who ever lived, but after all, who is? I'm just a nice type of guy who never gets to meet little red haired girls". Just then, the Little Red Haired Girl walked by, and dropped her pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
. Charlie Brown notices it, picks it up, and sees it has teethmarks in it. He realizes, this means she nibbles on her pencil, and is human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
. Charlie Brown wanted to use the Little Red Haired Girl's lost pencil as an excuse to talk to her while returning it to her, but unfortunately, Lucy
Lucy van Pelt
Lucille "Lucy" van Pelt is a fictional character in the syndicated comic strip :Peanuts, written and drawn by Charles Schulz. She is the main bully and the older sister of Linus and Rerun. Lucy is a crabby and cynical eight-year old girl, and often bullies the other characters in the strip,...
took the pencil from Charlie Brown and returned it to the Little Red Haired Girl before Charlie Brown had a chance to.
Later that day, Charlie Brown buys a box of chocolates for the Little Red Haired Girl (A cheap one since he knew he wouldn't have the nerve to give it her), and decides to hide behind a tree and give it to her, commenting "Love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
makes you do strange things".
The next day, Marcie is seen making a Valentine's card for Charlie Brown, and telling Peppermint Patty
Peppermint Patty
Patricia "Peppermint Patty" Reichardt is a fictional character featured in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. A freckle-faced auburn/brunette, she is one of a small group in the strip who lives across town from Charlie Brown and his school friends...
that she is very found of him. Later that day, Marcie goes over to Charlie Brown's house to ask him if he likes her, and all Charlie Brown said was, "Do I what?". Marcie
Marcie (Peanuts)
Marcie is a bespectacled fictional character featured in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. She serves as comedic foil and best friend to tomboy Peppermint Patty, plays a supporting role in some of Snoopy's heroic fantasies, and displays a romantic interest in Charlie Brown, who seems to love...
then walks away angry. Later, Charlie Brown receives a letter saying "I know you like me and I like you". Charlie Brown gets very excited thinking it's from the Little Red Haired Girl, but Peppermint Patty
Peppermint Patty
Patricia "Peppermint Patty" Reichardt is a fictional character featured in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. A freckle-faced auburn/brunette, she is one of a small group in the strip who lives across town from Charlie Brown and his school friends...
yells at him, telling him "That letter was from me. You like me, Chuck". She left Charlie Brown standing there, saying "I do?". And the next day Marcie called Charlie Brown to ask him if he liked her, and he got confused again.
Charlie Brown buys the Little Red Haired Girl a valentine, and then he wants to practice giving it to her. He tells Snoopy
Snoopy
Snoopy is an fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet beagle. Snoopy began his life in the strip as a fairly conventional dog, but eventually evolved into perhaps the strip's most dynamic character—and among the most recognizable...
to pretend to be the little Red Haired Girl while he practices delivering the valentine. When Charlie Brown knocks on his door (while practicing), Snoopy answers with a wig on, which annoys Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown tells Linus he still doesn't know what to do about the Little Red Haired Girl. Linus
Linus van Pelt
Linus van Pelt is a character in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. The best friend of Charlie Brown, Linus is also the younger brother of Lucy van Pelt and older brother of Rerun van Pelt. He first appeared on September 19, 1952; however, he was not mentioned by name until three days later....
suggested Charlie Brown should invite her to the school Valentine's Day dance. Charlie Brown agreed, but first asked Linus to talk to her to find out if she likes him. Linus went over and asked her if she likes Charlie Brown, however, the Little Red Haired girl had no idea there was a kid in their class named Charlie Brown.
Later, in class, Charlie Brown tries to impress the Little Red Haired Girl, by winking at her. However, before she could notice him, the teacher sends Charlie Brown to the nurse because she thinks he is winking because his eye hurts him.
The next day, Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
, Charlie Brown notices the Little Red Haired Girl handing out valentines. He gets excited that she might give him a valentine, but becomes discouraged when she doesn't give him one.
Later, when Charlie Brown and Linus are at the wall, Linus suggests that Charlie Brown calls her to invite her to the Valentine's Day dance. Charlie Brown says he can't because he is worried she might hang up in his face. Linus tells him that's the beauty of calling on the phone. If she hangs up on one ear, that is not considered the whole face.
Later, Charlie Brown with Linus dialing on the phone. He calls operator
Telephone operator
A telephone operator is either* a person who provides assistance to a telephone caller, usually in the placing of operator assisted telephone calls such as calls from a pay phone, collect calls , calls which are billed to a credit card, station-to-station and person-to-person calls, and certain...
and says he would like to talk to a little red haired girl. Charlie Brown says, he has her number, but doesn't know what to say when she picks up. Then you see Charlie Brown finally calls her. However, on the other side of the line, Marcie picks up. Charlie Brown realizes he dialed the wrong number. He tells that to Marcie, and Marcie says she understands, and she thinks he probably meant to call Peppermint Patty. She tells him lucky for him, that Patty is here. She gives the phone to Patty. Peppermint Patty asks Charlie Brown if he called to invite her to his school's Valentine's dance, but before Charlie Brown could answer her, she accepted the offer.
That night, Charlie Brown put on a suit, because he has to go to the with Peppermint Patty. He invites Snoopy to come with him, and Snoopy puts on a bowtie and goes with him. When they arrive at the party, Charlie Brown is told that Snoopy can't come in because dogs aren't allowed at this party. Charlie Brown tells a fib to the person that Snoopy is really a person who came dressed as a dog because he thought it was a costume party, so Snoopy was allowed in.
At the party, Charlie Brown sees Linus, and Linus tells him the Little Red Haired Girl is at the party, so he should ask her to dance with him. Charlie Brown decided Linus is right, and starts walking towards the Little Red Haired Girl, getting more nervous with every step he takes. But before he could make it over to her, Peppermint Patty and Marcie find him, and start dancing with him, much to Charlie Brown's annoyance. When the two girls finally let him go, Charlie Brown realizes the Little Red Haired Girl was already dancing with somebody else. And that somebody else is Snoopy.
After the dance, Peppermint Patty and Marcie complained to Charlie Brown that he was not a good date. He was a horrible dancer, and he shouldn't invite them to any more dances.
The special ends with Charlie Brown upset that he didn't get to dance with the Little Red Haired Girl, and didn't even receive one valentine. Just then, Snoopy brings Charlie Brown a valentine, and Charlie Brown becomes excited. The special ends there, and it is not revealed who the valentine is from.
Voice actors
- Wesley SingermanWesley SingermanWesley Steven Singerman is an American voice actor. He is most recognized for his role in the 2007 Walt Disney animated film Meet the Robinsons as Wilbur Robinson. Singerman also voiced Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Valentine, Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie...
- Charlie Brown - Corey Padnos - Linus van Pelt
- Lauren Schaffel - Lucy van Pelt
- Nicolette Little - Sally Brown
- Jessica D. StoneJessica D. StoneJessica Danielle Stone is an American actress.-Career:First debuting in theater as a young child, Jessica D. Stone has acted in numerous titles since and has previously worked with actors such as John Ritter, William Devane, Mandy Patinkin, Scott Bakula and J.B...
- Marcie - Emily Lalande - Patricia "Peppermint Patty"
- Christopher Ryan Johnson - Schroeder
- Bill MelendezBill MelendezJosé Cuauhtémoc "Bill" Meléndez was a Mexican-American character animator, film director, voice artist and producer, known for his cartoons for Warner Brothers, UPA and the Peanuts series...
- Snoopy and Woodstock
Release
A Charlie Brown Valentine was first broadcast on February 14, 2002. The special was then released to VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on January 6, 2004, retailing at $14.98.
Reception
A Charlie Brown Valentine received extremely positive response. When the special re-aired on February 8, 2008, it attracted 5.36 million viewers, placing it at #2 on the primetime TV ratings for that night. In 2009, it was re-aired by ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
on Valentine's Day, immediately after Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.In 2010. it was viewed by 7.51 million viewers coming 2nd in the timeslot.