Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown

March saw the release of the first Peanuts special in five years on DVD, without premiering on television first.

Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown involves Linus attempting (without success) to ditch his security blanket before his grandmother arrives in town. Like many of the Peanuts specials, there are several moments here which are lifted from the classic comic strip itself.

This new special can, in some ways, be seen as a curiosity piece. Many of the behind the scenes talent which created the original Peanuts specials have passed away, including director (and voice of Snoopy) Bill Melendez, who died in 2008, and music composer Vince Guaraldi, who died in 1976. Peanuts creator Charles Schulz died in 2000, at virtually the same time his final Peanuts strip appeared in newspapers.

Their absence is clearly felt when watching Blanket. This is not to say that the special is without merit. On the contrary, it is quite enjoyable. The fact that Schulz’s son, Craig, co-wrote the story gives it a sense of legitimacy.

I also appreciated the fact that traditional animation was used, although it would be interesting to see Charlie Brown and the gang in the same 3-D animation in which Buzz Lightyear, Shrek and even Mickey Mouse and Garfield have been viewed.

The music by Mark Mothersbaugh is fine, although not in the same league of greatness as Guaraldi’s work.

Otherwise, the only complaint I have is the end when Linus points out that the other characters are as insecure as he, even if they don’t carry blankets. This moment just seemed to come out of left field for such a thoughtful character as Linus.

Still, this is certainly a noble effort, and that alone is reason enough for anyone who’s a Peanuts fan to check it out.