Snoopy Apresenta: Feliz Ano Novo, Lucy!

I really loved this. The animation was better than in any prior Peanuts special, and the characters all looked great. Interestingly, Charles Schulz himself didn't much like the drawing and animation in the old Peanuts specials produced when he was still with us. I think he'd love this. So well done! Authentic, yet new things have been added, including a refreshed characterization of Lucy, and it's very welcome. One of the reasons I liked "The Peanuts Movie" is that Snoopy was changed so that he actually cared about Charlie Brown. In the strip, he didn't even seem to recognize his owner, and that always kind of irritated me. The producers of the movie fixed that, and Snoopy was much more likable IMO. Same deal with Lucy in this special. Her story was very moving and believable as to how a child might feel about a beloved relative not coming for Christmas. Kids tend to blame themselves for adult behavior (ask any child whose parents have divorced) so I commend the producers of this special on how they handled Lucy in her situation. Plus, the way the special ended was so moving. This was excellent. I hope we see more of this kind of Lucy in future specials. 10 stars!

I really loved this. The animation was better than in any prior Peanuts special, and the characters all looked great. Interestingly, Charles Schulz himself didn't much like the drawing and animation in the old Peanuts specials produced when he was still with us. I think he'd love this. So well done! Authentic, yet new things have been added, including a refreshed characterization of Lucy, and it's very welcome. One of the reasons I liked "The Peanuts Movie" is that Snoopy was changed so that he actually cared about Charlie Brown. In the strip, he didn't even seem to recognize his owner, and that always kind of irritated me. The producers of the movie fixed that, and Snoopy was much more likable IMO. Same deal with Lucy in this special. Her story was very moving and believable as to how a child might feel about a beloved relative not coming for Christmas.

I hadn't watched anything related to Peanuts since the movie years ago (which I liked - it was very well done). I got curious about this special because Lucy is the focus, which was something new and different for a Peanuts special. And this special is different indeed, without discarding all the good things we remember from past Peanuts specials. Lucy grows as a character - showing a vulnerability and depth I didn't expect, but was absolutely delighted with. As written and performed, it's a logical progression, and she's a stronger character for it. All of the other characters are handled just as well, and the laughs are there, but oh the feels! I really didn't expect that, and I think it's that feature that puts it at the top of the list of all the Peanuts specials. And the animation, which is in 2D, thank goodness, is incredible. The characters look exactly the way Charles Schulz drew them, and none of the sloppiness that often occurred in the old specials is evident. The movement is smooth and expressive, but not Flash-y - indeed, this looks like authentic 2D, even though we know that computer animation was also employed. The music is traditional Peanuts-style jazz, and, well, everything in this special is so satisfying to anyone with an affection for good ol' Charlie Brown and the gang. If this is the new level for Peanuts specials, then I eagerly await next one. I give this one a solid and very happy 10!

Perfect animation, great voices, and wonderful timeless characters! As usual, an underlying set of heart-warming messages sprinkled with cute little skits. This will never get old for me, even now after enjoying it for over 50 years! :-)

Not in the same league at all with the old Bill Menendez Charlie Brown and Peanuts Specials of yore, of my childood of growing up in the 70's. Most characters have strangely taken on new traits, and they just don't seem as fun as they used to be. Still watchable and the new animation sort of robs the old charm away from the old Charlie Brown specials, the gray and browns of those autumn skies. Too colorful. Worth watching though for the sake of nostalgia.