'Complete Peanuts': Snoopy at 66
Debuting in 1950, the Peanuts' characters drawn by Charles M. Schulz made the world laugh for 50 years. Now, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and friends are taking their final bow in the last book: "Complete Peanuts."
Children in charge!
Finding an adult among the Peanuts is rare. Beyond the mumbling teacher making a rare appearance in the background, there are no adults. It's just Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder and Pigpen - suburban American Kids, whose companion Snoopy the dog and his best friend, Woodstock, the bird, are purveyors of wisdom.
Worldwide success
It all began in 1950 when the creator of this amazing success story, Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) published the very first comic. Chances are that he never thought that he'd continue drawing the Peanuts characters for the next 50 years.
Curious Snoopy
Charlie Brown's beagle Snoopy spends most of his time lying around on the top of his doghouse, gazing at the sky. He may not be able to speak, yet he expresses his profound thoughts to children and adults alike via thought bubbles, reactions and movements. Considered the wiseman of the bunch, Snoopy is a bit of a philosopher - with perfect typing skills.
Charles 'Charlie' Schulz
With his yellow shirt and black shorts, Charlie Brown is a caricature of the average US American child. An alter ego of the young Charles M. Schulz, perhaps? He is a study in contradictions - a bit of a loser, at turns serious and unhappy yet always friendly and relaxed. Quite often teased by his friends, Charlie Brown is also appreciated, even loved by some girls, though he doesn't notice.
For young and old alike
One of the recipes for the success of Peanuts comes from Snoopy and Charlie Brown's wisdom and charm, making the comics entertaining for children and adults alike. The topics may seem ordinary and banal at times - all about friendship and baseball - but at others, there are statements made about wars and the environmentalist movement.
A life philosopher
The conversations between Charlie and his friend Linus often reach a philosophical level; Charlie Brown's thoughts about the meaning of Christmas became a part of many families' Christmas traditions. His friend, Linus, cannot do without his "security blanket" - a term which became an ordinary part of American parlance.
Peanuts throughout the year
Schulz's drawings have accompanied the Americans throughout the entire year, including as seen here, an illustration on Thanksgiving. From 1960 onwards, Snoopy the beagle became increasingly humanized. He started to think and to walk upright.
Supersnoopy
Many people could identify with the thoughts and visions of Snoopy, perhaps the best known of the Peanuts characters. Still weighing large in the minds of many Americans, he and the bird Woodstock floated through New York as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving parade in 2013. Snoopy already enjoyed a lot of popularity during the Vietnam War when soldiers attached a Snoopy figure to their uniforms.
'An American treasure'
Just like his creator, Charles M. Schulz, Snoopy has even been honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Several notable celebrities have stepped forward to praise the iconic series and its unforgettable protagonists - among them even US President Barack Obama who called the "Complete Peanuts" an "American treasure."