Begun originally as a Sunday American comic strip in 1950, Peanuts would go onto become one of the most beloved illustrations of all-time. Universally appreciated, the late Creator Charles M. Schulz set out to tell stories that connected with people no matter their age or background. Successful, Schulz’s illustrations even inspired animated cartoons; leading to classics such as 1965’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1966’s It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, among many others.
A factor that made Peanuts an international brand with a list of animated specials and feature films to follow through the decades, in 2020 Apple TV+ teamed up with WildBrain, along with Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions, to become the new home for Peanuts. What did this agreement mean for fans? It meant that Apple TV+ would continue the Peanuts legacy by bringing together new original series and specials, along with the iconic beloved specials from the past all in one place.
A deal coming after Apple TV+’s 2019’s Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 documentary, in the time since, the company has put out a slew of Peanuts originals. This includes ongoing series such as Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show, but also many specials; starting with 2021’s Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, going through to 2022’s Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie. Releasing five specials in total to this date, now on February 16, 2024 they prepare to premiere the latest, Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin.
Directed by Emmy Award winner Raymond S. Persi (The Simpsons series, Wreck-It-Ralph 2012) and is co-written by Robb Armstrong (Jump Start) along with Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano, the new special is one that should intrigue Peanuts fans worldwide. You see, Peanuts has always been known for the characters and their unique personalities. Of course you have Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Woodstock, but there are many others a part of the gang like Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie. Just a short list of the most famous, there is also Franklin; the first black character to ever appear in the series. Franklin, first appearing back in 1968, has become a permanent fixture in the Peanuts world… so wouldn’t it be great to learn more about him?
That is exactly what Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin has to offer. An origin story, it takes us back to when Franklin first moves to town and is having a difficult time fitting in and making new friends. Fortunately, Franklin develops a bond with Charlie Brown and the two team up for the neighborhood Soap Box Derby race. However, whatever could go wrong, does go wrong. So, do Franklin and Charlie Brown keep it together? Do they find a way to make it work together? Most importantly, does Franklin finally become one of the gang?
All these questions and more are answered within just under 40 minutes of Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin. Overall, there is a lot to love about what the creative team did with this. For starters, the animation is true to form and is not overly modernized like many other newer interpretations of classic animation. Keeping with this ascetic, the characters are all also very faithful to their original personalities. Beyond this, the creation of a backstory for Franklin is quite lovely and the friendship formed between Charlie Brown and him cannot help but make you smile.
In the end, Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin is a reminder, no matter your age, that we are much better when we work together. An important message, sadly it seems as if in the current climate that we are living that this is forgotten. A simple tale of listening to and learning from each other, Peanuts once again proves itself to be timeless. Worth the time to sit down and enjoy with your family, Cryptic Rock gives Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin 5 out of 5 stars.
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