How many Peanuts ‘Charlie Brown’ TV specials are there?

In 1965, CBS aired the animated special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. The 25-minute programme, based on the comic strip, Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, followed the story of Charlie Brown and his friends at Christmas time.

When it hit the airwaves, A Charlie Brown Christmas proved very popular with viewers, prompting CBS to order four additional specials, to air annually over the next few years. These in turn were a hit with audiences, and this led to even more Peanuts specials.

But how many Peanuts specials are there? Answer: Probably more than you imagine!

The Peanuts specials were hugely successful, with new instalments popping up on television on an almost annual basis. Want a full list of them? You bet you do – so keep on reading!

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The order of the animated Peanuts TV specials

Between 1965 and 2011, a whopping 45 animated Peanuts specials were produced! The specials were released in this order:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
• Charlie Brown’s All Stars! (1966)
• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
• You’re in Love, Charlie Brown (1967)
• He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown (1968)
• It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (1969)
• Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971)
• You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972)
• There’s No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973)
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
• It’s A Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974)
• It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974)
• Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
• You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975)
• It’s Abor Day, Charlie Brown (1976)
• It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977)
• What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown! (1978)
• You’re the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979)
• She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980)
• Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown (1980)
• It’s Magic, Charlie Brown (1981)
• Someday You’ll Find Her, Charlie Brown (1981)
• A Charlie Brown Celebration (1982)
• Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (1983)
• It’s an Adventure, Charlie Brown (1983)
• What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (1983)
• It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984)
• Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985)
• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1985)
• Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)
• Snoopy: The Musical (1988)
• It’s the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown (1988)
• Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990)
• Snoopy’s Reunion (1991)
• It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown (1992)
• It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)
• You’re in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown (1994)
• It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown (1997)
• It’s the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (2000)
• A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)
• Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales (2002)
• Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003)
• I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003)
• He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown (2006)
• Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (2011)

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Are the Peanuts specials the work of the same director?

The Peanuts specials are the work of seven directors: Bill Melendez, Phil Roman, Sam Jaimes, Walter C. Miller, Larry Leichliter, Andrew Beall and Frank Moileri.

Bill Melendez worked on the most specials, clocking up a very impressive 25 episodes, either as a director or co-director, while Phil Roman directed or co-directed 14 of the specials. Sam Jaimes directed or co-directed seven instalments.

The directors/specials breakdown as follows:

Bill Melendez

• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
• Charlie Brown’s All Stars! (1966)
• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
• You’re in Love, Charlie Brown (1967)
• He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown (1968)
• It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (1969)
• Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971)
• You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972)
• There’s No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973)
• A Charlie Brown Celebration (1982)
• It’s an Adventure, Charlie Brown (1983)
• What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (1983)
• Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985)
• It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)
• You’re in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown (1994)
• It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown (1997)
• It’s the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (2000)
• A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)

Bill Melendez and Phil Roman

• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
• What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown! (1978)

Phil Roman

• It’s A Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974)
• It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974)
• Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
• You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975)
• It’s Abor Day, Charlie Brown (1976)
• It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (1977)
• You’re the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979)
• She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980)
• Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown (1980)
• It’s Magic, Charlie Brown (1981)
• Someday You’ll Find Her, Charlie Brown (1981)
• Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (1983)

Sam Jaimes

• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1985)
• Snoopy: The Musical (1988)
• Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990)
• Snoopy’s Reunion (1991)
• It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown (1992)

Bill Melendez and Sam Jaimes

• It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984)
• Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)

Walter C. Miller

• It’s the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown (1988)

Larry Leichliter

• Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales (2002)

Bill Melendez and Larry Leichliter

• Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003)
• I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003)
• He’s a Bully, Charlie Brown (2006)

Andrew Beall and Frank Moileri

• Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (2011)

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Did all of the Peanuts specials air on television?

Almost all of the Peanuts specials aired on television either via CBS, NBC or ABC (most made their debut on CBS). However, four of the specials went straight to VHS or DVD:

• It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown,
• It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown
• It’s the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown
• Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown

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I hope this information about the Peanuts TV specials has proved useful. Should you wish to dive into more nostalgia-inducing posts, please check out the recommended reads below.

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