Animation Celebration Saturday - Snoopy Come Home

National General Pictures, 1972
Voices of Chad Webber, Robin Kohn, David Carey, and Stephan Shea
Directed by Bill Melendez
Music and Lyrics by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman

After A Boy Named Charlie Brown became a surprise hit in 1969, Bill Melendez and Charles Schultz began work on a somewhat more elaborate follow-up film. By 1972, Snoopy was likely the most popular character in the strip. His carefree, ultra-cool attitude towards life - not to mention his fights with the Red Baron that inspired two hit songs - continues to fascinate audiences to this day. It was likely inevitable that the second feature-length Peanuts film would revolve around him. How do Snoopy and his blanket-stealing, cat-dodging antics fare on the big screen? Let's start with the Peanuts during an outing at the beach and find out...

The Story: Snoopy (Bill Melendez) is fed up with "no dogs allowed" signs being put up everywhere in the Peanuts' town. He can't get back on the beach to spend time with Peppermint Patty (Chris De Fara) and is thrown out of the library after being too loud. Even trying to take Linus' (Shea) blanket and getting into a boxing match with Lucy (Kohn) doesn't improve his mood.

He finally takes off with his buddy Woodstock (Melendez) when he receives a letter from his previous owner Lila (Joanna Baer), who is in the hospital and misses him badly. While Snoopy dodges more "no dogs allowed" signs and a bratty little girl (Linda Ercoll) who wants to keep him, Charlie Brown and the others have to figure out where he went...and possibly come to terms with the fact that he may not be coming back.

The Animation: Same as in the previous film. There's fewer "fantasy" watercolor sequences, save one gorgeous montage done over an instrumental version of Lila's dreamy theme "Do You Remember Me?" as Snoopy and Woodstock make their way to the hospital. The opening at the beach is also nicely done and very atmospheric, especially the crashing waves.

The Song and Dance: Snoopy's only major solo theatrical outing is charming and even touching. The story about Lila and Snoopy leaving Charlie Brown is actually a little on the dark-ish side for this franchise. Even as a kid, there were several sequences that always leave me in tears, especially towards the end during and directly after Snoopy's going-away party. Not that everything's gloomy. The beginning is very funny, with the "no dogs allowed" running gags and Snoopy getting the best of Linus and Lucy. His boxing match with the latter is especially hilarious.

Favorite Number: The Sherman Brothers wrote one of their best non-Disney scores for this one, starting with the catchy title song that plays over the opening and closing credits. Lila's wistful "Do You Remember Me?', performed as she writes to Snoopy at the hospital, is a touching ballad with a breathy refrain that tells us more about Lila than the script does. Snoopy and Woodstock have two great "best pal" numbers as they travel together, "The Best of Buddies" (which is heard again when Snoopy returns in the finale) and "Gettin' It Together." "Fundamental-Friend-Dependability" continues the Shermans' fondness for crazy made-up words as the naughty girl who tries to force Snoopy to be her pet describes their relationship (from her side, anyway) while roughly cleaning him and shoving him into doll clothes.

My favorite number from this one is also the saddest. Charlie Brown's heartbreaking ballad "It Changes," sung as he gazes despondently at Snoopy's empty dog house, is one of the most meaningful songs on grief and losing someone you love I've ever heard.

Trivia: This is the only Peanuts project jazz composer Vince Guaraldi didn't do the music for until his death in 1976.

Woodstock made his animated debut in this film.

What I Don't Like: The story may actually be a little too dark for very young or sensitive kids, though it does end more-or-less happily. Beyond her sad song, Lila is such a nonentity you have no idea why Snoopy runs to her side or wants to stay, nor do they ever mention why she's in the hospital. There's fewer typical Peanuts gags here than in Boy Named Charlie Brown, no baseball games or fights with the Red Baron. Some sequences, including the musical number with Snoopy and the bratty girl, have nothing whatsoever to do with the story are are really there more as padding.

The Big Finale: In some ways, I like this one even more than Boy Named Charlie Brown. Some nice gags, a more linear and thoughtful story, and a delightful score make this enjoyable viewing for home-bound older elementary-school-age kids who can handle some of the more depressing aspects of the plot.

Home Media: Easily found in all formats; it and Boy Named Charlie Brown are on streaming company Hulu with a subscription.

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