The Peanuts Movie (2015)

Not having released a new Peanuts movie since 1980's Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!), for Blue Sky Studios, their most successful movie franchises Ice Age and Rio, and even tackling Dr. Seuss' whimsical work Horton Hears A Who! proved that the studio can compete alongside the big-name animation studios continuing to thrive in the movie industry today. Now as for them taking on the beloved comic strip Peanuts, I'd say the studio has definitely outdone itself by pulling out a great movie from the mind of Charles Schulz. Over the past six decades, Peanuts had leapt from its comic strip medium and into the form of animated TV shows, holiday specials, and even a few movies, but rendering these well-known characters into CGI in this new animated feature turned out to be unique in its own right because it's basically channeling the essence of Schulz's original designs and humor that the older generation had gotten to know so well.

For the littler crowd who are just getting to know Charlie Brown himself, his beloved dog Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang, they're in for a story that focuses on the insecurities of the former and how he manages to overcome it on a life-changing adventure with his friends along the way.

The Peanuts Movie serves as a fitting comeback for the characters who have long been absent from the big screen. I appreciated how the studio consulted the Schulz family to preserve all the gags and themes used in their beloved patriarch's past specials. I noticed throughout the film that modern day conveniences and current events like today's electronic devices, music (save for one), and even trends are completely absent. This is to keep the story timeless and to avoid violating what Peanuts actually stood for, which I found both appropriate and nostalgic since I too grew up watching these characters on TV. Another thing to take note of are the scenarios and nods to past Peanuts-related segments and specials, which adds a nice touch to some scenes. To keep true to tradition for many years prior, the hiring of several child actors to voice these characters remains intact making them sound vibrant and full of energy. And as an homage to Bill Melendez, his voice (as Snoopy and Woodstock) was used via archival recordings. To conclude, although Charles Schulz had passed on back in 2000 - and therefore is no longer around to see that his work still live on for future generations - this movie serves as a reminder that the studio wasn't trying to make his work relevant again. Instead, it's more of a personal tribute to him that shows how these characters may remind you of yourself at that age or the kids of this current decade personality-wise. Now it makes sense on what makes this the studio's most critically-acclaimed film compared to their previous projects. A robust effort and appropriate for the holiday season.