DVD Corner

Peanuts: Ultimate TV Specials Collection DVD Review

Much better than a rock.

In honor of the 75th anniversary of Charles M. Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip, WB has released the “Peanuts: Ultimate TV Specials Collection” which contains 40 specials in a 5-disc set. Since the back of the DVD doesn’t list the contents, allow me to list off the specials (which are in chronological order from 1965 to 2011): “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Charlie Brown’s All Stars!,” “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “You’re In Love, Charlie Brown,” “He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown,” “It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown,” “Play It Again, Charlie Brown,” “You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown,” “There’s No Time For Love, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “It’s A Mystery, Charlie Brown,” “It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!,” “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown,” “You’re A Good Sport, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown,” “What A Nightmare, Charlie Brown,” “You’re The Greatest, Charlie Brown,” “She’s A Good Skate, Charlie Brown,” “Life Is A Circus, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Magic, Charlie Brown,” “Someday You’ll Find Her, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Celebration,” “Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?,” “It’s An Adventure, Charlie Brown,” “What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?,” “It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown,” “Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown,” “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown,” “Why, Charlie Brown, Why?,” “Snoopy’s Reunion,” “It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown!,” “A Charlie Brown Valentine,” “Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown,” “I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown,” “He’s A Bully, Charlie Brown,” and “Happiness Is A Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown.”

It’s rather miraculous how “Peanuts” continues to endure to this day both in comic strip and TV form. It’s a testament to Schulz’s lovable storytelling and characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Sally, Lucy, Pig-Pen, Peppermint Patty, Woodstock, Schroeder, Franklin and Marcy. In this day and age, it’s really tough to stand out in the crowd and not get lost in the media shuffle, but the Peanuts specials have a way of being timeless. The specials (which tend to be holiday themed or revolve around everything from romance and sports to Snoopy adventures and music oriented) have become generational with parents showing them to their kids. Let’s face it, the early ones are the true blue classics with “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (who can forget that tiny tree?) and “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (a classic Halloween special) being the absolute best. With that said, there is entertainment value to be found in each of them and it’s likely everyone grew up with certain specials that continue to be nostalgic favorites. Thankfully, this DVD collection contains them all. Now you relive classic moments like Lucy’s football trick and the unforgettable “Christmas Time Is Here” number all over again. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.33:1, 1.37:1 and 1.781. How do the specials look? For the most part, the specials look colorful and superb and are all presented in their original aspect ratios. On the downside, there’s a handful of specials such as “A Charlie Brown Celebration” and “It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown” which look rough and are in need of some restoration work. Note: This set is also available on Blu-ray.

Audio Track: Dolby Digital 5.1. How do the specials sound? Crank up the Vince Guaraldi score with these clean DD 5.1 tracks.

The lone extra is a booklet which includes a special guide and character bios.

October 28, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | DVD review | A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charles M. Schulz, It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Peanuts, Peanuts Specials, Peanuts: Ultimate TV Specials Collection DVD Review, Snoopy