Snoopy's Reunion

Snoopy's Reunion is the 34th prime-time animated TV special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on the CBS network on May 1, 1991 as part of the animated anthology series Toon Nite.[1] It is one of three Peanuts projects to date (the others being Snoopy, Come Home and The Peanuts Movie) not to have "Charlie Brown" in the title (though the working title was Those Were the Days, Charlie Brown) and one of the few Peanuts specials to feature adults on-screen.

Snoopy's Reunion
GenreAnimated TV Special
Created byCharles M. Schulz
Written byCharles M. Schulz
Directed bySam Jaimes
Voices ofPhil Sanfran (Charlie Brown)
Josh Keaton (Linus van Pelt)
Kaitlyn Walker (Sally Brown)
Bill Melendez (Snoopy and his siblings)
Megan Parlen (Lila)
Laurel Page (Lila's mom)
Steven Slofiar (Mr. Allcroft and Bus driver)
Composer(s)Judy Munsen
Country of originU.S.
Production
Executive producer(s)Lee Mendelson
Producer(s)Bill Meléndez
Editor(s)Rick Hinson
Camera setupNick Vasu
Running time22 minutes
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseMay 1, 1991
Chronology
Preceded byWhy, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990)
Followed byIt's Spring Training, Charlie Brown (1992)
From left to right: Andy, Marbles, Spike, Snoopy, Olaf, Molly, Rover and Belle. Five of the siblings appeared at some point in the Peanuts comic strip; Molly and Rover were created for this special.

Summary

The story begins with a cold opening at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, set at the time of Snoopy's puppyhood. While still puppies, he and his siblings quickly become adults and adept musicians. Each one learns to play an instrument. Snoopy plays the guitar, Spike plays the first fiddle, Belle on the second fiddle, Marbles on banjo, Olaf on jug, Molly on mandolin, Rover on steel guitar, and finally Andy on drum set. As the years go by, the owner creates a sign (which reads "PUPPIES FOR SALE"). By that, the puppies are going to be leaving their mother some years later. As the years go by, the puppies quickly mature as they are all put up for sale. Missy (Snoopy and his siblings's mother) and the puppies cry as when they see the sign (and read it), which says "PUPPIES FOR SALE". After Missy and the puppies read the sign, the puppies know they are going to be parting ways forever when they are sold from the puppy farm. When they are sold, the puppies are going to not only leave their mother but also each other (in other words: "their whole family"). However, they do know that they can visit each other every once in a while and can sometimes have reunions with each other (and even the potential for their mother).

Meanwhile, Charlie Brown, apparently depressed from a recent defeat, arrives home to an empty, unwelcoming house. He tells his sister Sally he needs to have someone to welcome him home after a defeat, like a dog.

Back at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, Snoopy and his siblings are all playing music together. Snoopy is sold to Lila, his first owner. As he is removed from his family, his guitar is removed from the music. His siblings are then sold, one by one. Each time a puppy is sold, their name on the list of names (on the chalkboard) gets crossed out (Snoopy is the first puppy on the list). As they are removed, the music continues to decompose until the last one, Olaf, is sold (Olaf is marked as the third puppy on the list). Lila and Snoopy have fun together for a brief time in Lila's house (which is at first shown with her family living in a neighborhood). However, when Lila and her family have moved from their old neighborhood to an apartment building, they are told by the landlord and they say that no pets are allowed in the building. Because pets are not allowed, her family tells her they can no longer keep Snoopy. At this point, her mother tells Lila that Snoopy has to go back to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. Lila responds by crying out loud (she says, "But Mom...! They can't do that! It's too unfair! It's heartful break! How can I ever tell him?").

Lila goes over to Snoopy (who is still sleeping in his dog bed), and then has a word with Snoopy (starting off with the first line, "Snoopy? I have to talk to you. You are a good puppy. And I love you very much".). Snoopy (not in trouble), Lila tells him about the sad news. She says that she and her family can no longer keep him because the building has a new law. According to the law, pets are not allowed in the building. After she tells him that, she is very sorry and he has to go back to the puppy farm. But she promises to him that she can always visit him anytime. Lila sadly (but eventually obedient), is aware about the "NO PETS ALLOWED" policy from her building's landlord. So with her mother, she returns him back. She returns Snoopy to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm and tearfully says goodbye (and says she is going to miss him).

The owner of the puppy farm tells Snoopy (back at the puppy farm) that he promises to find him a new home and owner. He has not failed yet. The original owner (the one of the puppy farm) goes back to the chalkboard (which previously has all the puppy names crossed off). But since Snoopy has returned back, he reinstates Snoopy's name on the list. The used puppy Snoopy is back at the puppy farm. In the film, Snoopy is the only puppy who becomes purchased by an owner, only to be returned back, and (temporarily) still living at the puppy farm. This reverts to the fact that he's back to living with his mother (Missy) at the puppy farm until someone buys him again. Later in the film, it turns out to be Charlie Brown.

Not very long after that, next customer turns out that it is going to be Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown firmly decides it's time for him to get a dog. He and Linus head to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. He negotiates with the owner and is able to purchase Snoopy for $5, as that is all he has. While talking to the owner, Linus oversees some paperwork . The owner of the puppy farm tells Charlie Brown that a dog like Snoopy costs more than $5 and may be expensive. But since he knows Charlie Brown is the right (permanent) owner for Snoopy, he says Snoopy can go for $5. Linus is then concerned with knowing that Snoopy has a previous owner and is a "used dog". Charlie Brown happily takes him home, tries to train him, and soon realizes that he is an unusual dog. A montage showcases some of his abilities, such as playing baseball, sledding, surfing, and tennis.

After about a lustrum (five years), Charlie Brown realizes that Snoopy misses his family (since he's been living with Charlie Brown and Sally for five years) and invites him and his siblings to a reunion at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, to which he eagerly agrees. Before that, on the night before, Charlie Brown explains that Snoopy has been with him and Sally for four or five years. Invitations are sent to Belle, Spike, Olaf, Marbles, Molly, Rover, and Andy, who unanimously agree to it. Each one excitedly heads to the reunion, carrying their respective instruments.

They all arrive at Charlie Brown's house. He, Sally, Snoopy, and Snoopy's siblings get on a bus to visit the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm for their reunion. Eventually, they arrive at the Daisy Hill bus stop. But instead of the puppy farm, all they see is a parking garage (a parking garage, a small pile of dirt, and no puppy farm). Charlie Brown is confused. But when he asks the bus driver if it's the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, however the bus driver (though he does not know that the puppy farm was demolished for a parking garage) insists that it is. Undaunted, Snoopy and his siblings exit the bus and play music on the sidewalk in front of the parking garage (forgetting at first that the puppy farm which was their old home is now a parking lot). Really (before the notice), the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm during this time had been demolished and replaced with a parking garage (after it had been in operation for a lustrum).

Meanwhile, Charlie Brown explores the area and discovers an old "Puppy For Sale" sign half buried in the dirt pile. He says out loud that (now after he finds the old sign) it is it (the puppy farm). Continuing his talk, he shows Snoopy and his siblings their old home (which had been replaced with a parking garage) and tells them that the said location (where is the puppy farm used to be) is the place where their old home was. Lastly, he realizes the farm is now sold, excavated, and discontinued (no longer existing) in favor of the urban parking garage development. In fact, now the puppy farm has ceased operations and is now a parking garage, it is no longer even possible to go to the puppy farm either. The "puppy farm" is no longer a puppy farm but a five story parking garage. However, despite the permanent loss of the puppy farm, Snoopy and his siblings (even though that they now know it's not there anymore) seem happy to be together again, and without sadness, they continue to play more music.

Charlie Brown later (as now he's shown with Linus) comes to acceptance. He realizes that it made Snoopy and his brothers and sisters happy, and declares it was a reunion even if it was not the best. He then wonders how Snoopy's siblings are going to get home. Snoopy responds by getting into his World War I flying ace costume, and ushers them up on top of his doghouse (i.e. Sopwith Camel). The camera cuts back to Charlie Brown and Linus, with several off-screen sound effects insinuating that Snoopy is flying his 'plane'. When the camera cuts back to it, all his siblings have gone back home (and back to their real sold owners who previously purchased them from the puppy farm four years ago), and Snoopy is standing on the ground next to it, picking his teeth. Charlie Brown is shocked and wonders aloud how he could do that, to which Linus replies, "Well, he's your dog, Charlie Brown".

Continuity

Charles Schulz did not consider material from the television specials and films to be canonical with the Peanuts comic strip.[2] This results in the following continuity errors:

  • In the comic strip, Snoopy existed as Charlie Brown's dog long before Sally and Linus were born. In this special, Charlie Brown doesn't acquire him until long after they were born.
  • In the comic strip, Charlie Brown and Snoopy knew each other way before Charlie Brown adopted Snoopy. In this special, Charlie Brown sees Snoopy for the first time.
  • In the comic strip, Snoopy acts as an ordinary dog prior to his adoption by Charlie Brown. In this special, he is already well talented when Charlie Brown adopts him.
  • Originally in the strip and later in the 1972 movie Snoopy, Come Home and the 1980 special Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown tells Linus about how a kid dumped sand on him and made him cry, and the next day he and his parents went to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm to get Snoopy. In this special, they both go to get him.
  • In the strip and Snoopy, Come Home, Linus calls the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm to find out about Snoopy's history when he goes to see Lila in the hospital, and finds out that he was a "used dog". In this special, when Charlie Brown and Linus go to pick him up, Linus finds out about his history in a ledger sitting on a desk.
  • In the strip, Snoopy (and Woodstock) find out on their own that the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm (Snoopy's old home) was closed and demolished and turned into a parking garage. In the special Charlie Brown discovers this and shows this to Snoopy and his siblings. Charlie Brown even says a line similar to what Snoopy says in the strip: "Do you realize what happened? They're parking on your memories!". In the strip, however, Snoopy is shown with Woodstock at this. Snoopy (as Woodstock looks on) says about the parking garage (which is what the puppy farm was turned into after it was demolished), "YOU STUPID PEOPLE! YOU ARE PARKING ON MY MEMORIES!".

Voice cast

References
  1. Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 327. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. "Peanuts FAQ".
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