What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (1983)

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? is a 1983 animated television special and the 26th entry in the Peanuts series. It is an odd entry for sure.

I never found this entry to be entertaining or resembling the series in any way at all. That was a big problem for me as I like this series for its charm, humor and its characters. None of it was present here. It is one of the most leisurely paced entries in the series and definitely the oddest and most atypical so far.

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? is basically an anti-war propaganda special. The whole school lesson approach to its subject matter was boring to me if I am to be honest. I respect its kind intentions so much, but this subject matter still felt weird for a Peanuts special and none of the members of the gang were well utilized at all. Charlie Brown in particular was so cruelly punished here with that overly harsh running gag and Linus is good, but it is never explained how he knows all of this WW2 history. The animation is exceptional and some of the stylistic choices during those historical sequences were absolutely fantastic.

What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? is slow and very unusual for a Peanuts special, but it is definitely admirable in its intentions and so well animated.

My Rating – 3.3