Peanuts celebrate 70 years
The Peanuts cartoon is world-famous. Charles M. Schulz published the first Peanuts in 1950. Today, Charlie Brown, Snoopy & co enjoy cult status.
Power to the children
There are no adults in the Peanuts' world. Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder and the gang are American suburban kids. Not to forget Snoopy the dog and his best friend, a little bird named Woodstock.
A global success
The Peanuts success story began in 1950, when Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) published the first comic strip. Back then, he probably never would have imagined that he'd be drawing the Peanuts comic strips for 50 years.
Snooping around
Charlie Brown's beagle Snoopy spends a lot of time on the roof of his doghouse, daydreaming, pretending he is a fighter pilot or typing away on his typewriter. He does not speak, but communicates with the reader via thought bubbles — thoughts that often turn out to be of a philosophical nature.
Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown (pictured above in the movie "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown") is a caricature of the average US citizen, and is young Charles M. Schulz's alte- ego of sorts. Charlie Brown is a bit of a loser: he is serious and unhappy but also friendly and laid back. His friends like him but often they also tease him; some girls love him - but he never notices.
Made for kids and adults alike
The Peanuts become a huge success because the comics work for both children and adults at the same time. The stories are about friendship and baseball, but also about war or the environmental movement.
Advice for all ages
Charlie Brown and his friend Linus often have philosophical conversations. Linus simply cannot part with his blue "security blanket." The comic strip actually made the term popular in the American language.
Peanuts all year 'round
Schulz's drawings accompanied Americans in their daily lives throughout the year, as is in the above illustration for Thanksgiving. Beginning in 1960, Snoopy began to take on more human traits, he began to think and walk upright.
Supersnoopy
Snoopy turned out to be a major identification figure for many people in the US. During the Vietnam War, soldiers would sew Snoopy patches on their uniforms. In 2013, a huge Snoopy and Woodstock balloon floated through the streets of New York City at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
A national treasure
Snoopy has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as does his creator Charles M. Schulz. The Peanuts are considered an "American treasure," as US President Barack Obama wrote in the introduction to the 2016 collected edition of the iconic comic strips — and he's absolutely right.