January 1, 1986
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! is the 30th prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It aired on the CBS network on January 1, 1986, at 8:30 p.m. The special focuses on Charlie Brown's difficulty finishing a book report over the holidays. The special is dedicated to longtime Peanuts animator Bernard Gruver, following his death on June 14, 1985. Another New Year's special, Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, was released on Apple TV+ on December 10, 2021.
Storyline
While all the kids are happy that they get time off for Christmas break, Charlie Brown dreads how his teacher at the last minute assigned a book report on War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. There is one major distraction on his mind; the big New Year's party all his friends are attending, with Peppermint Patty continuously urging him to attend. When Charlie Brown tries inviting the object of his desires, the Little Red-Haired Girl, his hand is caught in the mail slot.
With the party on his mind, he attempts to try to find another way to write the report, even going to a bookstore to find an audiobook and computer game of it, all to no avail. While at the party, he tries to finish the book on the front porch of the house, but falls asleep and misses the clock's striking of midnight. He is further devastated upon learning Linus ended up dancing with the Little Red-Haired Girl, who showed up after all.
At the end of the special, Charlie Brown finishes War and Peace and hands his book report to the teacher. He gets a D-, the lowest grade without failing. Despite the poor grade, Charlie Brown is proud that he made an honest effort and avoided an outright failure. However, the teacher announces that the entire class will be made to read and report on Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, overwhelming him even more.
Sound Effects Used
- Charlie Brown's Teacher Sound
- H-B SPIN, CARTOON - WACKY SPIN WITH DRUM
- Hollywoodedge, Party Noise Wtoy Hor CRT029203
- Sound Ideas, BODYFALL - BODYFALL ON DIRT, HUMAN 01
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, GRUNT - SINGLE GRUNT 02
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, HORN - BUSY HORN PARTY
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, LAUGHTER - GROUP OF CHILDREN, LAUGHING AND GIGGLING
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, SWISH - FAST SWISH BY
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, TELEPHONE - HANG UP RECEIVER
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, TELEPHONE - PICK UP RECEIVER
- WB BOULDER CRACK
- WB FALL, BODY - BODYFALL WITH GRUNT 01
- Woodstock Laugh