It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!

'It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!' is another holiday Peanuts special chronicling the tales of the Peanuts gang. In this special the usual holiday hysteria is demonstrated with topics of consumerism, goodwill, and friendship. Linus preaches of the Easter Beagle, Peppermint Patty hopes to teach Marcie about Easter traditions, and Snoopy tries helping Woodstock find a new home.

This special is not as great as the Christmas and Halloween specials, but the classic Peanuts humor and charm keeps you happy throughout. The music is great and the animation look old-school, but feels fresh.

Give it a watch for some Springtime fun!

While not as entertaining as many of the other Peanuts holiday specials (Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas), there's still some amusing scenes that makes It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown worth recommending. Like seeing Peppermint Patty get frustrated every time her friend Marcie cracks open the eggs (to fry, waffle, or boil) as Patty prepares to paint them. Or Snoopy botching some attempts at getting his bird friend Woodstock a bird house. Only a Peanuts cartoon would have a scene in a Discount Mart with a sign saying "Only 246 days till Christmas" with potential presents on sale! Though while Linus' belief in the Easter Beagle, unlike that of the Great Pumkin, comes true, isn't it a bit strange no one acknowledges that it's Snoopy doing the rounds? And why is Schroeder's scene so brief here? Otherwise, this was a pretty entertaining animated special with fine work, as always, by musician Vince Guaraldi on the score.

In my opinion, this is an excellent holiday special which is very hip and hilarious. However, I couldn't bear seeing Marcie (voice of Peter Robbins) having to boil all those Easter eggs herself while Peppermint Patty yelled at her so she would do it right. In addition, the thing that really makes this special worth watching is the score, especially "Linus And Lucy." When that song is performed, I always get warm and tingly. I would have to say that's my favorite song of this special. If you ask me, Charles M. Schulz was a really good artist. In conclusion, I highly recommend this excellent Easter special which is very hip and hilarious to everyone, especially all you fans of the comic strip who have not seen it. When you see it, prepare to smile and have a good time.

What else is there to say about the Easte Beagle. As usual Snoopy steals the show. Good Old Snoopy always steals the show in the Peanuts specials. However, not only would it not be Easter without Snoopy, we also need to include Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang. Who cannot love the misadventures of the Peanuts gang? Their specials are what makes the holidays of the year great. From Peppermint Patty struggle to teach Marcie to color Easter eggs. From Snoopy buying the perfect birdhouse for Woodstock. To Linus always having a way of words for the Easter Holiday. To Good Old Charlie Brown, as always, dreading the holiday. Snoopy as the Easter Beagle is a must for Easter and something generations of people can enjoy every year at Easter. The Easter Beagle is Easter.

Like the Valentine's Day this episode is charming fun. You can't beat a cool Vince Guaraldi soundtrack, wry Charles Schulz humor and the earnest kid's voice actors not to mention some great catch the Beethoven references. This will not disappoint and has much to offer on so many levels. I have not seen it in years, but it cracks me up as much now as it did then. It even has some commentary on modern commercialism which is always heartening. While not as classic as the Christmas and Haloween episodes, it is up there with some of the best, certainly better than the ones which post-dated Vince Guaraldi death. Keep it on the shelf and bring it out in the spring. It will be a tradition you will be proud of!