Snoopy É um Sucesso

This special was okay/average. 'It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown' is certainly not the best Peanuts special out there, but its not really the worst either.

Seeing how I didn't grow up with this special like a few other specials, I don't think I have the nostalgia that other people might have for this special. To me it just comes off as fun but a little awkward and outdated especially to any new younger viewers born in the 21st century.

The animation is still good and the musical numbers are catchy, but there isn't really a cohesive narrative. It probably fun for casual watching, but besides Snoopy's iconic dancing (which is adorably memeable by itself) this special is just kind of boring.

Still though if your watching all of the Peanuts specials this is not a special to skip. Its fun and has some classic scenes you might love yourself! Oh and by the way Pigpen has a musical number and Fergie (from Black Eyed Peas) voices Sally. So that's pretty cool!

...did I ever love this Peanuts special (I was 2-3, what more could you expect?). I remember renting it God only knows how many times on video with 'She's A Good Skate, Charlie Brown' after it. I was the biggest Snoopy fan on earth (still love him dearly)! I remember wearing my spandex Snoopy exercise clothes and dancing around all over the place to this special. There was really nothing to it other than the singing, but I wasn't old enough to care. I sang along with it, and had a blast while doing so.

I still remember the songs, particularly the main 'Flashbeagle' song ("He's a champion! He's the best!" "You should hear the sound of his naaaaa-me! They call him Flash- flash- flash- flaaash-beagle!"). I think this is pretty much the only Peanuts special that's actually dated, the rest are timeless. 'Flashbeagle' has the '80s written all over it, while most of the others hold up very well today. This is why the Peanuts have stayed so popular for so many years. I think they took a note of that after 'Flashbeagle'.

But I do have many wonderful childhood memories from 'Flashbeagle', so it has a special place in my heart.

Behold lies one of the most strange Peanuts specials to date: a blatant parody of Flashdance and other 80s music videos. Known as It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown, the whole special was made purely from creator Charles Schulz being a huge fan of the 1983 dance movie. Although the special is not the first time the Peanuts tried acting hip and cool from whatever was happening in pop culture, it is often seen by many as something one would imagine as a parody of Charlie Brown specials instead of an actual one. But does it not warrant any further attention? After all, there's nothing else like it out there.

The basic premise of the special is that Charlie Brown's dog Snoopy appears to be lazy and inactive by day, and a fierce dancing disco mutt by night. While that concept sounds bizarre on paper alone, the bigger problem with Flashbeagle is that its focus is all over the place. There are multiple musical vignettes throughout the special that merely serve excuses for the Peanuts gang to sing and dance to songs that fit their personalities. Admittedly, a lot of the songs are fairly catchy on their own and they showcase much of the usual charm audiences would expect from characters like Lucy and Peppermint Patty. Unfortunately, many of these sequences take up time of what should've been focused on Charlie Brown figuring out what to do about Snoopy going out to dance every night. That's not to say a Peanuts special needs to be as dramatic as Saturday Night Fever of course, but when the conflict in your half hour primetime cartoon is only touched about later down the road, perhaps it's time to consider another rewrite. Needless to say, the "plot" is simply a musical distraction.

However, for all of the special's faults, its mere existence alone is enough to recommend for the time capsule nostalgia crowd. On top of the obvious influence, Snoopy's outfit and dancing skills are so unapologetically 80s that it's hard not to find at least some amusement in this special's cheesiness. The animators should also be given a round of applause for successfully rotoscoping the choreography from stunt dancer Marine Jahan into Snoopy's dynamite moves. Aided by the incredible work of Ed Bogas and Desirée Goyette, the music and songs in the special are catchy and hysterical enough to make up for their dated qualities. At a time when a lot of televised cartoons were getting into the spirit of the then modern nighttime dancing craze, Flashbeagle feels almost like a revolutionary step in that direction. Also, if there's anyone who makes this special memorable besides Snoopy, it would definitely be Peppermint Patty as her moments easily get the best laughs out of this otherwise jumbled special. Sometimes a special can be entertaining just by being honest about what it's offering.

By being one of the more sincere products of 80s dance culture out there, Flashbeagle is a flawed yet oddly delightful special in the Peanuts filmography. It may appeal more to the 80s nostalgia crowd, let alone Snoopy aficionados, but there are just enough music and games in this bloated thrill ride to allow for some fun to go around. It's hilarious that some people can't imagine any of the Peanuts characters being trendy or hip when actual specials like these exist. Considering this special came out one year after Flashdance did, it's safe to say that it was made from love bigger than the eye can see.

I thought this was one of the Peanuts best specials! I love the music and the dancing. Snoopy looks great in torn up sweats! The breakdancing scene on the street is my favorite. And whoever sang the title track should have gotten a grammy because I love that song. If anyone happens to have any of the soundtrack at all would you please e-mail me? Thanks a bunch!

There's not much of a story in this Peanuts special though the theme of dancing does connect the sketches. I do find it kinda strange that a kid's TV special is based on a R-rated movie however.

None of the Peanuts gang appear to be happy unless they are dancing. Even Snoopy fancies himself as a Tony Manolo type. Obviously though old Chuck can't get into the spirit of things. Though Snoopy's propensity for dancing to funky, old-school 80s beats does earn Sally Brown her first A in show-and-tell.

Bizarre really to think that Stacy Ferguson provided the voice of Lucy in this one.