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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
By Teresa Talerico,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic Turkey Day special for all ages; some insult words.
A Lot or a Little?
What you willāand won'tāfind in this movie.
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A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Community Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Annual Classic!
What's the Story?
In A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING, the popular animated special created by Charles M. Schultz, Charlie Brown (voiced by Todd Barbee) finds himself hosting a Thanksgiving meal for his friends. At first, the characters are ambivalent, even somewhat negative, about the holiday. But thanks to some philosophical words from Linus (Stephen Shea) and Marcie (Jimmy Ahrens), the Peanuts gang comes to realize a deeper meaning to the holiday.
Is It Any Good?
Nobody does holidays quite like the Peanuts gang, and this special is no exception. Stumped over what to serve his friends for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, our reluctant host whips up a few tried-and-true recipes, including buttered toast, popcorn, and pretzel sticks. In a fun kitchen scene, Snoopy "conducts" the food preparation to Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy," probably the most well-known and well-loved Peanuts tune. Snoopy steals the show again when he and Woodstock set the Thanksgiving table with flourish.
On DVD, there's a second part to the special, a story released in 1988 called The Mayflower Voyagers. It strays somewhat from the simplicity that made its predecessors so endearing, but it can be considered educational, albeit focused on the experiences of White Pilgrims as they set off on a perilous journey.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving considers to be the "real meaning" of Thanksgiving. Do you agree? What does the holiday mean to you?
Given the special's focus on gratitude, what are some things you're thankful for? Why is this an important skill to encourage year-round?
How does Charlie Brown demonstrate hospitality to his friends, even though he doesn't know how to cook turkey or much of anything else? What makes a gathering successful or unsuccessful?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 20, 1973
- On DVD or streaming: September 12, 2000
- Cast: Jimmy Ahrens , Stephen Shea , Todd Barbee
- Directors: Bill Melendez , Phil Roman
- Inclusion Information: Latino directors
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship , Holidays , Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Gratitude
- Run time: 25 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: November 15, 2023
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