For many families, watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a holiday tradition. Though simple in its story and animation, the sincerity of its message and some of the unconventional creative choices used in this 30-minute, animated short film make it one of the best Christmas movies that has ever been made.
Though viewers may now watch it out of nostalgia and tradition, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was actually fairly innovative for an animated television Christmas special. The very first television special of the Peanuts franchise, the story focuses on Charlie Brown as he struggles with depression during the holiday season – a feeling that many can relate to, yet also a topic that was rarely included in 1960s Christmas specials. Other unconventional elements seen in this film are the absence of a laugh track, the use of untrained children as voice actors, and the decision to score the film with jazz music. All of these were very uncommon in animation at the time of its release and the film was largely expected to be a commercial failure.
However, when it debuted on CBS on December 9, 1965, it was seen by nearly half of all American TV viewers and received outstanding critical reviews. It was later awarded both a Peabody and an Emmy award and has continued to be aired on TV every holiday season for the last 50 years, cementing its place as a timeless holiday classic.
Though some scenes may seem a little slow by today’s standards (especially when compared to current animated movies where colour and action fill every frame), the simplicity of the animation and the story provide a welcome change of pace and a quaint nostalgia that is perfect for the holidays. The film’s anti-commercial message about the ‘true meaning of Christmas’ is aided by the non-professional voice cast and comes across as sincere rather than cliché. It also manages to appeal to both children and adults alike by providing genuine moments between the characters and not resorting to cheap humour.
While the charming story, authentic voice performances, and quaint animation are all essential to the film, the defining element is the music. Featuring a children’s choir and the jazz trio of Vince Guaraldi, the music provides the foundation of the film’s atmosphere with classics such as “Linus and Lucy,” “Christmas Time Is Here,” and “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing.” I strongly recommend checking out the original soundtrack album – the soft jazz renditions of Christmas classics makes for fantastic background music during family gatherings or cozy evenings this holiday season.
All in all, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is an exceedingly charming and sincere Christmas classic that the whole family can enjoy. It deserves to remain a staple of the holiday season for decades to come.
-by Kieran Davey
