Charlie Brown: How Charles Schulz’s Biggest Rule for Peanuts Made It a Phenomenon

Peanuts evolved into a worldwide sensation during its fifty years of publication, and that popularity has only grown since its tenure drew to a close in 2000. To this day, children continue to be enraptured by Charlie Brown and his colorful cast of friends, and this appeal is due in large part to Charles Schulz reflecting their youthful mentalities in his writing.

In statements delivered by Charles Schulz at the 1994 National Cartoonists Society convention and shared by Hogan’s Alley, he discussed how he believes there is always a place for innocence in storytelling, and this idea permeates through his Peanuts work. Schulz said the following on this subject:

I have never done anything that I consider the least bit offensive. There are not fire hydrants in my strip, no toilet bowls. There is a market for innocence. I told this to Lee Mendelson way back when we first started doing television shows. There’s still a market for things that are clean and decent.

Schulz’ words show his philosophy of avoiding the “offensive” in Peanuts, such as anything that could be viewed as inappropriate or indicate inappropriate acts. Through his thoughts on the nature of innocence in his work, Schulz reveals the secret behind Peanuts‘ long-lasting success that’s transcended generations.

“There’s a Market for Innocence”: Peanuts’ Child-Centered Focus Is Its Greatest Strength

Charles Schulz’ Decency in His Writing Solidified Peanuts as a Hit

Peanuts is, at its core, a story of the world according to children. As such, to throw in gross or edgy jokes would derail that central purpose and veer the story away from its intended audience. In a world that has grown so populated with art that is adult in nature, Charles Schulz claims that there are still those who seek out art that is “clean and decent” amid everything else. Peanuts is an appeal to that sense of decency, and this quality of Schulz’ writing cements its longevity as a beloved classic for all ages.

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Oftentimes, it’s far too easy for lesser creatives to resort to cheap jabs and offensive humor to squeeze laughs out of a reader. Schulz had no reservations about voicing his disdain for such forms of comedy, as evidenced by his hatred of Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury. Schulz’ belief in regard to Trudeau’s more mature, satirical work is that it isn’t timeless because it must address the current times directly in order to poke fun at them. On the other hand, Peanuts can be likened to the quintessential childhood experience, due to its simple storytelling and lack of offensive commentary or toilet humor that may not age as well.

Charles Schulz Understood That Good Comedy Doesn’t Need to Offend

The Childlike Naïveté of Peanuts’ Characters Endears Readers to Them

What makes Peanuts so special to audiences is its innocence, and there’s no better example of that attribute than how the children at the heart of the story are portrayed. Schulz captures the ups and downs of childhood beautifully in Peanuts, as the young characters’ primary concerns are bedtimes and school lunch. Characters don’t crack inappropriate jokes, and instead lean on childlike misunderstandings and woes. From Sally’s naïveté to Linus’ belief in the fictitious Great Pumpkin – a stand-in for a real child’s belief in Santa Claus – the kids in Schulz’ comic strips are as innocent as they come.

The way Schulz depicts romance, too, solidifies his approach to “clean” storytelling. It’s all too easy for writers to frame romance in a creepy manner that strips it of its innocence, but Peanuts doubles down on innocence in how characters crush on one another. Sally’s unrequited crush on Linus, for example, is made humorous by Linus’ rejection in opposition to her heart-eyed devotion and use of silly nicknames. Charlie Brown’s own crush on the Little Red-Haired Girl is also adorably simple as he pines for her from a distance without ever making advances, once again highlighting the child-oriented view of the world that defines Peanuts.

Peanuts’ Decency Has Allowed Charlie Brown to Stand the Test of Time

Charles Schulz’ Timeless Depiction of Childhood Appeals to Nostalgia

Charles Schulz’ adamant refusal to stray towards offensive language or comedy helps the series retain its clean image. There’s certainly an argument that Schulz may have taken this approach to an excessive extent by not even drawing imagery of toilets, but the end result is a story that’s unmarred by mature humor. Peanuts, after all, isn’t intended for that adult perspective; Schulz’ rule of never showing parents on the page enforces his desire for the story to be child-centric. Therefore, Schulz’ over-the-top cleansing of Peanuts is for the benefit of child readers – but that quality also keeps adult readers coming back once they’ve grown up.

From its first year of publication in 1950 to today, Peanuts has been a family-friendly marvel of storytelling. Schulz’ work is essentially an idyllic time capsule for the nostalgia of childhood thanks to its innocence. Adults reminiscing about the past can relive the simplicity of youth through Peanuts, which in turn has made the series as persistently successful as it is. Peanuts has aged like a fine wine because of Schulz’ creative sensibilities, and the adventures of Charlie Brown and friends will continue to age well with each generation that resonates with their earnestness.

Source: Hogan’s Alley

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Peanuts

Created by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts is a multimedia franchise that began as a comic strip in the 1950s and eventually expanded to include films and a television series. Peanuts follows the daily adventures of the Peanuts gang, with Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy at the center of them. Aside from the film released in 2015, the franchise also has several Holiday specials that air regularly on U.S. Television during their appropriate seasons.