{"id":83828,"date":"2024-02-09T00:01:04","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T08:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cartoonresearch.com\/?p=83828"},"modified":"2024-02-08T19:41:48","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T03:41:48","slug":"love-is-on-the-air-valentines-day-tv-specials-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cartoonresearch.com\/index.php\/love-is-on-the-air-valentines-day-tv-specials-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Love is on the Air: Valentine\u2019s Day TV Specials, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Weren\u2019t we just watching the Grinch steal Christmas, Frosty the Snowman say, \u201cHappy Birthday!\u201d and Charlie Brown try to decorate a sad, little Christmas tree?<\/p>\n

How is it Valentine\u2019s Day already? Regardless, here we are in the second month of the year. While Valentine\u2019s Day does not bring with it the stellar list of animated TV specials that we associate with Christmas, several of them do provide entertaining, seasonal enjoyment.<\/p>\n

As I did for Halloween and Christmas, I wrote an article last year on animated Valentine\u2019s Day TV specials<\/a>. And, much as they did for the other seasons, Cartoon Research readers offered up some fun, additional choices for Valentine\u2019s Day viewing.<\/p>\n

So, thanks to them, here are three other \u201cLove\u201d-ly animated TV special choices, for you and yours to enjoy this Valentine\u2019s Day:<\/p>\n\"\"\n

\n

You\u2019re In Love Charlie Brown\u00a0(1967)<\/strong> – Suggested by DBenson<\/p>\n

This Peanuts special isn\u2019t set on Valentine\u2019s Day (it takes place at the end of the school year), but it might as well be, as it centers so much on \u201cfirst crushes,\u201d along with the pain of heartbreak.<\/p>\n

As the school year comes to an end, Charlie Brown desperately wants to get the attention of his classmate, the Little-Red-Haired-Girl, whom he pines for. He accidentally embarrasses himself in front of his entire class when he reads a note that he was writing to her out loud to the whole class instead of his book report.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>He plans on talking to her during lunch but can\u2019t muster the courage and plans to speak to her on the school bus the next day, but he oversleeps, misses the bus, and winds up in the principal\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

However, just as summer vacation is about to start, and all looks lost, Charlie Brown receives a note that reads: \u201cI like you, Charlie Brown,\u201d and it\u2019s signed \u201cLittle-Red-Haired-Girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

Airing on June 12, 1967, on the heels of the blockbusters A Charlie Brown Christmas<\/em> in \u201965 and Great Pumpkin in \u201866, You\u2019re in Love Charlie Brown<\/em> has the same feel as those early classics, probably because the same team was involved with this special. <\/p>\n

Many familiar voices are back, including Peter Robbins as Charlie Brown, Sally Dryer as Lucy and Christopher Shea as Linus, as well as the soothing music of Vince Guaraldi.<\/p>\n

Director Bill Melendez and producer Lee Mendelson once again capture the look and tone of Charles Schulz\u2019 iconic comic strip. This is seen in character design and backgrounds and in stylistic choices and humor: when the class laughs at Charlie Brown, giant \u201cHA HA HAs\u201d appear on screen, just as they would in the comic panels. Also, when Lucy gets angry at Schroeder and destroys his piano and bust of Beethoven, there\u2019s a great sight gag when Schroeder calmly gets up and walks over to two nearby closets where a backup supply of the miniature piano and bust are waiting.<\/p>\n

Most of all, You\u2019re in Love Charlie Brown<\/em> also captures the messages and philosophies that Schulz would always convey. This special touches upon those universally relatable moments of low self-esteem and the pain of unrequited love.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re in Love Charlie Brown<\/em> ends with an exuberant Charlie Brown (after receiving the note), pausing as he realizes he won\u2019t see the Little-Red-Haired-Girl until fall, saying, \u201cGood Grief! How will I LIVE until September?!\u201d That hits straight through the heart whether you\u2019re in grade school or beyond.<\/p>\n