Saturday, September 23, 2023

From Comics To Toons: It's The Pied Piper, Charlie Brown! (2000)

 Seven months after Peanuts creator Charles Schulz had passed away, his final television script was brought to life in "It's The Pied Piper, Charlie Brown!", which was released as a DTV, instead of airing on ABC or CBS, which had been the network homes for Peanuts. I shan't be surprised if Apple TV+ now holds the rights.

Anyway, as the title implies, this is a loose adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, set in modern times. Instead of using musical instruments for adult voices as in the past, producers Lee Mendelson & Bill Melendez brought in veterans Pat Musick, Neil Ross, Joan Van Ark (ex-Spider-Woman, Santo Bugito), and Frank Welker to voice the adults. Melendez, as usual, provided vocal effects for Snoopy & Woodstock, and the vocal effects for the mice, while not credited, likely was also Welker.

Jazz musician David Benoit composed the soundtrack.


Rating: B.

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