| It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Animated TV special |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Release date | 12 September 2000 |
| Running time | 22 mins |
| Preceded by | Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years |
| Followed by | A Charlie Brown Valentine |
It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown is the last animated special produced under the supervision of Charles M. Schulz. Based on characters from the comic strip Peanuts, it was released on 12 September 2000. It marks the last Peanuts special to be animated with traditional cel animation. Starting with the next special (A Charlie Brown Valentine), Peanuts specials are currently animated with Digital ink and paint.
It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown is a retelling to Sally by Charlie Brown of the story how the Pied Piper of Hamelin (portrayed by Snoopy) chased away all the mice (changed by Charlie Brown from rats because Sally is terrified of rats) from the town of Hamlet. The Peanuts kids substitute some characters, Snoopy being the Pied Piper Beagle with his contract being for a year's supply of dog food. Snoopy plays a concertina (squeezebox), with presumably David Benoit doing the honors. (Snoopy played accordion too a few times in the comic back in the early comics and Snoopy can't play the flute) The special breaks Peanuts tradition in that it shows adults, who speak audible language (unlike most other Peanuts specials in which adults are only heard off stage speaking in "wah wah" sound of a muted trombone). The other good example was the This is America, Charlie Brown miniseries, which portrayed adult historical figures alongside the kids.