Thread: CGI Peanuts film to be released in 2015

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Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (ICON) announced today that Peanuts Worldwide, a joint venture with Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, will release a Peanuts feature film worldwide in 2015. The film is based on creator, Charles Schulz's, iconic comic strip. Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang are among the most recognized characters in the world.

The as yet untitled animated event will be released on November 25, 2015. 2015 will mark the 65th anniversary of the debut of the "Peanuts" comic strip and the 50th anniversary of the landmark television special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

The Peanuts screenplay has been written and will be produced by Craig Schulz, son of Charles Schulz along with his own son, Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano. Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios have been chosen by the Schulz family to distribute, produce and animate the new Peanuts movie. Steve Martino will direct; previously, he brought to the big screen (with Jimmy Hayward) Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! Martino also directed (with Michael Thurmeier) Fox's recent box-office smash Ice Age: Continental Drift.

Charles Schulz drew the most popular and influential comic strip of all time, which was read everyday by 355 million people in 75 countries. In addition to the famous strip, Peanuts holiday television specials such as "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" have won Emmy's and continue to be among the highest rated prime time TV specials.

"This is a momentous step for the Peanuts brand. The beloved characters, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the whole gang resonate with multiple generations all over the world," commented Neil Cole, CEO, Iconix Brand Group. "This film will give us a new medium in which to engage consumers globally and showcase the power of the Peanuts brand, " added Cole.

Craig Schulz, President, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, commented, "We have been working on this project for years. We finally felt the time was right and the technology is where we need it to be to create this film. I am thrilled we will be partnering with Blue Sky/Fox to create a Peanuts movie that is true to the strip and will continue the legacy in honor of my father."

Vanessa Morrison, President, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, commented, "We are thrilled to partner with the Schulz family and Iconix and honored to bring the Peanuts characters to the big screen. This all started with our love and respect for the work of Charles Schulz. We thank the Schulz family and Iconix for letting Fox and Blue Sky bring his vision to new generations of film goers."

They're making a CGI Peanuts movie, what do you think, Do you think this will work or not? I personally think it's a strange move, but it's nice to see the Peanuts full time again.

As much as I think this will either be awesome or terrible, I can't help but be optimistic for it. It'll be awesome to see it again.

Originally Posted by Kaori

As much as I think this will either be awesome or terrible, I can't help but be optimistic for it. It'll be awesome to see it again.

True, though I personally hope it ends up more like the recent Muppets film rather than like The Smurfs did. On the upside, they're at least keeping it animated rather than what most people feared, which was using live action children and a "realistic" looking CG animated beagle (much like Scooby Doo was in the live action Scooby Doo films), on the downside is that it's in CGI, which I honestly think doesn't work for the Peanuts at all, considering how well they worked out in 2D animation, not to mention that I honestly think CGI is overrated, no offense, but anymore, there need to be more 2D animated films.

I really missed seeing Charlie Brown on the gang, so I'm pretty happy about this. I just hope the transition to CGi isn't too jarring, since the simplistic designs of the characters might not come off too well.

Originally Posted by Robo-Floatzel

True, though I personally hope it ends up more like the recent Muppets film rather than like The Smurfs did. On the upside, they're at least keeping it animated rather than what most people feared, which was using live action children and a "realistic" looking CG animated beagle (much like Scooby Doo was in the live action Scooby Doo films), on the downside is that it's in CGI, which I honestly think doesn't work for the Peanuts at all, considering how well they worked out in 2D animation, not to mention that I honestly think CGI is overrated, no offense, but anymore, there need to be more 2D animated films.

Precisely. They could've made worse decisions about it, but I honestly think some things are best left in 2D because they really do just have that simple, memorable charm that way. Peanuts is one of them.

I thought CGI was mostly hated for replacing puppets/animatronics and stop motion in live action movies? I still fear about this film being panned by critics and the geek culture, because they're the majority and don't give a darn about the audience loving it for some reason other than not growing up with the original comic strips and show. Just look at the Smurfs, it's getting a sequel despite the geek culture and critics panning it, because the audience loved it.

Ooooooh man, this is gonna suck...

personally i'd like this to be 2D, just like Winnie the Pooh in 2011. not every theatrical animation needs to be CGI, and i agree with Robo-Floatzel that the Peanuts work very well in 2D.

Originally Posted by IS1296

personally i'd like this to be 2D, just like Winnie the Pooh in 2011. not every theatrical animation needs to be CGI, and i agree with Robo-Floatzel that the Peanuts work very well in 2D.

But didn't it flopped at the box office, which movie companies will only agree on whether or not the movie was a success, because of Harry Potter thus clarifying to Disney that 2D animated movies really is dead?

Originally Posted by Ghetsis-Dennis

Originally Posted by IS1296

personally i'd like this to be 2D, just like Winnie the Pooh in 2011. not every theatrical animation needs to be CGI, and i agree with Robo-Floatzel that the Peanuts work very well in 2D.

But didn't it flopped at the box office, which movie companies will only agree on whether or not the movie was a success, because of Harry Potter thus clarifying to Disney that 2D animated movies really is dead?

(i don't think any animated movie would've done well against the final HP film, so one can't really say 2D is dead based on that weekend.) with Pooh it made sense to be 2D because the characters are from a storybook. the pages in the book are flat and therefore so would the pictures. With Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Smurfs, and Garfield they take place in the real world, with real people, so those animated characters were right to be CGI. With Charlie Brown, i don't see how CGI will be right for those characters, especially for a feature film in which the audience is wider. nevertheless, CGI movies make more money so i understand why this film will be animated that way.

I honestly don't want it to be CGI. Peanuts always had a distinctive art style and I don't think it would carry over well. Still, it's nice to see Peanuts getting a bit more attention.

Originally Posted by Ghetsis-Dennis

I thought CGI was mostly hated for replacing puppets/animatronics and stop motion in live action movies? I still fear about this film being panned by critics and the geek culture, because they're the majority and don't give a darn about the audience loving it for some reason other than not growing up with the original comic strips and show. Just look at the Smurfs, it's getting a sequel despite the geek culture and critics panning it, because the audience loved it.

Because it makes money, simple as that, though I honestly think CGI is overrated.

Originally Posted by IS1296

Originally Posted by Ghetsis-Dennis

Originally Posted by IS1296

personally i'd like this to be 2D, just like Winnie the Pooh in 2011. not every theatrical animation needs to be CGI, and i agree with Robo-Floatzel that the Peanuts work very well in 2D.

But didn't it flopped at the box office, which movie companies will only agree on whether or not the movie was a success, because of Harry Potter thus clarifying to Disney that 2D animated movies really is dead?

(i don't think any animated movie would've done well against the final HP film, so one can't really say 2D is dead based on that weekend.) with Pooh it made sense to be 2D because the characters are from a storybook. the pages in the book are flat and therefore so would the pictures. With Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Smurfs, and Garfield they take place in the real world, with real people, so those animated characters were right to be CGI. With Charlie Brown, i don't see how CGI will be right for those characters, especially for a feature film in which the audience is wider. nevertheless, CGI movies make more money so i understand why this film will be animated that way.

True, those worked despite the 3D ones angering fans of classic animation, I've heard rumors that they're making a Ren and Stimpy live action/CGI movie. In general, I personally think CGI is overrated anymore, and that there needs to be more 2D animated features, I know there are good and bad CGI films, but there's nothing but them anymore.

Nope.

This is gonna suck...

While I don't at all agree with the decision to use CGI, I'll probably go see it anyway. It might actually be pretty good.

Trying to imagine peanuts characters in CGI....
not working.
I'm curious to see how this turns out.