RIP Willie Mays

Willie Mays has died. The baseball great lived until the age of 1993.

“Why is that relevant to a Peanuts blog?” I hear of a few of you cry (though many of you know better.)

Before Lee Mendelson had any connection to Peanuts, he made a documentary about Mays… and it was that documentary that convinced Schulz to allow Mendelson to make a documentary about Peanuts. While that documentary was unreleased at the time, it led to Mendelson producing decades of Peanuts specials. Who knows what would’ve happened without that documentary?

Besides, Mays himself has a rather impressive run of Peanuts strip mentions, starting in 1955 and going all the way to 1969.

(Someone must’ve made a list of real people mentioned in Peanuts. The number that survive is getting ever shorter.)

Animated Peanuts
New Peanuts feature film on the way

Apple, who have been producing Peanuts series and specials in plentitude, have announced that they, Wildbrain, and Peanuts Worldwide are working together on a new Peanuts feature-length film, the Hollywood Reporter notes. If you liked the last feature film, then this should be very good news. They’re using a story …

Animated Peanuts
Beagle Scout missions

Those of you who have never been to the San Diego Comic-Con (or who haven’t been in a the past couple decades) may not realize that the event goes well beyond the convention center. For blocks around, there are pop-up shops in unused storefronts, studios creating fan “experiences” in parking …

Animated Peanuts
Bulk book

What do I have to say about the new board book edition of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I mean, the reading experience of being told “and that happens at every door. All the other kids get wonderful treats like candy, gum, and popcorn balls … and Charlie Brown …