You may have seen every Charlie Brown animation that has ever been on TV, but even that would leave you missing some special-purpose cartoons. One example of this is the pollution-themed short created for the American Lung Association, “Charlie Brown Clears the Air”
Now, I enjoy a good Peanuts animation, but I’m not a completist about them. What I am a completist about, however, is Peanuts publications, which is why I’m happy to announce the latest addition to the AAUGH.com reference library: the 32-page self-covered booklet Storyboard for the film “CHARLIE BROWN CLEARS THE AIR“. Published in 1979, this was presumably mostly to be used as either a preparation piece for people who would be showing the film, or a take-home piece for people who have seen it.
Following the reproduction of a letter from then-President Carter to Schulz (just a brief thanks for letting the ALA use his characters) and an introduction from Schulz, the booklet reproduces the original storyboards for the cartoon… with a warning that these were the original storyboards, and that some scenes were changed before the final piece. The booklet is filled out with a brief explanation of the air conservation objectives of first the ALA, and then the Environmental Protection Agency (who provided grant support for this publication.
The point of the cartoon itself is that pollution (including air pollution and littering) is bad, and that we should work to avoid creating them ourselves and keep an eye out for others who may be doing so. It’s not a deep discussion of anything, but then it’s not meant to be – just a little entertainment meant to leave the topic in your mind.
I bought this copy via eBay; it’s not something that you are apt to easily find. This is only the second time I’ve seen it offered for sale, although there are a few copies in libraries. It’s not something that every Schulz fan needs, but it’d be a cool little thing for the animation
