Peanuts out of the insurance business

Several people have contacted me to make sure I know about the announcement that MetLife is dropping their Peanuts license. There were signs that this was coming, and if it’s news it’s only because that license has lasted a ridiculously long time as licenses go. It produced some interesting commercials, and it also produced some odd things, like the political use seen below. While I feel for anyone impacted by the loss of income (after three decades of what I can only assume were substantial payments), this may also free Peanuts up for something else big. Or for nothing… I would have no problem with Peanuts being more about a great work and less about selling product. But still, I’ll miss occasionally having a Snoopy-named-and-decorated blimp sometimes parked overnight in my town.

Peanuts Free Trade ad closeup

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Schulz/Peanuts news
Peanuts ownership changes

For those who like to keep track on big picture Peanuts business, there’s been a shift in ownership of Peanuts Holdings LLC, the owners of the key Peanuts intellectual property. Since 2018, the ownership has been split between the Schulz family, who owned 20%; WildBrain, who owned 41%, and Sony …

Schulz/Peanuts news
Award-winning Snoopy

I’m at a convention this week. Went to an award ceremony today, and something Peanuts got an award. Now, I’m used to seeing that happen when I go to comic convention award ceremonies… but this wasn’t a comics convention. It’s a museum store convention, for folks who run the gift …

Schulz/Peanuts news
Teen Peanuts characters in teen hands

Performed entertainment depicting the Peanuts characters aged up is a genre all its own. While there have been movies like (insert name of indy film that I just stumbled upon a few years back and now can neither recall the name of nor find any reference to), it’s been more …