The ABC Television Network will celebrate the joy of the holidays with the classic animated Christmas-themed PEANUTS special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas", created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, airing THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET). The hour will also include "Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa", the seven-minute animated short featuring the voice of Betty White as Mrs. Claus.
In the digitally-remastered 1965 special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas season. Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant, and Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, Charlie Brown needs Linus' help to learn what the real meaning of Christmas is.
On October 2, 1950 the PEANUTS comic strip launched in seven American newspapers. Who would have guessed the impact the brand would have around the world for decades to come. Nearly 60 years later, the comic strip appears in over 2,200 newspapers, in 75 countries and 21 languages. PEANUTS animated specials have become a seasonal tradition and thousands of consumer products are available in virtually all retail channels. Charlie Brown kicking the football, Linus and his blanket and Lucy leaning over Schroeder's piano are images to which everyone can relate. Such phrases as "Security Blanket" and "Good Grief" have become a part of the global vernacular. Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez's association with Charles Schulz stretches back to 1965 with "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which debuted on CBS in 1965 with Mendelson as executive producer and Bill Melendez as animator and director. The three men continued their long-term association until Schulz's death, working together on 50 PEANUTS network specials and four feature films. The network specials won five Emmys, two Peabodys and 18 other Emmy nominations.
The cast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" includes Peter Robbins (Charlie Brown), Christopher Shea as (Linus), Tracy Stratford (Lucy), Chris Doran (Schroeder) and Sally Dryer (Violet). "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was executive-produced by Lee Mendelson and created and written by Charles M. Schulz. Bill Melendez is the producer and director, and Vince Guaraldi is the music composer.
"Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa" was written and directed by Stevie Wermers-Skelton & Kevin Deters, produced by Dorothy McKim, and executive-produced by John Lasseter. This "Prep & Landing" "stocking stuffer" short film follows the comic adventures of Santa's stealthiest elves, Lanny and Wayne. With Christmas only a few short days away, Mrs. Claus, voiced by Betty White, and Magee, voiced by Sarah Chalke, enlist Wayne, voiced by Dave Foley, and Lanny, voiced by Derek Richardson, on a secret mission to retrieve a mysterious item hidden deep within Santa Claus' office! Can the intrepid duo acquire the target in time, or will they be discovered by the Big Guy, voiced by Morgan Sheppard, and doomed to placement on the Naughty List? The seven-minute animated short is the second installment from the Emmy Award®-winning franchise "Prep & Landing."
Walt Disney Animation Studios brings imagination to life through a wide variety of animated films, building upon an unsurpassed legacy for humorous and heartfelt storytelling, unforgettable characters, incredible artistry and cutting-edge innovation. The WDAS crew is filled with diverse talents from all around the globe, and their dedication and passion for telling great stories through the art of animation, and using the latest technological advances, has led to the creation of some of the industry's most successful and exciting entertainment. The studio's latest animated feature, "Tangled," raises the bar for CG character animation in terms of nuanced expression and performance, and brings a fun-filled new twist to a well-known tale.
