Holly Barclay / 23 October 2024 / Categories: Books, Children’s books, Other Books, People

Snoopy Woodstock and Charles Schultz

Charles Schultz was born in Minnesota in the roaring 20’s just before the Great Depression. He created snoopy in 1950.

Snoopy debuted in the Peanuts comic strip on Oct 4th, 1950 has become one of the most recognizable and iconic characters in the comic strip. Snoopy is considered more famous than Charlie Brown in some countries around the world and I’d say he is more easily recognisable.

The original drawings of Snoopy were inspired by Spike, one of Schulz's childhood dogs.

My fondness for Snoopy began as a teenager. I loved peanuts, the dry humour, it was our “The Simpsons” at the time, (ironically also a big Homer fan today)

The thing about Snoopy, he doesn’t say anything, he just looks. He is teaching us all to shut up. He saying the wise don’t need to say anything I think. I think we loved him because he was so clever, aloof, not easily influenced, super smart. His very articulate thoughts are shown in thought balloons. His wisdom I absolutely loved and still do. I even quote him, like people quote Nietzsche or Freud. In the animated Peanuts films and television specials, I still love to watch today Snoopy's thoughts are not verbalized.

Lots of shows have gone on to use this kind of silent humour, Wallace and Grimmet at aardvark I can see modelled a little bit on Snoopy and Charlie Brown.