Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown
Encyclopedia
Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown is an animated short
directed and animated by Jim Reardon
, who would later become director and storyboard consultant for The Simpsons
. The cartoon was made in 1986 while he was at CalArts. It has a rough draft-like, unfinished black-and-white look to it, with no real color other than the necessary black outlines.
puts a bounty
on Charlie Brown
's head, prompting the entire Peanuts
cast to try to kill him. Lucy
tries to get Charlie Brown to kick a bomb disguised as a football, Schroeder
dumps his (full-sized, not toy) piano on Charlie Brown's head, Snoopy
bites off his hand (which gushes blood), the Kite Eating Tree falls on him, and Linus
strangles him with his blanket (which he had turned into a makeshift Garroting Wire).
Finally tired of running, Charlie Brown suddenly dons a mohawk and arms himself with a pump action shotgun, a submachine gun, and an M16 Assault Rifle. Announcing that "Happiness is a warm uzi", in a thick Germanic accent reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger
, he systematically kills off the entire Peanuts cast one by one. The film then goes on a strange montage in which Charlie Brown guns down everyone in his way Victims:scores of Mexican bandidos, a Wehrmacht
machine gun nest behind which Adolf Hitler
is painting a picture, and a man exercising (presumably Richard Simmons
). This is followed by his innocent sister, Sally, being decapitated
by gunfire,and then a crazy world of an unknown dragon blowing flame, Pig Pen vomiting profusely in Violet's face, two biplanes colliding in midair, Dagwood Bumstead
getting kicked in the groin by his wife, Blondie
, which causes his head to pop off, resulting in another blood gush, Mickey Mouse
getting hit over the head by a lead pipe, Rocky Balboa getting punched in the face by Popeye
, and Godzilla
squeezing Dr Pepper
out of a giant soda can. It ends with a cigarette smoking Charlie Brown in bed with the Little Red-Haired Girl
(who, fittingly, is not fully seen), who asks Charlie Brown to turn off the bedroom light.
The song "Charlie Brown
" by The Coasters
plays over the ending credits (where it is incorrectly attributed to The Platters
). The credits end with a note from Jim Reardon:
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
directed and animated by Jim Reardon
Jim Reardon
Jim Reardon is an animation director and storyboard consultant, best known for his work on the animated TV series The Simpsons. He has directed over 30 episodes of the series, and was credited as a supervising director for seasons 9 through 15...
, who would later become director and storyboard consultant for The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. The cartoon was made in 1986 while he was at CalArts. It has a rough draft-like, unfinished black-and-white look to it, with no real color other than the necessary black outlines.
Synopsis
The Great PumpkinThe Great Pumpkin
The Great Pumpkin is an imaginary character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.The Great Pumpkin is a holiday figure that seems to exist only in the imagination of Linus van Pelt. Every year, Linus sits in a pumpkin patch on Halloween night waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear...
puts a bounty
Bounty (reward)
A bounty is a payment or reward often offered by a group as an incentive for the accomplishment of a task by someone usually not associated with the group. Bounties are most commonly issued for the capture or retrieval of a person or object. They are typically in the form of money...
on Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
's head, prompting the entire Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
cast to try to kill him. Lucy
Lucy van Pelt
Lucille "Lucy" van Pelt is a fictional character in the syndicated comic strip :Peanuts, written and drawn by Charles Schulz. She is the main bully and the older sister of Linus and Rerun. Lucy is a crabby and cynical eight-year old girl, and often bullies the other characters in the strip,...
tries to get Charlie Brown to kick a bomb disguised as a football, Schroeder
Schroeder
- People :* Andreas Schroeder, a German-born Canadian poet, novelist, and nonfiction writer* Barbet Schroeder, a Swiss movie director and producer* Bill Schroeder, an American football player* Bill Schroeder , an American baseball player...
dumps his (full-sized, not toy) piano on Charlie Brown's head, Snoopy
Snoopy
Snoopy is an fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet beagle. Snoopy began his life in the strip as a fairly conventional dog, but eventually evolved into perhaps the strip's most dynamic character—and among the most recognizable...
bites off his hand (which gushes blood), the Kite Eating Tree falls on him, and Linus
Linus van Pelt
Linus van Pelt is a character in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. The best friend of Charlie Brown, Linus is also the younger brother of Lucy van Pelt and older brother of Rerun van Pelt. He first appeared on September 19, 1952; however, he was not mentioned by name until three days later....
strangles him with his blanket (which he had turned into a makeshift Garroting Wire).
Finally tired of running, Charlie Brown suddenly dons a mohawk and arms himself with a pump action shotgun, a submachine gun, and an M16 Assault Rifle. Announcing that "Happiness is a warm uzi", in a thick Germanic accent reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, he systematically kills off the entire Peanuts cast one by one. The film then goes on a strange montage in which Charlie Brown guns down everyone in his way Victims:scores of Mexican bandidos, a Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
machine gun nest behind which Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
is painting a picture, and a man exercising (presumably Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons
Milton Teagle Simmons , known professionally as Richard Simmons, is an American fitness personality who promotes weight-loss programs, most famously through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos and DVDs and is known for his eccentric, outgoing and frequently flamboyant personality...
). This is followed by his innocent sister, Sally, being decapitated
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
by gunfire,and then a crazy world of an unknown dragon blowing flame, Pig Pen vomiting profusely in Violet's face, two biplanes colliding in midair, Dagwood Bumstead
Dagwood Bumstead
Dagwood Bumstead is a main character in comic artist Chic Young's long-running comic strip Blondie. He first appeared sometime prior to 17 February 1933....
getting kicked in the groin by his wife, Blondie
Blondie (comic strip)
Blondie is an American comic strip created by cartoonist Chic Young. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, the strip has been published in newspapers since September 8, 1930...
, which causes his head to pop off, resulting in another blood gush, Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
getting hit over the head by a lead pipe, Rocky Balboa getting punched in the face by Popeye
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
, and Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
squeezing Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...
out of a giant soda can. It ends with a cigarette smoking Charlie Brown in bed with the Little Red-Haired Girl
Little Red-Haired Girl
The Little Red-Haired Girl is an unseen character in the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, and is a symbol of unrequited love. While never seen in the strip, she appears onscreen in several television specials. Her name is sometimes cited in these as Heather. She serves as the object of...
(who, fittingly, is not fully seen), who asks Charlie Brown to turn off the bedroom light.
The song "Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown (song)
"Charlie Brown" is a popular Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song that was a top-ten hit for The Coasters in the spring of 1959 . It went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts, and was the first of three top-ten hits for the Coasters that year...
" by The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
plays over the ending credits (where it is incorrectly attributed to The Platters
The Platters
The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
). The credits end with a note from Jim Reardon:
"The creator of this picture wishes to state that he does not in any way wish to tarnish or demean the beloved characters of Charles M. "Dutch" Schultz's comic strip, "Peanuts". No malice or damage to their goodwill was intended. So please don't sue me, because it will drag through the courts for years, and I haven't got a lawyer - and besides, you've already got half the money in the world, and I haven't got any. OK?"
Cast and credits
- Charlie Brown - Etienne Badillo, Rich MooreRich MooreRich Moore is an American animation director and a business partner in Rough Draft Studios, Inc., where he serves as Sr. Vice President of creative affairs. He is one of a handful of artists who in the early 90s redefined prime time television animation with his work on The Simpsons...
, Mike Reardon, William HoldenWilliam HoldenWilliam Holden was an American actor. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1954 and the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1974... - Linus van Pelt - Ethan Kafner
- Lucy van Pelt - Bret Haaland
- Great Pumpkin - Jeff PidgeonJeff PidgeonJeff Pidgeon is an American voice actor, writer and animator at Pixar Animation Studios.He has worked behind the scenes on films such as Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc. and WALL-E, as well as many US TV shows...
- Additional Voices - Ed Bell, Bruce Johnson, Mike Reardon, Bret Haaland
- Narration - Rich Moore
- "Aided and Abetted by" - Ed Bell, Dale Mcbeath, Bob Winquist, Mike Giaimo, Craig Smith, Bret Haaland, Nate Kanfer, Doug Frankel, Mike Reardon, Rich Moore, Russ EdmondsRuss EdmondsRuss Edmonds is an American animator most noted for his character animation at the Walt Disney Company. He worked on several Disney feature films, including Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Tarzan. He studied at the Program in Character Animation at the California Institute of...
, Hal Ambro, Dan Hansen, Jim Ryan, Tony Fucile, Jeff PidgeonJeff PidgeonJeff Pidgeon is an American voice actor, writer and animator at Pixar Animation Studios.He has worked behind the scenes on films such as Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc. and WALL-E, as well as many US TV shows...
, Bob McCrea, Sarge Morton, Mom, Eileen, and Beverly
External links
- Bring Me The Head of Charlie Brown! at YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....