Snoopy is one of the most iconic cartoon dogs in the world. With a museum dedicated to him in Tokyo and a balloon in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade every year since 1968, lovers of the beagle can’t help but wonder where he came from.
Snoopy was first drawn into the “Peanuts” comic strip Oct. 4, 1950, two days after the very first strip was released by Charles M. Schulz. Schulz remarked that Snoopy was inspired by his black-and-white dog named Spike. Growing in popularity and being published in more newspapers, “Peanuts” eventually got its first book collection published in 1952.
Moving away from print, some of Schulz’s ideas with “Peanuts” have been adapted into animated specials into what’s regarded as the “Peanuts animated specials,” releasing 51 in total from 1965 to 2024. Some of the most classic specials are holiday specials, including “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
In addition to animated specials for specific holidays and events, Charlie Brown and Snoopy have had multiple animated series showcasing the group’s daily lives and shenanigans. “The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show” was released between 1983 and 1985 with two seasons and 18 episodes total. “The Snoopy Show” focused on Snoopy and Woodstock and was released between 2021 and 2023 with three seasons and 39 episodes total.
Snoopy has not only been to space in his animated form in the series “Snoopy in Space.” Scientists on the Apollo 10 mission in 1969 named their modules Snoopy and Charlie Brown in honor of these beloved characters. A Snoopy plush has been brought into space by astronauts on the 1990 space shuttle Columbia. Since then, Snoopy has been used as a zero gravity indicator on multiple NASA missions including Artemis I.
Snoopy’s history is also dotted with musicals, theme parks and lots and lots of merchandise. However, it all started with a comic strip. Schultz kept making strips until his death in 2000. After his death, “Peanuts” was reported to be printed in 2,600 newspapers across the world in 75 countries and 21 languages.
Snoopy first appeared on his hind legs Jan. 9, 1956. On June 28, 1957, he was formally taught by Charlie Brown how to walk on his hind legs. By the mid 1960s, it was common for Snoopy to be seen on two legs rather than four, and his design has grown more humanoid. As the strip progressed, his character has evolved into a dog who thinks he is a person or who sometimes forgets he is a dog. (Illustration/Charles M. Schulz)
