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Created page with "'''Snoopy''' is a fictional character in the comic strip ''Peanuts'', created by Charles M. Schulz. A lovable, imaginative, and sometimes mischievous beagle, Snoopy is one of the most iconic and beloved characters in comic history. He first appeared in the ''Peanuts'' comic strip on October 4, 1950<ref>''Peanuts'' (1950–2000), Charles M. Schulz</ref>, and went on to become a central figure in the strip, appearing in numerous storylines and becoming a global..."
 
Snoopy in the mission patch of NASA's -Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test- (-SMEAT-)
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'''Snoopy''' is a fictional character in the [[comic strip]] ''[[Peanuts]]'', created by [[Charles M. Schulz]]. A lovable, imaginative, and sometimes mischievous beagle, Snoopy is one of the most iconic and beloved characters in comic history. He first appeared in the ''Peanuts'' comic strip on October 4, 1950<ref>''Peanuts'' (1950–2000), Charles M. Schulz</ref>, and went on to become a central figure in the strip, appearing in numerous storylines and becoming a global cultural icon. Snoopy is known for his wild imagination, often fantasizing about being a World War I flying ace, a writer, and various other characters.<ref>[https://www.toonsmag.com/snoopy/ Snoopy] on [[Toons Mag]]</ref>
{{Short description|Peanuts comic strip character}}
[[File:Artemis Moon Snoopy 2022 (1262719567045).pdf|thumb]]
{{About|the Peanuts character|the rapper|Snoop Dogg|other uses|Snoopy (disambiguation)}}
Snoopy’s owner in the ''Peanuts'' universe is [[Charlie Brown]], and although he is often seen as an independent and sometimes aloof dog, he shares a special bond with Charlie Brown and the other characters in the series. Over the years, Snoopy's popularity has led to appearances in television specials, movies, merchandise, and even a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Snoopy
| series = [[Peanuts]]
| image = Snoopy Peanuts.png
| creator = [[Charles M. Schulz]]
| first = October 4, 1950 (comic strip)
| family = '''Brothers''': Spike, Andy, Olaf, Marbles, Rover <br/>'''Sisters''': Belle, Molly<br/>'''Owner:''' [[Charlie Brown]]<br/>[[Sally Brown]]<br/>Lila (previously)<br/>Clara ("the annoying girl")
| voice = {{Unbulleted list | [[Bill Melendez]] (1959–2008; 2015 archival recordings used in ''[[Peanuts Motion Comics]]'', ''[[The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy's Grand Adventure|Snoopy's Grand Adventure]]'',<ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,326921/ "Bill Melendez at Moby Games"]. Retrieved October 25, 2017.</ref> and ''[[The Peanuts Movie]]'') | [[Bill Hinnant]] (1966; ''[[You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown]]'')<ref name="Records 1">{{cite web|title=It's The First Two "Peanuts" Albums, Charlie Brown!|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/its-the-first-two-peanuts-albums-charlie-brown/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref> | Jim Campbell (1967; ''You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'')<ref name="Records 2">{{cite web|title=Live-Action "Peanuts" on Records|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/live-action-peanuts-on-records/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref> | [[Robert Towers]] (1985) | [[Cam Clarke]] (1986–1989) | Gerald Paradies (2002)<ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,150123/ "Gerald Paradies at Moby Games"]. Retrieved October 29, 2017.</ref> | Andy Beall (2011) | Dylan Jones (2018–present) | [[Terry McGurrin]] (2019–present)}}
| species = [[Dog]] ([[Beagle]])
| gender = Male
| aliases = Joe Cool<br>World Famous [[World War I]] [[Flying Ace]]<br>The World's Greatest Writer<br>The World Famous Attorney<br>The World Famous Tennis Pro
}}


== Creation and Development ==
'''Snoopy''' is an [[anthropomorphic]] [[beagle]]<ref name="beagle">{{Citation |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OwtaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6491,3147272 |access-date= November 20, 2017 |title= World's Most Famous Beagle |newspaper = [[The Victoria Advocate]] |date= December 15, 1974 |page= 54 |location= [[Victoria, Texas]] }}</ref> in the comic strip ''[[Peanuts]]'' by [[Charles M. Schulz]]. He can also be found in all of the ''Peanuts'' films and television specials. Since his debut on October 4, 1950, Snoopy has become one of the most recognizable and iconic characters in the comic strip and is considered more famous than [[Charlie Brown]] in some countries. The original drawings of Snoopy were inspired by Spike, one of Schulz's childhood dogs.<ref>{{cite book|first=Charles M.|last=Schulz|title=Around the world in 50 years: Charlie Brown's anniversary celebration|publisher=[[Andrews McMeel Publishing]]|year=1994|page=[https://archive.org/details/aroundworldin45y00char/page/11 11]|isbn=978-0-8362-1766-7|author-link=Charles M. Schulz|url=https://archive.org/details/aroundworldin45y00char/page/11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Snoopy, Charlie Brown et les autres. L'album de famille de Schulz|isbn=978-2-7324-2681-5|last1=Moliterni|first1=Claude|year=2000|publisher=La Martinière }}</ref>
Snoopy was created by Charles M. Schulz and made his debut alongside other core ''Peanuts'' characters like Charlie Brown, Lucy Van Pelt, and Linus Van Pelt. Schulz originally designed Snoopy as a small dog who was an ordinary pet to Charlie Brown. However, over time, Schulz expanded Snoopy’s personality and characteristics, turning him into a multifaceted character with a rich inner life.


Schulz drew inspiration from his own childhood dog, Spike, who was a beagle. However, while Spike was a fairly typical dog, Snoopy’s personality evolved to be more imaginative and adventurous, often transcending the typical behavior of a pet.
==Traits==
Snoopy is a loyal, imaginative, and good-natured beagle who is prone to imagining fantasy lives, including being an author,<ref>{{Cite web |title=It Was a Dark and Stormy Night |url=https://schulzmuseum.org/nte-2/it-was-a-dark-and-stormy-night/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Charles M. Schulz Museum |language=en-US}}</ref> a college student known as "Joe Cool", an attorney, and a [[World War I flying ace]]. He is perhaps best known in this last persona, wearing an aviator's helmet and goggles and a scarf while carrying a [[swagger stick]] (like a stereotypical [[British Army]] officer of [[World War I]] and [[World War II|II]]).


== Personality and Characteristics ==
Snoopy can be selfish, gluttonous, and lazy at times, and occasionally mocks his owner, Charlie Brown. But on the whole, he shows great love, care, and loyalty for his owner (even though he cannot even remember his name and always refers to him as "the round-headed kid"). In the 1990s comic strips, he is obsessed with cookies, particularly the chocolate-chip variety. This, and other instances in which he indulges in large chocolate-based meals and snacks, indicate that chocolate is not poisonous to Snoopy, the way [[Theobromine#Animals|it is for real dogs]].


=== Imagination and Fantasies ===
[[File:Snoopy wwi ace lb.jpg|right|thumb|100px|Snoopy piloting his [[World War I]] "[[Sopwith Camel]]" fighter bi-plane, disguised as a doghouse]]
Snoopy’s defining characteristic is his vivid imagination. He frequently daydreams and embarks on elaborate fantasies, most notably as a World War I flying ace. In these fantasy sequences, Snoopy imagines himself as a fighter pilot engaged in aerial combat against his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron. This persona, with Snoopy wearing a makeshift helmet and scarf, became one of his most recognizable traits.
All of his fantasies have a similar formula. Snoopy pretends to be something, usually "world famous", and fails. His short "novels" are never published. His [[Sopwith Camel]] is consistently shot down by his imaginary rival enemy, the [[German Empire|German]] [[flying ace]] the "[[Red Baron]]". Schulz said of Snoopy's character in a 1997 interview: "He has to retreat into his fanciful world in order to survive. Otherwise, he leads kind of a dull, miserable life. I don't envy dogs the lives they have to live."<ref>{{cite journal|author-link=Gary Groth|last=Groth|first=Gary|date=December 1997|title=Charles Schulz at 3 o'clock in the morning|journal=The Comics Journal|page=27 (flip)}}</ref>


In addition to being a flying ace, Snoopy fantasizes about being a famous writer, a secret agent, and even a movie star. He often types on his typewriter, composing novels and stories with the famous opening line, “It was a dark and stormy night.” These fantasies show a character who is both creative and frequently detached from the real world, furthering his whimsical nature.
Snoopy imagines himself to speak, but never actually does, other than nonverbal sounds and occasionally uttering "Woof". His very articulate thoughts are shown in thought balloons. In the animated ''Peanuts'' films and television specials, Snoopy's thoughts are not verbalized. His moods are instead conveyed through moans, yelps, growls, sobs, laughter, and monosyllabic utterances such as "bleah" or "hey" as well as through [[pantomime]]. His vocal effects were usually provided by [[Bill Melendez]], who first played the role during Snoopy's appearances on ''[[The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Barrier|first=Michael|date=October 1989|title=He's a howling success at bringing comics to life|url=http://digital.hagley.org/nationsbiz_101989?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=1caba639ecc8250dd46d&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0#page/28/mode/1up/search/1989|magazine=Nation's Business|location=Washington D.C.|publisher=Chamber of Commerce of the United States|access-date=July 18, 2018}}</ref> The only exceptions are in the animated adaptions of the [[musical film|musicals]] ''[[You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (TV special)|You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown]]'' and ''[[Snoopy! The Musical (TV special)|Snoopy!!! The Musical]]'', in which Snoopy's thoughts are verbalized by [[Robert Towers]] and [[Cam Clarke|Cameron Clarke]], respectively. (His dialogue, however, is not "heard" by the other characters except Woodstock the bird and other non-human characters; however, he does remember Charlie Brown's name.)


=== Relationship with Charlie Brown ===
Snoopy's doghouse [[Cartoon physics|defies physics]] and is shown to be bigger on the inside than the outside.
Though often portrayed as somewhat independent and even aloof, Snoopy has a deep bond with his owner, Charlie Brown. Despite Snoopy’s various flights of fancy, he shows loyalty and affection toward Charlie Brown, even though the two don’t always communicate in conventional ways. Snoopy often provides moral support for Charlie Brown, though it’s usually in his own unique style, such as when he gives Charlie Brown advice through his own inner monologue.


Snoopy’s relationship with Charlie Brown is both humorous and heartwarming, providing moments of empathy amidst the strip’s recurring themes of childhood angst and everyday challenges. Their dynamic has made them one of the most iconic dog-owner duos in popular culture.
==History==
[[File:NormalSnoopy.jpg|right|thumb|Snoopy's original appearance from October 4, 1950]]
Snoopy appeared on October 4, 1950, two days after the first ''Peanuts'' strip. He was one of the four original characters, along with Charlie Brown, [[Patty (Peanuts)|Patty]], and [[Shermy]]. He was named Snoopy for the first time in the November 10 strip.


=== Relationships with Other Characters ===
On March 16, 1952,<ref>{{cite web|date=March 16, 1952|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1952/03/16|title=Peanuts}}</ref> his thoughts were first shown in a thought balloon.  Snoopy first appeared upright on his hind legs on January 9, 1956, when he was shown sliding across a sheet of ice after Shermy and [[Lucy Van Pelt|Lucy]] had first done so.<ref>{{cite book|title=Celebrating Peanuts: 60 Years|publisher=Andrew McMeel Publishing|year=2009|page=4|isbn=978-0-7407-8548-1|first=Charles M.|last=Schultz}}</ref> He is first shown sleeping on top of his doghouse rather than inside it on December 12, 1958,<ref>{{cite web|date=December 12, 1958|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1958/12/12|title=Peanuts}}</ref> and first adopts his World War I Flying Ace persona on October 10, 1965.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 10, 1965|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1965/10/10|title=Peanuts}}</ref> Snoopy's final appearance in the comic was on February 13, 2000, when he was shown sitting on top of his doghouse typing Schulz's farewell message to his readers.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 13, 2000|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/2000/02/13|title=Peanuts}}</ref>
Snoopy also interacts with other ''Peanuts'' characters, including Charlie Brown’s sister, Sally, the temperamental Lucy, and the ever-philosophical Linus. One of Snoopy’s closest companions is Woodstock, a small, yellow bird who is frequently seen perched on Snoopy’s doghouse. Woodstock serves as a confidante for Snoopy and often engages in humorous and occasionally philosophical conversations with him, despite the fact that he speaks in incomprehensible chirps and squawks.


== Appearances in Media ==
===Popularity===
Snoopy appeared as a character balloon in the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] in 1968; the balloon depicted Snoopy in his World War I Flying Ace costume.<ref>{{cite news |title=Good Grief! Snoopy Makes Macy's Parade |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/11/29/76912791.pdf |access-date=November 19, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 29, 1968 |page=48}}</ref> The beagle has been in almost every parade ever since in different costumes, as an ice skater, a jester (to celebrate the new millennium and the parade's 75th anniversary), and an astronaut.


=== Comic Strip ===
The [[Dogs Trust]] and Wild in Arts created a trail called A Dog's Trail which spanned across [[Cardiff]], [[Caerphilly]], and [[Porthcawl]] in spring of 2022. The trail raised money for Dogs Trust to use for dog welfare.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/snoopy-trail-ended-heres-how-24162398 | title=The Snoopy trail has ended but here's how you can see them all in one place | date=June 7, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Dog's Trail with Snoopy |url=https://wildinart.co.uk/events/a-dogs-trail/ |website=Wild in Art }}</ref>
Snoopy appeared daily in the ''Peanuts'' comic strip, which ran from October 2, 1950, until February 13, 2000. In the strip, Snoopy's humorous antics, existential musings, and adventures became an essential part of the series’ charm, contributing to its immense popularity worldwide.


The strip’s timeless appeal and Snoopy's role as a central figure helped ''Peanuts'' remain one of the most beloved comic strips in history. The ''Peanuts'' comic strip was syndicated in thousands of newspapers across the globe, and it became a cultural institution in the 20th century.
== Relationship with other ''Peanuts'' characters ==
{{More citations needed|section|date=March 2023}}


=== Television Specials and Movies ===
=== Charlie Brown ===
Snoopy has appeared in numerous television specials and feature films. The most famous of these is ''A Charlie Brown Christmas'' (1965), in which Snoopy plays a key role in helping Charlie Brown navigate his frustrations with the commercialization of Christmas. Other popular specials include ''It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'' (1966) and ''A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'' (1973), where Snoopy is featured prominently in a variety of humorous situations.
{{main article|Charlie Brown}}


In addition to these TV specials, Snoopy starred in several feature films, including ''Snoopy, Come Home'' (1972) and ''The Peanuts Movie'' (2015)<ref>''The Peanuts Movie'' (2015), directed by Steve Martino</ref>. The latter, produced in 3D computer animation, was a major success, introducing Snoopy and the ''Peanuts'' gang to a new generation of fans<ref>"Snoopy's Star on the Walk of Fame," Hollywood Walk of Fame official site.</ref>.
Despite his history of conflicted loyalties, his constant disrespect for Charlie Brown, and his inability to remember his name (he refers to him as "that round-headed kid"), Snoopy has shown both love and loyalty to his owner. Charlie Brown would often get irritated at Snoopy's flights of fancy with the comment, "Why can't I have a normal dog like everyone else?" He joins Charlie Brown in walking out of a game of [[Hide and seek#Variants|Ha-Ha Herman]] when Peppermint Patty insults Charlie Brown, unaware that Charlie Brown is within earshot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1971/10/09|title=Peanuts by Charles Schulz, October 09, 1971 Via @GoComics|first=Charles|last=Schulz}}</ref> He also helps Charlie Brown recover his autographed baseball when a bully takes it and challenges Charlie Brown to fight him for it. When Charlie Brown has to stop dedicating himself to making Snoopy happy, Snoopy replies, "Don't worry about it. I was already happy." In ''[[The Peanuts Movie]]'', Snoopy remains loyal to Charlie Brown, supporting and caring for him throughout the movie.


=== Merchandise and Branding ===
In early ''Peanuts'' strips, Charlie Brown was not Snoopy's owner (as seen in the February 2, 1951, strip), and it was not made clear who, if anyone, his actual owner was. At various times, it was suggested that he was Patty's<ref>{{cite web|date=November 13, 1950|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1950/11/13|title=Peanuts}}</ref> or Shermy's<ref>{{cite web|date=September 29, 1951|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1951/09/29|title=Peanuts}}</ref> dog.  Charlie Brown was first portrayed as being responsible for Snoopy in the strips of November 1 and 3, 1955; it was not until September 1, 1958, that Snoopy was specifically said to be Charlie Brown's dog. (In the September 20, 1980, strip, Charlie Brown comments that he once told Snoopy to "stay" and "he never went home.")
Snoopy has become a major brand, appearing on a vast array of merchandise, from clothing and toys to household goods and accessories. His iconic image, often depicted on his doghouse or in his flying ace persona, has made him a cultural icon. Snoopy’s image is licensed globally, and he is the mascot for the United States’ '''Peanuts Worldwide''' brand, which has included everything from theme parks to animated series.


Snoopy’s popularity has also made him a fixture in various events and celebrations, such as parades and charitable causes. He is frequently used in branding efforts aimed at promoting fun, nostalgia, and positivity.
In both the early strips and the movie ''[[Snoopy Come Home]],'' Charlie Brown says that he got Snoopy after being bullied by another kid. His parents took him to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm to cheer him up, where he met and bought Snoopy. The special ''[[Snoopy's Reunion]]'' depicts their first meeting.


== Cultural Impact ==
=== Lucy ===
{{main article|Lucy van Pelt}}
Snoopy frequently tries to kiss Lucy on the cheek or nose, which Lucy, who is afraid of dog germs, thoroughly hates. Despite her distaste of doggy kisses, Lucy seems to care for Snoopy: in ''[[Snoopy Come Home]]'', Lucy is sad to see him go and is (momentarily) glad when he comes back home. In some strips, Lucy goes to Snoopy for help, such as in the April 16, 1961<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1961/04/16|title=Peanuts by Charles Schulz, April 16, 1961 Via @GoComics|last=Schulz|first=Charles|website=GoComics|access-date=May 31, 2016}}</ref> strip, wherein a jealous Lucy and Frieda are beating each other up at Schroeder's piano, Lucy ends up winning, and shakes hands with Snoopy in the end, looking slightly injured. Snoopy also commandeers Lucy's psychiatric booth either in her absence or when she ends up being the one needing help. In ''[[Snoopy! The Musical (TV special)|Snoopy!]]'', Lucy and Snoopy hug each other during the song "If Just One Person".


=== Symbol of Childhood and Innocence ===
=== Linus ===
Snoopy has become a symbol of childhood innocence, imagination, and humor. His carefree nature, creative dreams, and loyalty have resonated with audiences of all ages. While ''Peanuts'' as a whole often dealt with themes of existential doubt and social awkwardness, Snoopy’s whimsical daydreams provided an escape into a world of possibility and adventure.
{{main article|Linus van Pelt}}
Snoopy often tries to steal Linus's blanket, leading to slapstick fights and wild chases, the latter of which usually involve Snoopy running up, grabbing the blanket in his mouth, then running off with Linus holding on for dear life, and finally swinging Linus and the blanket around and around in a circular motion through the air before letting go and they both fly off to who-knows-where.


=== Influence on Pop Culture ===
=== Lila ===
Snoopy’s influence on popular culture is immense. The character’s catchphrases, his flying ace persona, and his various comedic antics have permeated television, literature, and even political discourse. Snoopy has been referenced in countless songs, advertisements, and other forms of media, including a notable appearance in the 1960s song ''Snoopy vs. the Red Baron'' by the Royal Guardsmen.
Lila was Snoopy's owner before Charlie Brown. Snoopy visits her in the cartoon ''[[Snoopy Come Home]]'' and struggles to decide whether to stay with Charlie Brown or go back to Lila. Lila quickly persuades him to leave Charlie Brown so Snoopy can live with her again. However, upon arriving at her apartment complex, Snoopy is very relieved to see a "NO DOGS ALLOWED" sign and returns to live with Charlie Brown.


His universal appeal has made Snoopy a beloved figure worldwide, and he remains one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in history.
=== Peppermint Patty ===
{{main article|Peppermint Patty}}
[[Peppermint Patty]] often refers to Snoopy as a "funny-looking kid with a big nose", unaware that he is a beagle. In one instance, she has him serve as her attorney in a case involving the school dress code. In the March 21, 1974, strip, Marcie tells Peppermint Patty that Snoopy is a beagle, finally resulting in her realizing his true identity. Snoopy serves as Peppermint Patty's watchdog several times. She is one of the few girls who does not get disgusted after being kissed by him.


== Legacy ==
=== Sally Brown ===
Snoopy’s legacy endures, with the character continuing to be a symbol of joy, creativity, and individuality. His adventures, both in the ''Peanuts'' comic strip and beyond, have influenced generations of fans, inspiring not only cartoonists but also artists, writers, and creators across multiple media. Though Charles M. Schulz passed away in 2000, Snoopy’s place in popular culture remains as strong as ever, with ongoing revivals of ''Peanuts'' in various forms, ensuring that his lovable spirit will continue to delight audiences for years to come.
{{main article|Sally Brown}}
Like Lucy, Sally does not care that much for Snoopy and often calls him a stupid beagle. Sally usually complains when her big brother asks her to feed Snoopy whenever he is away from home. While she is still an infant, Sally has a friendly and playful relationship with Snoopy. In later years, Sally occasionally enlists Snoopy's help in school assignments. She even treats him to an ice cream cone (a very tall ice cream cone, with scoops of about a dozen flavors) when Snoopy helps her get an "A" on a report about "Our Animal Friends". In one storyline, Sally uses Snoopy as a "weapon" to help protect her from bullies on the playground (Snoopy barks loudly at anyone who threatens Sally, leading Snoopy to comment, "I feel like a can of mace!"), but this ends in disaster when Snoopy sees an old girlfriend of his and runs off to meet her, abandoning Sally and leaving her to get "slaughtered" by the playground bullies.


=== Snoopy's Star ===
=== Schroeder ===
In 2015, Snoopy was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, solidifying his status as a cultural icon and celebrating his enduring legacy as one of the most beloved characters in comic history.
{{main article|Schroeder (Peanuts)}}


== References ==
Schroeder does not mind much when Snoopy sits against his toy piano, except when Snoopy dances on top of the piano, much to Schroeder's annoyance. He also sometimes plays with the notes coming from the piano.
<references />
 
[[Category:Cartoon Character]]
=== Rerun van Pelt ===
{{Main article|Rerun van Pelt}}
 
Rerun, the youngest child character in the strip, plays with Snoopy sometimes. In some strips, Rerun and Snoopy are playing cards with each other, both of them clueless about the rules.
 
=== Woodstock ===
{{main article|Woodstock (Peanuts)}}
Woodstock is Snoopy's best friend and sidekick. He is a small, yellow bird of indeterminate species. He speaks in a chirping language that only Snoopy and his other bird friends can understand. In return, the birds somehow understand Snoopy's thoughts. In some strips, Snoopy can be seen telling a joke to Woodstock and both laugh so hard they end up falling off the doghouse. Woodstock sometimes sleeps on top of Snoopy's nose, such as in one strip where Snoopy says "Never share your pad with a restless bird".
 
=== Fifi ===
Fifi is a major love interest of Snoopy and she appears in ''[[Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown]]'' and ''[[The Peanuts Movie]]''. In ''Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown'', Snoopy sees Fifi, a white poodle, at a circus and starts to get attracted to her. He and Fifi do a trapeze act and afterward, he runs away, taking Fifi with him. Fifi decides to go back to the circus, however, leaving Snoopy heartbroken and forced to return to Charlie Brown. In ''The Peanuts Movie'', Fifi (voiced by [[Kristin Chenoweth]]) is a pilot just like Snoopy (being redesigned to be bipedal while still retaining her poodle traits), and together they have interaction via Snoopy's typewriter against the Red Baron. He shows how much he cares for her when he cries at [[Schroeder (Peanuts)|Schroeder]]'s house after she is captured by the Red Baron. Snoopy, Woodstock, and the Beagle Scouts set out on a mission to save her. Eventually, they save her, and she shows her affection to Snoopy.
 
==Siblings==
[[File:SnoopysReunion01.jpg|thumb|right|Clockwise from top-left: Andy, Spike, Olaf, Rover, Belle, Molly, Snoopy, and Marbles|alt=]]
In the comic strip, Snoopy has seven siblings. Five appeared at various times in the strip: four brothers, Spike, Andy, Marbles, and Olaf; and one sister, Belle. The two others were never mentioned by name in the comic strip, but the whole family appeared in 1991 [[television special]] ''[[Snoopy's Reunion]]'', introducing the two unknown siblings, identified in the special as Molly and Rover.
 
Snoopy having seven siblings was an element of the strip that developed as the strip evolved. Originally described in a June 1959 strip as an "only dog",<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schulz |first1=Charles M. |title=The Complete Peanuts: 1959 to 1960 |date=2013 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |isbn=978-1560976714 |page=67}}</ref> Snoopy went to a family reunion with several unnamed siblings in a May 1965 sequence, stating that they all spoke different languages and couldn't understand each other.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schulz |first1=Charles M. |title=The Complete Peanuts: 1965 to 1966 |date=2013 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |isbn=978-1560977247 |pages=57–58}}</ref> In March 1970, Snoopy wrote in his autobiography that he was one of seven puppies,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schulz |first1=Charles M. |title=The Complete Peanuts: 1969 to 1970 |date=2008 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |isbn=978-1560978275 |page=190}}</ref> and the number reached its final count of eight beagles in December 1972.
 
In a 1987 interview, Schulz said that he felt introducing Snoopy's siblings was a mistake, similar to the introduction of [[Eugene the Jeep]] in ''[[Thimble Theatre]]'': "I think Eugene the Jeep took the life out of Popeye himself, and I'm sure [[E. C. Segar|Segar]] didn't realize that. I realized it myself a couple of years ago when I began to introduce Snoopy's brothers and sisters. I realized that when I put Belle and Marbles in there it destroyed the relationship that Snoopy has with the kids, which is a very strange relationship. And these things are so subtle when you're doing them, you can make mistakes and not realize them."<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Groth |editor1-first=Conrad |title=What Cartooning Really Is: The Major Interviews with Charles M. Schulz |date=2020 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |isbn=978-1683963820 |page=98}}</ref> Schulz elaborated further in another 1987 interview: "Snoopy had a sister, Belle, whom I discovered I really didn't like. I brought in Spike and I like Spike a lot. But when I brought another brother in — I thought Marbles would make a great name for a dog — I discovered almost immediately that bringing in other animals took the uniqueness away from Snoopy. So the only other animal character who works now is Spike, as long as Spike stays out in the desert."<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Inge |editor1-first=M. Thomas |title=Charles M. Schulz: Conversations |date=2000 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781578063055 |last1=Pauer |first1=Frank |page=148 |chapter=A Conversation with Charles Schulz}}</ref>
 
===Spike===
Spike, Snoopy's older brother who lived in the desert, was the most frequently seen sibling in the strip.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Farago |first1=Andrew |title=The Complete Peanuts Family Album: The Ultimate Guide to Charles M. Schulz's Classic Characters |date=2017 |publisher=[[Weldon Owen]] |isbn=978-1681882925 |page=204}}</ref> He was introduced in the August 13, 1975, strip.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schulz |first1=Charles M. |title=The Complete Peanuts: 1975 to 1976 |date=2015 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |isbn=978-1606993453 |page=97}}</ref> He was a recurring character between 1984 and 1988, and was also used in one-off appearances sporadically through the rest of ''Peanuts'' history. Spike is named after [[Charles Schulz]]'s childhood dog.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Inge |editor1-first=M. Thomas |title=Charles M. Schulz: Conversations |date=2000 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781578063055 |last1=Gorney |first1=Cynthia |page=137 |chapter=The Peanuts Progenitor}}</ref>
 
Spike's appearance is similar to Snoopy's, but he is substantially thinner, has a perpetually sleepy-eyed look, sports long, droopy whiskers that look like a mustache, and wears a fedora. He is called Snoopy's older brother during the first story in which he appears. Spike lives in the middle of a desert near [[Needles, California]], mostly interacting with inanimate saguaro cacti and rocks.
 
He temporarily became [[Rerun van Pelt|Rerun]]'s dog in ''[[I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown]]'', and also starred in his own television special, ''[[It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Mike |title=Charlie Brown's younger sister: Schulz daughter stars in special 'Girl in the Red Truck' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63411693/the-cincinnati-enquirer/ |access-date=November 16, 2020 |agency=Gannett News Service |date=September 27, 1988}}</ref> He was also a main character in ''[[Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown]]'', where he is shown traveling from Needles to visit Snoopy to be the [[best man|best beagle]] at his wedding.
 
A large statue of Spike resides inside the Needles Regional Museum in [[Needles, California]]. The Schulz family lived in Needles from 1928 to 1930.<ref name="VDP 2020-01-19">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20200119/beyers-byways-needles-small-town-with-big-history|title= Needles, a small town with a big history|last=Beyer|first=John R.|date=January 19, 2020|work=Valley Daily Press|department=Beyer's Byways|publisher=Gannett|language=en|access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref>
 
===Belle===
'''Belle''' is Snoopy's sister, who first appeared in the strip on June 28, 1976.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Farago |first1=Andrew |title=The Complete Peanuts Family Album: The Ultimate Guide to Charles M. Schulz's Classic Characters |date=2017 |publisher=Weldon Owen |isbn=978-1681882925 |page=209}}</ref> She lives in [[Kansas City, Missouri]] with her teenage son, whom Snoopy noted as resembling the [[Pink Panther (character)|Pink Panther]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schulz |first1=Charles M. |title=The Complete Peanuts: 1975 to 1976 |date=2015 |publisher=Fantagraphics Books |isbn=978-1606993453 |page=235}}</ref> Belle herself bears a strong resemblance to Snoopy, but with longer eyelashes. In addition, she wears a lace collar and sometimes wears a pearl necklace.
 
Belle only made a few appearances in the strip but is remembered because of the Belle stuffed animal toys sold in the late 1970s and early 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kleiman |first1=Carol |title=Good grief! How did Snoopy, the world's most popular dog, become a soft cuddly toy... |journal=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=June 23, 1980 |page=30 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63421453/chicago-tribune/ |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref> [[San Francisco]] toy merchandiser Determined Productions had the license to make Snoopy plush toys, and they introduced Belle plush after receiving many requests from children who wanted a female "sister" doll.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Creamer |first1=Beverly |title=Doing big business with one little dog |journal=[[Honolulu Advertiser]] |date=January 2, 1980 |page=25 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63422025/the-honolulu-advertiser/ |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref>
 
In 1984, Snoopy and Belle inspired fashion designers around the world, including [[Karl Lagerfeld|Lagerfeld]], [[Georgio Armani|Armani]], and [[Oscar de la Renta|de la Renta]], to create one-of-a-kind outfits in their honor. Both beagles modeled for the "Snoopy in Fashion" exhibition held that year in Japan. "Snoopy & Belle in Fashion" continues to be exhibited {{as of|2020|lc=1}}.<ref>[https://www.snoopyandbelleinfashion.com Snoopy & Belle in Fashion], retrieved October 21, 2020.</ref> Photographs of the exhibition were collected in a 1988 book, ''Snoopy in Fashion''.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Boucher |editor1-first=Connie |title=Snoopy in Fashion |date=1988 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=9780877015741}}</ref>
 
There was another traveling exhibition of Snoopy and Belle plush in outfits made by fashion designers in 1990, as a celebration of the comic strip's fortieth anniversary. This exhibition began in [[Paris]] at the [[Louvre|Louvre Museum]], and then to the [[Mitsukoshi]] department store in [[Tokyo]], followed by showings in [[Los Angeles]], [[New York City]], [[London]], [[Milan]], and [[Madrid]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cope |first1=Penelope Bass |title=Snoopy style: For 'Peanuts' at 40, the Louvre displays high-fashion clothes on lovable puppies |journal=The Wilmington News-Journal |date=January 23, 1990 |page=D1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63420950/the-news-journal/ |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref> Photographs from this collection were published as ''Snoopy Around the World''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rizzo |first1=Albert |title=Snoopy Around the World |date=1990 |publisher=Harry Abrams |isbn=978-0810938083}}</ref>
 
== Reception ==
Snoopy and Charlie Brown were ranked by ''[[TV Guide]]'' as the 8th greatest cartoon characters of all time.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.listology.com/list/tv-guides-50-greatest-cartoon-characters | title= TV Guide's 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters | date= July 30, 2002 | access-date= September 17, 2013 | archive-date= April 3, 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021039/http://www.listology.com/list/tv-guides-50-greatest-cartoon-characters | url-status= dead }}</ref>
 
Some critics feel that the strip suffered a decline in quality after the 1960s. Writing in 2000, [[Christopher Caldwell (journalist)|Christopher Caldwell]] argued that the character of Snoopy, and the strip's increased focus on him in the 1970s, "went from being the strip's besetting artistic weakness to ruining it altogether". Caldwell felt that Snoopy "was never a full participant in the tangle of relationships that drove ''Peanuts'' in its Golden Age", as he could not talk. He went on to say that Snoopy "was way too shallow for the strip as it developed in the 1960s, and the strips he featured in were anomalies."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nypress.com/against-snoopy/ |title=Against Snoopy |work=New York Press |first=Christopher |last=Caldwell |date=January 4, 2000}}</ref>
 
[[Jim Davis (cartoonist)|Jim Davis]] noted that Snoopy was a boon from a marketing standpoint, which inspired him to center his comic strip ''[[Garfield]]'' around a cat: "Snoopy is very popular in licensing. Charlie Brown is not."<ref name="slatewhyhate">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2102299/|title=Why we don't hate Garfield.|access-date=April 30, 2008|last=Suellentrop|first=Chris|date=June 11, 2004|magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref>
 
A toy titled The Snoopy Snowcone Machine was popular in the '80s and was later recreated in the 2010s by Cra-z-art.
 
===Political endorsement controversy===
On October 5, 2024, a fan account devoted to Snoopy on [[Twitter]] posted an endorsement of [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|presidential candidacy]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 U.S. presidential race]].<ref name="SF Chronicle Report on Snoopy Tweet">{{cite news |last=Vaziri |first=Aldin |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Snoopy fan account sparks outrage with Trump endorsement |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/snoopy-trump-endorsement-19824674.php |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |location= |access-date=October 13, 2024}}</ref> The tweet called for "more take home pay, a secure border, and a government that prioritizes prosperity for its tax paying citizens rather than [[Undocumented immigrant population of the United States|illegal immigrants]]. The tweet also stated that "[[Kamala Harris]] may have 'come from a middle class family', but this account is run by an actual middle class family. We started this profile last year as a distraction from the difficult economic times, with the help of bringing hope to others who may be going through the same." The tweet, which featured an [[Artificial intelligence art|AI-generated portrait]] of Snoopy shaking the hand of Trump, was widely criticized by many fellow ''Peanuts'' fans on social media,<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine |last=Klee |first=Miles |date=October 7, 2024 |title=A Snoopy Fan Account Endorsed Trump. The Snoopy Community Revolted |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/snoopy-fan-account-trump-controversy-1235128081/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location= |access-date=October 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="SF Chronicle Report on Snoopy Tweet"/> several of whom referenced a 1970 letter from creator Schulz in which he stressed the importance of faith in American democracy, writing that "sometimes it is the very people who cry out the loudest in favor of getting back to what they call 'American Virtues' who lack this faith in our country. I believe that our greatest strength lies always in the protection of our smallest minorities."<ref name="RollingStone"/> The account deleted the tweet, then did another which acknowledged the support from Trump supporters, and championed continued voter registration in swing states. The account was deactivated shortly thereafter.<ref name="RollingStone"/>
 
The tweet was parodied on the October 12, 2024 edition of the [[NBC]] variety show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', with remarks that, in turn, used the character of [[Franklin (Peanuts)|Franklin]] to reference Trump's own [[Springfield pet-eating hoax|controversial comments about Haitian immigrants]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Ariana Grande, Stevie Nicks |episode-link= |url= |access-date= |series=Saturday Night Live |series-link=Saturday Night Live |first= |last= |network=[[NBC]] |station= |date=October 12, 2024 |season=50 |series-no= |number=3 |minutes= |time= |transcript= |transcript-url= |quote=Fans of the ''Peanuts'' comic strip were upset after a fan account endorsed Donald Trump. Even worse, they claimed that Franklin was trying to eat Snoopy. |trans-quote= |via= |language=English}}</ref>
 
== Awards and honors ==
Schulz was a keen [[contract bridge|bridge]] player, and ''Peanuts'' occasionally included bridge references. In 1997 the [[American Contract Bridge League]] (ACBL) awarded both Snoopy and [[Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] the honorary rank of [[Masterpoints#American Contract Bridge League|Life Master]], and Schulz was delighted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/10/arts/bridge-snoopy-s-finest-card-game-trump-that-red-baron.html |title=BRIDGE; Snoopy's Finest Card Game (Trump That, Red Baron!) |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |first=Alan |last=Truscott |author-link=Alan Truscott |date=July 10, 2000 |access-date=July 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acbl.org/marketing/publicity/who-plays-bridge/ |title=Who Plays Bridge |website=[[American Contract Bridge League|ACBL]] |access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>
 
On November 2, 2015, Snoopy was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], becoming the second ''Peanuts''-related figure to be inducted with a star, after Schulz.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=FilmiBeat|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/hollywood/news/2015/wow-snoopy-receives-a-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame-203979.html|title=Wow! Snoopy Receives A Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame|date=November 3, 2015}}</ref>
 
==In aviation and space==
===Use by NASA===
[[File:Apollo 10 Cernan and Snoopy at news conference.jpg|thumb|Apollo 10 astronaut [[Gene Cernan]] with a Snoopy puppet at a news conference, 1969]]<!-- Please propose additions on talk page before adding here! -->
 
* Following the [[Apollo 1]] fire, Snoopy became the official mascot of aerospace safety, testing and the rebuilding of the [[Apollo Program]].
* The [[Apollo 10]] [[Apollo Lunar Module|lunar module]] was named ''Snoopy'' and the [[Apollo Command/Service Module|command module]] ''Charlie Brown''. While not included in the [[:Image:Apollo-10-LOGO.png|official mission logo]], Charlie Brown and Snoopy became semi-official mascots for the mission, as seen [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/AS10/10075138.jpg here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010619231200/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/AS10/10075138.jpg |date=June 19, 2001 }} and [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/AS10/10075088.jpg here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025181648/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/AS10/10075088.jpg |date=October 25, 2007 }}.  Schulz also drew some special mission-related artwork for [[NASA]], <!-- (can anyone find scans?) --> and several regular strips related to the mission, one showing Snoopy en route to the Moon atop his doghouse with a fishbowl on his head for a helmet. "We have mentioned," wrote television producer [[Lee Mendelson]], "that Charles Schulz is a gambler, a man who doesn't sit pat on success. The ''New York Times'' headlined: 'Creator of Peanuts Tempts Fate on Apollo Mission.' Certainly, if a tragedy had occurred, as well it might have, the symbols would forever remain in man's mind as symbols of disaster. But Sparky has always had faith in the Apollo program, from the very start, and he felt if those men could risk their lives, the least he could do would be to risk the popularity of the characters."<ref>{{cite book|last=Mendelson|first=Lee|title=Charlie Brown & Charlie Schulz|publisher=Signet Books|year=1971|pages=239–240|author-link=Lee Mendelson}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Steven V.|title=You're a Brave Man, Charlie Brown|newspaper=New York Times|date=May 26, 1969|page=20}}</ref> The strip that ran on July 21, 1969 – one day after [[Neil Armstrong]] and [[Buzz Aldrin]] landed the [[Apollo 11]] [[Lunar Module Eagle|Lunar Module ''Eagle'']] on the Moon – included a full Moon in the background, with a black mark on it representing the module.<ref name="gocomics">{{cite web|url=http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1969/07/21 |title=Peanuts Comic Strip, July 21, 1969 on GoComics.com |publisher=gocomics.com|access-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref>
* The fabric cap worn by NASA astronauts as part of the [[Extravehicular Mobility Unit]] is known as a "[[Snoopy cap]]", a reference to how the white crown and black earflaps of the cap resemble Snoopy's fur and ears.
* Snoopy is also seen in the mission patch of NASA's [[Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test]] (SMEAT).
* The [[Silver Snoopy award]] is a special NASA honor, in the form of a [[sterling silver]] pin with an engraving of Snoopy in a spacesuit helmet. It is given by an astronaut to someone who works in the space program that has gone above and beyond in pursuit of quality and safety.<ref>{{cite web|title=Space Flight Awareness Awards: SFA Silver Snoopy |work=Space Flight Awareness, NASA website |publisher=[[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] |url=http://sfa.jsc.nasa.gov/sfaawards.cfm |access-date=June 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228005314/http://sfa.jsc.nasa.gov/sfaawards.cfm |archive-date=February 28, 2007 }}</ref>
* Snoopy and [[NASA]] announced, in April 2019, that Snoopy will return to the [[Moon]] aboard NASA [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Snoopy is returning |url=https://twitter.com/Snoopy/status/1121507183043203072 |website=Snoopy's Official Twitter |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref>
* He was a gravity indicator aboard [[Artemis 1]] mission that orbited the moon.<ref name="Artemis">{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Cheryl |title=Snoopy to Fly on NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/snoopy-to-fly-on-nasas-artemis-i-moon-mission/ |website=NASA |access-date=October 19, 2022 |date=November 12, 2021}}</ref>
*In November 2019, Apple TV made a ''[[Snoopy in Space]]'' series.
 
===Other uses===
* Snoopy is the name of a United States Air Force [[B-58 Hustler]] bomber, serial number 55-0665, which was modified to test a radar system.<ref name="check-six">{{cite web|url=http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/B-52s_in_the_desert.htm |title=B-52s in the Desert |publisher=check-six.com|access-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref>
* American insurance company [[MetLife]] used Snoopy as their corporate mascot between 1985 and 2016. ''Snoopy One'', ''Snoopy Two'', and ''Snoopy J'' are three [[airship]]s owned and operated by MetLife that provide aerial coverage of sporting events, and feature Snoopy as the World War I flying ace on their fuselage. As of October 20, 2016, MetLife no longer features Snoopy in its commercials, due to a global rebranding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metlife.com/Applications/Corporate/WPS/CDA/PageGenerator/0,4773,P309,00.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513205233/http://www.metlife.com/Applications/Corporate/WPS/CDA/PageGenerator/0,4773,P309,00.html|url-status=dead|title=Airship Operations information for MetLife blimp<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=May 13, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hauser|first1=Christine|last2=Maheshwari|first2=Sapna|date=October 20, 2016|title=MetLife Grounds Snoopy. Curse You, Red Baron!|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/business/media/metlife-grounds-snoopy-curse-you-red-baron.html?_r=0|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>
* The [[Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport]] in California, named after Schulz, has [[:File:Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (logo).png|a logo]] featuring Snoopy in his World War I flying ace attire flying atop his doghouse.
* Snoopy is the mascot of the 26th Squadron (Barons, pronounced Barones) of the United States Air Force Academy, appearing on their squadron patch.
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==Further reading==
* {{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Katherine<!-- Author's name has been removed from the page and has not been archived, but is listed at https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peanuts&oldid=1200688127#cite_note-Snoopy_Moments-2 --> |date=2013-10-02 |title=10 Of The Best Snoopy Moments To Celebrate 'Peanuts' 63rd Anniversary |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/peanuts-anniversary_n_4025927 |url-status=live |work=[[HuffPost]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624080245/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/peanuts-anniversary_n_4025927 |archive-date=2023-06-24 |access-date=2024-01-30}}
 
==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikiquote-inline|Peanuts#Snoopy|Snoopy}}
*[https://snoopystuff.com/snoopys-quote-was-so-deep-part-1/ Snoopy’s quote was so deep (Part 1)]
* [http://www.daysofleisure.com/writing/the_complete_text_of_Snoopy_s_novel.html The complete text of Snoopy's ''It Was a Dark and Stormy Night'']
*[https://palisadespete.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/10-facts-about-linus-van-pelt-peanuts-13/ 10 Facts About Linus Van Pelt (“Peanuts”)]
 
{{Peanuts}}
 
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Peanuts characters]]
[[Category:Fictional baseball players]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1950]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic dogs]]
[[Category:Fictional writers]]
[[Category:Fictional contract bridge players]]
[[Category:Fictional aviators]]
[[Category:Male characters in animation]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics]]

Revision as of 18:34, 1 December 2024

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Pp-vandalism Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox character

Snoopy is an anthropomorphic beagle[1] in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. He can also be found in all of the Peanuts films and television specials. Since his debut on October 4, 1950, Snoopy has become one of the most recognizable and iconic characters in the comic strip and is considered more famous than Charlie Brown in some countries. The original drawings of Snoopy were inspired by Spike, one of Schulz's childhood dogs.[2][3]

Traits

Snoopy is a loyal, imaginative, and good-natured beagle who is prone to imagining fantasy lives, including being an author,[4] a college student known as "Joe Cool", an attorney, and a World War I flying ace. He is perhaps best known in this last persona, wearing an aviator's helmet and goggles and a scarf while carrying a swagger stick (like a stereotypical British Army officer of World War I and II).

Snoopy can be selfish, gluttonous, and lazy at times, and occasionally mocks his owner, Charlie Brown. But on the whole, he shows great love, care, and loyalty for his owner (even though he cannot even remember his name and always refers to him as "the round-headed kid"). In the 1990s comic strips, he is obsessed with cookies, particularly the chocolate-chip variety. This, and other instances in which he indulges in large chocolate-based meals and snacks, indicate that chocolate is not poisonous to Snoopy, the way it is for real dogs.

File:Snoopy wwi ace lb.jpg
Snoopy piloting his World War I "Sopwith Camel" fighter bi-plane, disguised as a doghouse

All of his fantasies have a similar formula. Snoopy pretends to be something, usually "world famous", and fails. His short "novels" are never published. His Sopwith Camel is consistently shot down by his imaginary rival enemy, the German flying ace the "Red Baron". Schulz said of Snoopy's character in a 1997 interview: "He has to retreat into his fanciful world in order to survive. Otherwise, he leads kind of a dull, miserable life. I don't envy dogs the lives they have to live."[5]

Snoopy imagines himself to speak, but never actually does, other than nonverbal sounds and occasionally uttering "Woof". His very articulate thoughts are shown in thought balloons. In the animated Peanuts films and television specials, Snoopy's thoughts are not verbalized. His moods are instead conveyed through moans, yelps, growls, sobs, laughter, and monosyllabic utterances such as "bleah" or "hey" as well as through pantomime. His vocal effects were usually provided by Bill Melendez, who first played the role during Snoopy's appearances on The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show.[6] The only exceptions are in the animated adaptions of the musicals You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Snoopy!!! The Musical, in which Snoopy's thoughts are verbalized by Robert Towers and Cameron Clarke, respectively. (His dialogue, however, is not "heard" by the other characters except Woodstock the bird and other non-human characters; however, he does remember Charlie Brown's name.)

Snoopy's doghouse defies physics and is shown to be bigger on the inside than the outside.

History

File:NormalSnoopy.jpg
Snoopy's original appearance from October 4, 1950

Snoopy appeared on October 4, 1950, two days after the first Peanuts strip. He was one of the four original characters, along with Charlie Brown, Patty, and Shermy. He was named Snoopy for the first time in the November 10 strip.

On March 16, 1952,[7] his thoughts were first shown in a thought balloon. Snoopy first appeared upright on his hind legs on January 9, 1956, when he was shown sliding across a sheet of ice after Shermy and Lucy had first done so.[8] He is first shown sleeping on top of his doghouse rather than inside it on December 12, 1958,[9] and first adopts his World War I Flying Ace persona on October 10, 1965.[10] Snoopy's final appearance in the comic was on February 13, 2000, when he was shown sitting on top of his doghouse typing Schulz's farewell message to his readers.[11]

Popularity

Snoopy appeared as a character balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1968; the balloon depicted Snoopy in his World War I Flying Ace costume.[12] The beagle has been in almost every parade ever since in different costumes, as an ice skater, a jester (to celebrate the new millennium and the parade's 75th anniversary), and an astronaut.

The Dogs Trust and Wild in Arts created a trail called A Dog's Trail which spanned across Cardiff, Caerphilly, and Porthcawl in spring of 2022. The trail raised money for Dogs Trust to use for dog welfare.[13][14]

Relationship with other Peanuts characters

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Charlie Brown

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Despite his history of conflicted loyalties, his constant disrespect for Charlie Brown, and his inability to remember his name (he refers to him as "that round-headed kid"), Snoopy has shown both love and loyalty to his owner. Charlie Brown would often get irritated at Snoopy's flights of fancy with the comment, "Why can't I have a normal dog like everyone else?" He joins Charlie Brown in walking out of a game of Ha-Ha Herman when Peppermint Patty insults Charlie Brown, unaware that Charlie Brown is within earshot.[15] He also helps Charlie Brown recover his autographed baseball when a bully takes it and challenges Charlie Brown to fight him for it. When Charlie Brown has to stop dedicating himself to making Snoopy happy, Snoopy replies, "Don't worry about it. I was already happy." In The Peanuts Movie, Snoopy remains loyal to Charlie Brown, supporting and caring for him throughout the movie.

In early Peanuts strips, Charlie Brown was not Snoopy's owner (as seen in the February 2, 1951, strip), and it was not made clear who, if anyone, his actual owner was. At various times, it was suggested that he was Patty's[16] or Shermy's[17] dog. Charlie Brown was first portrayed as being responsible for Snoopy in the strips of November 1 and 3, 1955; it was not until September 1, 1958, that Snoopy was specifically said to be Charlie Brown's dog. (In the September 20, 1980, strip, Charlie Brown comments that he once told Snoopy to "stay" and "he never went home.")

In both the early strips and the movie Snoopy Come Home, Charlie Brown says that he got Snoopy after being bullied by another kid. His parents took him to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm to cheer him up, where he met and bought Snoopy. The special Snoopy's Reunion depicts their first meeting.

Lucy

Template:Main article Snoopy frequently tries to kiss Lucy on the cheek or nose, which Lucy, who is afraid of dog germs, thoroughly hates. Despite her distaste of doggy kisses, Lucy seems to care for Snoopy: in Snoopy Come Home, Lucy is sad to see him go and is (momentarily) glad when he comes back home. In some strips, Lucy goes to Snoopy for help, such as in the April 16, 1961[18] strip, wherein a jealous Lucy and Frieda are beating each other up at Schroeder's piano, Lucy ends up winning, and shakes hands with Snoopy in the end, looking slightly injured. Snoopy also commandeers Lucy's psychiatric booth either in her absence or when she ends up being the one needing help. In Snoopy!, Lucy and Snoopy hug each other during the song "If Just One Person".

Linus

Template:Main article Snoopy often tries to steal Linus's blanket, leading to slapstick fights and wild chases, the latter of which usually involve Snoopy running up, grabbing the blanket in his mouth, then running off with Linus holding on for dear life, and finally swinging Linus and the blanket around and around in a circular motion through the air before letting go and they both fly off to who-knows-where.

Lila

Lila was Snoopy's owner before Charlie Brown. Snoopy visits her in the cartoon Snoopy Come Home and struggles to decide whether to stay with Charlie Brown or go back to Lila. Lila quickly persuades him to leave Charlie Brown so Snoopy can live with her again. However, upon arriving at her apartment complex, Snoopy is very relieved to see a "NO DOGS ALLOWED" sign and returns to live with Charlie Brown.

Peppermint Patty

Template:Main article Peppermint Patty often refers to Snoopy as a "funny-looking kid with a big nose", unaware that he is a beagle. In one instance, she has him serve as her attorney in a case involving the school dress code. In the March 21, 1974, strip, Marcie tells Peppermint Patty that Snoopy is a beagle, finally resulting in her realizing his true identity. Snoopy serves as Peppermint Patty's watchdog several times. She is one of the few girls who does not get disgusted after being kissed by him.

Sally Brown

Template:Main article Like Lucy, Sally does not care that much for Snoopy and often calls him a stupid beagle. Sally usually complains when her big brother asks her to feed Snoopy whenever he is away from home. While she is still an infant, Sally has a friendly and playful relationship with Snoopy. In later years, Sally occasionally enlists Snoopy's help in school assignments. She even treats him to an ice cream cone (a very tall ice cream cone, with scoops of about a dozen flavors) when Snoopy helps her get an "A" on a report about "Our Animal Friends". In one storyline, Sally uses Snoopy as a "weapon" to help protect her from bullies on the playground (Snoopy barks loudly at anyone who threatens Sally, leading Snoopy to comment, "I feel like a can of mace!"), but this ends in disaster when Snoopy sees an old girlfriend of his and runs off to meet her, abandoning Sally and leaving her to get "slaughtered" by the playground bullies.

Schroeder

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Schroeder does not mind much when Snoopy sits against his toy piano, except when Snoopy dances on top of the piano, much to Schroeder's annoyance. He also sometimes plays with the notes coming from the piano.

Rerun van Pelt

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Rerun, the youngest child character in the strip, plays with Snoopy sometimes. In some strips, Rerun and Snoopy are playing cards with each other, both of them clueless about the rules.

Woodstock

Template:Main article Woodstock is Snoopy's best friend and sidekick. He is a small, yellow bird of indeterminate species. He speaks in a chirping language that only Snoopy and his other bird friends can understand. In return, the birds somehow understand Snoopy's thoughts. In some strips, Snoopy can be seen telling a joke to Woodstock and both laugh so hard they end up falling off the doghouse. Woodstock sometimes sleeps on top of Snoopy's nose, such as in one strip where Snoopy says "Never share your pad with a restless bird".

Fifi

Fifi is a major love interest of Snoopy and she appears in Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown and The Peanuts Movie. In Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown, Snoopy sees Fifi, a white poodle, at a circus and starts to get attracted to her. He and Fifi do a trapeze act and afterward, he runs away, taking Fifi with him. Fifi decides to go back to the circus, however, leaving Snoopy heartbroken and forced to return to Charlie Brown. In The Peanuts Movie, Fifi (voiced by Kristin Chenoweth) is a pilot just like Snoopy (being redesigned to be bipedal while still retaining her poodle traits), and together they have interaction via Snoopy's typewriter against the Red Baron. He shows how much he cares for her when he cries at Schroeder's house after she is captured by the Red Baron. Snoopy, Woodstock, and the Beagle Scouts set out on a mission to save her. Eventually, they save her, and she shows her affection to Snoopy.

Siblings

File:SnoopysReunion01.jpg
Clockwise from top-left: Andy, Spike, Olaf, Rover, Belle, Molly, Snoopy, and Marbles

In the comic strip, Snoopy has seven siblings. Five appeared at various times in the strip: four brothers, Spike, Andy, Marbles, and Olaf; and one sister, Belle. The two others were never mentioned by name in the comic strip, but the whole family appeared in 1991 television special Snoopy's Reunion, introducing the two unknown siblings, identified in the special as Molly and Rover.

Snoopy having seven siblings was an element of the strip that developed as the strip evolved. Originally described in a June 1959 strip as an "only dog",[19] Snoopy went to a family reunion with several unnamed siblings in a May 1965 sequence, stating that they all spoke different languages and couldn't understand each other.[20] In March 1970, Snoopy wrote in his autobiography that he was one of seven puppies,[21] and the number reached its final count of eight beagles in December 1972.

In a 1987 interview, Schulz said that he felt introducing Snoopy's siblings was a mistake, similar to the introduction of Eugene the Jeep in Thimble Theatre: "I think Eugene the Jeep took the life out of Popeye himself, and I'm sure Segar didn't realize that. I realized it myself a couple of years ago when I began to introduce Snoopy's brothers and sisters. I realized that when I put Belle and Marbles in there it destroyed the relationship that Snoopy has with the kids, which is a very strange relationship. And these things are so subtle when you're doing them, you can make mistakes and not realize them."[22] Schulz elaborated further in another 1987 interview: "Snoopy had a sister, Belle, whom I discovered I really didn't like. I brought in Spike and I like Spike a lot. But when I brought another brother in — I thought Marbles would make a great name for a dog — I discovered almost immediately that bringing in other animals took the uniqueness away from Snoopy. So the only other animal character who works now is Spike, as long as Spike stays out in the desert."[23]

Spike

Spike, Snoopy's older brother who lived in the desert, was the most frequently seen sibling in the strip.[24] He was introduced in the August 13, 1975, strip.[25] He was a recurring character between 1984 and 1988, and was also used in one-off appearances sporadically through the rest of Peanuts history. Spike is named after Charles Schulz's childhood dog.[26]

Spike's appearance is similar to Snoopy's, but he is substantially thinner, has a perpetually sleepy-eyed look, sports long, droopy whiskers that look like a mustache, and wears a fedora. He is called Snoopy's older brother during the first story in which he appears. Spike lives in the middle of a desert near Needles, California, mostly interacting with inanimate saguaro cacti and rocks.

He temporarily became Rerun's dog in I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown, and also starred in his own television special, It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown.[27] He was also a main character in Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown, where he is shown traveling from Needles to visit Snoopy to be the best beagle at his wedding.

A large statue of Spike resides inside the Needles Regional Museum in Needles, California. The Schulz family lived in Needles from 1928 to 1930.[28]

Belle

Belle is Snoopy's sister, who first appeared in the strip on June 28, 1976.[29] She lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her teenage son, whom Snoopy noted as resembling the Pink Panther.[30] Belle herself bears a strong resemblance to Snoopy, but with longer eyelashes. In addition, she wears a lace collar and sometimes wears a pearl necklace.

Belle only made a few appearances in the strip but is remembered because of the Belle stuffed animal toys sold in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[31] San Francisco toy merchandiser Determined Productions had the license to make Snoopy plush toys, and they introduced Belle plush after receiving many requests from children who wanted a female "sister" doll.[32]

In 1984, Snoopy and Belle inspired fashion designers around the world, including Lagerfeld, Armani, and de la Renta, to create one-of-a-kind outfits in their honor. Both beagles modeled for the "Snoopy in Fashion" exhibition held that year in Japan. "Snoopy & Belle in Fashion" continues to be exhibited Template:As of.[33] Photographs of the exhibition were collected in a 1988 book, Snoopy in Fashion.[34]

There was another traveling exhibition of Snoopy and Belle plush in outfits made by fashion designers in 1990, as a celebration of the comic strip's fortieth anniversary. This exhibition began in Paris at the Louvre Museum, and then to the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo, followed by showings in Los Angeles, New York City, London, Milan, and Madrid.[35] Photographs from this collection were published as Snoopy Around the World.[36]

Reception

Snoopy and Charlie Brown were ranked by TV Guide as the 8th greatest cartoon characters of all time.[37]

Some critics feel that the strip suffered a decline in quality after the 1960s. Writing in 2000, Christopher Caldwell argued that the character of Snoopy, and the strip's increased focus on him in the 1970s, "went from being the strip's besetting artistic weakness to ruining it altogether". Caldwell felt that Snoopy "was never a full participant in the tangle of relationships that drove Peanuts in its Golden Age", as he could not talk. He went on to say that Snoopy "was way too shallow for the strip as it developed in the 1960s, and the strips he featured in were anomalies."[38]

Jim Davis noted that Snoopy was a boon from a marketing standpoint, which inspired him to center his comic strip Garfield around a cat: "Snoopy is very popular in licensing. Charlie Brown is not."[39]

A toy titled The Snoopy Snowcone Machine was popular in the '80s and was later recreated in the 2010s by Cra-z-art.

Political endorsement controversy

On October 5, 2024, a fan account devoted to Snoopy on Twitter posted an endorsement of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy in the 2024 U.S. presidential race.[40] The tweet called for "more take home pay, a secure border, and a government that prioritizes prosperity for its tax paying citizens rather than illegal immigrants. The tweet also stated that "Kamala Harris may have 'come from a middle class family', but this account is run by an actual middle class family. We started this profile last year as a distraction from the difficult economic times, with the help of bringing hope to others who may be going through the same." The tweet, which featured an AI-generated portrait of Snoopy shaking the hand of Trump, was widely criticized by many fellow Peanuts fans on social media,[41][40] several of whom referenced a 1970 letter from creator Schulz in which he stressed the importance of faith in American democracy, writing that "sometimes it is the very people who cry out the loudest in favor of getting back to what they call 'American Virtues' who lack this faith in our country. I believe that our greatest strength lies always in the protection of our smallest minorities."[41] The account deleted the tweet, then did another which acknowledged the support from Trump supporters, and championed continued voter registration in swing states. The account was deactivated shortly thereafter.[41]

The tweet was parodied on the October 12, 2024 edition of the NBC variety show Saturday Night Live, with remarks that, in turn, used the character of Franklin to reference Trump's own controversial comments about Haitian immigrants.[42]

Awards and honors

Schulz was a keen bridge player, and Peanuts occasionally included bridge references. In 1997 the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) awarded both Snoopy and Woodstock the honorary rank of Life Master, and Schulz was delighted.[43][44]

On November 2, 2015, Snoopy was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the second Peanuts-related figure to be inducted with a star, after Schulz.[45]

In aviation and space

Use by NASA

Apollo 10 astronaut Gene Cernan with a Snoopy puppet at a news conference, 1969
  • Following the Apollo 1 fire, Snoopy became the official mascot of aerospace safety, testing and the rebuilding of the Apollo Program.
  • The Apollo 10 lunar module was named Snoopy and the command module Charlie Brown. While not included in the official mission logo, Charlie Brown and Snoopy became semi-official mascots for the mission, as seen here Template:Webarchive and here Template:Webarchive. Schulz also drew some special mission-related artwork for NASA, and several regular strips related to the mission, one showing Snoopy en route to the Moon atop his doghouse with a fishbowl on his head for a helmet. "We have mentioned," wrote television producer Lee Mendelson, "that Charles Schulz is a gambler, a man who doesn't sit pat on success. The New York Times headlined: 'Creator of Peanuts Tempts Fate on Apollo Mission.' Certainly, if a tragedy had occurred, as well it might have, the symbols would forever remain in man's mind as symbols of disaster. But Sparky has always had faith in the Apollo program, from the very start, and he felt if those men could risk their lives, the least he could do would be to risk the popularity of the characters."[46][47] The strip that ran on July 21, 1969 – one day after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle on the Moon – included a full Moon in the background, with a black mark on it representing the module.[48]
  • The fabric cap worn by NASA astronauts as part of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit is known as a "Snoopy cap", a reference to how the white crown and black earflaps of the cap resemble Snoopy's fur and ears.
  • Snoopy is also seen in the mission patch of NASA's Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test (SMEAT).
  • The Silver Snoopy award is a special NASA honor, in the form of a sterling silver pin with an engraving of Snoopy in a spacesuit helmet. It is given by an astronaut to someone who works in the space program that has gone above and beyond in pursuit of quality and safety.[49]
  • Snoopy and NASA announced, in April 2019, that Snoopy will return to the Moon aboard NASA Orion in 2024.[50]
  • He was a gravity indicator aboard Artemis 1 mission that orbited the moon.[51]
  • In November 2019, Apple TV made a Snoopy in Space series.

Other uses

  • Snoopy is the name of a United States Air Force B-58 Hustler bomber, serial number 55-0665, which was modified to test a radar system.[52]
  • American insurance company MetLife used Snoopy as their corporate mascot between 1985 and 2016. Snoopy One, Snoopy Two, and Snoopy J are three airships owned and operated by MetLife that provide aerial coverage of sporting events, and feature Snoopy as the World War I flying ace on their fuselage. As of October 20, 2016, MetLife no longer features Snoopy in its commercials, due to a global rebranding.[53][54]
  • The Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in California, named after Schulz, has a logo featuring Snoopy in his World War I flying ace attire flying atop his doghouse.
  • Snoopy is the mascot of the 26th Squadron (Barons, pronounced Barones) of the United States Air Force Academy, appearing on their squadron patch.

References

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Further reading

External links

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