Snoopy is perhaps the most beloved character of all Peanut catalogue, including including Charlie Brown himself. Despite his widespread popularity, however, many fans may now know Snoopy’s entire story. Everyone knows that Snoopy is Charlie Brown’s dog, as he has been since the comics began in 1950. But what they may not know is that Snoopy had an owner before Charlie Brownwhich was a comic book story arc that later inspired an animated film.
As revealed in a harvest of Peanut comic books published in August 1968, Snoopy had an owner named Lila before being adopted by Charlie Brown. This shocking revelation is not only released to fans, but is slowly revealed in a series of strips that peel back the layers of Snoopy’s backstory – ones that also explain why Lila will always have a special place in his heart.
Node Peanut comic strip published on August 20, 1968, Charlie Brown approaches Snoopy, who is sitting on top of his doghouse. Charlie Brown is bringing his dog a letter from someone he has never met before: Lila. Charlie Brown has heard Lila’s name before, but has never met her. Other than the fact that she sends letters to Snoopy from time to time, Charlie Brown knows nothing about her. However, this comic makes it clear that Snoopy certainly knows Lila and is irritated to hear from her.
Node Peanut comic strip published on August 21, 1968, Snoopy holds the letter from Lila that Charlie Brown gave him in the previous story, although in the first few panels he has not read it. Snoopy is reluctant to read a letter from Lila because it always makes him depressed. But, Snoopy finally accepts the bullet and reads what Lila wanted to write to him. In the last panel, Snoopy lets out a dramatic “Oh no!,” leaving Charlie Brown wondering what’s wrong.
After reading Lila’s letter, Snoopy panics at this point. Peanut comic strip published on August 22, 1968. He starts running saying “Lila needs me” while looking for any supplies he might need on his journey to visit her (which turns out to be nothing more than her dog food bowl). Once again, Charlie Brown is left wondering what is going on, although Snoopy doesn’t leave him completely in the lurch. After packing his bags and being ready to leave, Snoopy gives Charlie Brown a firm handshake, as if expressing his respect and thanks.
Node Peanut comic book published on August 24, 1968, Snoopy finally reaches his destination, and it’s a little more touching than readers would probably imagine. Snoopy went to a hospital, as Lila had been admitted due to an unknown (undisclosed) illness. She wrote to Snoopy, hoping to see her old dog during this difficult time – and Snoopy was happy to answer the call. The strip ends with Snoopy sitting next to Lila in her hospital room, with Lila overjoyed to see the puppy again.
Node Peanut comic strip published on August 29, 1968, Snoopy had already returned home as if nothing had happened after spending some time with Lila – although that wasn’t good enough for Charlie Brown. Chuck was going crazy, wondering where Snoopy went, what Lila wanted, and who Lila was. Then, Linus reveals that he discovered all this information. Linus tells Charlie Brown that Lila was Snoopy’s original owner (which is how readers also first discovered this information).
In the two comic strips that followed (August 30-31, 1968), Charlie Brown questions whether Snoopy really wanted to be his dog, or whether the puppy would rather be with Lila. But Linus assures Charlie Brown that Snoopy is happy where he is – something Snoopy himself would wholeheartedly agree with.
The Peanuts animated film “Snoopy, Come Home!” was inspired by this comic book arc
THE Peanut Comics published in August 1968 inspired the 1972 animated film
The whole story told in Peanut comic books published in August 1968 are beautifully adapted into the animated feature film “Snoopy, Come Home!” Not only were the strips themselves adapted almost frame for frame, but the film even expanded on the established plot. In the film, it is explained that Lila had to get rid of Snoopy because the apartment where she and her family lived had a no-dog rule, so Lila’s parents had to return Snoopy to the puppy farm. In the comics, it is only stated that Lila lived in an apartment, without mentioning the rule “No dogs allowed”.
Not only that, but the trip Snoopy took to see Lila was greatly expanded and even included Snoopy’s best friend, Woodstock (who was nowhere to be seen in the comics). Snoopy and Woodstock encountered a number of obstacles to seeing Lila, including an animal-obsessed little girl named Clara who they had to escape from, as well as the difficulties of simply facing it in the wild.
The biggest change the film added, however, was how the story ended. In the comics, Snoopy simply goes home to Charlie Brown. In the film, Snoopy briefly decides to be with Lila. The details of Lila’s recovery remain a mystery in the comics, but she recovers in the film and wants to bring Snoopy back home to live with her again. While Snoopy agrees – leading to a tearful goodbye from Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang – Snoopy finally returns to Charlie Brown.
Animated adaptations of Peanuts are why the comic has become so beloved
There is no doubt that Peanut is probably the most beloved comic in history, and while the strip stands on its own in terms of humor, characters, and story arcs, a big reason for that is certainly due to the animated adaptations. In effect, “Snoopy, come home!” is a testament to that statement, as it not only highlighted this story arc that may have been entirely buried by the mountain of Peanut comic books, also expanded the story in interesting ways, allowing fans to delve even deeper into the world of Peanut.
Every animated adaptation does this, from the original “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” to the fan-favorite holiday special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” And “Snoopy, come home!” is certainly no exception, as it is perhaps the most important story in terms of Snoopy’s personal character development and was inspired by one of the best Peanut story arcs in comic book history, as it revealed that Snoopy already had an owner Charlie Brown.