One of Peanut most underrated characters was also one of the strangest, asThe “Talking School Building” was a supporting character in some of Charles Schulz’s most irreverent yet fondly remembered cartoons. Offering sarcastic jokes, heartfelt one-liners, and even occasionally wistful moments, the Peanut School construction is a more multifaceted character than many might assume.
In particular, the school building formed a special bond with Sally Brown, although their relationship began somewhat acrimoniously, especially after Sally’s demise, as Peanut progressed, Sally began to reciprocate the affection that the school building had for her.
Surprisingly, the school building was also central to one of the Peanut most painful moments, when the School purposely collapsed one night. Although a second School was introduced to the panel, the magic of the first was truly difficult to replicate, even if similar stories continued to the end. Peanut‘publication.
10
“It’s a life”
First published: September 3, 1974
THE Peanut In fact, the school building began talking the day before this panel was published, in early September 1974. The school immediately became a comedic foil for Sally, who was particularly notorious among the Peanut Gang for his hatred of school; here, when Sally begs the building to “think of all the misery [it’s] caused!“and begs if this bothers you, the School remains expressionless:”It’s a life!“
Although the sudden introduction of a talking building may have confused Peanut Readers of the time, in retrospect, Charles Schulz’s experimentation with an inanimate character led to one of the most unexpectedly delightful dynamics in cartoon history, between the School and Sally – which started out as hilariously controversial, but over time became something like camaraderie.
9
“This isn’t the greatest thrill of my life either, kid!”
First published: September 10, 1974
Sally’s appreciation for the School Building grew surprisingly quickly, and it all started when she realized that the School Building listened to her complaints – while most others, like the principal, the PTA, or the Board of Education, never gave her that courtesy. in the past.
Over time, the school building became a kind of sounding board and therapist for Sally. Hilariously, a week after starting to talk to the School, an ill Sally was already worried that she would worry about where she was, insisting that her brother Charlie Brown explain her absence. When he murmurs that he “looks like a fool“talking to a wall, the school hilariously responds: “This ain’t the biggest thrill of my life either, boy.”
8
“I can’t believe it! Someone loves me!”
First published: September 17, 1974
After being out of school for several days, Sally apparently had some sort of epiphany while off-duty. On her first day back at school, Sally goes to the school building and talks about how it has changed her outlook on school, going so far as to say that she actually enjoys going to school now. She even embraces the School, making the building think”I can’t believe it! Someone loves me!”
It’s safe to say that no one before Sally has been so kind to the School Building, making it rare for the School Building to feel like anyone cares about him – officially marking the story of a beautiful friendship between the two.
7
“Treat her right, kid. I’m the jealous type!”
First published: October 15, 1974
Linus always hated being called Sally’s boyfriend – but he rarely faced such severe repercussions for disputing their relationship status as when he did so within earshot of the school building. When Sally introduces Linus to the school building, calling him her boyfriend, Linus freaks out, screaming that there is no such thing. The school building is protective of Sally, perhaps too protective, as he immediately drops a brick on Linus’ head, informing the injured elementary school student that he is “the jealous type.“
The School Building has repeatedly hit the Van Pelt kids with bricks over the years, starting with this cartoon – which took the recurring part of the School Building being alive to the next level, making it about more than just thinking and feel, but actually act – and aggressively, at that.
6
“Over the years I’ve learned a few things”
First published: October 29, 1974
In this classic Peanut panel, Sally Brown struggles with some difficult math work – however, the equations are too easy for the school building, which notes that it has “I learned some things“During its time, it housed generations of students.
What’s interesting about this cartoon is the way it shows the school building becoming a more detailed character in its own right. Although he was well established as a supporting character to Sally at this point, here Charles Schulz reverses the roles; in fact, it is the school building that is the cartoon’s central character, with Sally making only a brief appearance as part of the setup for the joke.
5
“Don’t criticize us seniors, boy!”
First published: August 31, 1975
Lucy is known as the hothead of Peanut cast, with a well-deserved reputation for being grumpy much of the time – but few characters in the strip’s history have had as little tolerance for his attitude as the school building. In this panel, when Lucy gets angry because summer is over and she has to go back to school, she insults the School Building, who doesn’t take this lightly. Instead, the school building throws a brick at his head, giving him an additional warning not to insult the elderly, that as an ancient building, the School considers itself.
Although Lucy went overboard with her angry outburst, throwing a brick at her head was perhaps a bit much – but it was clearly a joke that Charles Schulz loved, as it was a violent and cartoonish refrain for the Scool Building-centric cartoons strip over the years.
4
“I’d like to be the Sistine Chapel too, boy, but I’m not.”
First published: January 5, 1976
Sally, as many children would rather be”a big TV star“than an ordinary child, who had to attend primary school. Listening to Sally’s wish, the school building mourns, watching”I’d like to be the Sistine Chapel too, boy. But I’m not!”
In a somewhat unusually tragic turn of events for Peanutthis argument about wanting to be someone between Sally and School Building actually led to School having an existential crisis, which developed into a depression, causing it to collapse in on itself. This unexpected turn of events brought a dramatic conclusion to one of Sally’s most meaningful friendships, but unfortunately for her, it wasn’t her need to go to school.
3
“I would cry, but I hate ruining my windows”
First published: January 8, 1976
This comic strip was a watershed moment for the school building; that Peanut The panel portrayed the School reflecting on the negative aspects of its life, such as the teachers and principal complaining and the janitors hating it. After this negative spiral, full of self-destructive thoughts, it was revealed in the next comic strip that the school building collapsed during the night, giving up on life.
Upon finding out when Charlie Brown read about the meltdown in the newspaper and explained that they didn’t need to go to school that day, Sally was surprisingly devastated rather than overjoyed. This was a dramatic twist for this storyline, but it also brought a unique character twist for Sally, which impacted how she was written from that point on in Peanuts history.
2
“First day of work, I come across a stranger”
First published: September 7, 1976
After the original school building collapsed in on itself, a new school building was built in its place. Sally kept busy during the construction process by befriending the school building she was temporarily in, which happened to be Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and Franklin’s school. For someone who disliked school as much as Sally, her friendship with various school buildings was a fascinating trait.
When Sally sees the new school building, she decides to inform him about her last school’s nervous breakdown and her thoughts on the whole matteralthough the New School Building does not accept this useful information. Instead, he just thinks Sally is a total weirdo, setting a strange precedent for his “first day of work.”
1
“I want to go home!”
First published: September 8, 1976
The New School Building and Sally didn’t get off to a great start, with the New School Building thinking that Sally was a weirdo who shared too much information with him too quickly. This didn’t deter Sally, as she continued to speak to the New School Building, even giving her some advice and words of wisdom.
This amounted to informing the New School Building of all the things that could happen to it, such as being vandalized and insulted.; In this way, Sally did her best to mentally prepare the character, although perhaps it wasn’t as helpful as she thought. After hearing Sally’s intimidating warnings, the New School Building understandably wanted to go home, or really be somewhere else. Unfortunately for the New School Building, there was no change and would continue to have to put up with Sally and the other members of the Peanut Gang for years to come.