We all have read the comic strip where a beagle was seen wearing an aviator’s helmet and goggles and a scarf while carrying a swagger stick. And recently that comic strip was brought to life in a 3D computer animated comedy film, The Peanuts Movie which was produced by Blue Sky Studios. The loyal, innocent, imaginative and good-natured beagle Snoopy who’s the pet of Charlie Brown made his debut in The Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz on 4 October, 1950. Owing to his popularity and keeping in mind the fact that he’s one of the most recognisable and iconic characters in the comic strip; Snoopy has now got himself yet another museum and this time in Japan.
Peanuts is regarded as one of the most influential and well written comic strips of all time and since Snoopy has won over legions of fans around the world, including Japan, it was the correct time to bring him to Japan. “Japan as a culture has an appreciation for comics and that probably helped some,” said Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, creative director Paige Braddock.
Based in Tokyo, the temporary museum is the first official satellite of the California based Charles M. Schulz Museum outside the United States and kicks off with a “My Favourite Peanuts” exhibition. On display are items including original cartoons and large scale works by Schulz, whose Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy.
“As a cartoonist and fan myself, I love coming to Japan and seeing the wide array of other comic characters here but I also think there’s a sort of a calligraphy component to Schulz’s work, his pen work that may be appealed to Japanese fans early on.”
The comics strip ceased its existence, after the cartoonist died at the age of 77. The comic strip has featured in more than 2,600 newspapers worldwide.
Japan itself has many anime and manga characters and it’s the place where the masterful storyteller Hayao Miyazaki and his artstyle resides. So seems like like Snoopy will have to compete with other cartoon characters such as Hello Kitty and manga heroes.
“I think a little bit of our challenge is introducing fans to Snoopy who may don’t know Snoopy,” Braddock further added. “But once they discover Snoopy, there are universal truths in the comic that I think appeal to every generation… because the comic is not just about humor it’s about relationships, it’s about failures, it’s about joy, it really runs the whole range of human emotion and storytelling.”
The Snoopy Museum Tokyo opens to the public on Saturday and is scheduled to change its contents every 6 months to appeal to a wider range of visitors and will close its doors in September 2018.