Snoopy Presents: Lucy's School, also known simply as Lucy's School, is a 2022 animated television special based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. Directed by Raymond S. Persi and written by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano, it is the 49th Peanuts animated special and the fourth produced for Apple TV+. The story follows Lucy van Pelt, who opens a school of her own after becoming anxious about attending a new school.
The special was released globally on Apple TV+ on August 12, 2022. It won Best Animation Program at the 2023 Leo Awards and was nominated for Outstanding Animated Special at the second Children's and Family Emmy Awards.
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Plot
As summer vacation nears its end, Charlie Brown and his friends learn that they will attend a newly built school in the fall. Most of the children are curious about the change, but Lucy is unsettled by the prospect of unfamiliar teachers, older students, lockers, and being separated from her friends. She hides her anxiety by criticizing the new school and eventually declares that she will open a school of her own.
Lucy recruits the other children as pupils and sets up a classroom. Convinced that teaching will be easy, she presents herself as an authority on every subject. Her lessons quickly become disorganized, however, and her answers are challenged by Linus, Franklin, and Marcie. Lucy grows frustrated when the students ask questions she cannot answer and when they fail to behave as she expects. Her attempts to teach physical education and other subjects are similarly unsuccessful, while Snoopy and Woodstock create further distractions.
After the students lose confidence in her school, Lucy admits that she does not know how to teach them. Linus helps her recognize that she created the school because she was frightened by the coming changes. The others acknowledge that they are nervous as well and reassure Lucy that they will face the new school together. Lucy comes to appreciate the preparation, patience, and encouragement required of teachers.
On the first day of school, the children meet their new teacher, Miss Halverson, who welcomes them and helps ease their fears. Lucy enters the classroom with her friends, now willing to accept the change. The special concludes by recognizing teachers and the influence they have on their students.
Voice cast
Etienne Kellici as Charlie Brown
Isabella Leo as Lucy van Pelt
Wyatt White as Linus van Pelt
Terry McGurrin as Snoopy
Rob Tinkler as Woodstock
Lexi Perri as Peppermint Patty
Holly Gorski as Marcie
Caleb Bellavance as Franklin
Natasha Nathan as Patty
Charlie Boyle as Violet Gray
Jacob Soley as Pig-Pen
Matthew Mucci as Schroeder
Jacob Mazeral as José Peterson
Jackson Reid as Thibault
Hattie Kragten as Sally Brown
Production and release
Apple TV+ announced the special and released its trailer on July 29, 2022. The company described it as a celebration of educators and a story about children confronting the fear of change.
Lucy's School was directed by Raymond S. Persi and written by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano. Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Uliano also served as executive producers with Paige Braddock, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, Amir Nasrabadi, and Anne Loi. James Brown and Timothy Jason Smith produced the special for Peanuts Worldwide and WildBrain. Jeff Morrow composed the score.
The special was released globally on Apple TV+ on August 12, 2022, alongside new episodes from the second season of The Snoopy Show. It has a running time of 38 minutes.
Reception
Stephanie Snyder of Common Sense Media awarded the special four out of five stars. She praised its treatment of back-to-school anxiety, empathy toward children experiencing change, and recognition of the work performed by teachers.
