Peanuts Worldwide - March 2011

THE YEAR OF “HAPPINESS IS ...”
Launching the new year with hope, joy, and pleasure in all the big and small things that make up our lives, Peanuts proclaimed 2011 as “The Year of ‘Happiness Is…’ ” Special themed products, cross-branding partnerships, social media campaigns and nationwide activities will promote the classic Peanuts concept, which cartoonist Charles M. Schulz coined in 1960 with “Happiness is a warm puppy.” Among the partners with whom Peanuts will be working with are Cedar Fair Amusement Parks, Hallmark and Warner Premiere, who will bring us the Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown original movie released on DVD and Blu-Ray this month. The new special will be available exclusively at Walmart before moving to other mass retailers nationwide. The Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown story will also be available in several formats including the first-ever Peanuts graphic novel from Kaboom! and a picture book version from Running Press. Look out for other Happiness related happenings in March and throughout the year including everything from daily posts and tweets via www.facebook.com/snoopy and www.twitter.com/snoopy to a Happiness In New York Sweepstakes from Peanuts Butter & Co.

“HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN” SCREENING EVENT HOSTED BY BRAVO TV HOST, ANDY COHEN
On March 31, Warner Home Video and the Charles M. Schulz Museum will host a film screening, panel discussion and wine reception in celebration of the March DVD release of Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown. The animated film, which is comprised of original comic strip ideas created by Charles M. Schulz, is the first new Peanuts special released in five years. A panel discussion moderated by popular Bravo TV host and Peanuts fan, Andy Cohen along with the film’s creators will follow the screening.

PEANUTS T-SHIRT HELPS RAISE MONEY FOR JAPAN VICTIMS
A specially designed Peanuts t-shirt is currently in development to support the relief effort in Japan. The tee will be sold on the Peanuts Japan website for 2000 JPY (approximately $22) from March 31 through April 13. All proceeds will be donated to the earthquake victims.

PEANUTS AND DILBERT MOVE TO UNIVERSAL UCLICK
Peanuts is now distributed in print, online and on mobile devices by Universal Uclick, the world’s largest independent syndication company that has represented iconic strips such as Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Garfield, Cathy and Ziggy. Peanuts joins more than 200 comic strips and cartoon features on the Universal Uclick comics web portal, GoComics.com, and is available in daily GoComics emails. Another comic giant, Scott Adams’ Dilbert, has also been added into the Universal Uclick lineup. Through an agreement with Adams earlier this year, the industry leader has begun management of Dilbert.com and will begin print syndication in early summer.

PEANUTS LANDS AT ZARA HOME
This spring, Zara Home is launching a new line of Peanuts inspired kitchen items ranging from aprons and cereal bowls to mugs and serving trays. The products will be available exclusively for Zara Home Stores, Zarahome.com and Zara Home Kids in major European and Middle Eastern territories including Portugal, Spain, Germany, Andorra, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Arab Emirates, France, Greece, Netherlands, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Oman, Poland, Qatar, United Kingdom, Romania, Russia, Sweden and Turkey.

SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN AT THE WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL
Continuing a long standing celebratory tradition, Snoopy and Charlie Brown are heading to our state capital to participate in the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll. This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on Monday, April 25 with the theme of “Get Up and Go!” promoting health and wellness.

PEPSI CAMPAIGN AND NEW SNOOPY TOWN SHOPS OPEN IN JAPAN
In Japan, a new PEPSI campaign featuring Peanuts mobile phone straps designed to look like gourmet delicacies from around the world launched earlier this month. The “Snoopy World Gourmet Tour” mobile phone straps, come in 12 varieties and are attached to 500ml bottles of PEPSI and PEPSI NEX. Also in March, Kiddyland is opening two new Snoopy Town Shops in Tokyo and Nagoya, increasing the total Snoopy Town Shops in Japan to ten.