Franklin Armstrong moved into Charlie Brown’s neighborhood in 1968, and it was a big deal. Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comics featured only white characters at the time, and when Schulz brought Franklin in as a black friend of Charlie Brown and his team, the civil rights movement raged and the Rev. Dr. Schultz takes Franklin in as a black friend. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated just a few months ago.
The Washington Post said that Schulz maintained his position in the face of opposition, and Franklin became into a recurring figure if not a particularly significant one. But now, halfway through Black History Month, he’s starring in his own origin story and TV special, “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” which debuted on Apple TV Plus on February 16.
Franklin Armstrong moved into Charlie Brown’s neighborhood in 1968, and it was a big deal. Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comics featured only white characters at the time, and when Schulz hired Franklin to be a black friend of Charlie Brown and his team, the civil rights movement was heating up and the priest Dr. Schultz hired him as a black friend. Martin Luther King Jr. He had been assassinated just a few months earlier.
As the Washington Post noted, despite some opposition, Schultz stood his ground, and Franklin became a regular, if not particularly important, figure. But now he’s starring in his own origin story, a TV special called “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Back, Franklin,” which has been airing since February. The 16th was released on Apple TV Plus in the midst of Black History Month.
Franklin’s little-known life — and last name
Franklin and Charlie Brown, who bonded over a beach ball, met at the beach in the comic strip. In the special, when Franklin’s family relocates into Charlie Brown’s neighborhood, that meeting is recounted. The boys end up teaming up for a local soapbox derby race, and based on Charlie Brown’s prowess and good fortune in any athletic work, you should expect a bumpy ride.
This special delves deeper into Franklin’s life than the previous films. He turns out to be an army boy and on the move a lot, but finds strength in a notebook filled with his grandfather’s advice about friendship.
Franklin’s last name became Armstrong. As noted by NPR, Schulz chose the piece to honor his friend and fellow artist Rob Armstrong, who created the groundbreaking comic book series about black families called Jumpstart. In the 1990s, Mr. Schultz asked Mr. Armstrong if he could use Franklin’s name, and Mr. Armstrong agreed, calling it “tremendous honor.”
Peanuts Controversy on Apple TV Plus
Fans of feel protected by the Peanuts gang, which has been a part of American (and world) life since 1950. Animated holiday TV specials hold a special place in many people’s hearts as an annual family tradition.
However, in 2020 Apple TV Plus purchased the rights to the Peanuts catalog, angering many who wanted the show to remain free. Apple compromised and now the popular holiday sale is free for everyone for a short period of time each year until it disappears behind a subscription paywall.
There’s no free period comparable to Welcome Back, Franklin, but if you haven’t used it up yet, his aforementioned 7-day Apple TV Plus free trial comes close.