Charles M. Schulz, the creator ofPeanuts, revealed the secret to his franchise’s massive success: he never trusted anybody else’s opinion of his work. Reading through the iconic comic strips and rewatching all the beloved holiday specials and animated features, it’s hard to imagine anyone offering criticisms or notes to what many regard as one of the greatest cartoons in history. But, thanks to Schulz’s good judgment, fans never have to know what any of those potential critics might have said, since Schulz didn’t listen to any of them - or even sought their approval.
In an article published byHogan’s Alley,Peanutsfans were given the chance to read the remarks that Charles M. Schulz delivered at the 1994 National Cartoonists Society convention (reprinted from Hogan’s Alley #1). During his remarks, Schulz gave fans a peek into his creative process as a cartoonist, going all the way back to when he worked at a cartoon correspondence school in Minneapolis, and was sending individualPeanutscomic stripsto newspapers in the mail.
Those were the early days of Schulz’sPeanutscareer, before he became successful enough to quit his job and commit toPeanutsfull-time. However, even when he was just starting out, Schulz never wanted to hear anyone else’s opinion of his work - something he maintained his entire career.
Charles M. Schulz: I never give my work to somebody else and say, “What do you think about that?” I just don’t trust anybody. If I think it’s funny, or if I think it’s silly, I send it in anyway because I’m just trying to please myself. I never attempt to please a certain audience. I think that’s disastrous.
Schulz’s stance against seeking others’ approval of his work wasn’t a result of his ego or insecurity, but to maintain his original vision. Schulz submitted aPeanutscomic when he thought it was funny, and he used no other safeguards than that to ensure the comic’s quality, as he simply created comics that he liked and ignored everything else.
Charles M. Schulz is an Inspiration to Creators Everywhere
PeanutsCreator Has Inspired Other Famous Comic Creators
Charles M. Schulz created the comic that he wanted to read rather than trying to make a comic that he thought other people would like. By sharing that withPeanutsfans, Schulz offered creators everywhere some of the best advice they could ever receive. The creative process is an intensely personal experience, as an artist is literally creating something from nothing, and then sharing it with the world. If the artist isn’t absolutely in love with what they’ve created, other people can feel that lack of passion, and Schulz knew that right from the start.
Many creators become so obsessed with how their work will be received that they totally lose track of what made it theirs to begin with. Trying to please others has never resulted in anything more than pandering garbage, which is why every creator needs to follow in Schulz’s footsteps regarding his creative process. In fact, many comic creators already have, including DC bestseller, Tom King.
In an interview withPopverse, Tom King expresses his love ofPeanuts, and his admiration for Charles M. Schulz.
Tom King: I personally think that Peanuts is the best comic of all time in terms of combining pictures with words. I think Charles Schulz is the absolute best of the best.
King is known for his work on a number of titles includingBatman,Swamp Thing, and the iconic DC crossover eventHeroes In Crisis, just to name a few. Tom King is an accomplished comic creator in his own right, and the fact that he admires Charles Schulz only speaks to Schulz’s lasting influence. And it’s safe to assume that someone like Tom King doesn’t turn in a script he isn’t completely satisfied with, just like Schulz himself.
Charles M. Schulz’s Instincts were Why Peanuts is So Timeless
Schulz Listened to His Gut When CreatingPeanuts, & the Results Speak for Themselves
Charles Schulz’s influence can be felt throughout the comic industry, and his creative process is one that should be emulated by anyone with artistic passion. But one of the biggest standouts of Schulz’s creative process, beyond its influence, is the outcome.Peanutsis one of the most popular franchises in history, comic or otherwise, and it got that way because Charles Schulz listened to his gut.
It’s incredibly difficult to know when something is good or if it’s total crap when creating something original, as artists sometimes struggle with being objective with their own work. How did Schulz pull it off? Well, it goes back to what he said during the cartoonists convention: Schulz created the comic he wanted to read. If Schulz thought it was funny, it was ready to be published, and all he could do was take solace in the fact that he created a comic that he enjoyed reading, even if no one else did.
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Of course, the whole world enjoysPeanutsas much as Schulz did, meaning his instincts were whyPeanutshas become so timeless. Indeed,Peanuts’ creator Charles M. Schulz never trusted anybody else’s opinion of his work, and for very good reason.
Source:Popverse
Peanuts
Created by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts is a multimedia franchise that began as a comic strip in the 1950s and eventually expanded to include films and a television series. Peanuts follows the daily adventures of the Peanuts gang, with Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy at the center of them. Aside from the film released in 2015, the franchise also has several Holiday specials that air regularly on U.S. Television during their appropriate seasons.
