This is easily the best animated feature of the year.

I was first introduced to Charlie Brown not long after I had a better command of English. That was at about six years old, and it was through The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. Not long after that, I saw It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! The great thing about the Charlie Brown character is that everyone can relate to the youngster. Most will admit they’ve been that kid who has had the football pulled away as they tried to kick it, or the youngster trying to impress someone like the Little Red Hair Girl.

This reiteration of the cartoon (which is animated in CGI, and isn’t as bad as people have been making it out to be) goes over Charlie Brown’s school year. Also in tow: Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Franklin, Pig Pen, Peppermint Patty, Marcie…the whole gang is here!

My major concern was whether or not this would be a solid cross-generational movie. Would today’s kids and the generations previously enjoying the cartoons find entertainment in this film? From my point of view, I’d say yes. I went to go screen this on a Sunday morning; much of the theatre filled with children eating popcorn and hot dogs (at 10:30 AM, but who am I to judge?). Parents and children were in hysterics. Classic story lines like Snoopy’s battle with The Red Baron, Linus and Sally’s one-sided romance, and Schroeder’s piano-playing hysterics are all present and accounted for.

This is a great bout of nostalgia for anyone who grew up with the old cartoons, and it also welcomes new Peanuts connoisseurs with open arms. You don’t have to be a long-standing fan to enjoy it. This might have been one of the best movies I’ve seen all year – and it is certainly the best animated feature I’ve seen in 2015. For what it’s worth, it comes with my highest of recommendations. Take your kids, take your friends – it’ll be a great time.

Don’t forget to check out the trailer for The Peanuts Movie below!

Fun fact: Snoopy just celebrated a birthday! To commemorate it, the movie’s director released this clip that teaches you how to draw everyone’s favourite beagle!