In October 2015, the song “Better When I’m Dancin’” by Meghan Trainor was released as part of the soundtrack for The Peanuts Movie. I instantly fell in love with it. It’s fun, it makes me want to dance, and I really like the lyrics.

To be honest, I knew nothing about Charlie Brown or Snoopy before this. I had never read the comics or watched anything related to them. I only knew Snoopy as the cute dog printed on cups, wallets, towels, and other random items.

Not long after that, I found out that Christophe Beck composed the music for the film. I already liked his work from other movies, especially Frozen, so that made me even more interested. When I saw the trailer in the cinema a few weeks ago, it looked adorable, and I decided to watch it.

One thing you should know about me: I don’t usually watch animated movies in the cinema unless they’re musicals. Well, maybe there are a few exceptions like Inside Out last year. The funny thing is, whenever I do decide to watch an animated film, I end up loving it. And this time, The Peanuts Movie completely stole my heart.

The movie was incredibly cute. Every character was lovable in their own way. But beyond the cuteness, the story carried such a strong message.

I could relate to Charlie Brown when he didn’t have the courage to talk to the little red-haired girl. When I like someone, I often don’t have the courage to speak to them either. I used to feel like a loser compared to other girls who were taller, prettier, or skinnier. But I don’t want to think that way anymore. I’m a good person. I want to be myself, and one day someone will see me for who I truly am.

Another part that hit me was about fame and attention. When Charlie suddenly became popular at school, he started wondering whether people liked him for who he really was, or just because of that one thing he did that made everyone think he was amazing. I won’t spoil anything, don’t worry. hehe.

I didn’t even expect “Better When I’m Dancin’” to appear in the movie. When I heard it, I got tears in my eyes. I wanted to stand up and dance in the cinema. I’m a sucker for anything musical, and I’m not sorry about it. hehe.

We all want to be a winner in someone’s eyes, but we shouldn’t lose ourselves in the process. Try to be the best version of yourself, but always stay true to who you are. Learn new skills, read books, grow, and improve. But don’t change just to impress someone else.

If you watched the trailer and thought, “This looks cute,” then go see it. Animation is not just for kids anymore. Even if it seems simple or silly, sometimes it reminds you how wonderful it feels to be a child again.

There are so many more things I could say about this movie, but I don’t want to spoil it. hehe. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the film. Enjoy! (source from IMDb)

Charlie Brown: A dog doesn’t try to give advice, or judge you; they just love you for who you are. It’s nice to have someone who will just sit and listen to you.

Charlie Brown: Whenever I feel really alone, I just sit and stare into the night sky. I’ve always thought that one of those stars was *my* star, and at moments like this, I know that *my* star will always be there for me. Like a comfortable voice saying, “Don’t give up, kid.”

Charlie Brown: I just hope this new kid has never heard of me. He would know nothing of my past imperfections. It’s not often you get the opportunity to start over with a clean slate. This time things will be different.

Charlie Brown: The whole world seems to be conspiring against me. I’m just asking for a little help for once in my life.

Charlie Brown: I can’t stop thinking about it, Linus. After all the humiliating disasters she witnessed this year, why would she choose me? Was she feeling sorry for me? I don’t want her to choose me just because she was feeling sorry for me. I have slightly more dignity than that.