Charlie Brown now works for Sony

Source: Engadget

Acquisition Details

Sony Music Entertainment Japan and Sony Pictures Entertainment have officially acquired an 80 % stake in the Peanuts franchise for $460 million. The deal, announced in December 2025 and previously pending regulatory approval, finalizes Sony’s ownership. Sony Music Japan already held a 39 % stake since 2018, meaning the transaction purchases the remaining 41 % from Canadian firm WildBrain. With the acquisition complete, Peanuts becomes a consolidated Sony subsidiary.

Background

The Peanuts universe originated as a comic strip by Charles M. Schulz in 1950. Its iconic characters—especially Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy—have become cultural staples; phrases like “Good grief!” are instantly linked to Charlie Brown. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded into numerous animated series, musical productions, and films, including A Charlie Brown Christmas and Snoopy the Musical.

This article originally appeared on Engadget: Charlie Brown now works for Sony.