I composed and edited a short video essay discussing Peanuts comic strip, analyzing various aspects of how it resonates with so many people. Topics include the history of Charles Schultz’s career in comics, suburban development’s contributions to the Peanuts setting, the minimalist background and panel composition emphasizing the dialogue and characters, and how some of these characters showcase potential mental health diagnoses such as neurodivergence. I edited the video using Adobe Premiere Pro, displaying screencaps of comic panels, animated gifs from the cartoons, and scans from The Peanuts Book: A Visual History of the Iconic Comic Strip. Watching video essays is a frequent pastime of mine, and a great medium to share history and analysis in an informed, yet casual, tone. It allows viewers to learn and digest information while they do their own thing, be it drawing or laundry. I’ve gained even more respect for video essayists after trying things out myself. Writing the script, recording voiceover, collecting visuals, and editing everything together takes a lot of research, time, and energy.