Snoopy Is on Santa’s Naughty List! ‘12 Days of Snoopy’ Creators Mark Evestaff and Rob Boutilier Talk Holiday Magic in Exclusive Interview
Reel Perspectives
November 12, 2026
Snoopy has been stealing hearts for generations, but this Christmas, everyone's favorite beagle has some explaining to do. In Apple TV's all-new holiday special, Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy, the beloved Peanuts character finds himself on Santa's naughty list, and with Christmas just 12 days away, he's determined to turn things around. Of course, knowing Snoopy, his attempts at redemption are bound to come with plenty of mischief, imagination, and a little holiday chaos.
Premiering globally Friday, November 13, the latest installment in the acclaimed Snoopy Presents collection brings a fresh perspective to the holiday traditions that have made Charles M. Schulz's characters part of our lives for decades. While the Peanuts gang is doing its best to stay on Santa's good side, Snoopy discovers that getting into the Christmas spirit involves something far more meaningful than presents.
Ahead of the premiere, Reel Perspectives sat down with executive producer Mark Evestaff and director Rob Boutilier for an exclusive conversation about bringing Snoopy's latest Christmas adventure to life, honoring the legacy of the original Peanuts specials, and why these timeless characters continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Both filmmakers have helped shape a new era of Peanuts animation. Evestaff is a multi-award-winning executive producer with more than 20 years of industry experience, including serving as showrunner of the Emmy-nominated Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show. Boutilier, meanwhile, has been involved with WildBrain Studios' Peanuts productions since 2018, serving as series director of Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show, animation director on the Emmy-winning documentary Who Are You, Charlie Brown?, and executive producer and series director of Camp Snoopy. His credits also include Snoopy Presents: There's No Place Like Home, Snoopy.
Together, they've spent years finding new ways to celebrate Schulz's beloved characters without losing the humor, sincerity, and unmistakable charm that made Peanuts a cultural institution. But creating a new Peanuts Christmas special also comes with enormous expectations, especially when A Charlie Brown Christmas remains one of the most cherished holiday television traditions. Evestaff acknowledged that challenge, explaining that the team approached the project with tremendous respect for Schulz and legendary animator Bill Melendez. Rather than attempting to recreate the original Christmas classic, the filmmakers wanted to build upon its legacy while giving Snoopy an adventure that could stand on its own. Our conversation also took a more fun turn when both filmmakers revealed who are their favorite Peanuts characters!
What makes Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy especially appealing is its ability to embrace the nostalgia of classic Peanuts while giving Snoopy room to create his own Christmas memories. The humor is familiar, the characters remain endearing, and beneath all the holiday mischief is a heartfelt reminder that kindness and generosity matter more than anything wrapped beneath the tree.
In our exclusive Reel Perspectives interview, Evestaff and Boutilier share the creative decisions behind the special, the pressure of following a Christmas classic, and the characters who mean the most to them.
Watch our exclusive interview below.
Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy is available to stream on Friday, November 13, exclusively on Apple TV.
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