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The Snowman
GenreChristmas
Based onThe Snowman
by Raymond Briggs
Directed byDianne Jackson
Starring
  • Raymond Briggs (Original version)
  • David Bowie (Re-released version)
Music byHoward Blake
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerJohn Coates
Running time26 minutes
Production companyTVC London
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release26 December 1982 (1982-12-26)

The Snowman is a 1982 British animated television film and symphonic poem[1] based on Raymond Briggs's 1978 picture book The Snowman. It was directed by Dianne Jackson for Channel 4. It was first shown on 26 December 1982, and was an immediate success. It was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 55th Academy Awards and won a BAFTA TV Award.

The story is told through pictures, action and music, scored by Howard Blake. It has no dialogue, with the exception of the central song, "Walking in the Air". The orchestral score was performed by the Sinfonia of London and the song was performed by Peter Auty, a St Paul's Cathedral choirboy.[2]

The film ranked at number 71 on the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, a list drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, based on a vote by industry professionals.[3] It was voted number 4 in UKTV Gold's Greatest TV Christmas Moments. It came third in Channel 4's poll of 100 Greatest Christmas Moments in 2004. Its broadcast, usually on Christmas Eve on Channel 4, has become an annual festive event in the UK.[4]

A sequel, The Snowman and the Snowdog, was released in 2012.[5]

Plot

[edit]

In a rural area of Brighton, after a night of heavy snowfall on Christmas Eve, a young boy named James wakes up and plays in the snow, eventually building a large snowman. At the stroke of midnight, he puts on his dressing gown and sneaks downstairs to find the snowman who magically comes to life. James shows the snowman around his house, playing with appliances, toys and other bric-à-brac, all while keeping quiet enough not to wake James' parents. The two find a sheeted-down motorcycle in the house's garden and go for a ride on it through the woods. Its engine heat starts to melt the snowman and he cools off by luxuriating in the garage freezer.

Seeing a picture of the Arctic on a packet in the freezer, the snowman is agitated and takes matters into his own hands by taking James in his hand, running through the garden until they take flight, much to James' surprise. As "Walking in the Air" plays, James and the snowman fly over the South Downs towards the Channel coast, seeing the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Palace Pier, and north along the coast of Norway. They continue through an arctic landscape and into the aurora borealis. They land in a snow-covered forest in the North Pole where they join a party of snowmen and snowwomen. They eventually meet Father Christmas along with his reindeer; he gives James a card and a scarf with a snowman pattern. The snowman returns home with James before the sun rises and the two bid farewell for the night as the snowman returns to his original position, becoming lifeless again.

The following morning, James wakes up to find that the snowman has melted, leaving only his hat, scarf, coal eyes, tangerine nose, and coat buttons in a pile of melted snow. A saddened James finds his scarf, indicating the events really took place and were not a dream, as he kneels down by the snowman's remains.

Alternative introductions

[edit]

The original introduction on Channel 4 features Raymond Briggs walking through a field in rural Sussex describing his inspiration for the story, which then transitions into the animated landscape of the film (the idea being that he is doing so in character as an older version of James). The film's executive producer Iain Harvey had received interest in the film from U.S. networks and for a VHS release. However, he noted that "in the US programmes were sponsored, and to be sponsored you needed a big name". Various names such as Laurence Olivier and Julie Andrews were suggested, but a request for a rock star led to David Bowie being involved. He was a fan of Briggs's story When the Wind Blows and later provided a song for its animated adaptation. In the sequence, Bowie was filmed in the attic of 'his' childhood home and discovering, in a drawer, a scarf closely resembling the one given to James towards the end of the film;[6] he then proceeds to narrate over the opening with his own small variation of Briggs' monologue.

To celebrate the film's 20th anniversary, Channel 4 created an alternative opening directed by Roger Mainwood, with Raymond Briggs's interpretation of Father Christmas recounting how he met James, before giving his own variation on Briggs' monologue (including how the heavy snow left even him unable to fly) as he turns on his TV to watch the film, which the opening segues into.[7] Comedian Mel Smith reprises the role in this opening. This version is also cropped to fit a 16:9 widescreen format. Channel 4 used this opening from 2002 until Mel Smith's death in 2013, after which the Bowie opening was reinstated, which in turn returned the film to its original 4:3 aspect ratio.

Production

[edit]

Source book

[edit]
Main article: The Snowman (picture book)

The Snowman is a wordless children's picture book by Raymond Briggs, first published in 1978 by Hamish Hamilton in the United Kingdom, and published by Random House in the United States in November of the same year. In the United Kingdom, it was the runner-up for the Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British writer.[8] In the United States, it was named to the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list in 1979.

Adaptation

[edit]

Iain Harvey, the film's executive producer and publisher at Hamish Hamilton, recalls that the book had initially sold well, but a second print had been less successful with 50,000 unsold copies sitting in a warehouse, which he attributes to the lack of dialogue preventing it being read as a bedtime story.[9] In 1980 he was contacted by producer John Coates from TVC (Television Cartoons) with an idea of adapting the book for an animated film, for which he gave his consent.[9][6]

In March 1982, Coates presented an "animatic" storyboard version with a basic piano track by Howard Blake, including an early version of "Walking in the Air" to commissioning executives at the fledgeling Channel 4, a new public service television company which was due to begin broadcasting in November 1982.[6] The director Dianne Jackson had worked with Coates on The Beatles' Yellow Submarine and had mainly worked on short animations and commercials; this was her first time directing a longer animated film. As a result, the experienced animator Jimmy T. Murakami was brought in to supervise.[9] The film was produced using traditional animation techniques, consisting of pastels, crayons and other colouring tools drawn on pieces of celluloid, which were traced over hand drawn frames. For continuity purposes, the background artwork was painted using the same tools.[9]

The story was expanded to fill 26 minutes and include a longer flying sequence which takes the boy to the North Pole and a party with Father Christmas which is not present in the picture book. The animators also brought in personal touches – a static sequence with a car is replaced by a motorcycle ride, as one of the animators was a keen motorcyclist and it was noted by Iain Harvey that this sequence kept "the action flowing after all the fun and comedy of the boy and the Snowman exploring the house and forming a friendship – and what could be better than a midnight run in a snowy landscape".[9] Similarly, although the boy in the book is unnamed, in the film he is named "James" on his present tag, added by animator Joanna Harrison as it was the name of her boyfriend (later her husband).[6][10] Interviewed in 2012, Raymond Briggs recalls that he thought "'It's a bit corny and twee, dragging in Christmas', as The Snowman had nothing to do with that, but it worked extremely well."[11]

The boy's home appears to be located in the South Downs of England, near to Brighton; he and the snowman fly over the Royal Pavilion and Palace Pier. Raymond Briggs had lived in Sussex since 1961, and the composer Howard Blake was also a native of the county.[2][12]

Music

[edit]

The production team contacted Howard Blake early in the production, as they were having difficulties finding the right tone for adapting the wordless picture book. Blake suggested that the film should not feature dialogue, but instead a through-composed orchestral soundtrack. He recalls the song "Walking in the Air" was written some years earlier during a difficult period in his life, and the song formed the main theme for the work.[13][2] In 2021, Blake told the Financial Times that he wanted to incorporate the lyrics with "a symphony that expressed the complete innocence and beauty that we are all born with." Blake further brought up his religion, stating "It felt as though the idea came from God."[13]

Howard Blake's orchestral score was performed in the film by the Sinfonia of London.[2] The song "Walking in the Air" is sung in the film by chorister Peter Auty,[14] who was not credited in the original version. He was given a credit on the 20th anniversary version.

In 1985, "Walking in the Air" was covered by chorister Aled Jones in a single which peaked at number five on the UK singles chart. Jones is sometimes mistakenly credited with having sung the song in the film.[15] Blake's soundtrack for The Snowman is often performed as a standalone concert work, often accompanying a projection of the film or sometimes with a narrator (the version for narrator was first performed by Bernard Cribbins in Summer 1983).[16]

Reception

[edit]

Awards

[edit]

The film was nominated as Best Animated Short Film at the 55th Academy Awards in 1983, but lost to the Polish film Tango by Zbigniew Rybczyński.[17] It won a BAFTA for best Children's Programme (Entertainment/Drama) at the 1983 British Academy Television Awards, and was also nominated for Best Graphics. It won the Grand Prix at the Tampere Film Festival in Finland in 1984.[17] It was named to the ALA Notable Children's Videos list in 1982.[18]

In the British Film Institute's 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, a list drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, based on a vote by industry professionals it was listed as #71.[3] It was voted #4 in UKTV Gold's Greatest TV Christmas Moments. It came third in Channel 4's poll of 100 Greatest Christmas Moments in 2004.

In a 2022 article, Stuart Heritage praised the film's visuals and themes, particularly noting how the final sequence reflects Briggs' theme that life is fleeting.[19]

Home media

[edit]

The Snowman was originally released on VHS in 1982 by Palace Video. It has been re-released several times by Palace and later PolyGram Video, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment UK after Palace went out of business.

In 1993 it was released on VHS in the US by Columbia TriStar Home Video.

The Snowman was re-released in 2002 as a DVD special edition and again as a DVD and Blu-ray 30th anniversary edition in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2012 by Universal Studios Home Entertainment UK. The 2002 special edition peaked at No.3 in the video charts. The 2012 home video release includes four extra features: a "Snow Business" documentary, "The Story of The Snowman", storyboard, and the introductions used throughout the film's first 20 years. The film re-entered at No.14 on the UK Official children’s Video Chart on 11 November 2012, eventually peaking at No.5 on 16 December 2012 based on sales of DVDs and other physical formats.

The Universal DVD The Snowman & Father Christmas (902 030 – 11), released in the United Kingdom in 2000, uses the Bowie opening.[20]

Subsequent media

[edit]

The Snowman and the Snowdog

[edit]
Main article: The Snowman and the Snowdog

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original short and of Channel 4, a 25-minute special titled The Snowman and the Snowdog aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve 2012.[21] Produced at the London-based animation company Lupus Films,[22] with many of the original team returning, the sequel was made in the same traditional techniques as the first film, and features the Snowman, a new young boy named Billy and a snow dog flying over landmarks and going to another party.[23]

The idea of a sequel had been resisted by Raymond Briggs for several years, but he gave his permission for the film in 2012.[24] Howard Blake was one of the few crew members not asked to return; he was allegedly asked to "send a demo", which he refused citing the success of the original score.[25] The new film instead features the song "Light the Night" by former Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows and incidental music by Ilan Eshkeri.[26]

The sequel was dedicated to the memory of producer John Coates,[27] who died in September 2012, during its production.[28]

Stage version

[edit]

The Snowman has been made into a stage show. It was first produced by Contact Theatre, Manchester in 1986[29] and was adapted and produced by Anthony Clark. It had a full script and used Howard Blake's music and lyrics. In 1993, Birmingham Repertory Company produced a version, with music and lyrics by Howard Blake, scenario by Blake, with Bill Alexander and choreography by Robert North.

Since 1997, Sadler's Wells has presented it every year as the Christmas Show at the Peacock Theatre. As in the book and the film, there are no words, apart from the lyrics of the song "Walking in the Air". The story is told through images and movement.

Special effects include the Snowman and boy flying high over the stage (with assistance of wires and harnesses) and 'snow' falling in part of the auditorium. The production has had several revisions – the most extensive happening in 2000, when major changes were made to the second act, introducing new characters: A Beautiful Ice Princess and a villain called Jack Frost.

Video game

[edit]

Quicksilva published an official video game in 1984, for the ZX Spectrum,[30] Commodore 64, and MSX.

See also

[edit]
  • Granpa, Dianne Jackson's second animated film for Channel 4, with music by Howard Blake.
  • Father Christmas – Briggs's earlier two works Father Christmas and Father Christmas Goes on Holiday were combined into a film which was released in 1991. It features the snowmen's party at the North Pole from this film, about a year or so after this film's events. The young boy and the snowman from this film are seen in the background during this segment.
  • The Bear – another book by Raymond Briggs which was also adapted into a 26-minute animated version and like this film was conveyed through music and action.
  • List of Christmas films

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Snowman

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Snowman is a wordless children's written and illustrated by British author , first published in 1978 by in the . The story centers on a young boy who builds a snowman in his garden on ; that night, the snowman comes to life, and the two embark on a magical wordless adventure, flying across landmarks like the and before arriving at the to meet . Praised for its exquisite pencil drawings and evocative portrayal of childhood wonder and fleeting friendship, the book has sold over 5.5 million copies worldwide as of 2024 and remains a perennial holiday favorite. In 1982, The Snowman was adapted into a 26-minute animated television short film directed by Dianne Jackson and produced by John Coates for TVC London, retaining the book's dialogue-free format while incorporating an original orchestral score by Howard Blake. The film's soundtrack features the poignant song "Walking in the Air," performed by choirboy Peter Auty, which was released as a single and peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart in 1985. Premiering on Channel 4 on December 26, 1982, the special received widespread acclaim, winning a British Academy Children's Award (BAFTA) for Best Children's Programme and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film. It has aired annually as part of British Christmas programming ever since, cementing its status as a cultural icon. Beyond its original forms, The Snowman has inspired numerous adaptations, including a 2012 sequel short film The Snowman and the Snowdog, stage musical versions performed at venues like the Peacock Theatre in London since 1997, and extensive merchandise. Raymond Briggs (1934–2022), known for other classics like Father Christmas and The Snowman and the Snowdog, drew from his own experiences to create this timeless tale, which explores themes of joy, loss, and imagination without a single word.

Plot

Main storyline

The 1982 animated film The Snowman, inspired by Raymond Briggs' 1978 picture book of the same name, centers on a young boy living in a rural English home who awakens on Christmas Eve to a fresh snowfall and spends the day constructing a snowman in the garden, complete with a scarf, hat, carrot nose, and coal buttons. As midnight approaches, the snowman magically animates, its eyes glowing with life, and it taps on the boy's bedroom window to invite him outside. The boy, thrilled, joins the snowman in an exploration of the house, where the snowman curiously interacts with household items: it delights in the Christmas tree decorations, peers into the television set, experiments with the refrigerator's ice maker, and playfully dons the father's tie, glasses, and braces. The adventure escalates when the snowman leads the boy outdoors, and by holding hands, they lift off into a soaring flight across moonlit landscapes, passing over rolling hills, a glittering where a whale breaches the surface, and urban lights below, all underscored by the haunting melody of "." Their path carries them northward to the , where they arrive at a lavish gathering hosted by in his grand workshop, surrounded by his . The boy and snowman join a vibrant of international snowmen—depicted in traditional attire from various cultures—engaging in dances, games on an outdoor (where a clumsy penguin waiter slips and slides comically), and festive revelry that captures a sense of joyful wonder. presents the boy with a special adorned in a snowman motif as a token of the night's magic. As dawn breaks, the duo flies back to the boy's home, sharing a tender embrace before the snowman returns to its spot in the garden. The exhausted boy climbs into bed and falls asleep, only to awaken in the morning and discover the snowman has melted into a puddle amid the warming sunlight, leaving behind just the hat, scarf, and remnants of coal—a poignant reminder of the ephemeral joy they shared. The film's 26-minute runtime employs wordless storytelling through Dianne Jackson's evocative hand-drawn animation and Howard Blake's orchestral score, emphasizing themes of childhood wonder, friendship, and inevitable loss, with the sole vocal element being the choir-sung "Walking in the Air" during the flight sequence.

Variations in versions

In various re-releases and broadcasts of the 1982 animated film The Snowman, alterations have primarily involved introductory segments and technical adjustments to accommodate modern formats, while preserving the core silent narrative. The original television premiere on included no spoken introduction, allowing the visuals and score to unfold immediately. However, the 1982 British VHS release by Palace Video added a narrated prologue by , in which he evokes the story's wonder over the opening snowfall sequence, enhancing the film's accessibility for home viewing. This Bowie introduction was later featured as bonus content on the UK Special Edition DVD. Subsequent editions introduced further introductory variations. The 25th anniversary DVD release incorporated a fully animated Father Christmas segment, voiced by , which frames the film as a festive tale. This edition also offered an optional narration track by the same character throughout the runtime, providing spoken guidance for younger audiences without altering the . An earlier version preserved the narration by author himself, delivering a concise setup of the snowy evening in his distinctive style. These changes reflect efforts to refresh the film's presentation for anniversary milestones and home media, with the 2002 DVD special edition compiling multiple such extras. For television airings, particularly Channel 4's longstanding annual broadcasts since , minor technical modifications have addressed runtime and display compatibility. The film's original 26-minute length has occasionally been trimmed slightly for scheduling within blocks, though no elements are removed. More notably, later broadcasts adapted the original 4:3 to 16:9 , involving minor cropping or stretching to fit contemporary screens, a common practice for legacy animations to maintain visual appeal. End credits across versions show subtle differences, such as varying distributor logos (e.g., Palace Video on early ) and fade-outs aligned with the score's resolution, but the core acknowledgments of director , composer , and producer John Coates remain consistent post-1982 releases. International adaptations maintain the film's wordless essence, focusing on rather than content changes. Non-English releases, such as European and North American DVD editions, typically include for the "" lyrics, rendered in languages like French, German, and Spanish. Some markets offer dubbed audio for the and any introductory , but the visual and plot remain untouched, ensuring the universal appeal of the boy-snowman adventure. For instance, the U.S. DVD version provides closed-captioning and optional alongside the original English audio.

Production

Source material

The Snowman is a wordless created and illustrated by British author , first published in 1978 by Hamish Hamilton in . The narrative follows a young boy in suburban who builds a snowman that magically comes to life overnight, leading to an enchanting nocturnal adventure across snowy landscapes and fantastical scenes. The story incorporates semi-autobiographical elements drawn from Briggs' own childhood in 1950s Wimbledon, where he grew up in a built in 1914; the boy's home in the book closely mirrors this family residence, evoking the everyday domesticity of post-war British life. Central to the book are themes of childhood innocence and imagination, portraying the pure wonder of a boy's friendship with his snowman companion amid a wintry world. It also conveys the transience of joy through the snowman's inevitable melting at dawn, introducing a subtle undercurrent of melancholy that reflects the fleeting nature of magical moments, though Briggs emphasized this was not intended as a direct allegory for loss or death. Briggs' artistic style emphasizes detailed, realistic illustrations in soft pencil, grounding the fantastical elements in meticulously observed suburban details like cluttered bedrooms and frost-covered gardens, which enhance the emotional intimacy of the tale. The book was initially published as a standalone children's title and received positive acclaim for its innovative wordless format, which encouraged young readers to interpret the visuals independently, establishing it as a modern classic in British children's literature. Prior to its 1982 animated adaptation, The Snowman had no prior screen or theatrical versions, allowing the original work to stand on its merits as a poignant, self-contained picture book.

Adaptation and animation

The animated adaptation of ' wordless picture book The Snowman was commissioned by the fledgling television channel in 1981. The project was produced by John Coates at TVC London, the UK's longest-established animation studio, and directed by in her feature directorial debut. The production utilized traditional cel , a technique where animators hand-drew characters and moving elements on transparent sheets that were layered over painted backgrounds to create depth and motion. This approach allowed for a realistic rendering of the English countryside settings, drawn from ' original illustrations, while enabling the fluid, dreamlike movements essential to the story's magical flight sequences across snowy landscapes and fantastical realms. Key challenges included adhering strictly to the book's wordless format, conveying the entire narrative through expressive visuals and gesture without dialogue, which demanded precise timing and emotional clarity in every frame. played a consultative role, recording an introduction for early screenings and approving aspects of the to maintain fidelity to his visual style and the story's poignant, bittersweet tone. The budget, initially set at £100,000 from , ultimately escalated to £500,000 due to the labor-intensive animation process, with TVC London covering the overrun to complete the 26-minute .

Music and score

The music for the 1982 animated film The Snowman was composed by , who created a full symphonic score to accompany the wordless narrative. The score was recorded in 1982 and performed by the Sinfonia of London under Blake's direction, providing an orchestral foundation that drives the emotional progression of the story through its melodic and atmospheric elements. Blake's composition emphasizes the film's reliance on visual and auditory storytelling, with no spoken to interrupt the flow. A central element of the score is the song "Walking in the Air," for which Blake wrote both the lyrics and melody to underscore the pivotal flight scene. The original recording featured 13-year-old boy soprano Peter Auty from St. Paul's Cathedral choir, who performed it uncredited at the time; the track was added to the completed orchestral recording at De Lane Lea Studios in London. In 1985, Aled Jones re-recorded the song for a single release, which gained widespread popularity but was not part of the film's initial production. The score's structure consists of interconnected orchestral pieces that highlight key narrative moments, such as the playful "Building a Snowman" motif during the construction and lively dances in the midnight party scene, including the "Dance of the Snowmen" and "Music Box Dance." These segments employ colorful —strings for whimsy, woodwinds for tenderness, and brass for grandeur—to synchronize with the , enhancing the film's magical and melancholic tone without verbal cues.

Release

Broadcast history

The Snowman premiered on British television on on 26 December 1982, during the network's inaugural year. Produced specifically for the channel, the 26-minute animated short aired as part of its first schedule and received positive reviews despite modest initial ratings. Since its debut, The Snowman has become a staple of 's programming, airing annually on or around or Day. The film typically broadcasts multiple times during the holiday period without commercial interruptions in recent years, maintaining its status as a family viewing tradition in the UK. In 2024, it aired on at 8:05 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and on Day at 6:25 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. Internationally, the film has been distributed to various networks, including airings on in the during the 1990s. It has also appeared on other public broadcasters worldwide, contributing to its global recognition as a classic. As of 2025, it is available for streaming in the on platforms such as and . To mark its 40th anniversary in 2022, Channel 4 commissioned a special animated ident featuring the Snowman and the boy in a snowy landscape with the network logo, which aired alongside the film's broadcast.

Home media

The Snowman was first released on home video in the United Kingdom on VHS by Palace Video in December 1982. A LaserDisc edition followed in the late 1980s, including a Japanese theatrical version released by CBS/Sony in 1989. A DVD arrived in 2002, featuring bonus content such as a making-of documentary titled Snow Business, storyboards, an animatic, and alternative introductions by and . The film saw a Blu-ray release in as part of a 30th anniversary edition, which included the core alongside restored extras from prior versions. Certain editions of this Blu-ray bundled the original with its sequel, . As of 2025, The Snowman is available for digital streaming on platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Channel 4's on-demand service, with availability rotating on ad-supported options like Pluto TV.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release in 1982, The Snowman was widely praised for its visual beauty and emotional resonance, with critics highlighting the film's hand-drawn animation that captured a sense of fleeting magic. The wordless storytelling, conveyed through expert pantomime and an orchestral score, was noted as an innovative approach that allowed the visuals and music to drive the narrative. However, some reviewers critiqued the melancholy ending, where the snowman melts, as potentially too poignant for young children, emphasizing themes of loss over unmitigated joy. Over the decades, the film has garnered enduring acclaim, holding an 80% approval rating from critics on based on five reviews, and a 91% audience score from over 1,000 ratings as of 2025. It has been lauded in animation histories for its influence on specials, marking a pivotal moment in British Christmas television as Channel 4's first major animated offering and setting a standard for emotional depth in the genre. In polls, such as the British Film Institute's 2000 list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, The Snowman ranked at number 71, reflecting its strong nostalgic appeal among viewers. The film's broadcasts have consistently drawn significant audiences, with combined annual viewership for The Snowman and its sequel reaching approximately 7.3 million in the UK on Channel 4.

Awards and honors

The Snowman received several notable accolades following its 1982 television premiere. At the 1983 , it won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Children's Programme (Entertainment/Drama), recognizing producer John Coates for the film's engaging storytelling and animation. The film was also nominated in the same ceremony for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Graphics, credited to director and author . Internationally, The Snowman earned a for Best Animated at the in 1983, though it did not win. It secured the Grand Prix at the 1984 Tampere International Festival, awarded to director for its artistic excellence in . The film's theme song, "Walking in the Air" composed by , received a for Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the 30th in 1985.

Legacy

Cultural impact

The Snowman has established itself as a cornerstone of British , with annual broadcasts on drawing generations of viewers since its 1982 premiere. Regarded as an enduring holiday classic, it evokes nostalgia and has been parodied in media, including a 2006 advertisement that humorously reimagined the snowman's adventure. Fans continue to honor its creator, , through visits to exhibitions and paths in that inspired the story, such as those near his longtime home in Westmeston. The film's theme song, "Walking in the Air" by , has transcended its origins to become a holiday staple, with Aled Jones's 1985 recording peaking at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and earning widespread acclaim. Covered by diverse artists including in a symphonic metal style and in a pop rendition, the track has appeared in concerts, albums, and seasonal performances, amplifying the film's emotional resonance. Beyond direct adaptations, The Snowman has influenced wordless by exemplifying narrative power through visuals and alone, inspiring similar silent techniques in later works. Its cultural footprint extends to merchandise, notably the Royal Mint's 2022 50p coin commemorating the film and its sequel , which celebrates the story's magical legacy. In media analyses since 2020, the film's poignant ending has sparked discussions on and transience, though Briggs emphasized it was not a deliberate for personal loss.

Subsequent works

The primary subsequent work extending the narrative of The Snowman is the 2012 animated short film , directed by Hilary Audus and produced by Lupus Films for to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original film. Set 30 years after the events of the original, the story follows a young boy named Billy, who moves into the same house as the boy from The Snowman and builds a new snowman alongside his deceased dog's lookalike companion; the creations come to life for a magical adventure mirroring the first film's flight, culminating in a meeting with . Produced with the blessing of author , the 25-minute film retains the wordless format and Howard Blake's score style but introduces subtle narration in tie-in media. The Snowman and the Snowdog received mixed critical reception, praised for its heartfelt homage and emotional resonance with families but criticized by some for lacking the original's subtlety and innovation in and . A companion book, The Snowman and the Snowdog: Book of the Classic Film, was published in 2015 by , featuring stills and narration by . The story has also been adapted into a stage production, first as a in 1993 choreographed by Robert North, and since 1997 as an annual musical at London's (produced by Sadler's Wells), featuring live action, dance, and the original score. The show, which runs for about 75 minutes including an interval, has become a holiday tradition, marking its 28th year in 2025. In 1983, an American broadcast version aired on with a special live-action introduction narrated by , who recounted a personal childhood memory of building a snowman to frame the film's themes of wonder and loss; this adaptation was tailored for U.S. audiences but did not include full narration over the animation. Official merchandise extensions include a set of seven Christmas stamps issued by Alderney Post Office in 2013, featuring illustrations from ' original book depicting scenes of the snowman in festive settings. To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1982 film's debut, commissioned a new animated ident in 2022, showing the snowman and boy in contemporary , alongside a titled The Snowman: The Film That Changed exploring its production and cultural significance. Additional commemorative publishing and merchandise were released that year. As of November 2025, no further official sequels or major narrative extensions have been produced.

References

  1. https://www.thesnowman.com/the-snowman/
  2. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/18248/the-snowman-by-raymond-briggs/
  3. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/23/not-a-parable-about-death-raymond-briggs-notes-set-record-straight-for-the-snowman
  4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084701/
  5. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/peter-auty-and-the-sinfonia-of-london-walking-in-the-air/
  6. https://www.aardman.com/distribution/the-snowman/
  7. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/236521/the-snowman-and-the-snowdog-by-raymond-briggs/
  8. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/3244/raymond-briggs/
  9. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/aug/10/snowman-author-raymond-briggs-dies-aged-88
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084701/plotsummary/
  11. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-snowman
  12. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_snowman_1982
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084701/alternateversions/
  14. https://archive.org/details/snowman-2004
  15. https://www.channel4.com/press/news/christmas-channel-4-airs-snowmantm-film-changed-christmas
  16. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ktqlx
  17. https://www.amazon.com/Snowman-Peter-Auty/dp/B000HIVIOW
  18. https://www.thesnowman.com/about/
  19. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/snowman
  20. https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/snowman-author-raymond-briggs-where-ill-be-hiding-from-christmas-nrgvbf2jd
  21. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/01/26/as-if-he-has-just-left-the-room-a-farewell-tour-of-the-studio-of-raymond-briggs-creator-of-the-snowman
  22. https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/john-coates-film-producer-best-known-for-the-snowman-and-yellow-submarine-8304871.html
  23. https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/raymond-briggs-the-snowman-christmas
  24. https://www.blackcasediaries.com/season-6/the-brief-case-of-the-snowman-1982-zz7af-x44m3-jmhms
  25. https://www.fantasy-animation.org/current-posts/the-snowman-channel-4-1982
  26. https://www.skwigly.co.uk/100-greatest-animated-shorts-the-snowman-diane-jackson/
  27. https://www.howardblake.com/music/film-tv-scores/975/the-snowman-animated-children-s-film.htm
  28. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/walking-in-the-air-the-snowman-howard-blake-b1982236.html
  29. https://moviemusicuk.us/2024/12/25/the-snowman-howard-blake/
  30. https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/walking-in-the-air-lyrics-solo/
  31. https://www.musicroom.com/howard-blake-the-snowman-full-score-orchestra-musch77176
  32. https://www.classical-music.com/features/tv-and-film-music/the-snowman-music
  33. https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/the-specialness-of-the-snowman
  34. https://ukchristmastv.weebly.com/the-snowman.html
  35. https://www.reddit.com/r/BritishTV/comments/1hliqus/thank_you_channel_4_for_showing_the_snowman_and/
  36. https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/when-is-the-snowman-on-tv-this-christmas/
  37. https://dcba.fandom.com/wiki/The_Snowman
  38. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-snowman
  39. https://www.amazon.com/Snowman-Dianne-Jackson/dp/B0DPR532D5
  40. https://www.channel4.com/press/news/snowmantm-melts-hearts-once-more-new-channel-4-christmas-ident
  41. https://palace-video.fandom.com/wiki/The_Snowman
  42. https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/16938/CSLW-1150/Snowman-The:-Theatrical-Edition
  43. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raymond-Briggs-Snowman-Special-DVD/dp/B00006RHVE
  44. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Snowman-Blu-ray/55194/
  45. https://www.ebay.com/itm/116367927486
  46. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/aug/10/well-still-be-watching-in-50-years-how-raymond-briggss-the-snowman-changed-christmas
  47. https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/tv/2018/12/christmas-animation-brief-history
  48. https://www.bafta.org/awards/television/childrens-programme-entertainment-drama/
  49. https://www.bafta.org/awards/tvcraft/graphics/
  50. https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983
  51. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084701/awards/
  52. https://musicforstowaways.wordpress.com/2018/11/01/ivor-novello-awards-the-1980s/
  53. https://www.lupusfilms.com/commercialsandidents/irn-bru-snowman-advert
  54. https://anglotopia.net/brit-tv/british-christmas-a-history-of-the-snowman-by-raymond-briggs/
  55. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/apr/15/raymond-briggs-paths-sussex-south-downs-ditchling
  56. https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24283138.exhibition-life-works-raymond-briggs-opens-sussex/
  57. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/aled-jones-walking-in-the-air/
  58. https://www.whosampled.com/Howard-Blake/Walking-in-the-Air/covered/
  59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiYMIVVusfM
  60. https://cinemafaith.com/reviews/the-snowman/
  61. https://metro.co.uk/2022/11/01/royal-mint-releases-new-50p-coins-featuring-the-snowman-and-snowdog-17678881/
  62. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/nov/18/snowman-raymond-briggs-christmas-c4
  63. https://www.thesnowman.com/the-snowman-and-the-snowdog/
  64. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/dec/25/tv-review-snowman-and-snowdog
  65. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/dec/17/howard-blake-bill-alexander-snowman
  66. https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/the-snowman-2025/
  67. https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/david-bowie/the-snowman-intro-video/
  68. https://www.wopa-plus.com/en/stamps/product/&pgid=95032
  69. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/12/the-snowman-marks-40th-anniversary-with-heart-melting-channel-4-christmas-ident/
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