UK, 26 December 1982
26m
colour, 4:3
mono, English
A British animated television special directed by Dianne Jackson under the supervision of Jimmy T. Murakami. Three different opening sequences exist: one featuring Raymond Briggs, the writer of the original book, describing how heavily it had snowed in the winter he wrote the book; this was replaced by a sequence featuring singer and actor David Bowie exploring an attic and reciting the same speech; and finally for the film’s 25th anniversary, a new animated sequence featuring the voice of Mel Smith as Father Christmas was added in 2002. It has become a staple of British television viewing, having been broadcast by Channel 4 almost every year since its original broadcast. It was released theatrically in the USA and nominated for the 1982 Academy Award for Animated Short Film and in 2000 it placed 71st in a poll conducted by the British Film Institute of industry professionals to determine the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. The song Walking in the Air performed by Paul Auty was released as a single in the UK in 1982. A modified version was recorded for a Toys ‘R’ Us television advertising campaign in 1985 but as Auty’s voice had broken by now the song was performed by Aled Jones. This version was a top-five hit in the UK.
Plot Summary
A young boy builds a snowman on Christmas Eve. During the night, it comes to life and takes him on a journey to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas and join in the annual snowman’s party. But nothing lasts forever as the boy finds as Christmas Day dawns…
Credits
Crew
Supervising Director: Jimmy T Murakami
Directed by: Dianne Jackson
Anniversary Opening Sequence Directed by: Roger Mainwood
© Snowman Enterprises Limited 1982
A Snowman Enterprises production for Channel 4
Executive Producer: Iain Harvey
Produced by: John Coates
From the book by Raymond Briggs
Storyboard by: Dianne Jackson, Hilary Audus, Joanna Fryer
Animation by: Roger Mainwood, Dianne Jackson, Alan Ball, Dave Livesey, Eddie Radage, Hilary Audus, Arthur Butten, John Offord, Joanna Fryer, Tony Guy
Flying Sequences by: Stephen Weston and Robin White
Anniversary Opening Sequence Animated by: Roger Mainwood
Senior Cameraman: Peter Turner
Editor: John Cary
Music Composed and Conducted by: Howard Blake
Design Supervisor: Jill Brooks
Cast
Raymond Briggs (introduction – original version only)
David Bowie (introduction – subsequent broadcasts until the 25th anniversary)
Mel Smith (voice of Father Christmas – only in 25th anniversary version)
Links
Sequel
The Snowman and the Snowdog (2012)
Extracts included in
Snow Business: The Story of The Snowman (2002)
See also
Father Christmas (1991)
The Snowman: The Film of the Stage Show (1998)
References
Periodicals
- TV Times (Thames/LWT) 24 December 1982-7 January 1983 pp.19; 31 – illustrated note; illustrated article (How E.T. lost his ice-cold friend)
