The Snowman (1982 TV special)

“	I remember that winter, because it had brought the heaviest snows I had ever seen. Snow had fallen steadily all night long. And in the morning I woke in a room filled with light & silence. The world seemed to be held in a dream-like stillness. It was a magical day. And it was on that day, I made the snowman.	”
— Older James (Opening Narration)

Directed by:	Dianne Jackson Jimmy T. Murakami (supervisor)
Written by:	Raymond Briggs (from the book)
Release date:	December 26, 1982
Running time:	27 minutes
Rating:	PG (BBFC; Video)
Available on:	VHS DVD iTunes

The Snowman is a 27-minute non-verbal animated special produced by Dianne Jackson for the fledgling Channel 4, based on a 1978 illustrated children's book by English author Raymond Briggs. It was first shown on Channel 4 on Boxing Day 1982 and was an immediate success. The film was won a BAFTA and nominated for the U.S. Oscar® for Animated Short Film in 1983. It has been shown every year since and has become a part of British & international Christmas popular culture.

Like the book, the film is non-verbal, as the film also does except for the introduction and the song "Walking in the Air". The story is told through picture, action & music. It was scored by Howard Blake who wrote both music and lyrics of the song and also composed and conducted the complete orchestral score for the film with his own orchestra, the Sinfonia of London. "Walking in the Air", however, was written specially for it and, uncreditly, performed by a St Paul's Cathedral choirboy, Peter Auty.

In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, the film was placed 71st. It was voted 4th in UKTV Gold's Greatest TV Christmas Moments.

Cast

Introductions Only

Actor	Version	Character
Reymond Briggs	Original Brocasdcast/U.S. home media versions	Older James (Narration)
David Bowie	reissues	Older James (Live-action)
Mel Smith	20th Anniversary (2002)	Father Christmas"

On the UK DVD releases, there's the opinional track where Father Christmas narrates throughout the special.

Gallery

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See also

• Father Christmas
• The Bear
• The Snowman and the Snowdog

External Links

• The Snowman (1982 TV special) at the Internet Movie Database

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