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The Snowman

  • TV Short
  • 1982
  • G
  • 26m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
18K
YOUR RATING
The Snowman (1982)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer0:35
1 Video
18 Photos
Hand-Drawn AnimationHoliday AnimationHoliday FamilyAdventureAnimationDramaFamilyFantasyHolidayMusical

On Christmas Eve, a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.On Christmas Eve, a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.On Christmas Eve, a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.

  • Directors
    • Dianne Jackson
    • Jimmy T. Murakami
  • Writer
    • Raymond Briggs
  • Stars
    • David Bowie
    • Raymond Briggs
    • Mel Smith
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    18K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Dianne Jackson
      • Jimmy T. Murakami
    • Writer
      • Raymond Briggs
    • Stars
      • David Bowie
      • Raymond Briggs
      • Mel Smith
    • 111User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:35
    Official Trailer

    Photos17

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    + 11
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    Top cast3

    Edit
    David Bowie
    David Bowie
    • Older James (re-released version)
    • (uncredited)
    Raymond Briggs
    • Older James
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Mel Smith
    Mel Smith
    • Father Christmas - 20th Anniversary version
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Dianne Jackson
      • Jimmy T. Murakami
    • Writer
      • Raymond Briggs
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews111

    8.218.2K
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    Featured reviews

    adam_314

    A flashback of the 'innocent' childhood days...

    I just finished watching this TREMENDOUS movie. My whole life flashed before my very eyes. It brought me to tears as it reminds me of my glorious childhood. We watched this every Christmas, and watching it after such a long time sent shivers down my spine.

    The song 'walking in the air' all but speaks for itself. What a emotional song. Probably the greatest 'cartoon' of all time! The whole Christmas atmosphere is brought back and layed before your very eyes. Movies like this, Father Christmas, Home Alone, bring back those 'good old days'. If only I could rewind the clock and go back to the days....

    An absolute gem of a movie..
    10vertigo_14

    Fantastic

    I watch my PBS-recorded version of The Snowman every Christmas Eve along with a few other traditional holiday movies to clear my head of the excessive commercialism of the holiday and put myself in the mood for Christmas.

    The Snowman is a wonderfully simple film about a small boy who's Snowman comes to life. It's a terrific idea, for if you're a kid, wouldn't it be cool to make friends with a Snowman and be able to visit Santa Clause? Plus, the animation and the accompanying music, and even David Bowie's sentimental introduction makes this a wonderful adaptation of the book.
    8moviesmoviesmovies

    Powerful beauty

    An amazing animation that conjures emotions to the point of tears - a beautiful film with beautiful music.

    The first viewing reminded me of childhood - and the freedom of being a child. The second viewing reminded me of the same childhood freedom,

    but with the reality of being trapped in an adult world.
    adamonIMDb

    A truly magical Christmas film

    It's Christmas Eve of 2018 as I write this and I've just finished watching 'The Snowman' for what feels like the hundredth time. It has become something of a Christmas tradition to watch this film some time over the festive period and it gets me in the mood for the big day like no other.

    I love everything about 'The Snowman' - the story, the animation, the music. Everything is perfect and beautiful. There is just something about it that is special. I remember the first time I saw it as a young child, I was absolutely engrossed and as soon as it ended I wanted to watch it again, and then again. It is 20 minutes of pure joy and pure emotion.

    No other Christmas film comes close for me. This is and always will be my favourite Christmas film.
    10tonyjackie

    Pure magic

    I thought that 'The Snowman' was magical when I first saw it over 20 years ago and I still think that it is now.

    It is a beautifully told story of the wonder of Christmas as seen through the eyes of a small boy.The animation is first rate and let's not forget the music which is a delight.

    This is a story filled with laughter,wonder and sadness and is as much a part of Christmas as Santa.

    This story is now shown every Christmas on television and if you haven't seen it before,you must grab the chance to watch it.It is one of the most loved tales of recent times and rightly deserves it's status as a true classic that is sure to enchant for many years to come.

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    Related interests

    Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)
    Hand-Drawn Animation
    Boris Karloff in How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
    Holiday Animation
    Phylicia Rashad in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
    Holiday Family
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
    Animation
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Beulah Bondi, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, and Thomas Mitchell in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    Holiday
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
    Short

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Aled Jones, the singer of single "Walking in the Air" that was released in 1985, three years after the film, is much more widely known than Peter Auty who sang the same song in the film. Many people mistakenly believe that Aled Jones also sang the song in the film. Jones sang the chart release because the song had been re-recorded for an advertisement for an English toy store's Christmas campaign (which also featured new animation).
    • Goofs
      When James and the Snowman are flying to the North Pole, they fly over some penguins which are not found in that region.
    • Quotes

      James: [singing] We're walking in the air/We're floating in the moonlit sky/The people far below are sleeping as we fly/I'm holding very tight/I'm riding in the midnight blue/I'm finding I can fly so high above with you/All across the world/The villages go by like dreams/The rivers and the hills/The forests and the streams/Children gaze open-mouthed taken by surprise/Nobody down below believes their eyes/We're surfing in the air/We're swimming in the frozen sky/We're drifting over icy mountains floating by/Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep/Rousing up a mighty monster from his sleep/We're walking in the air/We're dancing in the midnight sky/And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly.

    • Alternate versions
      The 1982 British VHS release added an introduction by David Bowie . This was included as an additional extra on the UK Special Edition DVD though the film itself featured the Father Christmas introduction, voiced by Mel Smith .
    • Connections
      Featured in The Wind and the Bomb (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Walking in the Air
      (uncredited)

      Written by Howard Blake

      Performed by Peter Auty and Sinfonia of London

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Also known as
      • Children's Circle: The Snowman
    • Production companies
      • Snowman Enterprises
      • Channel 4 Television Corporation
      • TVC London
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 26m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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