Hot on the heels of the Father Christmas animated film here is the next one from Raymond Brigg and the next film to enter the Tri-Critic Sync Challenge. Not only is this cartoon making the list its going to the top of it as equal top closest movie. With a mere 2 points between the three of us with me and Rotten Tomatoes giving this movie an 80% and IMDb liking it a smidge more with a 8.2 out of 10. Thus putting this movie on the top of the pile for the time being. With only two possible slots above it this could well be sitting on top come the end of this list. As I am convinced with the IMDb scoring method not many will be close once I pass the 90% mark.
Anyway should I actually move onto this 1982 short film from the master that is Raymond Brigg. This was directed by Dianne Jackson and the music was by Howard Blake. There are no spoken words in the film so there is no starring list. If you look at some alternative versions there are some names appearing Raymond Briggs himself on the original version, who was replaced by David Bowie on the re-release version and Mel Smith in the 20th Anniversary version. Made for television this film doesn’t have any cash figures linked to it but I would assume it has made a pretty penny after the TV commissioned it and then it went on to sell DVD’s by the bucket load. The music and the animation really make the movie but there is a single song within the film namely ‘Walking on the Air’ performed by Peter Auty a St Paul’s Cathedral Choirboy. Not Aled Jones who released a version of it that was identical with the choirboy voice that was very popular in the British music charts.
The film has no spoken words at all and is a musical and animated cartoon. The film follows a boy building a snowman which comes to life and steals a motorcycle and drives around the house. The boy is worried but convinces the snowman to stop before taking his hand and taking flight. The two fly around the world to reach the Snowman Christmas Party with the guest of honour Father Christmas. The snowmen have a great party and the young lad gets to enjoy it all before the snowman takes the boy home.
This is a well loved movie that gets an outing on Channel 4 every year at Christmas. For me this deserves it spot on TV every year and it has been expanded since with the Father Christmas cartoon (see the previous review) and in 2012 a follow up movie was made called The Snowman and the Snowdog. This movie was voted number 4 of the UKTV Gold’s Greatest Christmas TV Moments which perhaps says more than I can. It is beautiful nostalgic and lovely movie. The animation is just as beautiful with the pencil drawn style the snow is blue and white and the characters just lift off the screen. They don’t need to say anything to communicate with each other or the audience. It is simply beautiful and if you don’t think so it’ll be finished within half an hour anyway you scrooge. This is a great addition to any Christmas whether its to get you in the mood before hand or on the day itself. This fits in just fine. It feels older than it actually is and for me it feels like this and the Father Christmas cartoon has been with me forever and that is not and never will be a bad thing.
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