Channel 4 will celebrate its 40th birthday in 2022, and it’s also 40 years since The Snowman™, Raymond Briggs’ timeless picture book, was first broadcast on the channel.
A one-hour documentary has been commissioned by the broadcaster to explore why the 26-minute film has become so ingrained in the nation’s soul.
The documentary includes interviews with composer Howard Blake, Hilary Audus and Joanna Harrison who formed part of the female led animation team, the original C4 Commissioning editor in 1982: Paul Madden; and present-day commentators such as Children’s Laureate Joseph Coehlo, Puffin author and musician Tom Fletcher (of McFly), and Puffin illustrator and animator Dapo Adeola.
Paul Madden, former Channel 4 Commissioning Editor said:
“The film is about love but also about loss. Christmas is a happy time but it’s also a time to think of all those people who are absent and used to be there. I think that’s the appeal of The Snowman.”
There are also some misconceptions about the show that are corrected in the documentary, such as Aled Jones being the angelic little choirboy singing the iconic theme song. A last-minute rush to release the film led to the credit not being given to a boy named Peter Auty. Aled’s vocal involvement came later when Toys R Us’ Snowman advertisements prompted a re-release (and Auty’s voice had broken). He performed the song on Top of the Pops after it was released as a single and reached number 5 in the UK charts.
Howard Blake, composer said:
“I had this tune in my head. I’d written it in 1970 on a beach in Cornwall, I took out manuscript paper. I wrote walking along Beach. I wrote the tune Walking in the Air, not the words, just the tune. And I thought, that’s marvellous.”
The film also contained an error which was spotted at the screening of the final film – former Chief Executive of Channel 4 Jeremy Issacs noted that the TV in the film only had three buttons, how would The Snowman be able to watch Channel 4? This was quickly changed.
The film also made deviations from the original picture book, Raymond never gave the boy a name but one of the animators decided to call him James – her boyfriend at the time (and now her husband).
Hilary Audus, animator said:
“Raymond was coming in [to see our work], we knew he had a dry sense of humour, could be quite caustic. He came in and he looked and he said, ‘these are terrific, I wish I could have done them’. It was wonderful. He was so sweet, so modest.”
Joanna Harrison, animator added:
“I’ve got a little granddaughter now, and she’s obsessed with the snowman, obsessed with it. So, yes, we will be watching it all together as a family this year. And I feel prouder and prouder every time I watch it, because it still makes me cry. You know, it has that kind of emotional impact every time I watch it.”
Little did the creators know that this short festive tale of friendship would become one of the most iconic emblems of Christmas in over 29 countries, spawning hit singles, a cameo from David Bowie and a host of snowy spin offs.
