You underestimate the numbers I think. I'm Hungarian, utterly touched by the story along with many of my fellow countrymen. Our childhoods have been deeply affected by the Snowman too. I think it's rather 80 million or maybe that's an understatement as well.
I come back to this over and over. So beautiful-images and music. I own the film. Have watched it for 30 years. Never grow tired of its offerings of delight, enchantment, and love.
One of the most impacting films of my childhood; the music just cuts so deep.. It was so great seeing all the work that was put into it. This film is the jewel of classic movies and in some way, despite all the new technology used today, it outshines any Disney/Pixar movie. I'm just at loss of words. Wow.💜
i just found this yesterday, 10-15-21, and I was thrilled!! I found the original DVD that I bought when my son was a little boy, he is now 34 and has a 6-year-old stepson that was just bought into our family. I was so excited to show my son this DVD yesterday when I found it, they are here on a visit. So excited as well now to show my new grandson! I love love love this film and the music makes me cry even now 30 years later at 67!
Such a beautiful little story and film. Very talented man. Have been watching this every year since I was a child. One of my all time favourites ♥️. Rest in peace Raymond Briggs.
Don't know about anyone else but the introduction by Raymond always gives me the chills. I can vision the type of day he describes ...brings back so many evocative memories of my childhood.
Yes. I was devastated by any later versions by David Bowie, or even more jarring was Bob Hoskins. Both atrocious decisions to make extra money on the film.
The money men wanted Bowie to give it commercial value in the States as they felt no one would take any interest in an old English bloke introducing it , thats the yanks for you
WHY GOD must there be so many passings of people who impacted my childhood so profoundly in the last few weeks! 😢 Bernard Cribbins, Pat Carroll, Carlo Bonomi and now Raymond Briggs.
A great although simple documentary. Since watching this animated movie in the early 1990s I got hooked into it. It's melancholic, mystical showing children how to live in the moment as nothing lasts... The song fits perfect with the narrative... It always brings tears to my eyes... Well done everyone. I hope more people can watch this documentary; it's worth it!
As soon as Howard Blake said he came up with that melody on a Cornish beach I went "oh. of course." the beaches and cliffs in Cornwall (especially on the North Coast) kind of make you feel like you could take off and fly anyway, so learning that makes so many of that song's vibes make sense.
I remember when I realized my childhood was coming to an end, mentally speaking. Every winter when I woke up to the first snow, it really felt magical. Then came the winter when I saw a layer of white cover everything, and I could no longer feel the magic.
This Christmas will mark the 40th anniversary of The Snowman, so there should be something to commemorate the 40th anniversary and in memory of Raymond Briggs who died last month!
Seeing this film is actually my first Christmas memory; I live in the US and watched it on PBS every Christmas. My mom went to great lenths to get me both the book and the VHS when I was a very small child because I loved it so much. She gifted me with the DVD a few years back. It's still my favorite movie of all time, a nostalgic building block in the foundation of my childhood. Thanks for uploading this documentary :)
Wonderful old school animation as such an endearing charm and warmth, you can see the animators pouring their talents out onto paper , with every pencil stroke a painstaking Labour of love to the craft. The Snowman is a masterpiece of simple storytelling, great animation and a wonderful music score...........young or old it remains a favorite at Christmas, and is a timeless classic
What steals my heart and steals the show is the absolutely refined and delicate music. I listen to just that for many hours in my house from time to time.
Man, I know he’s done some films, but I really wish Howard Blake scored MORE films! If he had done, he might as well be the British John Williams, truly magical compositions!
Lyrics - Walking in the Air - Song by Howard Blake - - - - - 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 - Far across the world - The villages go by like dreams - The rivers and the hills - The forests and the streams - Children gaze open mouth - 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 - Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep - We're walking in the air - We're dancing in the midnight sky - And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly - - - - Songwriters: Howard David Blake - Available on - iHeartRadio - Spotify - UA-cam Music - Artist: Howard Blake - Album: The Snowman - Released: 1983 - Genres: Children's music, Pop - Other recordings of this song - Walking In The Air - André Rieu · 2012 - Walking In the Air - Aled Jones · 1985 - Walking in the Air - Celtic Woman · 2011
“It’s the handmade look we’re losing, the computer is too perfect.” Wholeheartedly agree with that, hand drawn has so much more character and care to it than a computer, more humanity I guess.
I think I can explain the Japanese chicken nuggets and The Snowman. A long time ago KFC in Japan concoted a "Christmas tradition" of going to KFC, complete with heavily promoted TV ads, etc. And, remarkably, it stuck. So for many in Japan, KFC chicken and going to KFC has become a "thing to do" around about that time of year, even to this day. You can even book a table for the event. So I suspect that Japanese ad was another company in Japan freeloading on the tradition that KFC had created.
Thank you for this personal documentary. This was my first experience watching this beautifully illustrated and animated children story; after hearing another version of the Snowman "walking in the air". 8-)
THANK YOU : fascinating to see the hard work it takes to make 'true' hand made animation. I agree that the naivety and hand worked animation is much better than 'computerised animation. Hand made is much warmer and more natural.
I miss the original intro by Briggs. It was so much better. The poignant reflection on a childhood memory, and the transition from a real world to animation was just magical and really drew you in to the story. It seems impossible to find that version now.
I Was born in 1982 the year this was released and it’s been a fave of mine ever since, still gets me to this day I’m almost 40 and it introduced a lot of people to the power of classical music which evokes more emotion than modern pop or rock
Loved it then & now .Raymond Briggs was the cream of children's writers loved by children & adults every Xmas an inspiration to many his work is classic everlasting well interpreted .
In 1971, Raymond Briggs lost both of his parents, and in 1973, his wife also died, from leukemia. She'd had schizophrenia and they had no children. Given the amount of loss this man had to endure, it makes complete sense that the film ends the way it does. It warms my heart greatly that this man found solace in providing heart-warming stories and illustrations for children.
I went to visit next door neighbours with a Christmas card one year when I lived in Stroud, Gloucestershire. They had guests sitting and chatting, sipping sherry. Anyway, we got talking a little while about all things Xmas, and I mentioned how this film was tradition in our family home each year, and it turned out that a guest there was one of the original illustrators on The Snowman.
whenever I think of this animated short that I watched as a kid, it kinda reminds me something like a Silent Movie or similar to the Silly Symphonies series made by Walt Disney!
When they were doing the 20th anniversary version of The Snowman, they should have also had footage of Mel Smith recording Father Christmas's dialogue!
I was born in 1982 and I never read the book or watched this precious little film. I don't ever remember seeing it in my country. Well... this Christmas will be different. Beautiful documentary.
LOL, I'm Canadian, and the part where they're talking about "he didn't put his pants on" knocked me back for a second. Yes, of course he put his pants on! And then I realized they meant what we'd call "underwear" over here; the "trousers" are the "pants" on this side of the Atlantic. Two peoples separated by a common language. :D
I always wondered why the next day the snowman had melted away. Whenever I build a snowman it lasts for days even after all the snow around it has long gone.
Just finished watching the snowman films. Legit cried at the end of the 1982 snowman film. The Snowman And The Snowdog was ok and not as good as the 1982 masterpiece. Walking in the air made me cry the most.
My mom was so disappointed when she found out they were making a movie based on The Snowman it was the novel by Jo Nesbo. This is my mom's favorite Christmas story.
Adorable documentary. We also feel proud that Raymond Briggs "Ethel and Ernest" again to be translated into Japanese. This year, 2019 the animated movie will be shown in Japan, too. mail.omc9.com/l/02tKjh/lDK4izQS/
I love the snowman ⛄️ and always have since I child. Hopefully I’ll pass on the Love to the next generation or two. Love the Easter egg 🥚 in the background with Earnest and Ethanol Rays mum and Dad (Milkman) on the cupboard behind John.
Well done, Raymond Briggs. You just make like 8 million people cry on Christmas!
You underestimate the numbers I think. I'm Hungarian, utterly touched by the story along with many of my fellow countrymen. Our childhoods have been deeply affected by the Snowman too. I think it's rather 80 million or maybe that's an understatement as well.
I come back to this over and over. So beautiful-images and music. I own the film. Have watched it for 30 years. Never grow tired of its offerings of delight, enchantment, and love.
R.I.P. Raymond Briggs (1934-2022)
How did he die?
@@mirandavinci4146pneumonia.
@@mirandavinci4146pneumonia..
Wonderful documentary. I wish more animated films were hand drawn today. You just can't get the same warmth from computer animation.
i agree!!
It's why im taking a career on Animation.
Absolutely!!
One of the most impacting films of my childhood; the music just cuts so deep.. It was so great seeing all the work that was put into it. This film is the jewel of classic movies and in some way, despite all the new technology used today, it outshines any Disney/Pixar movie. I'm just at loss of words. Wow.💜
i just found this yesterday, 10-15-21, and I was thrilled!! I found the original DVD that I bought when my son was a little boy, he is now 34 and has a 6-year-old stepson that was just bought into our family. I was so excited to show my son this DVD yesterday when I found it, they are here on a visit. So excited as well now to show my new grandson! I love love love this film and the music makes me cry even now 30 years later at 67!
RIP Raymond Briggs 👼🏽🙏😢😇✝️
Such a beautiful little story and film. Very talented man. Have been watching this every year since I was a child. One of my all time favourites ♥️. Rest in peace Raymond Briggs.
I cry every time I see this movie .. I saw it for the first time when I was 7 years old and since then I love it .. ❤❤❤
Don't know about anyone else but the introduction by Raymond always gives me the chills.
I can vision the type of day he describes ...brings back so many evocative memories of my childhood.
Yes. I was devastated by any later versions by David Bowie, or even more jarring was Bob Hoskins. Both atrocious decisions to make extra money on the film.
The money men wanted Bowie to give it commercial value in the States as they felt no one would take any interest in an old English bloke introducing it , thats the yanks for you
WHY GOD must there be so many passings of people who impacted my childhood so profoundly in the last few weeks! 😢 Bernard Cribbins, Pat Carroll, Carlo Bonomi and now Raymond Briggs.
A great although simple documentary. Since watching this animated movie in the early 1990s I got hooked into it. It's melancholic, mystical showing children how to live in the moment as nothing lasts... The song fits perfect with the narrative... It always brings tears to my eyes... Well done everyone. I hope more people can watch this documentary; it's worth it!
As soon as Howard Blake said he came up with that melody on a Cornish beach I went "oh. of course."
the beaches and cliffs in Cornwall (especially on the North Coast) kind of make you feel like you could take off and fly anyway, so learning that makes so many of that song's vibes make sense.
I remember when I realized my childhood was coming to an end, mentally speaking. Every winter when I woke up to the first snow, it really felt magical. Then came the winter when I saw a layer of white cover everything, and I could no longer feel the magic.
It happens...yes.
I adore this film during Christmas, brings me to tears every time! 🤍
All time favorite movie. It's so magical and you know exactly what is going on through music. Brillant.
This Christmas will mark the 40th anniversary of The Snowman, so there should be something to commemorate the 40th anniversary and in memory of Raymond Briggs who died last month!
One of my favorite Christmas films! Thank you to all of the people involved in it's creation. The Snowman is truly a master work!
Seeing this film is actually my first Christmas memory; I live in the US and watched it on PBS every Christmas. My mom went to great lenths to get me both the book and the VHS when I was a very small child because I loved it so much. She gifted me with the DVD a few years back. It's still my favorite movie of all time, a nostalgic building block in the foundation of my childhood. Thanks for uploading this documentary :)
I would never go away from pencil. It's an artform that should never leave.
By far my favourite Christmas movie.
The Snowman is one of My Favourite Christmas Films
Wonderful old school animation as such an endearing charm and warmth, you can see the animators pouring their talents out onto paper , with every pencil stroke a painstaking Labour of love to the craft. The Snowman is a masterpiece of simple storytelling, great animation and a wonderful music score...........young or old it remains a favorite at Christmas, and is a timeless classic
What steals my heart and steals the show is the absolutely refined and delicate music. I listen to just that for many hours in my house from time to time.
Man, I know he’s done some films, but I really wish Howard Blake scored MORE films!
If he had done, he might as well be the British John Williams, truly magical compositions!
R.I.P. Raymond Briggs and thank you for the wonderful memories.
❄️ 🏔️🎅 ⛄ 🌍 🏍️ 🎄 🧣
Top animation.....Great story......Privilege to have worked with John Coates at TVC Dean Street many years ago....thank you
So much work involved.
Thank you UA-cam for being such a great resource to do research and learn about things.
Wonderful..thank you,Mr Briggs!
Lyrics - Walking in the Air - Song by Howard Blake - - - - - 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 - Far across the world - The villages go by like dreams - The rivers and the hills - The forests and the streams - Children gaze open mouth - 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 - Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep - We're walking in the air - We're dancing in the midnight sky - And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly - - - - Songwriters: Howard David Blake - Available on - iHeartRadio - Spotify - UA-cam Music - Artist: Howard Blake - Album: The Snowman - Released: 1983 - Genres: Children's music, Pop - Other recordings of this song - Walking In The Air - André Rieu · 2012 - Walking In the Air - Aled Jones · 1985 - Walking in the Air - Celtic Woman · 2011
“It’s the handmade look we’re losing, the computer is too perfect.”
Wholeheartedly agree with that, hand drawn has so much more character and care to it than a computer, more humanity I guess.
RIP Raymond Briggs!!
Rest In Peace, made several childhoods.
Thanks you for making this. For 40 years I have watching this. From USA
I think I can explain the Japanese chicken nuggets and The Snowman. A long time ago KFC in Japan concoted a "Christmas tradition" of going to KFC, complete with heavily promoted TV ads, etc. And, remarkably, it stuck. So for many in Japan, KFC chicken and going to KFC has become a "thing to do" around about that time of year, even to this day. You can even book a table for the event. So I suspect that Japanese ad was another company in Japan freeloading on the tradition that KFC had created.
Thank you for this personal documentary. This was my first experience watching this beautifully illustrated and animated children story; after hearing another version of the Snowman "walking in the air". 8-)
A nice look at childhood memories
sad to hear that Raymond Briggs died today, R.I.P.
THANK YOU : fascinating to see the hard work it takes to make 'true' hand made animation. I agree that the naivety and hand worked animation is much better than 'computerised animation. Hand made is much warmer and more natural.
I miss the original intro by Briggs. It was so much better. The poignant reflection on a childhood memory, and the transition from a real world to animation was just magical and really drew you in to the story. It seems impossible to find that version now.
and even worse, the DVD/Bluray has been horribly cropped to full screen without an option to play the different cuts.
I Was born in 1982 the year this was released and it’s been a fave of mine ever since, still gets me to this day I’m almost 40 and it introduced a lot of people to the power of classical music which evokes more emotion than modern pop or rock
please snowman come & take me back to that magical time - a time for all of our times.
Fantastic program, rest in peace Raymond.
Love the art style, the music gave a magical feel to the animations.
RIP John Coates
Sorry to disappoint them but the snow on bike continuity error HAD been noticed. Doesn’t detract from the film’s brilliance thought!
Loved it then & now .Raymond Briggs was the cream of children's writers loved by children & adults every Xmas an inspiration to many his work is classic everlasting well interpreted .
In 1971, Raymond Briggs lost both of his parents, and in 1973, his wife also died, from leukemia. She'd had schizophrenia and they had no children. Given the amount of loss this man had to endure, it makes complete sense that the film ends the way it does. It warms my heart greatly that this man found solace in providing heart-warming stories and illustrations for children.
Happy bloody 40th Anniversary 2 the Snowman & prayers 2 Raymond Briggs❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
I've Used To Love Watching Raymond Briggs's The Snowman On Channel 4 When I Was A Kid. Thanks Mate. X
BRILLIANT - GENIUS
"But of course, none of this would have got off the ground literally and figuratively without a certain song."
Thank you for posting this! I just saw the movie for the first time yesterday.
I went to visit next door neighbours with a Christmas card one year when I lived in Stroud, Gloucestershire. They had guests sitting and chatting, sipping sherry. Anyway, we got talking a little while about all things Xmas, and I mentioned how this film was tradition in our family home each year, and it turned out that a guest there was one of the original illustrators on The Snowman.
whenever I think of this animated short that I watched as a kid, it kinda reminds me something like a Silent Movie or similar to the Silly Symphonies series made by Walt Disney!
Is that what you think, Bill Murray?
When they were doing the 20th anniversary version of The Snowman, they should have also had footage of Mel Smith recording Father Christmas's dialogue!
I had never seen the movie before. The song captivated me and made me look into it. Beautifully done, but the song made it a classic.
I was born in 1982 and I never read the book or watched this precious little film. I don't ever remember seeing it in my country. Well... this Christmas will be different.
Beautiful documentary.
The Snowman is such a treasured part of my childhood. I'm so excited to play it for my nieces every winter as they grow up :)
Damn I cried even at the end of this documentary
Rare to see something so beautiful on UA-cam through the clutter of today’s world of absolute shite
God, I remember this playing after the snowman film on the vhs tape
Childhood memories
I just found out that fried chicken is a Christmas food in Japan so that’s presumably why they used the Snowman to promote some.
Thank you for sharing this!
LOL, I'm Canadian, and the part where they're talking about "he didn't put his pants on" knocked me back for a second. Yes, of course he put his pants on! And then I realized they meant what we'd call "underwear" over here; the "trousers" are the "pants" on this side of the Atlantic. Two peoples separated by a common language. :D
Beautiful documentary about a beautiful piece of art
What an amazing documentary! I only found this tonight! And I've watched the movie for years! Thank you.
I've been looking everywhere for merchandise like the figurines you see in this documentary!
+Bailey Lizotte you can usually get them on EBAy around this time of year - search collectables
Wonderful special.
I built a snowman like this soon after the film came out. I lived quite near where it is set and it rarely snows like that anymore!
I always wondered why the next day the snowman had melted away. Whenever I build a snowman it lasts for days even after all the snow around it has long gone.
I have seen the play-loved it.
It's just not Christmas without the Snowman.
15:36 That guy really nailed that beatboxing!
Only one word: MAGNIFICENT 😘
That damn A minor key change. Cuts me up each time!
I’m sad that Channel 4 didn’t play the original Raymond Briggs intro this Christmas as tribute.
My favorite movie
Rest in Peace
Raymond Briggs
It's amazing that even in this where they note that it wasn't Aled Jones in the film they still continue to ask him questions over Peter Auty
Just finished watching the snowman films. Legit cried at the end of the 1982 snowman film. The Snowman And The Snowdog was ok and not as good as the 1982 masterpiece. Walking in the air made me cry the most.
My mom was so disappointed when she found out they were making a movie based on The Snowman it was the novel by Jo Nesbo. This is my mom's favorite Christmas story.
A LEGEND DIES
Adorable documentary. We also feel proud that Raymond Briggs "Ethel and Ernest" again to be translated into Japanese.
This year, 2019 the animated movie will be shown in Japan, too.
mail.omc9.com/l/02tKjh/lDK4izQS/
Remember seeing this at my Grandma's house (circa 2007)
thank you
i love this opening
Happy birthday snowman
Nice
Timeless Classic
And now we have Olaf (Disney’s FROZEN snowman ☃) !
8:35 Just a green tarp!
Hey! I noticed the snow/no snow on the motorbike cover on Christmas day!
I love the snowman ⛄️ and always have since I child. Hopefully I’ll pass on the Love to the next generation or two. Love the Easter egg 🥚 in the background with Earnest and Ethanol Rays mum and Dad (Milkman) on the cupboard behind John.
Ua
I cant watch it to avoid the tears
Cool.
Where are the trees in the beginning? Maybe behind his house?
❤