12 Reviews of Christmas - The Snowman (1982)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and it was only a matter of time before I covered this one for 12 Reviews of Christmas. The Snowman, based on the book by Raymond Briggs, is a 1982 animated British television short film, and is easily one of the most talked about short films of all time. And, although my introduction to it came from the Nostalgia Critic, I find it to be a very charming short, and definitely worth a watch. 

         So, The Snowman follows a boy named James, who plays in the snow and builds, of course, a snowman. The Snowman comes to life, and James shows him around his house. A good portion of the run time is James showing the Snowman some of the various knick-knacks and tchotchkes around his house. However, it's when the Snowman sees a picture of the Arctic where things get interesting. 

        So, taking James in hand, the Snowman runs out of the house, through the garden, and takes flight. Seriously, the Snowman flies. And, this is why The Snowman is such a beloved short film. Seeing the Snowman and James fly, seeing so many sights, and all while a song called "Walking In The Air" is being sung with a very ethereal voice is one of the most amazing things seen in animation. 

        Anyway, the Snowman and James arrive in a snowfield, where multiple snowmen are having a party, and Santa is also at the party, giving James a card and a scarf with a snowman pattern. James and the Snowman return home, and bid each other farewell, as James turns in for the night. Unfortunately, the next morning, James sees his snowman melted away, but left behind the bits and bobs that made him, and the short ends with James mourning the loss of his friend. 

         Okay, so two things that are worth noting about The Snowman. First, the animation. The art style is very scratchy, like something out of a children's book. But, that was intentional, as Raymond Briggs original book was entirely drawn in pencil sketch, so the scratchy animation of the short is evocative of the pencil sketches used for the book. Second, the noticable lack of dialogue. Even in the book, The Snowman famously has no dialogue, solely relying on visual storytelling to get its story across. And, while many may find that to be a bit boring, believe me when I say that it works here, as the imagery alone tells much more than words ever could, especially in a medium where the mantra is "show, don't tell." 

         But, with the lack of dialogue, the visual artistry and music score are able to really sell the story. Composer Howard Blake really made a phenomenal score for The Snowman, and it's easily the real selling point of the short. Throw in the aforementioned "Walking In the Air," which was a part of the most memorable part of the short, and you've got some fascinating music in a phenomenal animated short that is still beloved by many to this day. And, something worth noting is how it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. 

        It's amazing how this short, that I didn't discover until I saw it on YouTube, is to watch around the holiday season. I highly encourage checking out a short that is a true testament to "brilliance in simplicity." I'm giving The Snowman a rating of 5/5. Hop onto YouTube and check this one out. 

        Anyway guys, this is Chuck signing off, and we'll next be looking at Disney's The Little Matchgirl as we continue 12 Reviews of Christmas.