Today and for the 32nd best Christmas special we’re doing something a little different. Back when I first did such a list in 2015, my write-ups were fairly brief and more like reviews. Back then, The Snowman came in at number 20, but in the years since it has slipped on my own personal rankings. That has little to do with the quality of The Snowman and more about personal preference. However, many cite The Snowman as a holiday favorite and I find those that do really love it tend to want to sing its praises quite a bit. It’s an especially popular title across the pond in the United Kingdom as well as other European countries. It’s never had a big following in the United States and most likely remember it best for the promotional commercials that would air on Nickelodeon in the early 1990s.

I don’t remember when I first saw The Snowman. I think I encountered the book first which is a wordless picture book about a boy and his brief adventure with a magical snowman. The wordless nature of it, as well as my affinity for a different talking snowman, probably prevented me from loving the story. It did not prevent me from wanting that set often advertised on Nickelodeon, but I could never get my mother to bite.

For this countdown, I’ve just been ranking all of the specials I’ve looked at while filling in some gaps with a few I never talked about. With The Snowman, it felt like a proper write-up was warranted even if I had already looked at it. In truth, I considered doing a more in-depth write-up for all of those initial specials that fell out of my top 25. Zim, Pooh, Orel – they all are worthy of more time, I just don’t necessarily have such time available to me. If I am to redo one of them, it kind of has to be The Snowman.

The Snowman has had different introductions tacked onto it over the years, most of them for the British broadcast. Even David Bowie was added to one of them. The version I’m watching for this is just the movie itself which just opens with a simple title over a snowy setting. A piano version of “Walking in the Air” by Howard Blake, the central theme of the special, brings us in. It’s a very beautiful, but also haunting, kind of song. There’s a touch of melancholy to it and it’s easy to see why the Finnish symphonic metal act Nightwish did a cover of it. This thing is right up their alley.

As the book was wordless, so is the special. The look of the special sought to emulate the look of the book’s artwork as well so it’s all done with pastels and crayons, for the most part. There’s a flatness to the characters and setting and at first one might even expect this to be more of a moving picture book approach which was popular for a time with children’s media. It’s not though and it’s fully animated with the production company credited as TVC London. Dianne Jackson is the credited director.

The camera soars over the scenery, said to be inspired by the home of author Raymond Briggs of Brighton, which consists of horses and fields and comes to rest on a home. Inside, a red-headed child is waking from his slumber. We’ll eventually learn that his name is James via the tag on a gift later. He slowly rises from his slumber, but once he sees the snow falling outside, he springs into action! The music is playful as James discards his pajamas and gets dressed. He’s apparently in quite the hurry as he doesn’t even put underwear on. Careful when zipping that fly, James! He runs downstairs and nearly collides with his father who is heading for the stairs in his robe and pajamas looking like he’s still waking up. He bursts into the kitchen presumably for his boots, while his mother gestures to a drying rack which contains some socks that have been left out to dry. He grabs them and slips them on his feet before grabbing his boots. As he puts them on at the door, his mother shoves a knit cap onto his head, but it pops off as soon as James stands up.

Outside, dressed only in denim and a sweater, James stomps through the snow seemingly entertained just by the mere fact his steps leave footprints behind. He tries some swinging from a branch which knocks snow off and soon turns his attention to the act of making snowballs. He flings one at the house which hits the rear window which doesn’t seem to please his mother much. She scolds him from the window and James turns around and sulks away. This is the catalyst for his next activity: snowman building! James rolls up a big ball of snow then uses a shovel to add to it making a big, lumpy, thing in the snow. His activity is paused briefly by his mother insisting on him actually eating something, but once finished he immediately returns to his snowman-building. He rolls up another ball to place on top of what he’s already sculpted which forms the head. He’s able to enlist his mother’s help in getting a scarf and a worn out looking floppy hat to add to his creation. Some coal for the eyes and buttons and a tangerine for the nose complete the look.

James seems to regard his creation with an approving smile, but darkness has fallen and it’s time he return to the house. His glove-less hands must be freezing at this point too. Once inside, we get our first clue that it’s nearly Christmas as there’s a small, lit, tree in the corner of the den. James’ dad is making toast over the fire which must be pulled from Briggs’ childhood, I would presume. It did have me wondering what the time period is for this, but there’s a television in the room so it’s not that old. Even though he’s inside, James can’t get the snowman out of his mind as he keeps staring at it out the window until his dad gestures to his watch suggesting it’s time for bed. James heads upstairs and we see him get into his pajamas and brush his teeth all the while sneaking peeks out the window at his snowman. Once he’s finally in bed, he seems to toss and turn. There’s a small clock on his nightstand, but it’s part of the background and doesn’t change to show the passage of time. James eventually gives up on sleep and throws on his robe and slippers and sneaks downstairs. Now we catch a glimpse of a grandfather clock indicating its midnight so the kid gave it a good shot when it comes to sleeping. As he looks outside at his snowman, the sculpture begins to glow with rainbow light. Then the snowman turns and looks at James!

I suppose a once inanimate object coming to life could be a bit alarming, but the Snowman is such a benevolent looking creature that it would be hard to draw any fear from it. James opens the door to the home and the Snowman greets him with a bow. They shake hands and James does the polite thing and welcomes the Snowman into his home. There the newly brought to life creature marvels at the modern technology on display. He takes particular delight in the Christmas tree which James turns on for his amusement. The two have fun looking at their faces distort in a glass ornament before James introduces the Snowman to what is likely his best friend: TV. The Snowman sits in a chair and takes it in, though the animation doesn’t actually display anything on the TV itself. He then realizes he’s getting hot and that’s because the fireplace still contains a bed of hot coals. James sees this and figures out it’s probably best to take the Snowman somewhere else.

Into the kitchen they go, which after a bit of fun with a light switch the Snowman plays with the faucet. He also finds a bottle of soap which amuses him as he squeezes it to produce tiny bubbles. There’s a cake on the table which has a small effigy of the Snowman himself on it. Apparently that’s how James’ mother spent her day. The Snowman takes note of a bowl of fruit and models new noses to the amusement of James before returning to his more sensible tangerine. James shows him the refrigerator next, which the Snowman holds his hands in front of like a normal person might place their hands over a fire.

Following their little adventure through the kitchen, James gets the bright idea to bring the Snowman into his parents’ bedroom. Why? I don’t know, but I think if I were in his position that’s the last place I’d want to bring him. He seems fascinated, and slightly scared, by the snoring of the father figure, but soon the Snowman’s attention turns to some dentures in a cup (how old is this guy?). Now with teeth, the Snowman checks out his new smile in the mirror which is a bit horrifying. Snowmen shouldn’t have teeth. James seems pretty amused by the whole thing so I guess that’s good. The Snowman next finds the mother’s makeup and gives himself some rosy cheeks. James directs him to a wardrobe for he apparently thinks the Snowman could use a new look. He puts on some trousers, suspenders, and an even bigger, floppier, hat. He then takes notice of some perfume, but the scent of which seems to irritate his tangerine nose. How? That’s a mystery for another day. Before the Snowman can sneeze and potentially wake up the parents, James removes the hat and strips him of his pants before pushing him out the door into the hallway. There the sneeze is able to pass harmlessly.

It’s now time for the Snowman to see James’ room. A small music box with a dancer atop it gets the Snowman’s attention and he turns it on. Some chimes enter the score like one would find in a music box and the Snowman begins to dance as James shines a spotlight on him. A step on a roller skate sends him stumbling, but he regains his balance, but not before stepping on a toy train and switching it on. This just leads to more dancing though with James joining in. How the parents remain asleep is a greater mystery than what brought this snowman to life. And it’s especially so after he crashes into more toys and ends up on the floor. James leads the Snowman out into the hall where the Snowman takes notice of something outside the window covered by a tarp.

James leads the Snowman back outside to the object and the two uncover it to find – a motorcycle! Would you allow a snowman who just came to life to ride what I assume is this kid’s father’s motorcycle? I’m not sure I would, but I’m not James. After a quick demonstration, the Snowman hops onto the bike, puts on a helmet, and fires it up! He awkwardly rumbles around the yard before coming to a stop and gesturing for James to get on. Would you climb onto a motorcycle driven by a snowman who just came to life? If you said “Yes,” then you’re far braver than I. James puts on his helmet and hops on and the camera changes to a first-person perspective as the pair ride through the night. It jumps back and forth between first person and third as the two ride past pheasants, rabbits, and even a horse. The Snowman takes the bike into a forest and the first-person shots here are more nerve-wracking than the speeder bike stuff from Return of the Jedi. He somehow manages to get James and himself back to the house in one piece, though his inner thighs are apparently chapped when he gets off the bike and are practically glowing.

James decides to remedy this by bringing the Snowman into his garage where a deep freezer is located. Since he enjoyed the small one so much in the house, it’s hardly a surprise that he’d like this one. He basically climbs into it like one would a hot tub and enjoys placing bagged, frozen, vegetables on his head. He then sits up, and looking a bit more pensive, reaches underneath himself to pull out what appears to be a box of frozen fish. There’s a wintery scene on it and the Snowman looks up to the ceiling like he longs to be wherever the image on this box came from. He rises out of the freezer and looks sadly over his shoulder at James, before walking out. James seems sad, but also conflicted, as he appears to know that the Snowman is preparing to leave him. He runs out the door after him and grabs onto his hand with a smile. The Snowman returns the smile and then starts running. James does the same and continues holding on as the Snowman rumbles through the yard and then up into the sky!

Yes, this Snowman can fly. Why? He’s magic – who cares? This is the ever popular “Walking in the Air” segment, the only part of the special with words which are sung by Peter Auty. With the vocals added, the song feels even more haunting, but no less beautiful. As the pair fly, they look down on other homes with snowmen and snowwomen and soon they join them in the sky as they soar over South Downs, the Channel Coast, Royal Pavilion, Brighton Palace Pier, and the coast of Norway all the way up into the arctic. Along the way, a few people witness this incredible display including one guy on a party boat who seems to blame the booze and a young girl looking out the window likely hoping to catch a glimpse of Father Christmas (it’s British, we have to go with the Father Christmas name). As the pair reach the arctic, I do have to point out the presence of penguins which is inaccurate, but maybe they’re magic too?

The duo lands outside a forest and the Snowman leads James inside. We’re treated to perhaps my favorite shot thus far as it’s a layered scenery with trees in the foreground and background and the characters in the middle. The trees part and the pair find a big gathering of snow people! It would appear to be a festive atmosphere, and as James and the Snowman make their way through they find at the center of the gathering none other than Father Christmas himself! He looks rather Santa-ish in this one sporting a red suit and black boots, but he also has an apron on as he’s apparently the host of this little party. He welcomes James in with a big hug like he’s an old friend. He parades him around like he’s introducing him to the snow people and James is able to sample some of the food.

Father Christmas signals to another snowman which is apparently the sign to get this party started! A band starts up and we’re treated to a long sequence of James dancing with various snow people along with shots of said snow people getting blasted. When your life is as short as that of a snowman you need to get as much into it as possible. The various snow people are sporting different garments implying a multicultural background. There’s even some flirtation going on between the male and female snow people, though what actually separates the genders would appear to be just clothing. It’s a very progressive society. James gets to dance with them and is often depicted as the center of attention. It’s almost as if they’re throwing a party just for him.

When things settle down a bit, Father Christmas helps James off the ground and gestures to a rather plain looking barn. It’s actually a stable and inside are two reindeer! James runs over to rub their snouts while Father Christmas heads over to his sleigh which is packed full of toys. He pulls out a gift for James and hands it over. Inside James finds a scarf with a snowman pattern on it. At this point, the Snowman seems to be taking note of something with some degree of concern. Likely dawn approaches, and after giving Father Christmas a big hug James and the Snowman return to the sky to presumably head back home.

To my surprise, there’s no reprise of “Walking in the Air,” but the music is no less pleasant. The duo fly over the same locations they flew over before as they retrace their flight pattern. James remains delighted by all of this while the Snowman looks somewhat concerned. Perhaps there’s some connection between his magic and the dawn? A smile returns to his face as James gestures towards his house. The two soon touchdown in the yard and the Snowman ushers James into the house. The boy stops at the door, then looking back at the Snowman smiling at him, returns the smile and runs over for a big hug. The two appear to relish the embrace before James heads inside and the Snowman returns to his silent vigil in front of the house. James peeks at the Snowman through every window leading up to his room before finally giving in to sleep.

Sunlight bleeds into the boy’s room and he immediately springs forth from his bed. Tossing on his robe and slippers, he races past his parents who are all dressed and eating breakfast in the kitchen. His father looks almost annoyed with his son while his mother just seems surprised to see him race past the pair and out the door. There it’s gut punch time as James comes upon the remains of the Snowman. All that is left is a lump of snow, some pieces of coal, and the small bits of clothing the Snowman once wore. He looks devastated, but James reaches into the pocket of his robe and pulls out the scarf Father Christmas gifted him the night before. The realization that it wasn’t just some dream seems to do little to console the boy as he falls to his knees. “Walking in the Air” returns in instrumental form as the camera pans back and the image of James and the Snowman’s remains fade out. Almost like a final twist of the knife, the words “The Snowman was…” come across the screen to introduce the credits.

It’s not hard to see why so many have fallen in love with The Snowman. A simple, whimsical, tale about a boy and a magic snowman set to stirring music with a unique visual style that ends with abrupt sadness is the sort of thing that leaves a lasting impression. Especially on the developing mind of a child. Imagine how our attitude towards Frosty the Snowman would change if he stayed melted? It makes sense that a story about a man made of snow would end with him melted. Building a snowman is something all children who grow up in a cold climate do and seeing that snowman gradually turn into a formless mass after days in the sun is just one of those things that happens. It can’t be stopped. At least James was spared his snowman turning into something more horrific in nature. Usually their faces become almost ghoul-like and their heads shrink as they wither away. This snowman’s death appeared to be far quicker and painless.

For me, I wonder how reliant this story is on that ending. Up until that point, it’s just a fun, simple, little tale. There’s some good observational humor about what a snowman might find interesting about the average home while the detour to the North Pole feels a bit more disconnected. I don’t particularly feel anything by seeing James party with the snow people. It instead feels more like world-building as of course there are other magic snow people in the world, not just this one guy from Brighton. The Christmas stuff was apparently added for the special. I know I used to own the book as a child, but I honestly don’t remember anything about it. I basically have to trust Wikipedia on that.

The decision to base the look of this special on the book helps create synergy between the two. While the stories may differ slightly, having them basically look the same goes a long way in helping a child to connect with both regardless of which one they interacted with first. The look is pleasing, but the score is the real star for me. Howard Blake seems to almost have approached this like a ballet. There’s a lot of personality in each song which helps set the scene. It makes sense since the story is told without words. I, like many, adore “Walking in the Air,” though I much prefer the instrumental version that brings the story in and ushers it out. The lyrics almost take me out of the moment during the flying sequence since up until that point we’ve gone it without words. I don’t know if such a thing exists, but I would enjoy seeing a cut that omits the lyrics and keeps everything purely instrumental.

How much this ending stuck with you likely informs how much you enjoy it. Or perhaps don’t. Like I said before, I don’t remember my first viewing, but I do recall the book. I found the “death” of the snowman at the end to be a bit unsettling as a child. I didn’t like how it made me feel and I associate that cover with the simple depiction of a smiling snowman as something to avoid. It was not a book I liked and just seeing or touching it would create a feeling of dread. It’s interesting since I watched the film Bambi many times and never reacted similarly. Of course, that was me as a kid. As an adult I do quite like this one and there’s a part of me that’s almost embarrassed that I don’t like it more than I do. I feel like I should have this ranked higher than Frosty the Snowman, but it doesn’t make sense to force the issue. Still, number 32 is hardly a bad place to find one’s self in a ranking of Christmas specials. And if you do love this one then I do recommend at least checking out the sequel made in 2012, The Snowman and the Snow Dog. It’s not as good. In fact, it’s inferior in every way aside from maybe the gut punch component since we’re introducing a dog. It’s actually a great deal sadder and if you dislike doggy death then best avoid it. If it’s just snowman death you’re after, then stick with this one.