The book
“I remember that winter because it had brought the heaviest snow I had ever seen. Snow had fallen steadily all night long and in the morning I woke in a room filled with light and silence, the whole world seemed to be held in a dream-like stillness. It was a magical day… and it was on that day I made The Snowman.” – Raymond Briggs
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs was first published in the UK in 1978 as a wordless picture book featuring exquisite, pencil illustrations. It tells the story of a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life at the stroke of midnight when a magical adventure begins. Click through the gallery below to see some images from the original picture book.
The film
On December 26th 1982, an animated version of The Snowman – produced by John Coates – was aired on Channel 4. The 26 minute-long film was an immediate success and has been shown every Christmas since! Created using traditional hand drawn techniques, the wordless animation was set to an orchestral soundtrack, which includes the iconic song Walking in the Air, written by composer Howard Blake. The Snowman animation has been nominated for an Oscar and won a BAFTA TV award.
The books
The classic story
One winter’s night, a snowman comes to life and an unforgettable adventure begins.
Raymond Briggs’ classic is a true piece of Christmas magic – narrated entirely through pictures, it captures the wonder and innocence of childhood and is recognised throughout the world.
Explore the
Stories
