One of the most vivid memories I have of Christmas growing up is watching Raymond Briggs's X-Mas adaptations with my family. Signing up to the All 4 streaming service recently,I decided that the first thing I would view,is witnessing the return of The Snowman.
View on the film:
Not featuring a single word of dialogue, the score by Andy Burrows & Ilan Eshkeri gives a voice to all the characters with a incredibly lush score, that the composers colourfully string from soaring daydream fantasy,to melting melancholy, bound together with a warm sincerity.
Receiving blessing from author Raymond Briggs on their idea for this companion piece,the screenplay by co-writer/(with Joanna Harrison) director Hilary Audus snowballs opening moments that link up to the first film, into a wider exploration of the love shared with Man's Best Friend, as The Snowman helps the boy to focus on the fondest memories of his recently deceased pet.
Although the inclusion of the cute Snowdog does highlight the grief the boy has for his pets,the writers go for a ending which feels oddly out of place with the relationship between the boy and The Snowdog, which also causes the ending of The Snowman himself,to not pack the emotional punch of the original.
Drawing away from CGI touching the pure snow, director Hilary Audus brings The Snowman back to life with mesmerising hand-drawn animation,with the over 3000 pencils used lovingly detailing the friendship shared between the trio with sketch mark edges bringing a earthy texture to the subtle, light colours running across a snowy night spent with a boy,The Snowman and The Snowdog.
View on the film:
Not featuring a single word of dialogue, the score by Andy Burrows & Ilan Eshkeri gives a voice to all the characters with a incredibly lush score, that the composers colourfully string from soaring daydream fantasy,to melting melancholy, bound together with a warm sincerity.
Receiving blessing from author Raymond Briggs on their idea for this companion piece,the screenplay by co-writer/(with Joanna Harrison) director Hilary Audus snowballs opening moments that link up to the first film, into a wider exploration of the love shared with Man's Best Friend, as The Snowman helps the boy to focus on the fondest memories of his recently deceased pet.
Although the inclusion of the cute Snowdog does highlight the grief the boy has for his pets,the writers go for a ending which feels oddly out of place with the relationship between the boy and The Snowdog, which also causes the ending of The Snowman himself,to not pack the emotional punch of the original.
Drawing away from CGI touching the pure snow, director Hilary Audus brings The Snowman back to life with mesmerising hand-drawn animation,with the over 3000 pencils used lovingly detailing the friendship shared between the trio with sketch mark edges bringing a earthy texture to the subtle, light colours running across a snowy night spent with a boy,The Snowman and The Snowdog.