Well I really did like this animation, but I just cannot bring myself to watch it again. The main reason for this is that my memories of my dog who recently died, come flooding back when I watched it. Which in turn made me an emotional wreck for the following hour. I am going to take this as a good thing for the creators to make such an impact from their animation. But again I am sure I don't want to go through this again. So great animation but if you lost a dog recently, it will bring the memories flooding back and make you somewhat sad and depressed for a while. I guess if you don't have a dog or have not lost a dog then the impact of the animation might be a lot less. But for me one view is enough.
29 Reviews
Everything you could hope for
Horst_In_Translation10 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
30 years after the Oscar-nominated "The Snowman", it was finally time for a sequel. Now given how popular and beloved the original was, this was quite a risky endeavor. However, in my opinion they did everything right here. Let me start by saying that I like "The Snowman", but it's not among my favorite Christmas movies or anything. They made a good job with the animation here. The style resembles "The Snowman" obviously, but they also brought in new elements and made it more fitting for today's generation, mostly by making this a much more colorful watch. The music is another great aspect. Just like with the original, they used a nice song for the flying scene, but also in other moments you will like what you hear.
Hilary Audus was the director of this 25-minute Christmas short film 3 years ago and she also already worked as an animator on the 1982 film. It's a bit sad that John Coates died shortly before this film here got released. Oh well, maybe they showed him a copy beforehand. Who knows. Anyway, it is one year later and the protagonist, the little boy from the old film, is sad because his snowman friend is not with him. So he builds him and he also builds a snowdog for him and of course the two come to life the next morning. Nice idea with the socks on the dog's ears. That certainly made it more memorable. The Snowman takes his 2 new pals on a journey during which they meet a whole village of snowmen and even, briefly, Santa Claus.
This is such a harmonic movie with wonderful animation style and it goes very well with the music. Not even the competitive penguin tries something fishy during the skiing contest in order to win. The ending is very well done too. It is happy with the dog and sad with the Snowman and, even if it was slightly predictable, I think this was absolutely the right way to go in terms of emotion. I don't care about grumpy people who complain about this lacking the charm of the original. I think this is a wonderful little movie, excellent watch during the holidays and in my opinion all the more modern aspects added to it make it an even better work than the 1982 original. Highly recommended and it is also a good watch for non-English speakers as there is no text or dialogue in here.
Hilary Audus was the director of this 25-minute Christmas short film 3 years ago and she also already worked as an animator on the 1982 film. It's a bit sad that John Coates died shortly before this film here got released. Oh well, maybe they showed him a copy beforehand. Who knows. Anyway, it is one year later and the protagonist, the little boy from the old film, is sad because his snowman friend is not with him. So he builds him and he also builds a snowdog for him and of course the two come to life the next morning. Nice idea with the socks on the dog's ears. That certainly made it more memorable. The Snowman takes his 2 new pals on a journey during which they meet a whole village of snowmen and even, briefly, Santa Claus.
This is such a harmonic movie with wonderful animation style and it goes very well with the music. Not even the competitive penguin tries something fishy during the skiing contest in order to win. The ending is very well done too. It is happy with the dog and sad with the Snowman and, even if it was slightly predictable, I think this was absolutely the right way to go in terms of emotion. I don't care about grumpy people who complain about this lacking the charm of the original. I think this is a wonderful little movie, excellent watch during the holidays and in my opinion all the more modern aspects added to it make it an even better work than the 1982 original. Highly recommended and it is also a good watch for non-English speakers as there is no text or dialogue in here.
The Snowman and the Snowdog
CinemaSerf27 November 2022
There are some - presumably pet lovers - who think this is better than the 1982 original. Well, good as this is - I heartily disagree. A young boy and his mum move into a new house and underneath a floorboard, he discovers some memorabilia that indicates the original snowman came from this house too. Down comes the snow, out goes the boy - and soon we have not only an identical replica of our chilly friend, but also of his lately lamented schnauzer too. Early on Christmas morning, they magically come to life and take our young man on a magical adventure to meet Santa. I found this story a little more sad than the last; there is no dialogue at all and for me, the score seemed just a bit more dolente. Though enjoyable it hasn't the joy or optimism of the first one, either - indeed there is even the hint of melancholia about it. The animations are lovey, though, and it really is a fine piece of television.
It just ain't Xmas without snow
CuriosityKilledShawn24 December 2012
I don't care if it causes traffic misery, we need a white Xmas every year or it just ain't right. Can you imagine how dreary this would look if it were pissing with rain instead? The Snowman, and this sequel, are representations of the Xmases we wish we could have, regardless of age.
A young boy moves into the house seen in the previous cartoon where he soon finds a box beneath the floorboards containing The Snowman's hat and scarf. Since his little dog just died he decides to rebuild the Snowman as well as a Snowdog. Xmas magic happens, the tubby dude comes to life, and he whisks the boy away to the North Pole to take part in some winter games with a gathering of other snowmen and meet Santa.
The music is nice enough, but it's not as memorable as Walking in the Air. The animation and landscape are gorgeous, as expected, though. It treads pretty much the same ground as the first, and comes across as a modern remake rather than a sequel (did we really need the exact same sad ending again?), and I can't see it becoming a classic, but it's a very nice way to spend 25 minutes.
A young boy moves into the house seen in the previous cartoon where he soon finds a box beneath the floorboards containing The Snowman's hat and scarf. Since his little dog just died he decides to rebuild the Snowman as well as a Snowdog. Xmas magic happens, the tubby dude comes to life, and he whisks the boy away to the North Pole to take part in some winter games with a gathering of other snowmen and meet Santa.
The music is nice enough, but it's not as memorable as Walking in the Air. The animation and landscape are gorgeous, as expected, though. It treads pretty much the same ground as the first, and comes across as a modern remake rather than a sequel (did we really need the exact same sad ending again?), and I can't see it becoming a classic, but it's a very nice way to spend 25 minutes.
A beautiful sequel
Rectangular_businessman25 December 2020
I have to disagree with the negative reviews:
This short film captured perfectly well the magic and wonder from the original short.
I found it to be quite wonderful from beginning to end.
Granted, the pop song used here is nowhere comparable with "Walking in the Air", but The Snowman and the Snowdog is still an admirable work of love.
Granted, the pop song used here is nowhere comparable with "Walking in the Air", but The Snowman and the Snowdog is still an admirable work of love.
Relies a bit too much on nostalgia and sticks closely to the familiar, but still mostly works and warms
bob the moo2 February 2013
I was all ready to dismiss this film before I'd even watching it; the critics were lukewarm and it didn't feel like there was much excitement for the film compared to some of the more modern family fare – but it was Christmas and nostalgia and tradition has a place and it is this place that this short film made sure it settled. The film does work but it must be said that it almost works despite itself and it shows how good the construct of the original film was by virtue of the fact that this is what still stands up even with a different façade plastered over it.
The film starts with a rather obvious device of a dog's pet dying – it is sudden and sentimental and it jarred me by its simplicity. When the dog finds the snowman's gear you already know where it is going and it follows this path all the way to end which doesn't quite have the impact of joy and sadness that the film wanted to have. Along the way though the film works by virtue of doing the same as it did before but with some details changed. We get the soaring flight and North Pole meeting all playing out under some reasonably effective music – it is cheering and warming and it helps that it is animated in the same way as the original film. That said, it also hinders it a little because it is so close to the original in tone and style that it really brings nothing of note to the table of its own – apart from the dog of the title (I wish I had a dollar for every household that made the joke "snow dog is better than no dog" when this was on).
The ending plays out the same way as the original and, just like the original film, the credits pile in on top of the moment like it is trying to beat the traffic; it would have had more impact if left to breathe for a minute first. Despite the negatives though, I still really liked it and had a bit of a lump in the throat at one point and found the music and animation and delivery to work on a level that was high enough to be met halfway by my nostalgia. It does need to be met there though, because it doesn't bring much new to the film and it does feel like it is afraid to take even a step away from the original film – and for good reason.
It isn't brilliant and it won't replace the original film, but it is warming and mostly works – expect it to become a fixture every year just like the original Snowman.
The film starts with a rather obvious device of a dog's pet dying – it is sudden and sentimental and it jarred me by its simplicity. When the dog finds the snowman's gear you already know where it is going and it follows this path all the way to end which doesn't quite have the impact of joy and sadness that the film wanted to have. Along the way though the film works by virtue of doing the same as it did before but with some details changed. We get the soaring flight and North Pole meeting all playing out under some reasonably effective music – it is cheering and warming and it helps that it is animated in the same way as the original film. That said, it also hinders it a little because it is so close to the original in tone and style that it really brings nothing of note to the table of its own – apart from the dog of the title (I wish I had a dollar for every household that made the joke "snow dog is better than no dog" when this was on).
The ending plays out the same way as the original and, just like the original film, the credits pile in on top of the moment like it is trying to beat the traffic; it would have had more impact if left to breathe for a minute first. Despite the negatives though, I still really liked it and had a bit of a lump in the throat at one point and found the music and animation and delivery to work on a level that was high enough to be met halfway by my nostalgia. It does need to be met there though, because it doesn't bring much new to the film and it does feel like it is afraid to take even a step away from the original film – and for good reason.
It isn't brilliant and it won't replace the original film, but it is warming and mostly works – expect it to become a fixture every year just like the original Snowman.
Nice idea, nice animation, shame about the music (includes spoilers)
tony-walton5 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This sequel to "The Snowman" was a nice idea. I'm not sure if the world needed one; the original Raymond Briggs creation was pretty much complete in itself (boy builds snowman, snowman comes to life, boy and snowman have good time, snowman melts, audience sniffles, The End) but if a sequel was to be made this was a fair one. I'd only say "fair" as I found the "boy's poor old dog dies but he gets a new one" storyline cringingly mawkish. Maybe it's just me, but I felt that if he'd wanted a new dog that badly perhaps he could just have gone to DogsTrust.
The original Briggs Snowman didn't need any such bolted-on "aaahh" factor as it was complete in itself.
What made this a 6/10 rather than an 8, though, was the music. The original Snowman debuted in 1982. The "Walking in the Air" tune has been memorable since then – it's been part of the national psyche for 30 years (and frankly Aled Jones probably got sick of it after about a month). I couldn't remember the music from "Snowdog" even while it was playing. If I watch this again (and I might; the animation was stunningly beautiful, well up to the standard of the original) I'll do so with the "mute" button on.
The original Briggs Snowman didn't need any such bolted-on "aaahh" factor as it was complete in itself.
What made this a 6/10 rather than an 8, though, was the music. The original Snowman debuted in 1982. The "Walking in the Air" tune has been memorable since then – it's been part of the national psyche for 30 years (and frankly Aled Jones probably got sick of it after about a month). I couldn't remember the music from "Snowdog" even while it was playing. If I watch this again (and I might; the animation was stunningly beautiful, well up to the standard of the original) I'll do so with the "mute" button on.
Excellent surreal thriller
nsimmonds24 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
In one of 2012's best horror flicks, boy is mourning the loss of his canine friend when he finds an ensorcelled hat and scarf under his bed. Innocently, he builds a snowman, only to find that at night the hat and scarf bring it to terrifying life. The bizarre snow demon and its dog- homonculus kidnap the boy, subjecting him to all sorts of terrors; in one of the more frightening moments, he sees other snow-demons flying through the air all around them as his own tormentor drags him into a run down a steep hill, seemingly about to crush him against a fence and at the last moment pulls him into a flight among the other creatures, which laugh and cavort at the boy's terror. Truly frightening, and reminds one of the wendigo of Algonquian myth which would drag people to their death, forcing them to run the whole time to survive.
The demon then steals a plane from some unsuspecting aviator (why? When it can fly? I can only assume to sow the seeds of more disappointment, as planes are very expensive). The boy is dragged to some far off place where the demons have built a mockery of human society, dancing in outfits clearly meant to parody various social positions. Toward the end of the film, they make the boy race for his life against an evil bird while they dash themselves to pieces on the rocks nearby, careless of their own bodies which are, after all, merely snow shells for the horrifying spirits within.
Valiantly, the boy wins, and they are forced to return him home. Seemingly with the coming of the sun the demons lose their powers, and he'll be free, but at the last moment they use their magic to create an amulet which turns the dog-homonculus into a creepy facsimile of the boy's own sadly-departed pet, directly mocking the child's pain. The creature then goes to live with him, watching him sleep, the child's mother knowing nothing and welcoming the new "pet" into the family.
Truly, truly scary, in ways almost no short film can aspire to be. Ten out of ten, I recommend to all horror fans.
The demon then steals a plane from some unsuspecting aviator (why? When it can fly? I can only assume to sow the seeds of more disappointment, as planes are very expensive). The boy is dragged to some far off place where the demons have built a mockery of human society, dancing in outfits clearly meant to parody various social positions. Toward the end of the film, they make the boy race for his life against an evil bird while they dash themselves to pieces on the rocks nearby, careless of their own bodies which are, after all, merely snow shells for the horrifying spirits within.
Valiantly, the boy wins, and they are forced to return him home. Seemingly with the coming of the sun the demons lose their powers, and he'll be free, but at the last moment they use their magic to create an amulet which turns the dog-homonculus into a creepy facsimile of the boy's own sadly-departed pet, directly mocking the child's pain. The creature then goes to live with him, watching him sleep, the child's mother knowing nothing and welcoming the new "pet" into the family.
Truly, truly scary, in ways almost no short film can aspire to be. Ten out of ten, I recommend to all horror fans.
Good enough
GiraffeDoor2 December 2019
Having a very tough act to follow, I want to view this with sympathy.
To some extent, same again so it lacks the freshness and originality of the first one but that's the point of a sequel: to get some of the same again.
I sorely feel they missed a trick by not having James in it. It would have been beautiful. So go in knowing they didn't think it through THAT well, but it's still very visually beautiful, lyrical, delightfully fun but yet kind of classy-in-its-own way festive entertainment I feel all the family (except maybe your cute goth sister) can get into.
To some extent, same again so it lacks the freshness and originality of the first one but that's the point of a sequel: to get some of the same again.
I sorely feel they missed a trick by not having James in it. It would have been beautiful. So go in knowing they didn't think it through THAT well, but it's still very visually beautiful, lyrical, delightfully fun but yet kind of classy-in-its-own way festive entertainment I feel all the family (except maybe your cute goth sister) can get into.
A charming sequel to a seasonal classic
Tweekums25 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Thirty years have passed since the classic animation 'The Snowman' first aired on Channel Four; now it is time to return. This sequel opens with a new family moving into the house one summer; as well as another young boy there is a dog but it soon dies and is buried in the garden. When winter comes the boy discovers a package hidden under the floorboards in his bedroom; it contains the scarf, hat and coal-buttons of the Snowman along with a picture of him and the original boy. That night it begins to snow and the next day the boy remakes the snowman and from the left over snow he fashions a little snowdog. As he gets into bed he looks out of the window and is shocked to see that they have come to life. As happened in the original, this boy is taken on a magical journey, flying over London they head north and meet Father Christmas. Anybody who has seen the original will be anticipating a tear inducing ending but this time the sadness is reduced as one last magical thing happens when they get home!
'The Snowman' was a hard act to follow but this certainly comes close. Like the original it shares a distinctive animation style that gives a real warmth to the characters even those made of snow. The setting is quintessentially English but the lack of spoken dialogue means that this could be enjoyed by people everywhere. The song used here sadly doesn't have the ethereal charm of 'Walking in the Air' but it isn't bad. People who enjoyed the original are sure to enjoy this and once again they should be prepared to shed a tear or two but expect to be smiling at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if this one is still being shown in thirty years as well; perhaps we'll get part three in 2042!
'The Snowman' was a hard act to follow but this certainly comes close. Like the original it shares a distinctive animation style that gives a real warmth to the characters even those made of snow. The setting is quintessentially English but the lack of spoken dialogue means that this could be enjoyed by people everywhere. The song used here sadly doesn't have the ethereal charm of 'Walking in the Air' but it isn't bad. People who enjoyed the original are sure to enjoy this and once again they should be prepared to shed a tear or two but expect to be smiling at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if this one is still being shown in thirty years as well; perhaps we'll get part three in 2042!
A touching follow-up to the 1982 classic
breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com27 December 2012
After Raymond Briggs' silent Christmas classic, The Snowman (1982) came to channel 4 in London, fans of the short film never expected to see a sequel to it. As were I just as surprised. I knew it was the 30th anniversary this year but I was not expecting a sequel. Not to mention that I only heard a few days before that it was supposed to air on television! What a surprise that was!
The title of this sequel is fairly self-explanatory of what characters will be involved with the plot. However, the back-story may be a little different than what it was expected to be. The character of the snowdog was added because this particular boy once had a dog and it passed away. So along with the time capsule that he found in his house with a picture of the boy (James) from 1982 and the snowman he built, this new boy decides to build that same snowman along with a snowdog that resembled his friend from years past. Cute right? Well it gets cuter.
However, I can't give away much else because I'll ruin the surprise. I also can not give this film a full ten stars just because it's a sequel and any fan of any franchise should know that it takes a lot for a sequel to surpass or even match its predecessor. I do give credit to the animators. They kept the animation and art all the same as the 1982 version and for 99% of the time it was silent (just like the first). Plus the animation looked more crisp and vivid.
But like any film, if the score changes, then the feeling changes. Howard Blake (although he is now old) did not return to score this film which disappoints me. Ilan Eshkeri scored the film this time and although it had emotions flowing through it, it just didn't hit the high mark like Blake's score. Plus, just like the flying sequence, the vocals in this song weren't as resounding either. The film will still pluck at your heartstrings but unfortunately it won't match the original classic of 1982.
The sequel to Raymond Briggs' 1982 classic gives a sweet twist and a nod to the original. It may not have the same musical score but it's still a great holiday film.
The title of this sequel is fairly self-explanatory of what characters will be involved with the plot. However, the back-story may be a little different than what it was expected to be. The character of the snowdog was added because this particular boy once had a dog and it passed away. So along with the time capsule that he found in his house with a picture of the boy (James) from 1982 and the snowman he built, this new boy decides to build that same snowman along with a snowdog that resembled his friend from years past. Cute right? Well it gets cuter.
However, I can't give away much else because I'll ruin the surprise. I also can not give this film a full ten stars just because it's a sequel and any fan of any franchise should know that it takes a lot for a sequel to surpass or even match its predecessor. I do give credit to the animators. They kept the animation and art all the same as the 1982 version and for 99% of the time it was silent (just like the first). Plus the animation looked more crisp and vivid.
But like any film, if the score changes, then the feeling changes. Howard Blake (although he is now old) did not return to score this film which disappoints me. Ilan Eshkeri scored the film this time and although it had emotions flowing through it, it just didn't hit the high mark like Blake's score. Plus, just like the flying sequence, the vocals in this song weren't as resounding either. The film will still pluck at your heartstrings but unfortunately it won't match the original classic of 1982.
The sequel to Raymond Briggs' 1982 classic gives a sweet twist and a nod to the original. It may not have the same musical score but it's still a great holiday film.
Unpleasant implications all around
Vartiainen15 January 2014
At the same time a sequel and an homage to the original Christmas classic, The Snowman, this film takes place years after the events of the original film and once again the events of that magical night will repeat themselves.
What I like about this film is how they tried to capture the magic and uniqueness of the original film. The animation, though bit crisper around the edges, still looks very authentic and is easily the best part about this film.
Unfortunately the rest of the film feels like a cheap mimic of the original classic. The biggest problem is that I don't really want the story of The Snowman to continue. When that movie ended, it was painful, it was sad, but it was also something that felt right. I learned something from it, yet the story of this sequel completely undermines and cheapens that ending. It has no meaning, no impact, if you can just fashion yourself a new one the next day or year.
Furthermore, there's very little originality or creativity on display here. Sure, there's a snowdog, but it feels like a cheap gimmick, meant to awe the little children in the audience. I guess the sequel needed something extra, but come on guys, you could have done better than this. The rest of the story sticks pretty close to the original formula, with a few deviations, but if you really want to see a story about a boy and his snow companion(s), well, we already had the original film.
Even the music is just bland. A trendy pop tune with not a single thread of the magic of the original Walking in the Air.
In the end, I cannot find it within myself to completely damn this film because, as stated, it is an homage and tries to pay respect to the original film. But it's just so bad at it. I honestly would have been happier if I never saw this in my life. Hopefully I can still watch the original with same enthusiasm as I've done before, come next Christmas.
What I like about this film is how they tried to capture the magic and uniqueness of the original film. The animation, though bit crisper around the edges, still looks very authentic and is easily the best part about this film.
Unfortunately the rest of the film feels like a cheap mimic of the original classic. The biggest problem is that I don't really want the story of The Snowman to continue. When that movie ended, it was painful, it was sad, but it was also something that felt right. I learned something from it, yet the story of this sequel completely undermines and cheapens that ending. It has no meaning, no impact, if you can just fashion yourself a new one the next day or year.
Furthermore, there's very little originality or creativity on display here. Sure, there's a snowdog, but it feels like a cheap gimmick, meant to awe the little children in the audience. I guess the sequel needed something extra, but come on guys, you could have done better than this. The rest of the story sticks pretty close to the original formula, with a few deviations, but if you really want to see a story about a boy and his snow companion(s), well, we already had the original film.
Even the music is just bland. A trendy pop tune with not a single thread of the magic of the original Walking in the Air.
In the end, I cannot find it within myself to completely damn this film because, as stated, it is an homage and tries to pay respect to the original film. But it's just so bad at it. I honestly would have been happier if I never saw this in my life. Hopefully I can still watch the original with same enthusiasm as I've done before, come next Christmas.
A worthy successor to a classic
cosmic_quest30 December 2012
The 1982 animation 'The Snowman' has always been a Christmas must in my house for as long as I can remember so I was delighted to hear that, after thirty years, a sequel was being produced.
'The Snowman and the Snowdog' starts with a mother and son moving into a new house with their old dog in the summer. But as summer turns to autumn, we see the heartbroken family burying their beloved dog. Then winter arrives bringing snow and it is then that the boy discovers a box under the floorboards of his bedroom containing the hat, scarf and coal as well as a photo of James and the Snowman. And so the boy decides he will rebuild the Snowman and, with the leftover snow, he also builds a little snowdog too. I will not ruin how the story ends but it is complete with a journey to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus.
There is no way any sequel could ever match the originality and enchantment of 'The Snowman'. It is a classic that will remain unequalled in the hearts of millions. However, this is a delightful little sequel that does charm, particularly anyone who has ever owned a dog. Only a pet-lover with a heart of stone would not feel tearful at the first scenes. And there is no denying that the Snowdog is absolutely adorable! The music is not as memorable as 'Walking in the Air', and it's actually a bit jarring at first to not hear the expected soundtrack of 'The Snowman', the musical score is not terrible either. And the artwork is, of course, perfect and clearly drawn lovingly with the traditional scenes of a snowy white British landscape (far removed from the damp, rainy rubbish that we are being forced to endure in reality!).
I certainly hope to see this animated film shown every year after 'The Snowman' as it nicely compliments the classic and is a great Christmas film.
'The Snowman and the Snowdog' starts with a mother and son moving into a new house with their old dog in the summer. But as summer turns to autumn, we see the heartbroken family burying their beloved dog. Then winter arrives bringing snow and it is then that the boy discovers a box under the floorboards of his bedroom containing the hat, scarf and coal as well as a photo of James and the Snowman. And so the boy decides he will rebuild the Snowman and, with the leftover snow, he also builds a little snowdog too. I will not ruin how the story ends but it is complete with a journey to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus.
There is no way any sequel could ever match the originality and enchantment of 'The Snowman'. It is a classic that will remain unequalled in the hearts of millions. However, this is a delightful little sequel that does charm, particularly anyone who has ever owned a dog. Only a pet-lover with a heart of stone would not feel tearful at the first scenes. And there is no denying that the Snowdog is absolutely adorable! The music is not as memorable as 'Walking in the Air', and it's actually a bit jarring at first to not hear the expected soundtrack of 'The Snowman', the musical score is not terrible either. And the artwork is, of course, perfect and clearly drawn lovingly with the traditional scenes of a snowy white British landscape (far removed from the damp, rainy rubbish that we are being forced to endure in reality!).
I certainly hope to see this animated film shown every year after 'The Snowman' as it nicely compliments the classic and is a great Christmas film.
Not as good as The Snowman, but has a lot of charm to it
TheLittleSongbird25 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
First off, I absolutely adore The Snowman. Charming, stunningly animated, beautifully scored complete with a heart-wrenching ending, it is really something that Christmas is not the same without. I was intrepid in all honesty about The Snowman and the Snowdog. I was intrigued also of course, but thirty years after the original, which is close to so many people's hearts, I did question whether there was much point to it, and my family initially felt the same. Watching it last night, I actually did find it quite pleasing. Is it as good as The Snowman(like it or not, it is inevitable that these two are going to be compared in some way)? No it isn't, but The Snowman's quality and its reception and influence was a very tough act to follow and it was to be expected.
If there was anything that I wasn't particularly fond of this time around, it was the music. It certainly isn't terrible, it does have some beautiful moments, but at the same time it did feel a little too modern and could've been more subtly orchestrated. The song was pleasant enough, though I imagine that many people, including myself, will much prefer the ethereal beauty of Walking in the Air rather than the occasionally overpowering Coldplay-like feel of the song in The Snowman and the Snowdog.
However, I cannot deny at all that the animation is great. It is remarkably faithful to the style of The Snowman, to the other Raymond Briggs animated adaptations(Father Christmas and The Bear) and to the illustrations of the stories, and the handcrafting in detail and in colour looks really splendid. The story is also a strong asset, the middle has a little more going on, including a very amusing skiing race between the snowmen and a penguin, while the friendship between the boy, dog and snowman is charming in its whimsy and innocence yet remains upbeat on the most part and I did find the beginning and the end part with the snowdog very touching.
What was also good was that while it was very faithful in spirit to The Snowman, it even has a wonderfully silent atmosphere, because of the nice touch with finding the things under the floorboards, it didn't feel too much like a rehash. The ending is not as heart-wrenching as in The Snowman, but it still has that losing your best friend vibe- which would choke anybody up, whether they've been in that situation or not- that does still make it a moving moment. All the characters have a lot of appeal to them. Overall, pleasing and charming but I do think it is understandable if anybody is disappointed in some sort of way with The Snowman and the Snowdog. 8/10 Bethany Cox
If there was anything that I wasn't particularly fond of this time around, it was the music. It certainly isn't terrible, it does have some beautiful moments, but at the same time it did feel a little too modern and could've been more subtly orchestrated. The song was pleasant enough, though I imagine that many people, including myself, will much prefer the ethereal beauty of Walking in the Air rather than the occasionally overpowering Coldplay-like feel of the song in The Snowman and the Snowdog.
However, I cannot deny at all that the animation is great. It is remarkably faithful to the style of The Snowman, to the other Raymond Briggs animated adaptations(Father Christmas and The Bear) and to the illustrations of the stories, and the handcrafting in detail and in colour looks really splendid. The story is also a strong asset, the middle has a little more going on, including a very amusing skiing race between the snowmen and a penguin, while the friendship between the boy, dog and snowman is charming in its whimsy and innocence yet remains upbeat on the most part and I did find the beginning and the end part with the snowdog very touching.
What was also good was that while it was very faithful in spirit to The Snowman, it even has a wonderfully silent atmosphere, because of the nice touch with finding the things under the floorboards, it didn't feel too much like a rehash. The ending is not as heart-wrenching as in The Snowman, but it still has that losing your best friend vibe- which would choke anybody up, whether they've been in that situation or not- that does still make it a moving moment. All the characters have a lot of appeal to them. Overall, pleasing and charming but I do think it is understandable if anybody is disappointed in some sort of way with The Snowman and the Snowdog. 8/10 Bethany Cox
On the same level as 'The Snowman' with more vibrancy and a cute new character
Stompgal_8726 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this special twice last Christmas and twice this Christmas and it has been a delight every time, especially on my last two viewings.
The animation style is true to that in the original with its flickery yet smooth pencil/pastel drawing look but one feature that surpasses one in the original is the use of colour being more vibrant throughout. The story has more heartbreaking moments than the original what with the first dog having died earlier in the special and the boy and his new dog (originally the cute Snowdog that becomes a real dog when the boy puts on its collar) mourning the loss of the snowman at the end, which is one key similarity to the original. I enjoyed spotting parts that were nods to the original such as the boy recreating the original snowman; the snowman noticing a motorbike in the shed; the flying sequence complete with sights of the Gherkin, Tower Bridge, The Shard and even the OXO Tower; the snow-people party and the boy rushing past his mother down the stairs in a similar manner to James in the original rushing past his father at the bottom of the stairs. Like the original, the music here drives the narrative impeccably. Two standout pieces are the powerful, majestic one accompanying the boy building the titular characters and the sudden notes playing while the Snowdog is in danger of melting in front of the fireplace. While 'Light the Night' by Andy Burrows (probably the special's lowest point) is no 'Walking in the Air,' it is still pleasant and its second instrumental break sounds like 'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay (I can see why my good IMDb friend TheLittleSongbird mentioned them in her review). Another part I found particularly enjoyable was the skiing and sledge race between several snow-people (including the titular snowman), a penguin, the boy and the Snowdog.
All in all this is a more than worthy follow-up to 'The Snowman' and it was lovely for this to be made to mark the 30th anniversary of the original, the best assets being the animation, the more vibrant colours and the music. 9/10.
The animation style is true to that in the original with its flickery yet smooth pencil/pastel drawing look but one feature that surpasses one in the original is the use of colour being more vibrant throughout. The story has more heartbreaking moments than the original what with the first dog having died earlier in the special and the boy and his new dog (originally the cute Snowdog that becomes a real dog when the boy puts on its collar) mourning the loss of the snowman at the end, which is one key similarity to the original. I enjoyed spotting parts that were nods to the original such as the boy recreating the original snowman; the snowman noticing a motorbike in the shed; the flying sequence complete with sights of the Gherkin, Tower Bridge, The Shard and even the OXO Tower; the snow-people party and the boy rushing past his mother down the stairs in a similar manner to James in the original rushing past his father at the bottom of the stairs. Like the original, the music here drives the narrative impeccably. Two standout pieces are the powerful, majestic one accompanying the boy building the titular characters and the sudden notes playing while the Snowdog is in danger of melting in front of the fireplace. While 'Light the Night' by Andy Burrows (probably the special's lowest point) is no 'Walking in the Air,' it is still pleasant and its second instrumental break sounds like 'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay (I can see why my good IMDb friend TheLittleSongbird mentioned them in her review). Another part I found particularly enjoyable was the skiing and sledge race between several snow-people (including the titular snowman), a penguin, the boy and the Snowdog.
All in all this is a more than worthy follow-up to 'The Snowman' and it was lovely for this to be made to mark the 30th anniversary of the original, the best assets being the animation, the more vibrant colours and the music. 9/10.
Still got it.
adamjohns-4257527 December 2020
The Snowman And The Snowdog (2012) -
What a fitting and lovely sequel that truly honoured the original.
The storyline varied very little from its predecessor, but I personally don't think that it really needed to do anything else. I'm not sure that I could find a story that would have been more appropriate and still managed to keep the joy and fun that was gifted to us 30 years earlier.
It was an enchanting tale of fantasy that incorporated the magic of the season via a reincarnated snowman and the addition of a lil' puppy dog too. They take a little boy on a wonderful journey that had all the charm and appeal of the first Snowman film and also still evoked the same nostalgia to bring a Christmas classic to a new generation.
Combined with Raymond Briggs 'The Snowman' (1982) and 'Father Christmas' (1991) it has become part of a must see trio for every Christmas and is usually watched on Christmas Eve in my house, although sometimes these three favourites actually get many outings over the festive season or the occasional viewing in the middle of the summer too, just because I can.
The world needs more innocent and inoffensive cartoon shorts like these, as an escape from all of the horrible things that are going on in it. There are too many guns and explosions in TV and film for me nowadays. Let the kids keep their innocence for longer with a beauty like this.
933.22/1000.
What a fitting and lovely sequel that truly honoured the original.
The storyline varied very little from its predecessor, but I personally don't think that it really needed to do anything else. I'm not sure that I could find a story that would have been more appropriate and still managed to keep the joy and fun that was gifted to us 30 years earlier.
It was an enchanting tale of fantasy that incorporated the magic of the season via a reincarnated snowman and the addition of a lil' puppy dog too. They take a little boy on a wonderful journey that had all the charm and appeal of the first Snowman film and also still evoked the same nostalgia to bring a Christmas classic to a new generation.
Combined with Raymond Briggs 'The Snowman' (1982) and 'Father Christmas' (1991) it has become part of a must see trio for every Christmas and is usually watched on Christmas Eve in my house, although sometimes these three favourites actually get many outings over the festive season or the occasional viewing in the middle of the summer too, just because I can.
The world needs more innocent and inoffensive cartoon shorts like these, as an escape from all of the horrible things that are going on in it. There are too many guns and explosions in TV and film for me nowadays. Let the kids keep their innocence for longer with a beauty like this.
933.22/1000.
Just not the same
Leofwine_draca25 December 2012
THE SNOWMAN AND THE SNOWDOG is an attempt to sequelise the much-loved Raymond Briggs classic of the 1980s, a half-hour piece of animation that I challenge anybody to sit through without crying. A perennial favourite that's always in the schedules come Christmastime, THE SNOWMAN is my favourite Christmas film ever, so this sequel/remake has its work cut out.
The plus points: well, there's only one really, and that's the quality of the animation. It's done to match the original, and it looks great, refreshingly old-fashioned and hand-drawn instead of modernised.
The bad stuff: the storyline is a weak revamp of the original's, with added elements and ingredients that contribute little (the dog, the plane, etc.). It was much better when it was more simple. There's none of the power, danger, devastation or magical stuff from the original. In many places it seems bland, and a bit overly sentimental.
With no 'Walking in the Air', the music is also a letdown, just some generic pop-sounding slush added in its place. You can tell that Briggs wasn't involved in the production because whatever magic there was before has long disappeared - or should that be, melted away...
The plus points: well, there's only one really, and that's the quality of the animation. It's done to match the original, and it looks great, refreshingly old-fashioned and hand-drawn instead of modernised.
The bad stuff: the storyline is a weak revamp of the original's, with added elements and ingredients that contribute little (the dog, the plane, etc.). It was much better when it was more simple. There's none of the power, danger, devastation or magical stuff from the original. In many places it seems bland, and a bit overly sentimental.
With no 'Walking in the Air', the music is also a letdown, just some generic pop-sounding slush added in its place. You can tell that Briggs wasn't involved in the production because whatever magic there was before has long disappeared - or should that be, melted away...
Is this another mini Christmas legend in the making? Only time will tell...
Foreverisacastironmess1237 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
It's amazing to me the way a small half-hour animation from over 30 years ago came to have such a massive impact and became such an integral part of the Christmas spirit for so many people, and now a new sequel gets to carry on the joy... I really liked this, I thought it was very sweet and heartwarming. I was very impressed by how well they managed to duplicate the look and style of the original, yet subtly bring the setting up to modern times. Things were modernised, yet at the same time stayed true to the classic formula. Although I found it to be fairly good all the way through, it was slow-paced and patchy at times, and I thought the song "Light the Night" was a very poor choice, as it was most lame and corny and didn't even come close to the bittersweet magic of "Walking in the Air". I'm glad they didn't opt to go with the 1982 song again though. That would have been just a little too much history repeating. It was really nice to see the snowman again, like being reunited with an old friend. Such a warm character, perhaps a tad ironic, when you consider what he's actually made of! My favourite feature of the snowman was always the funny tangerine nose, and I loved how the snowdog carried on the tradition with the single orange seg that he had for a nose - supercute! I of course felt differently when I was a kid, but now I don't get why it's supposed to be so utterly tragic when the snowman melts away in the original animation. I know it's symbolic of death, and childhood's end and everything, but the snowman in a sense is winter, and winter can only pass, but he'll always come back next year, so it ain't so bad. At least that is how I like to look at it. Of course it's a shadow of the first one, how could it ever not be? People never like sequels to great things, and this had a heck of a lot to live up to. But that's no reason at all not to give this worthy little gem a chance. The final twist was what truly made it special for me. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will just say that the classic phrase about a dog not being just for Christmas never rang truer. A certain way of reaching the hearts of human beings is through their dogs... I didn't think the addition of the Snowdog was mere fluff, I thought that the minor character added a little emotional depth, but in a different way because some of the themes, in a rather emotionally powerful way, played into people's love of their dogs. The final image is very moving and poignant, and echoes well the original sentiments, but in a significantly different, and lesser way. The ending was sad, but the impact was blunted considerably by what happens - so compared to the original I think it's a bit mild and something of a sweetened fable. It was very well done and evoked just the right amount of emotion without feeling forced. And it did make me all misty-eyed, but probably not for the reason it was supposed to. It was the element of the dog, reminded me of our own who we lost several years ago just before Christmas. We loved that dog. The earlier animation has more than stood the test of time and I'm sure this will too, I just don't see it ever being considered as timeless or special, nor does it quite rival it for charm. But regardless, it's sure to become a classic in its own right and a familiar, well-loved festive staple on some TV channel somewhere every Christmas - and I hope it does, it truly deserves to be, because I thought overall that it was sweet and brilliant.
Wonderful sequel
mharrison-1762726 June 2019
I wasn't sure when I first heard about the sequel, since the original film was so perfect in every way. However this second instalment is equally good. Hopefully one day they can make a third film, and perhaps take the plot in a radically different direction.
Just like the first
popyoshi-3631222 December 2023
Amazing just like the first. The animation goes for the same rough yet beautiful aesthetic of the first, where you can see all the effort that went into the animation and how worth it it is. I do massively prefer the story to this movie, it builds upon the first by making the young boy a much more interesting and deep character and it's charming to see all the new things and references to the original. I do also like the music for this although the original is obviously much more famous and classic. The animation while sticking to the original also feels much more colourful and smoother in a very good way. With all that being said I do have 2 massive problems with this. First off while I do like it's additions the actual story beats outside of the beginning is pretty much the exact same, to the point the movie actually feels less like a sequel and more like a remake. And I also think the ending has an annoying bad message. But I'd still argue it's better than the originals ending and I'd still say this is a great movie to kill 20 minutes an all time Christmas classic just like the first.
similar to previous sequel
NijazBaBs27 March 2021
Similar to The Snowman. Lots of new things like new location, animals, vehicles, sports...and main idea, the return of dead dog. Simple, magical, inspirational. Reminds me of all the childhood magical moments and general magical moments like falling in love, hobby, holidays, superstitions, and older video games. Perfect drawing which reminds me of childhood books and encyclopedias. This also shows us what we may have forgotten, that even adults can have such dreams, just in children it is more apparent. Makes us question this world, sanity, dreams, faith... But bit lack of explanation and reaction of mom to dead dog being alive again, and bit less cool music than in previous sequel.
Good... but stop now
studioAT4 March 2013
Did the classic film The Snowman need a sequel? The answer for me is probably no but in Christmas 2012 came this inevitable sequel in which roughly the same thing happens only this time with the addition of a dog.
It isn't bad though don't get me wrong and if you bought the DVD box-set with both films in you probably wouldn't be disappointed. In years to come people might be just as nostalgic about 'Snowman 2' as it will end up being called as they are the original.
The pencil drawing is lovely and it has the same feel as the original though the new piece of flight music is going to take some time to grow on me.
Overall a well made heartfelt sequel but I do hope the makers stop now before we have a 'Snowman and the snowgirl' or some other rehash that tarnishes what up to now has been two quality films.
It isn't bad though don't get me wrong and if you bought the DVD box-set with both films in you probably wouldn't be disappointed. In years to come people might be just as nostalgic about 'Snowman 2' as it will end up being called as they are the original.
The pencil drawing is lovely and it has the same feel as the original though the new piece of flight music is going to take some time to grow on me.
Overall a well made heartfelt sequel but I do hope the makers stop now before we have a 'Snowman and the snowgirl' or some other rehash that tarnishes what up to now has been two quality films.
The Snowdog and The Snowman.
morrison-dylan-fan24 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
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.
Total letdown. Music is now horrible. It plays as an advertisement for GB now.
zeio-428 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this with bated breath. I couldn't wait to hear the classic musical score again. I couldn't wait to be transferred back in time like the guy eating Ratatouille in the movie Ratatouille.
And then it started. The total ruination. The total hijacking of a masterpiece and a substitution with modern drivel, tripe. Idiocracy at work.
It saddens me that we want our nostalgia for simpler times to be edited away. That we should make new memories of us being crammed into cities and lose our awe for the northern lights and instead want to see a giant Ferris wheel that costs 25 quid in the long line.
The father has been subtracted out to show a modern shattered family? Not sure.
And now we have a death of a pet in a children's tale? And the house went from halcyonic, simple-life, low impact countryside to crammed into a foul city where humans are grown and stored under oppressive oligarchical collectivists, pan national corporations and vile banks?
I pine for the days when our nostalgia was for a purer, simpler time, not this modern rubbish drivel.
I am aghast at the denigration and devolution that has been going on in such a short time.
And then it started. The total ruination. The total hijacking of a masterpiece and a substitution with modern drivel, tripe. Idiocracy at work.
It saddens me that we want our nostalgia for simpler times to be edited away. That we should make new memories of us being crammed into cities and lose our awe for the northern lights and instead want to see a giant Ferris wheel that costs 25 quid in the long line.
The father has been subtracted out to show a modern shattered family? Not sure.
And now we have a death of a pet in a children's tale? And the house went from halcyonic, simple-life, low impact countryside to crammed into a foul city where humans are grown and stored under oppressive oligarchical collectivists, pan national corporations and vile banks?
I pine for the days when our nostalgia was for a purer, simpler time, not this modern rubbish drivel.
I am aghast at the denigration and devolution that has been going on in such a short time.
Sequel to classic turns out to be cynical remake
gordongm18 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this right after watching the original Snowman. The newer film unfortunately pales in comparison to the original - the storyline is virtually the same but worse, and the same can be said for the animation and the music. With apologies to all those who I'm sure worked hard to bring the film to screen, this film was unable to live up to the original and one wonders why this sequel was made.
While the original animation shimmered across the whole screen, the remake had animated characters over a succession of virtually still backdrops. In the original I was impressed by the attention to detail in the shadows, whereas in the remake there were no shadows.
Again the music is very similar to the original, largely violin based and with similar themes. There is more guitar based music and later the song while the characters are flying is more pop and less choral. Still reasonably moving music, but slightly worse than the original.
Probably the worst thing about this film is its plot, really just a rehash of the old plot, except there's now a dog which comes to life by the end of the film. While not a scene for scene remake the plot points are virtually identical.
There is simply very little original brought to the film, and everything that has changed in the sequel turns out to have reduced the quality of the film rather than improved it.
While the original animation shimmered across the whole screen, the remake had animated characters over a succession of virtually still backdrops. In the original I was impressed by the attention to detail in the shadows, whereas in the remake there were no shadows.
Again the music is very similar to the original, largely violin based and with similar themes. There is more guitar based music and later the song while the characters are flying is more pop and less choral. Still reasonably moving music, but slightly worse than the original.
Probably the worst thing about this film is its plot, really just a rehash of the old plot, except there's now a dog which comes to life by the end of the film. While not a scene for scene remake the plot points are virtually identical.
There is simply very little original brought to the film, and everything that has changed in the sequel turns out to have reduced the quality of the film rather than improved it.
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