The Snowman and the Snowdog

This 2012 sequel to the Oscar-nominated 1982 animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs' wordless 1978 picture book follows a mom, her freckle-cheeked son, and their barking pet as they move into a new home. By the time the jack-o-lanterns decay, the family dog is buried in the backyard (an offscreen death, although the sight of its ball and collar on the mound is heartbreaking), and the boy's spirits are still low when he writes a letter for Santa. He also happens to stumble on a loose floorboard, discovering a box with a hat, scarf, and coal…and an aged photo of another youngster standing happily with a snowman friend. Setting out to build his own snowman, the boy gets the bright idea to make a canine companion, and at night is amazed to hear the dog barking and see his icy buddies come to life! The boy, the dog, and the snowman enjoy a fun nighttime escapade featuring flying, sledding, skiing, and a meeting with Santa that may result in the best present of all. A heartwarming, magical companion to the original, boasting gorgeous animation and a delicate score (in addition to Andy Burrows' majestic theme song “Light the Night”), bonus features include the poignant behind-the-scenes featurette “How The Snowman Came Back to Life,” narrated by Juliet Stevenson, which features the reclusive Briggs. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)