The Snowman

The Snowman was an animated television special that was repeated on Earth at Christmas time. It featured a snowman that flew around and danced with Father Christmas and other snow people. (PROSE: ) It premiered on Christmas 1982. (PROSE: ) It was said to be a sad cartoon. (COMIC: )

Mason Valentin grew bored over how often it was repeated, while the Tenth Doctor loved it. When the Doctor said goodbye to Mason, he said, "After all the flying around, having fun, and doing the impossible I've reali[s]ed something: I'm the Snowman and...time's up." (PROSE: )

On Christmas, 2006, Paul Magrs and his partner Jeremy watched it with their cat, and Panda, among other classic festive specials. (PROSE: )

While spending Christmas with Amy Pond and Rory Williams, the Eleventh Doctor, intent on taking it easy this year, said that he was going to relax, eat some Christmas pudding, and "watch the sad cartoon about the snowman". (COMIC: )

Behind the scenes
The film actually premiered on Boxing Day of 1982, rather than Christmas Day itself.

The cover for the Christmas 2009 edition of the Radio Times, which prominently featured a Dalek, also contained an advertisement for a free copy of the original The Snowman book.

One of the chapters in the Target novelisation of The Christmas Invasion, all but two of which share their names with Christmas songs, is titled "", which is a song featured in the film.

The 1987 release of the film's soundtrack included a narration by Bernard Cribbins.

Mandip Gill narrated the 2022 retrospective programme, The Snowman: The Film That Changed Christmas.