Channel 4 will launch a new Christmas ident this evening, marking the 40th anniversary of the channel and the original transmission of the film adaption of The Snowman.
The 20-second sequence transports the Channel 4 logo to a wintry setting where it oversees The Snowman, The Snowdog and James, the boy from the first The Snowman film, playing in the snow.
This is the first time that all three characters will be seen on screen together.
The ident will make its on air debut at 8pm tonight and will be shown regularly over the festive period.
The ident was produced by award-winning production company Lupus Films (the producers of The Snowman and The Snowdog) and directed by Robin Shaw – in collaboration with Channel 4’s in-house creative agency, 4Creative.
The animation has been produced in Lupus Films’ trademark hand-drawn style, hand-crafted by Robin Shaw and a small team of animators using traditional 2D techniques in animation programme TVPaint.
“The Snowman has been a part of Christmas for four decades so what better way to mark the 40th birthday of both Channel 4 and the animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs’s beloved character than with a set of hand crafted idents featuring James and the Snowman.
Ian Katz, Chief Content Officer, Channel 4
“It may or may not snow this month but it is guaranteed to be a white Christmas on Channel 4.”
“We are really honoured to have been asked to bring The Snowman back to life for Channel 4 for the 40th anniversary of this very special animated Christmas classic.
Camilla Deakin, co-founder, Lupus Films
“It’s particularly poignant for us at the time of the tenth anniversary of The Snowman and The Snowdog and after the death earlier this year of our long-time friend and collaborator, the inimitable Raymond Briggs.”
Credits
For Channel 4 Creative:
Executive Producer: Lynsey Atkin.
Creative Director: Dan Chase.
Producer: Alison Laing.
Head of Marketing: Laura Ward-Smith.
Marketing Lead: Laura Bedford.
Marketing Executive: Victoria Cheng.
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: Channel 4 ident. COPYRIGHT: Channel 4 Television Corporation.