David Farnor | On 30, Jul 2021

Channel 4 has announced a trio of top stars to head up their high-profile Christmas 2021 animated special Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby.

Based on one of legendary author bestselling short stories, the animated short film tells the story of a quintessentially English town which is thrown into disarray by a huge snowfall and the dramatic appearance of a 14-feet tall Abominable Snow Baby. Shunned and feared by the local townsfolk, Snow Baby is rescued by an indomitable Granny who along with grandson Albert, welcomes him into her home, showering her new pet with love and affection, changing the town’s perception and helping the community overcome their initial prejudices.

Julie Walters (Harry Potter, Mamma Mia, Paddington) will star as the voice of fearless ‘Granny’, while Hugh Dancy (Black Hawk Down, Ella Enchanted, Hannibal, Downton Abbey 2) will take on the role of her courageous grandson ‘Albert’, with narration from ‘Homeland’ star David Harewood (Homeland, Supergirl, Blood Diamond)

Commissioned by Channel 4 Head of Drama Caroline Hollick and Commissioning Editor Gwawr Lloyd, the programme is supported by a grant from the BFI’s Young Audiences Content Fund, the programme will be directed by Massimo Fenati and Executive Produced by Tess Cuming, with Eagle Eye Drama’s Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino overseeing the project as joint creative directors and with Rob Wilkins as executive producer for Narrativia. It will be created with traditional hand drawn animation techniques and joins a growing number of Channel 4 Christmas animations, including The Snowman, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and last year’s Quentin Blake’s Clown.

 

Channel 4 orders Christmas animation of Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby

5th May 2021

Channel 4 is already getting into the festive spirit with a commission for a new animation based on Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby.

Produced by Eagle Eye Drama, the production company recently launched by the team behind global drama brand Walter Presents, in association with Narrativia, Sir Terry’s independent production company, the Christmas special is based on a short story from his bestselling book of Christmas tales (Father Christmas’ Fake Beard).

The magic of Terry Pratchett, the legendary national treasure and maverick British author who sold over 100 million books worldwide, will come to life in the half-hour programme, which tells the story of a quintessentially English town that is thrown into disarray by a huge snowfall and the dramatic appearance of a 14-foot Abominable Snow Baby.

Shunned and feared by the local townsfolk, Snow Baby is rescued by the indomitable Granny who along with grandson Albert, welcomes him into her home, showering her new pet with love and affection, changing the town’s perception and helping the community overcome their initial prejudices.

Commissioned by Channel 4 Head of Drama Caroline Hollick and Commissioning Editor Gwawr Lloyd, the programme is supported by a grant from the BFI’s Young Audiences Content Fund, and will be directed by Massimo Fenati and Executive Produced by Tess Cuming, with Eagle Eye Drama’s Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino overseeing the project as joint Creative Directors and with Rob Wilkins as Executive Producer for Narrativia.

Created with traditional hand-drawn animation techniques, The Abominable Snow Baby is part of a long tradition of Channel 4 animated Christmas specials such as The Snowman, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and last year’s Quentin Blake’s Clown.

Channel 4 Head of Drama, Caroline Hollick said: “Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby is a magnificent, heart-warming, riotously funny story about love, courage and compassion. Witty, entertaining and deeply moving in equal measure, it captures the spirit of Christmas with Sir Terry’s unique charm.”

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