Parents' Guide to

The Snowman and the Snowdog

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Sweet holiday sequel about a boy who misses his dog.

Movie G 2013 70 minutes
The Snowman and the Snowdog Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • The Snowman and the Snowdog Movie: Scene #1
  • The Snowman and the Snowdog Movie: Scene #2
  • The Snowman and the Snowdog Movie: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 7 parent reviews

scarlettthedragonmaster
scarlettthedragonmaster Adult
December 25, 2020
age 6+

cute little snow doggie

if I had to pick this or the first one I liked this one more it got a more Morden song and the snow dog is so cute he reminds me of my dog like the first one though the ending a bit sad and so is some of the beginning but like the first one it a Christmas watch every year
Theo D.
Theo D. Adult
December 10, 2019
age 3+
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE SNOWMAN AND THE SNOWDOG is the sequel to the 1982 adaptation of Raymond Briggs' classic holiday children's book The Snowman. The author approved of the follow-up in celebration of the original animated film's 30th anniversary. There's no dialogue in the movie; it's a simple story line about a young boy who moves to a new house and soon loses his pet dog. In an old box, he finds a photo of a boy with a snowman (along with a scarf, a hat, and a walnut shell for a nose), so, when the first snow falls, he decides to recreate the snowman with the found accessories as well as a snowdog in memory of his late pet. The next morning, the boy hears a bark, looks out the window, and sees his snowy creations move. In an exciting turn, the boy flies off with the snowman and the snowdog over London and toward a party of snowmen and even Father Christmas himself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (1 ):

At less than 30 minutes long, this heartwarming tale is a good holiday pick for preschoolers just starting to sit still for movies. The Snowman may be a national treasure in the U.K., but here in the States it's not as widely known. Those who haven't seen the original may not understand that the picture the boy finds is from the first movie or that this is a story that's as beloved to certain audiences as Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas are to American viewers. Without the foundation of the original, there may be less emotional connection to the new story -- particularly since there's no dialogue.

Still, if you don't mind the minimalist plot and the lack of dialogue, The Snowman and the Snowdog is a lovely holiday tale about a boy grieving the loss of his dog. His grief leads him to make not only the snowman like the one in a photo he discovers in his new house but also a snowdog companion for the snowman, in honor of his dearly departed pet. There's a beautiful song that accompanies the most exciting part of the story, the flight the trio takes soaring above London all the way to a snowman jubilee.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Snowman and the Snowdog's exploration of friendship and holidays. How does it compare to other snowman tales?

  • What do you think about the snowdog addition to the original story? How does the sequel continue the story from the first film?

  • What are your favorite holiday movies and why?

Movie Details

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