I think a good chunk of The Snowman's appeal comes from how it captures the Christmas experience - there's the anticipation, there's the exuberant fun, and then it's all over.
Yeah the ending is a bit of a downer (although MAD magazine did a parody that was significantly happier). But what I think is sadder is that they flew all the way to the North Pole to see Santa Claus and all the kid got was a scarf!
How could they edit out the ending? That is just unforgivable. The ending alone brought me to tears and I think is the reason for the appeal of The Snowman.
I finally rewatched this on youtube. It was still enjoyable and didn't make me think of switching the page. It was amazing animation for 1982. The ending was really sad and the orchestra really accented it. Though I really wanted the house scenes to end because the flying sequence was choice.
I really ROFL'd during the IRN BRU ad because the parody was dead on especially the parody song. Too bad, the special isn't here in the states again because it would reintroduce alot of people to this.
I remember catching that depressing ending in my then five-year-old heart. I think I sat a good five minutes letting that reality sink in. I think that was one of my first major downers of my life, that Christmas special.