SNOWMAN creator Raymond Briggs has dismissed the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) in films as "too perfect".The TV version of The Snowman has been screened on Channel 4 every year since 1982 and a €2.5m, 24-minute sequel, The Snowman And The Snowdog, is being broadcast this Christmas.
Briggs (78) said that he endorsed the follow-up, partly because it was hand-drawn, and said: "It would have been cashing in to do it before. Now it won't do any harm, and it's not vulgar and American. I've never touched a computer, or anything like that. CGI makes everything too perfect, but they're sticking to the old ways. I'm a notorious grumbler, but I found nothing to grumble about."
Briggs admitted he does not read many children's books and is "not a fan of Christmas", despite the animated version of his famous book featuring a visit to Father Christmas.
"You can't keep up with the damned things," he said of children's books. "I've never read Enid Blyton. I went once to Roald Dahl's birthday party so must have read something of his."
He added: "Huge amounts of money have been generated by The Snowman. I'm not interested. I read it's sold three million copies, but publishers bandy about numbers that aren't usually true".
The sequel's co-producer, Camilla Deakin, said most of the film was hand-drawn, but she added that computers were used at the end "to finesse the pictures, adding digital snow and lighting effects".