THIS YEAR’S MAGIC LIGHT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR BBC ONE –THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE

Magic Light Pictures, the multi Oscar-nominated production company, has been

providing festive family treats to BBC audiences for a decade. For Christmas 2019,

they’ll bring long-time favourite children’s picture book The Snail and the Whale to

BBC One.

The beautiful tale of an unlikely friendship, a tour of the world and a heroic rescue

will be voiced by star British acting talent, Sally Hawkins (Paddington, The Shape of

Water) as Snail, Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey, The Trip) as Whale, and Dame Diana

Rigg (Game of Thrones, Victoria) as the Narrator. 

Rob Brydon, who has starred in all of Magic Light’s animated specials, said: “It’s

always so wonderful to work with Magic Light on these animated specials

for Christmas. The Snail and the Whale is a longstanding favourite in our house. It’s

an epic journey across the globe, where the tiniest creature and the mightiest

mammal experiences the vastness of our planet together.”

Written in 2003 by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, creators of the

modern classic The Gruffalo, the picture book is published by Macmillan Children’s

Books.

The Snail and the Whale follows the amazing journey of a tiny snail who longs to see

the world and manages to hitch a ride on the tail of a huge humpback whale. A

joyous, empowering story about the natural wonders of the world and discovering

that however small you are, you can make a difference.

Acquired for BBC One, by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, and Tommy

Bulfin, Commissioning Editor, BBC.

The Snail and the Whale is directed by Max Lang and Daniel Snaddon who have both

directed a number of Magic Light productions, last year co-directing Zog. Max, joint

director of both The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, is twice Oscar-nominated and

a BAFTA winner. He has also collected a series of awards at the Annecy International

Animated Film Festival. Daniel co-directed Stick Man which won the Crystal at

Annecy and nominations at BAFTA and the British Animation Awards. 

The Snail and the Whale is produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope of Magic

Light Pictures and the composer is René Aubry, who has written all of the music for

Magic Light’s specials. The book was adapted for screen by Max Lang and Suzanne

Lang. Animation services have been provided by Triggerfish Animation in Cape Town.

The Snail and the Whale is the latest in a distinguished line of award-winning festive

family specials from Magic Light for BBC One and ZDF that have become an

enduringly popular Christmas tradition on the channels, including The Gruffalo, The

Gruffalo Child, Room on the Broom, Stick Man, The Highway Rat, Zog and Roald

Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BBC premiere of

The Gruffalo and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the book.