WINTER 2026/27
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THE STORY
The Story
One story. More than one way to experience it.
The Snow Day: A Yellowstone Adventure began as a story inspired by family adventures in Montana’s Yellowstone Country. Now that story is growing—from the page, to hand-drawn animation, to film, and ultimately, we hope, to the concert hall.
READ IT
A beautifully illustrated picture book + narrated audiobook.
WATCH IT
A hand-drawn animated story, unfolding online one chapter at a time.
EXPERIENCE IT
A 38-minute cinematic journey weaving live action, hand-drawn animation, Montana landscapes, and the music of Scandinavia.
HEAR IT LIVE
The dream: The Snow Day performed on the big screen with a live symphony orchestra.
The next chapter begins October 13.
Save the date for the official launch of The Snow Day: A Yellowstone Adventure at Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Montana—and follow along as we bring the story from page to screen to stage.
The Snow Day is an original tale of friendship and adventure.
As a fierce storm approaches, a young girl bravely sets out into the wilderness in search of her beloved dog. Along her journey, she uncovers the hidden wonders of a mysterious wilderness and discovers an inner strength she never knew she had.
The Snow Day Changes Everything.
/ ABOUT THE FILM
There’s More to Discover
The story doesn’t end when you turn the page.
Follow Torrey and Loki beyond the book and into the wild. Get stories from Yellowstone, meet the wildlife that inspired the adventure, go behind the scenes of the hand-drawn film, and see how The Snow Day came to life—one drawing at a time.
Subscribe and come along for the journey.
The adventure is just beginning.
/ SUBSCRIBE
Meet the Characters
/ MEET THE CHARACTERS
Torrey Schaeffer
Torrey is a young Montana skier with a big imagination and an independent streak. She doesn’t always listen when grown-ups tell her what to do, and given the choice, she’d often rather curl up in front of the TV than pull on her boots and head outside.
But that’s about to change.
The Reluctant Adventurer
Loki Schaeffer
Loki is Torrey’s beloved golden doodle, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. A mischievous shapeshifter inspired by the Norse god Loki, he is curious, clever, and always ready for whatever comes next.
His boundless enthusiasm has a way of getting Torrey into trouble—but without Loki, there would be no adventure at all.
Sometimes trouble is exactly where an adventure begins.
The Mischievous Catalyst
The Keeper of the StoryOld Man Winter
Old Man Winter is a mountain man who knows the wilderness—and the stories hidden within it. A quiet guardian of the mountains, he carries an ancient amulet and a connection to a legend that began even before his time in the 1800s.
He is the storyteller who brings the past to Torrey’s cabin door, but his presence doesn’t end there. When the story shifts into animation, Old Man Winter becomes the storm itself—the winter wind and gathering cloud that carries the ancient legend forward.
But who will listen—and carry his story forward?
Meet the Characters
WHERE MYTH COMES TO LIFE
Ullr
Trapped for generations inside a mysterious snow globe. His magic remains dormant until the enchanted book, the amulet, and Torrey’s imagination awaken what lies within.
When the time comes, Ullr raises his magical arrow, bursts through the glass, and releases his power—covering the world with snow.
The Norse god of hunting & bringer of snow
Mountain Trolls
They seem to emerge from the shadows when the skies darken, the wind rises, and the mood turns sour.
When Torrey is tired, hungry, and alone in the wilderness, the trolls begin to appear. But are these creatures truly stalking her through the darkness—or are they the fears inside her own mind?
Can Torrey escape the trolls before the darkness catches up with her?
Where the Shadows Come Alive
The Mountain at restThe Sleeping Giant
Known to generations of children in Helena and beyond, the Sleeping Giant looms over the landscape like a mountain frozen in time. Quiet and undisturbed, its massive form rests on the horizon, watching over the valley.
Can Torrey pass by without disturbing the Giant as he slumbers beneath his blanket of snow?
Press
/IN THE PRESS
“Left alone sans phone, Wi-Fi, or television, Torrey—the young protagonist in Bryan Schaeffer’s Legend of the Snow Day —discovers a leather-bound book and matching amulet which transport her to a fantastical, yet familiar world where Norse mythological figures like Odin, Ullr, Thor, and Jörmungandr (the snake who encircles the earth) inhabit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”
Carson Sprague - Outside Bozeman Magazine“The Bookstore will be featuring author, illustrator, and filmmaker Bryan Schaeffer during the Pray for Snow party TONIGHT. Bryan is an Emmy-winning illustrator and founder of SINTR® Studio in Bozeman, Montana. Known for his detailed hand-drawn artwork and cinematic storytelling, Schaeffer has created animated campaigns, illustrated books, and short films for brands, nonprofits, and arts organizations across the country. This winter, he debuts The Snow Day-a new Montana-born book and film project supported in part by the Montana Film Office’s BIT Sky Film Grant. He will be giving away Pray for Snow stickers, sneak-peek Snow Day picture books, and the novel for exclusive first-tracks pre-order. “PRAY FOR SNOW” in Downtown DIllon. Come celebrate in anticipation of the upcoming winter season.
Womack's Printing Place - Dillonite
“Much like the earth’s power beneath Yellowstone, Torrey’s story pulses with resilience, imagination, and magic. This book is an invitation to venture beyond the page, to feel the quiet strength of winter, and to explore how we belong in wild places. - the real adventure is just beginning.”
- Graham Zimmerman
Professional alpine climber, Past American Alpine Club President, lead of the Protect Our Winters alliance program & father to a rad little lady named Sloane.
The Snow Day is made for those who see the wild as both teacher and canvas.
This featurette takes you behind the scenes of a story born from years of exploring Montana’s winter wilderness—and brought to life through illustration, live action, and thousands of hand-drawn frames.
From quiet trails to gathering storms, discover how an idea became a book, a film, and an invitation to look a little closer at the wild around us.
Crafted in Montana. Drawn by hand. Built for adventure.
Meet the Team
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TORREY SCHAEFFER
ACTOR/STUNTPERSON
Torrey Schaeffer is a 10-year-old rising actress hiker, mountain biker and skier who stars as both the live-action and animated lead in The Snow Day. This Montana-made film blending frontier grit with heartfelt adventure. T does her own stunts—mostly, anyway—and brings fearless energy, imagination, and charm to every scene.
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Bryan Schaeffer
CREATOR
Bryan is a Bozeman native, raised by a Montana Forest Ranger and an English teacher. He has received regional EMMY® recognition for his work in promotional television campaigns and has collaborated on multimedia projects with various well-known brands, including Microsoft and Boeing.
His illustrations and animations have been featured in publications like Outside Online and in films for The American Alpine Club and BBC Earth.
Bryan lives in Bozeman with his wife, daughter, and golden doodle, Loki. He enjoys Nordic, backcountry, and alpine skiing and skied 564 miles, ten miles beyond skiing the full I-90 across Montana, during the 2021/22 season.
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Cory Birkenbuel
PRODUCER
Cory Birkenbuel is a fifth generation Montanan growing up in Dillon and now lives in the rural town of Polaris.
He has produced and directed two private films for the Yellowstone Club and three private films for the Warren Miller Freedom Foundation working with Warren Miller on all three films.
In the winter of 2024/25 Cory skied 116 days.
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KIERSTEN SCHAEFFER
CINEMATOGRAPHER/ANIMATION ASSISTANT
University of Montana Wildlife Biology major, talented flutist and moth-box scientific data construction engineer. Kiersten is fun-loving and a quick study adding her talents to The Snow Day Film production.
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TROY DUNNING
ANIMATION ASSISTANT
Troy is a recent graduate from Montana State University with a degree in Film. Troy was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana. Passionate about animation, motion graphics, and visual storytelling, he aspires to build a career in motion graphics, and is excited about the work on Snow Day.
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BILL ARBANAS
Bill Arbanas is a third-generation photographer raised in a family-owned portrait studio in Chicago, established over 100 years ago by his grandparents. He holds three AA degrees in Art, Photography, and Creative Writing/Journalism, graduating on the President’s Outstanding Scholastic Achievement List.
Since 2006, Bill has worked as a 3D Animation Affiliate with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, contributing to animations for the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers and the Ingenuity Mars helicopter.
Outside of his work, he is a passionate conservationist, nature lover, and nature photographer, frequently sharing his work on Instagram. @billarbanas
Hand-crafted in
The Last Best Place.
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FAQs
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The Snow Day follows a lone skier crossing the winter frontier to deliver a leather-bound book filled with knowledge, independence, and hope. It’s a visual fable grounded in Montana values.
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We’re offering a few premium sponsorship opportunities to brands that reflect the story’s core: independence, resilience, and purpose. Your brand becomes part of the film’s credits, screenings, and storytelling.
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Production is underway. Sponsors get early access to visuals and are featured during our festival and premiere campaigns. Follow on Instagram and Substack for weekly updates and releases.
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