The Polar Express

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Tom Hanks as:
  • Hero Boy (adult voice and motion-capture),
    • Daryl Sabara as Hero Boy (child voice)
    • Josh Hutcherson as Hero Boy (additional motion-capture)
  • Hero Boy’s father
  • Conductor
  • Hobo
  • Santa Claus
  • Ebenezer Scrooge puppet
• Nona Gaye as Hero Girl
  • Darrian O Driscoll as Hero Girl (additional motion-capture)
  • Meagan Moore as Hero Girl (singing voice)
  • Tinashe as Hero Girl (motion-capture model)
• Peter Scolari as Billy the Lonely Boy (motion-capture)
  • Hayden McFarland as Billy the Lonely Boy (additional motion-capture)
  • Jimmy Bennett as Billy the Lonely Boy (voice)
  • Matthew Hall as Billy the Lonely Boy (singing voice)
• Eddie Deezen as Know-it-all
  • Jimmy Pinchak as Know-it-all (additional motion-capture)
• Michael Jeter as Smokey and Steamer (voice)
  • André Sogliuzzo as Smokey and Steamer (additional voice)
• Leslie Zemeckis as Sister Sarah (motion-capture) and Hero Boy’s mother
  • Isabella Peregrina as Sister Sarah (voice)
  • Ashly Holloway as Sister Sarah (additional motion-capture)
• Dylan Cash as Boy on Train (voice)
• Brendan King and Andy Pellick as Pastry Chefs
• Josh Eli, Rolandas Hendricks, Jon Scott, Sean Scott, Mark Mendonca, Mark Goodman, Gregory Gast, and Gordon Hart as Waiters
• Julene Renee as Red Head Girl and an Elf
• Chris Coppola as Gus the Toothless Boy and an Elf
  • Connor Matheus as Toothless Boy (additional motion-capture)
• Phil Fondacaro, Debbie Lee Carrington, Mark Povinelli, and Ed Gale as Elves
• Charles Fleischer as Elf General
• Steven Tyler as Elf Lieutenant and Elf Singer

Storyline:

Set on Christmas Eve, it tells the story of a young boy who sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. He joins other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas.

About The Polar Express Movie:

The Polar Express is an American animated Christmas fantasy adventure film directed by Robert Zemeckis, who co-wrote the screenplay with William Broyles Jr. The film is based on the 1985 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg and features Tom Hanks in multiple roles, alongside Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen.

Plot Summary

Set on Christmas Eve, the story follows a young boy who, upon hearing a mysterious train whistle outside his window, discovers the Polar Express—a magical train bound for the North Pole. Invited aboard by its conductor (also voiced by Hanks), he joins other children on a journey to meet Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas. Throughout their adventure, the children learn about belief and the spirit of Christmas.

Production Techniques

The Polar Express is notable for its pioneering use of motion capture technology, which allowed live-action performances to be translated into animated characters. Filming took place from June 2003 to May 2004, utilizing a combination of live-action and computer-generated imagery (CGI). The film was shot using performance capture techniques that recorded the actors’ movements and facial expressions, creating a lifelike representation of their performances in a digital environment.

Reception

The film premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 13, 2004, and was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures on November 10. It received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for its innovative animation and visual effects. Initially grossing $286 million against a budget of $165–170 million—making it one of the most expensive animated films at the time—the film’s total gross later reached $318.2 million worldwide due to re-releases.

Despite its financial success, The Polar Express faced criticism regarding its character designs, with some viewers finding them unsettling due to the “uncanny valley” effect—a phenomenon where humanoid objects that imperfectly resemble actual humans elicit feelings of unease.

Legacy

The Polar Express has since been recognized as a significant advancement in animation technology and storytelling. It was listed in the 2006 Guinness World Records as the first all-digital capture film and is dedicated to the memory of Michael Jeter, who passed away before the film’s release.

Overall, The Polar Express remains a holiday favorite for many families and continues to be celebrated for its heartwarming story and innovative animation techniques that paved the way for future films in the genre.

Budget & Box Office Collection: