Synopsis: On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus' home.
Reaction: Cute and full of holiday cheer, but at times the CG characters are a little bit creepy and there are some weak story points here, but it has a charm that works for it.
The first feature-length film to be released in both 35 mm and IMAX 3D.
The first animated film to use performance capture technology.
Listed in the Guiness Book of World Records 2006 as the "first all-digital capture" film, where all acted parts were done in digital capture.
The film used 3D motion capture techniques to digitally record the physical performances of the actors before "skinning" them with their animated forms. All the children's roles were acted by adults using over-sized props to get the movement right.
A close examination of all the ticket numbers reveals that they all contain the number "1225" in them. Pere Marquette No. 1225 was used as a model for the Polar Express locomotive. 12-25 also refers to the date of Christmas - December 25th.
Santa's reflection can be seen in the sleigh bell for just a few seconds, when it is shown in close-up, after Hero Boy places the bell on the table, at the film's end.
