Capturing the Magic of The Polar Express

By A Mystery Man Writer

Anyone raised in the early 2000s will recognize 2004’s The Polar Express as a defining part of the holiday experience when we were kids. The animated classic captured our imaginations by bringing the iconic story and illustrations of the book to life before our eyes. But beyond its place in our childhoods, The Polar Express represents a fascinating period in the history of animation in Hollywood. Despite using the predominant medium of computer animation, its visuals stood out from the other popular animated films released at the time. Unlike the works of Pixar and DreamWorks The Polar Express’ character animation strove for a near-photorealistic quality, prioritizing detailed faces and believable expressions over the exaggerated, cartoony style preferred by the other studios.