By Emma Lyons Editorial Staff In November 2004 Warner Bros released “The Polar Express,” a movie based on the book of the same name. Twenty years later, the film has earned its place as a classic Christmas movie and is watched every December. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film was the first ever production to be entirely animated through motion capture. Actors would physically act out the scenes while covered in sensors which tracked all of their movements - even facial expressions. This use of motion capture gives “The Polar Express” a unique style to it. Its characters are eerily realistic while fitting into the animated sets of the film. Though some find the animation style off-putting, I have grown fond of it as I watched this movie throughout my entire childhood and into adulthood. The movie has several scenes that feel like they’ve been taken out of a roller coaster simulation video, giving viewers the feeling that they themselves are the ones at the front of the train as it careens across ice and up and down mountains. The visuals of the story stand right on the cusp of being completely realistic, while still maintaining that animated feel with fluid visuals. “The Polar Express” depicts the story of Hero Boy who is on the brink of disbelief in Santa boarding the titular train and journeying to the North Pole to watch the first gift of Christmas be given. Along the way, he befriends Hero Girl and another boy, Billy. Both Hero Boy and Hero Girl remain unnamed for the entirety of the movie. Tom Hanks carries this movie on his shoulders as he served as the motion-capture skeleton for six characters, voicing five of them. In a movie with only nine real characters, Hanks dominates the cast list of this movie, and there is no way we would have gotten the same film without his dedication. Though not commonly thought of as a musical, the songs from this film are highly memorable. The hot chocolate scene, featuring tap-dancing chefs and magically appearing tables, hints to the viewers the magic of the Polar Express. “When Christmas Comes to Town,” sung by Hero Girl and Billy, is a ballad interlude that shows the apprehension of belief in Billy that Hero Boy also shares, developing all three characters. Despite the overall goal of the movie being the train’s arrival at the North Pole on Christmas Eve, it’s easy to get distracted along the way as the trip’s journey is brimming with action and intrigue as the characters search for lost tickets, clear caribou crossings, and help steer the train across a frozen lake. Even with these derailments, the film is still infused with the Christmas spirit. The score, composed by Alan Silvestri, captures that joyful and angelic Christmas sound, without relying on classic Christmas songs and jingle bells. The movie falls to its end when the conductor punches all of the passengers’ tickets, assigning them each one phrase to inspire them to grow after their journey. Billy, Hero Girl, and Hero Boy are given tickets reading “Rely on,” “Lead,” and “Believe,” respectively. Every part of this movie comes together beautifully to make an unforgettable Christmas classic that deserves to be watched for the next 20 years and beyond. If you celebrate Christmas and haven’t seen “The Polar Express” yet, grab some hot chocolate and sit down with your favorite train ride track to join the journey of the Polar Express.