The Polar Express Trivia | 60 facts about the Christmas movie

One of the best animated Christmas movies of all the times is undoubtedly “The Polar Express”.

But how many things do you know about the popular movie? If not so many, then let’s find out some more!

1. The Polar Express is a 2004 American computer-animated adventure film.
2. It is co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis.
3. The Polar Express is based on the 1985 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg.
4. He also served as one of the executive producers.
5. The film features human characters animated using live-action motion capture animation.
6. The film tells the story of a young boy who, on Christmas Eve, sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. The boy joins several other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus preparing for Christmas.
7. In the film stars Tom Hanks.
8. Hanks played 5 roles in the movie!
9. Initially Zemeckis considered having him play every role, but after trying this, Hanks grew exhausted, and they whittled down the number
10. Hanks optioned the book in 1999 with the hopes of playing the conductor and Santa Claus.
11. Tom Hanks was also one of the film’s executive producers.
12. In The Polar Express also play Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett and Eddie Deezen in supporting roles.
13. Castle Rock Entertainment produced the film in association with Shangri-La Entertainment, ImageMovers, Playtone and Golden Mean Productions for Warner Bros. Pictures.
14. It was Castle Rock’s first animated film.
15. The visual effects and performance capture were done at Sony Pictures Imageworks.
16. The film was made with a production budget of $165 million, a record-breaking sum for an animated feature at the time.
17. The Polar Express was released in both conventional and IMAX 3D theaters on November 10, 2004.
18. The film grossed $311.3 million worldwide, and was later listed in the 2006 Guinness World Records as the first all-digital capture film.
19. It also marks Michael Jeter‘s last acting role before his death, and the film was thus dedicated to his memory
20. Hanks optioned the book in 1999 with the hopes of playing the conductor and Santa Claus.
21. One of the conditions of the sale was that the resulting film not be animated.
22. Zemeckis, however, felt that a live-action version was unfeasible, claiming that it “would look awful, and it would be impossible – it would cost $1 billion instead of $160 million.”
23. Zemeckis felt that such a version would rob the audience of the art style of the book which he felt was “so much a part of the emotion of the story”.
24. In order to keep his vision a new process was created by which actors would be filmed with motion capturing equipment in a black box stage which would then be animated to make the resulting film.
25. Hanks stated that this method of working was “actually a return to a type of acting that acting in films does not allow you to do”, comparing the process to performing a play in the round.
26. Principal photography of the motion-captures sequences began in June 2003.
27. It was completed in May 2004.
28. The buildings at the North Pole refer to a number of buildings related to American railroading history.
29. The buildings in the square at the city’s center are loosely based on the Pullman Factory in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood.
30. The soundtrack of the film was released on November 2, 2004, through Warner Sunset Records.
31. The film is listed in the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records as the “first all-digital capture” film, where all acted parts were done in digital capture.
32. The movie takes place in the year 1955
33. Hero Boy’s real name is never mentioned.
34. However, according to books containing information about The Polar Express, including art books and fact books, Hero Boy’s name is Chris, after the novel’s author, Chris Van Allsburg.
35. Before Hero Boy boards the Polar Express, the clock says 11:55. The time doesn’t change until the first gift of Christmas is given, near the end of the film.
36. When the Hero Boy first meets the Hobo on the roof of the train, he is playing the carol “Good King Wenceslas.”
37. The story of Saint Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia is that of a king braving the harsh winter to bring alms to the poor on the Feast of Stephan, December 26th. His page finds he can’t go on through the harsh conditions and is directed to walk in the footprints that the king has made in the snow. The Hobo directs Hero Boy to follow behind him and ultimately helps him reach the engine before they make it to the tunnel, thus allowing him to find and help his friend. This is also a representation of the Holy Spirit idea of the Hobo, that he guides those who believe in Him to safety, even in perilous times.
38. In the scene where the engineer and fireman are trying to grab the pin necessary for the trains throttle, in the background you can see a working flux capacitor.
39. This is a reference to Back to The Future and can possibly mean the the Polar Express is a functioning time machine.
40. This is the third Tom Hanks movie directed by Robert Zemeckis.
41. The address spoken by the conductor early in the film “11344 Edbrooke” is the real address of Robert Zemeckis’ childhood house. The house is in a south side Chicago neighborhood called Roseland.
42. The film used 3D motion capture techniques to digitally record the actors’ physical performances before “skinning” them with their animated forms. The children’s roles were acted by adults, using oversized props to get the movement right.
43. Three different actors play the role of Hero Boy. Tom Hanks does the motion capturing and adult voice, Daryl Sabara does the voice acting, and Josh Hutcherson does additional motion capturing.
44. The soldier doll that Hero Boy plays with on Christmas morning is part of the recycled toy program the conductor mentions.
45. The same toy appears as a puppet in the background of the scene with the Scrooge puppet.
46. A close examination of the ticket numbers reveals that they all contain the number 1225. 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.
47. It was Michael Jeter’s last movie.
48. Billy is the only person aboard the Polar Express, passenger or crew member, who is identified by name.
49. Some viewers speculate that the conductor time-traveled. His voice is heard as an older version of the main protagonist, and he could have gone back in time to help his past self.
50. The locomotive in the movie is based on the Pere Marquette 1225, a restored steam locomotive located in Owosso, MI. Many of the film’s train sound effects are recordings of the actual train. The train runs between Owosso and nearby Ashley during the holiday season.
51. This is first animated film to use performance capture technology.
52. The close shots of Hero Girl’s train ticket floating in the air are a nod to the trademark shots of a feather doing the same in Forrest Gump (1994) which also starred Tom Hanks.
53. It’s The first feature-length film to be released in both 35 mm and IMAX 3D.
54. The year that the film is based on (1955) is the same as the first Back to the Future film when Marty goes back in time. (another Robert Zemeckis feature film)
55. Director Robert Zemeckis’ wife Leslie voices both Hero Boy’s mom and sister.
56. A musical theme heard throughout the movie is identical to that heard in “Elf” when Santa’s sleigh finally gets airborne heading south over Fifth Avenue.
57. A University of Michigan pennant is on the wall behind Hero Boy’s bed. Chris Van Allsburg is a real-life graduate of the University. Pere Marquette 1225, the locomotive used as the basis for the one in the film, was donated to the Michigan State University after being retired from active service. It was displayed on the campus from 1957 to 1983.
58. The train set at the end is a recreation of the new Lionel Polar Express train set, combined with the older Lionel Berkshire and the older tubular track.
59. When the shot of the Christmas tree pans out, the compass points south.
60. When the hero boy rings the bell at the north pole, the noise it makes is the word “doubter”.