When I was a kid, you didn’t have to tell me twice that Santa is magical. But Robert Zemeckis’s 2004 classic film “The Polar Express” tells the story of an attempt to convince an unnamed child protagonist to  believe in Christmas as he jumps onto a train that arrived at the front of his house on Christmas Eve. The animation of “The Polar Express” was glorified at the time it was put out. It’s weird to think that so many people were fascinated at the movie’s graphics when nowadays we have advancements like artificial intelligence and virtual reality. 

In the opening scene, the little boy tries to fall asleep, but the golden ticket flies through his window, landing in his bedroom at the perfect time. With the swivel of the floating ticket and the perfectly timed open window, the movie begins on an intriguing note. The humorous “know-it-all” boy wears a bright yellow sweater and large wire glasses, bringing the stereotypical “nerd” to life. The boy gets a mini life lesson when he learns to befriend the only two kids on the train, even if they didn’t get along the best. 

While the realistic cartoon characters in this movie could be perceived on the creepier side, the cheerful, child-like excitement from Christmas magic creates an innocent vibe instead. The imperfections are what bring it to that nostalgic, comforting feel. By the end of this movie, I feel the Christmas spirits within me lifted up, along with the boy on the train. There’s something so magical about a classic, grainy Christmas movie. I watched this movie for the first time at 5 years old, and I still dream about the hot chocolate they drank on the train.