The 2004 animated movie directed by Robert Zemeckis was adapted from Chris Van Allsburg's classic children's book and tells the story of an unnamed boy whose friends are beginning to doubt the existence of Santa Claus and who travels to the North Pole to visit Santa via the title train. There, he receives the magical gift of a bell which rings only for those who still believe in Santa Claus.
Actor Tom Hanks performed motion-capture for the main character, the train's conductor, the film's narrator, and Santa Claus, among other roles, and voiced the conductor and Santa Claus as well as other characters.
"The Hunger Games" actor Josh Hutcherson had an early role providing extra motion-capture for the movie's main character.
