The controversy surrounding “The Polar Express” mainly stems from its animation style, which induces the “Uncanny Valley” effect in some viewers. This effect occurs when characters appear almost human but have certain non-human characteristics, creating an eerie or unsettling feeling. In “The Polar Express,” while striving for realism, the animators faced challenges in capturing human expressions accurately, particularly in scenes like the hot chocolate sequence. This resulted in characters that seemed almost lifelike, but not quite, making their movements and facial expressions somewhat disconcerting.
The issue is particularly noticeable in how the children’s faces are animated. Their smiles and expressions often don’t convincingly convey the intended emotions, breaking the illusion of them being real kids. This dissonance between the viewers’ expectations of human-like behavior and what is presented on screen contributes to the feeling of unease.
Interestingly, this sense of unease has been reported to have intensified over time. When “The Polar Express” was released in 2004, its visuals were considered impressive. However, as animation technology has advanced, the film’s style hasn’t aged well, potentially making the “Uncanny Valley” effect more pronounced for contemporary audiences.
Despite this, “The Polar Express” remains a popular holiday movie for many. Its unique animation style, while off-putting to some, is embraced by others who enjoy the film as part of their Christmas traditions. However, it’s not uncommon for there to be a divide in opinion among family members about watching it, due to its potentially creepy nature.
