Like it less and less I enjoyed this movie when it came out. The novelty of the animation captured my attention at the time, and I found some attachment to the characters of Hero Girl and Billy (especially Billy).
This film has not aged well for me. Completely aside from the animation. I always found it a bit dark, but it seems to get more-so every time I watch it. I see it in ways that bother me more and more. The conductor really is more off-putting than not. I just don't care enough about Hero Boy to be super stoked he got his belief back. The elves are pretty creepy, and Santa is not the jolly happy soul one has come to expect. The North Pole doesn't seem much more inviting than the actual North Pole.
I do feel like Hero Girl was an admirable, kind character who learned not to doubt her instincts, i.e., herself. Poor Billy got the shaft, in my opinion. If I were him, I don't know that I would have been so kind and forgiving to Santa. Billy went how many years without getting a gift from Santa on Christmas? And he comes to find out this guy was real all along? So not only does Billy come from a poor household at best, an abusive one at worst, but to find out Santa didn't give a crap before this point really takes the cake.
Santa in 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' really is an ass, as well, as I have seen more clearly with age...an aside, but dislike of one Santa made me think of the other.
I personally like the action scenes that some others don't.
I would have hated this if I watched it as a kid...way too dark and scary...it would have given me endless nightmares. With the plethora of Christmas fare out there, there are much better choices, especially if you have very young or emotionally sensitive children.
I can only say if I had been a child when this came out, maybe it wouldn't have come across as a disturbing flick to me. Kids of the 2000s and on were exposed to media that was faster, louder, and darker in general. I give it a 5 because my husband still likes it pretty well. To each his own.