Computer fleshes out Tom's role

An animated Christmas film featuring Oscar-winner Tom Hanks uses pioneering computer technology to turn him into four different characters.

The Polar Express employs special effects to create characters who are partflesh, part-cartoon. Director Robert Zemeckis, who also made Forrest Gump, asked Hanks, 48, to perform with digital sensors to record the movements of his head, hands and face.

The data were used to turn his image into a little boy, a train conductor, a tramp and Santa Claus. The £190million film has set a £1.1million record for the biggest opening at Imax cinemas in the US.