9 is a 2009 animated science fiction film directed by Shane Acker, written by Pamela Pettler and produced by Jim Lemley, Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov and Dana Ginsburg.
Set in an alternate version of the 1930s, the film follows a rag doll labeled "9" who awakens shortly after the end of humanity following the uprising of machines.
The film features the voices of Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer and Crispin Glover, with Martin Landau and Fred Tatasciore.
The film received generally mixed reviews from critics, earned $48.4 million on a $30 million budget and received an Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures nomination in 21st Producers Guild of America Awards.
As a last resort to stop the machines, the scientist uses alchemy to create nine homunculus-like rag dolls called "Stitchpunks", each labeled with a number, giving them portions of his own soul via a talisman.
9 collapses but is rescued by 5, a healer and engineer with one eye, and awakens in Sanctuary, the tower of an empty cathedral that is home to other Stitchpunks – the dogmatic leader 1, his large bodyguard 8, and the mentally unstable oracle 6.
9 curiously connects the talisman to the dormant Fabrication Machine, accidentally reviving it, whereupon it kills 2 by sucking out his soul.
Back at the library, 6, 3, and 4 cryptically explain the talisman's origins, but 1 reveals that he sent 2 out on a scouting trip, thinking he would die, because he thought his curiosity was going to get him killed.
At the workshop, 9 finds a holographic recorded message from the Scientist, explaining the Machine's origins and confiding that the Stitchpunks have pieces of his soul, making them the only hope for humanity.
The raindrops contain small flecks of glowing bacteria, bringing life back into the world.
[10][11] It includes the themes created by Danny Elfman, Deborah Lurie's film score, and "Welcome Home" by Coheed and Cambria.
The website's critical consensus states: "Although its story is perhaps too familiar and less complex than some might wish, 9 is visually spectacular, and director Shane Acker's attention to detail succeeds in drawing viewers into the film's universe.
[17] Roger Ebert gave the film three stars out of four, contrasting it with the works of Hayao Miyazaki and saying that, "’9’ is nevertheless worth seeing…[the visuals] are entrancing.
"[19] Variety's Todd McCarthy says, "In the end, the picture's impact derives mostly from its design and assured execution.
[27] The DVD and Blu-ray contained special features such as the director Shane Acker's original 2005 short film of the same name, cast interviews, and commentary by the filmmakers.
And I think we could continue the journey from where we left off and see how these creatures are existing in a world in which the natural environment is coming back and perhaps even threatening them in some way.
Director Acker has also mentioned the possibility of a sequel being made because of the lack of darker animated films, claiming that everything is G- and PG-rated with little to no dark elements.
[35] Despite the silence from Acker, in January 2017, the Facebook profile of the character "the Scientist" was updated with a rather cryptic message.