9 is based off a short animated film by Shane Acker, which was nominated for an Academy Award a few years ago. But now he has made his short film in to a feature film (well…the film is 79 minutes). Even though his short had no dialogue, this one does and there is a great cast of voices that includes Elijah Wood, John C. Riley, Christopher Plummer, and Jennifer Connelly.
This is a dark animated film that is not for kids. It pays close attention to detail, especially when it comes to the rag doll characters like #9. We see him open his eyes and learn to walk. He has awakened in a world that has been destroyed by machines. We don’t know how #9 was created at first, but we soon find out there are more of his kind out there. You can probably guess how many.
As these rag dolls begin to join together, they have a plan to hide. #1 is the leader and the original rag doll and he loves using the plan of waiting it out. However, #9 doesn’t believe in that plan. He is a daring rag doll that wants to bring the fight to these machines, and it was kinda his fault because he did wake up the B.R.A.I.N. This machine is very intelligent and it can make other machines that are smart as well. So, the fight between these rag dolls and machines has casualties, but this film has some nice action scenes and can be suspenseful at times.
9 is beautifully created and this animation does not use bright colors or happy imagery. It is PG-13 for a reason. And the world that is created around these characters is a creepy one. One that is dying and on its last breath. The world’s survival is all on the shoulders of #9 and the rest of the gang.
This animated film is fascinating to look at and the preciseness that went in to these rag doll characters and making them distinct from each other is amazing. Though, I can’t really say this film is groundbreaking or original. The animation is different from what we are used to seeing, but the film and its message is nothing new. This is the only disappointment with the film. Overall, its focus on such a dark subject is thrilling and exciting. The characters are one of a kind even if the film itself is not.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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