9 is a 2009 animated sci-fi/action film directed by Shane Acker and produced by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov, director of Wanted, and stars Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover, Martin Landau, and Christopher Plummer. It is based on Acker’s Academy Award-nominated short film of the same name. The screenplay was written by Shane Acker, Ben Gluck, and Pamela Pettler, co-writer of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. Casting for this film was done by Mindy Marin, production design by Robert St. Pierre and Fred Warter, and art direction by Christophe Vacher. The film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for violence and scary images. In the U.K., the film has been rated 12A by the BBFC for moderate sustained threat.

Plot
During a period of economic decline, the government of a totalitarian state commissions scientists to research ways for the nation to prosper. One scientist develops an artificially intelligent brain, but before it can be properly tested, it is taken away by the government to build the Fabrication Machine, which is used to provide labor for the people and creates machines for war. Eventually the Fabrication Machine snaps under pressure and turns against humanity, programming its machines to eradicate all forms of life. During the chaos, the scientist who invented the machine’s A.I. creates a mysterious talisman and a set of nine numbered ragdoll-like “stitchpunks,” hoping they will preserve humanity’s legacy and allow life to continue. He brings them to life by transferring his soul into each of them, and dies as soon as he gives life to the final stitchpunk, numbered “9.”

9 awakens in the scientist’s laboratory, the world now a barren wasteland, and finds the scientist’s talisman, which he instinctively takes with him. While exploring the ruined world, he encounters another stitchpunk, 2, who tells him of others like themselves before he is captured by the Cat Beast, which steals the talisman and takes 2 towards a towering factory in the distance. 9 escapes the attack and is found by the group of other stitchpunks consisting of 1, 5, 6, and 8, who have all been hiding in fear of the Cat Beast. 9 explains what happened to 2 and insists they save him, but 1 refuses to jeopardize their safety. 5, on the other hand, is convinced to help 9. The two enter the factory and save 2 from the Cat Beast, which is decapitated thanks to the timely arrival of 7. Noticing a socket shaped like the talisman, 9 inserts the talisman into it out of curiosity, only to have it open and inadvertently seal away 2’s soul, leaving 2 lifeless. This reactivates the long-dormant Fabrication Machine, prompting 9, 5, and 7 to flee.

Seeking answers about the Fabrication Machine and the talisman, 9 is taken to meet 3 and 4, who reveal details about the machine’s past, though they know nothing about the talisman. 5 tells 9 that 6 might have answers and return to the hideout, where 6 states they must “go back to the source,” where the talisman’s secrets can be found. 1, however, berates 9 for awakening the Fabrication Machine and argues that 9 will just lead them to more trouble. Suddenly, the hideout is besieged by the Winged Beast, a new machine created by the Fabrication Machine. Through a combined effort, the stitchpunks destroy the Winged Beast, though the hideout is burned down in the process. During their search for shelter, they are attacked by another new machine, the Seamstress, which kidnaps 7 and 8 and nearly kidnaps 1 as well, who is convinced to strike back against the machines.

9 infiltrates the machine factory where he is able to save 7 and destroy the Seamstress, though he arrives too late to prevent the Fabrication Machine from taking 8’s soul with the talisman. 9 and 7 escape while others ignite a barrel of gasoline and roll it into the gas-filled factory, causing the building to explode and apparently destroying the Fabrication Machine. As the stitchpunks celebrate, 5 wanders off to find the Fabrication Machine is still active, and barely manages to warn the others before the machine steals his soul. During the ensuing chase, 6 tells 9 that the souls of the dead stitchpunks are trapped inside the Fabrication Machine when he too loses his soul, but not before he urges the others to return to “the source” rather than destroy the machine. Despite this, 1, 7, 3, and 4 plan to destroy the Fabrication Machine anyway, believing the dead souls cannot be saved. 9 decides to heed 6’s final words and returns to the laboratory where he first awoke and found the talisman, determining it to be “the source.”

Back in the laboratory, 9 finds a message from the scientist explaining how to use the talisman. When the others begin their attack on the Fabrication Machine, 9 returns with a plan to take the talisman back from the machine and use it to retrieve the souls, intending to bait himself to the machine and sacrifice his soul. 1, however, ultimately makes the sacrifice instead, allowing 9 to use the talisman to retrieve the souls, destroying the Fabrication Machine in the process. Afterwards, 9, 7, 3, and 4 set up a memorial for 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8. 9 opens the talisman and releases the souls, which scatter across the sky and bring life back to the world, leaving its future in the hands of the stitchpunks.

Directed by Shane Acker
Produced by : Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov
Written by
Shane Acker (story)
Pamela Pettler
Ben Gluck

Starring
Elijah Wood
John C. Reilly
Jennifer Connelly
Christopher Plummer
Crispin Glover
Martin Landau
Fred Tatasciore

Music by : Danny Elfman, Deborah Lurie
Editing by Nick Kenway
Studio: Relativity Media, Starz Animation
Distributed by Focus Features
Release date(s) September 9, 2009
Running time 91 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $33,000,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue $15,160,926

Official website: www.9.com

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