Animated Tale Starring Futuristic Ragdolls

Tim Burton produced this highly creative, animated tale of good old fashioned good vs. evil. The good guys are post-apocalyptic rag dolls that have numbers painted on their backs and the bad guys are the machines. No humans are left on earth in this sci-fi tale. Director, Shane Acker received an Academy Award nomination for his short film “9” in 2005 and decided to expand the film into a full feature. The original film is 11 minutes in length and features 9 as the hero but with no voice. In this film, the rag dolls do talk and talk a plenty in this 79-minute version.

The story of “9” is one of a future world similar to the destructive imagines in the films “I am Legend” and “WALL*E.” Cities are in ruins, dark, dusty desolate landscape of trash and piles of rubbish from bombed out building. No humans survive only these creatures that are rag doll figures made out of burlap fabric with distinct wide silver zippers in the front.   

Their main enemy is the dark looming machines. Who are responsible for the destruction of the world and mankind, as we know it. Can you believe it? In this tale they have out-smarted man and taken over the world. Now if they can only get rid of those annoying rag dolls they’d rule the world!

Fortunately, a human scientist (who was very smart) created the rag doll creatures in the hopes that they could keep mankind’s civilization alive. The main reason to see this film is the rag doll’s themselves as they are very unique, having individual personalities. The rag dolls argue, rant, plead, fight, think, feel and exhibit a long list of other emotions while trying to combat the dark and daunting machines. Each has a number painted on his back.

The characters are voiced by: Christoper Plummer #1, Martin Landau #2, John C. Reilly #5,Crispin Glover #6, Jennifer Connelly #7, Fred Tatascior e#8 and Elijah Wood #9.

This film is really not intended for children. Parents beware as it is rated PG-13 for a reason. The evil machines are loud and scary looking. They hunt the rag dolls and seek to destroy them. This hunt continues for the duration of the film with not much let up. The machines’ intent is to rule the world and they will stop at nothing to continue their quest. The rag dolls are so tiny and appear helpless against these over-sized, nearly indestructible steel contraptions with piercing bright red eyes. 

The endearing part of the film is the detailed features of the rag dolls and their appearances.  Due to their size, they are most definitely the underdog and one is curious to see how they are going to outwit the large, over-sized machines with their gun power and weapon capabilities. The rag dolls do unite and fight the machines and this test of wills becomes the intriguing part.

Truly, 9 is the special star but some of the other rag dolls are just as memorable. "9" opened on 9-9-2009. Filmmaker Shane Acker said that it took him four years to complete the film. If you are at all a fan of animation then I strongly suggest that you see this film as it is creatively wonderful!

Sarah Adamson © 2009