9 (2009)

Toonarly
Published on Apr 12, 2025
9 (2009) (Film in public domain)

9 is a 2009 animated film directed by Shane Acker in his directorial debut. Based on Acker's own short film of the same name created at the UCLA Animation Workshop,[7] the film was written by Pamela Pettler and produced by Jim Lemley, Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov and Dana Ginsburg. Set in an alternate version of the 1940s, 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.[1][8][9]

9 was released by Focus Features in theatres on September 9, 2009. 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. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on December 29, 2009.

Plot
A scientist creates a robot for his government in the name of peaceful progress, making the highly intelligent B.R.A.I.N. However, the government seizes the B.R.A.I.N. and turns it into the Fabrication Machine, an armature that can construct an army of war machines. The machines become corrupted and declare war on the humans. As a last resort, 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. He dies upon completing the final Stitchpunk doll: 9.

9 awakens some time after the machines have destroyed all organic life on Earth and gone dormant. He ventures outside and meets 2, an elderly inventor Stitchpunk who gives him a working voice box. The last active machine, the Cat-Beast, attacks the pair, abducts 2, and takes the talisman. One-eyed healer 5 rescues 9 and takes him to Sanctuary, the tower of an empty cathedral that is home to other Stitchpunks; the dogmatic leader 1, his large bodyguard 8, and the eccentric clairvoyant 6. Against 1's wishes, 9 and 5 follow the Cat-Beast to a factory and rescue 2. The Cat-Beast attacks the trio, but they are saved by 7, the only female of the Stitchpunks. 9 curiously connects the talisman to the dormant Fabrication Machine, accidentally reviving it; it kills 2 by sucking out his soul, and the other Stitchpunks only barely manage to escape.

7 takes 9 and 5 to an abandoned library, where mute scholar twins 3 and 4 reveal the history of the Human-Machine war. 9 draws the symbols on the talisman, and 5 realizes the symbols match the drawings 6 is always making. 9 and 5 return to Sanctuary to investigate, but 1 reprimands them for disobeying and putting them all at risk. The Fabrication Machine begins assembling new robots; one of them, the bird-like Winged Beast, attacks the Sanctuary and burns it down. With 7's help, the Stitchpunks manage to destroy the Winged Beast and escape.

Back at the library, 6, 3, and 4 search for information on the talisman. 1 says such curiosity is dangerous, and reveals that he allowed 2 to go out to his death because he feared 2's curiosity would eventually get them all killed. Meanwhile, the Fabrication Machine uses 2's corpse as a hypnotic lure for its new "Seamstress" robot, which attacks the library and captures 7 and 8. The other Stitchpunks return to the factory to save them, but 8's soul is absorbed by the machine. 9 goes in alone, saves 7, and destroys the Seamstress. He and 7 escape as the other Stitchpunks blow up the factory, destroying nearly all of the machines.

The Fabrication Machine, badly damaged but still functional, emerges from the factory's ruins and absorbs 5's soul. 6 realizes that the deceased Stitchpunks' souls are still trapped inside the Machine and begs the others not to destroy it. The Machine manages to capture 6; just before it sucks out 6's soul, he orders 9 to go to the Scientist's workshop for answers. At the workshop, 9 finds a holographic recorded message from the Scientist, explaining both the Machine's and the Stitchpunks' origins, and how to use the talisman.

Now knowing that the talisman can be used to transfer souls, 9 reunites with the surviving Stitchpunks. He plans to sacrifice himself to the Machine, distracting it long enough for the others to retrieve the talisman. 1 redeems himself by pushing 9 out of the way, allowing the Machine to suck out his soul instead of 9's. 9 removes the talisman and sucks the captive Stitchpunks' souls out of the Machine, destroying it. Afterward, 9 uses the talisman to release the souls of 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8. As the freed souls fly up into the sky, it starts to rain. The raindrops contain tiny flecks of bacteria, bringing organic life back into the world.

Voice cast
Stitchpunks
Christopher Plummer as 1, the fearful, arrogant portion of the Scientist's personality
Martin Landau as 2, the creative genius portion of the Scientist's personality
John C. Reilly as 5, the gentle healer portion of the Scientist's personality
Crispin Glover as 6, the artistic, eccentric portion of the Scientist's personality
Jennifer Connelly as 7, the fighter portion of the Scientist's personality and the only female of the group
Fred Tatasciore as 8, the stolid and loyal portion of the Scientist's personality
Elijah Wood as 9, the hopeful, heroic part of the Scientists personality
Humans
Alan Oppenheimer as the scientist, the inventor of the Fabrication Machine and later the nine Stitchpunks
Tom Kane as the chancellor, a dictator who was responsible for causing the Fabrication Machine to turn against humanity
Fred Tatasciore as the radio announcer
Helen Wilson as a news reporter