9

This is a really fun animation, mostly because it's just so simple of a story very detailed in animation and visually exciting. I mean, for all the complicated methods of the computer animation with great lighting effects and detailed skins and movements of the characters and their effects on the environments, it's a very easy man-vs-monster story that can appeal to everyone.

A ragdoll named 9, or marked 9, or the ninth ragdoll or something to that effect is tragically left alone after its partner 4 sacrifices itself to a monster that steals its soul. 9 devises a way to defeat the monster so that it will no longer torment it, and in the process discovers a way to provide closure to the souls' entrapment (the souls of 1 through 8). This is presented through actiony fantasy pretty much existing as never-before-seen.

It's very enjoyable and visually amazing. The monster seems almost perfect for the environment they come from, and the characters are very well emotionally presented considering their darned faces. The plot contains no real desire to be stretched into feature length or accepted as important, just presents six minutes of about as much fun as six minutes can give.

--PolarisDiB

9 is a visually creative short animation by Shane Acker. It was nominated for a best animated short Oscar and later Acker got funding to release a feature length version.

There is no dialogue so the story is hard to fathom. There are two ragdoll type creatures. One of them is designated the 9th one left alone when the other one perishes and loses its soul to a mechanical type monster.

9 has to find a way to defeat the monster and ends up releasing the souls devoured by this monster.

The short animation has a post apocalyptic Gothic steampunk style, it is very well lit and clearly a labour of love.

This film was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for 2006 and although it did not win, it deserves kudos for creating a very strange yet beautiful alternate world.

The film begins with two creatures who are practically impossible to describe--they are that odd. However, a monstrous robot-like predator arrives and quickly sucks the soul out of one--while the other tries to escape. Being a very tenacious creature, it gives chase and most of the film consists of the creature trying to kill the smaller and weaker one.

Graphically, this film is all computer generated and looks like a darker version of the Odd World characters created for several gaming systems. While very dark (not just in spirit but in lighting), the film abounds with wonderfully detailed and rendered graphics. It was exciting to watch and I look forward to more from this creative team.

Great Visual Effects, stunning work!!! Shane is an inspiration to all short film makers.

Brilliant Characters set in a visually fantastic backyard war zone. Dramatic lighting and gutting CGI environments create an astounding miniature world in trouble. Simple yet profound story telling without words, transcends past language barriers producing a universal story for all.

With this film you can definitely see Shane's progress of his previous Good films to this breath taking achievement in short film making.

A must see for any fan of animated shorts with stunning imagery.

A pretty effective short.

Without a single spoken dialogue, it manages to tell a very engaging story, mostly thanks to its haunting atmosphere and endearing main characters.

The feature length version was good too, and showed once again the great potential of Shane Acker as animator.

I hope to see another animated film directed by him sometime in the future.