9
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where man has been undone by his mechanical creations (a lesson you would have thought we had learnt ever since "The Terminator") humanity's only hope lies with a ragtag bunch of sock puppets...well, they're more like little sackmen but the upshot is equally grim! The ruthlessness of the AI, sending forth its miss-mash creations of bone and metal in a bid to snuff out the last vestiges of mankind, is offset by the compassion displayed by the plucky band of stuffed rebels. Led by the newcomer of the group, voiced by Elijah Wood, our team not only has to face down a new threat but must also discover their reason for being in the process...a question that would vex the keenest of minds at the best of times without the added incentive of killer machines on your tail!
Existentialism aside, Acker has crafted a little masterpiece with a macabre sensibility. Life as we know it is over and what we're left with isn't much to crow about either - a daring set-up not often found in such animated hits. The heroes of the piece are instantly endearing though thanks to their quirky design and strong vocal support from the likes of Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly and Martin Landau.
Steampunk, or 'Stitchpunk' as it will heretofore be known, has never looked so good. Unlike their playful PlayStation cousins theirs is a Little Barren Planet, but it's no less beautiful. Ok, being based on Acker's own, Oscar-winning 2004 short, "9" does feel slight and you do find yourself amidst a repetitive series of attacks on the Big Brain AI in the middle third. But these little qualms aside, "9" has a big heart and could well mark a shift towards more mature, offbeat animated fare in the mainstream. We hope.