Shane Acker's "9"

[---Vertea---]

So I found out through another member here about a short film called 9 by a guy named Shane Acker. It's pretty darn cool-about a little ragdoll/robot trying to survive in a post apocalypse world. He encounters this really nasty creature with a cat skull for a head that can steal souls and it just gets cooler from there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp3T0qjY04Y

THEN I find out that Tim Burton is going to work with Mr. Acker to make a movie!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIpZxBczWUg

THEN, just yesterday, they release a two-minute clip that just blew my mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISfDDKSgyk4...feature=related

As you can see, this movie is gonna rock.

[Peppermint_M]

Heard of it ages ago can't wait! I just hope the UK release is anywhere near the US date because Coraline (by the same studio) still isn't out here even though it was in theaters in the US months ago.

I love post-apocalyptic (I just think it's done to death in Lego) and 9 is looking to be beautiful.

[Oky]

Well, I wouldn't call it "the coolest thing since ever", but it sure looks pretty damn good! The original short film was already great, but this looks epic! Even the music is awesome! Thanks for providing those links. I had not seen anything from the movie before. I like the style and animation of it, even though I liked the old design of the soul stealers (the cat/spider-like one) better than the new one (the cobra-like one).

It's kinda funny that this is done by the same studio as Coraline. I mean, rag dolls again? What's up with that? But what even funnier is the release date - 9.9.09. That's just awesome!

Tim Burton is a twisted man. But a creatively genius one.

This is definitely one of the most anticipated movies of this year for me. I hope it wont disappoint.

Edited April 26, 2009 by Oky Wan Kenobi

[Da Death Star!]

Bfahome was going crazy about this on BZPower(He even made a MOC of the Soul-stealer!).But don't worry,I think that the Cat-Spider Soul-Stealer is still in the movie,because in the trailer you can see it for a split second.Methinks that the Anaconda thing just brings the robots to the Cat-Spider.

But the movie looks GREAT!Adding to my list of must-see movies(Hey!They might even have a trailer for TS 3!). . . . . . . . . .

(_)DDS(_)

[---Vertea---]

Bfahome was going crazy about this on BZPower(He even made a MOC of the Soul-stealer!).But don't worry,I think that the Cat-Spider Soul-Stealer is still in the movie,because in the trailer you can see it for a split second.Methinks that the Anaconda thing just brings the robots to the Cat-Spider.

But the movie looks GREAT!Adding to my list of must-see movies(Hey!They might even have a trailer for TS 3!). . . . . . . . . .

(_)DDS(_)

I'm pretty sure you're right, otherwise the cobra machine would have taken #1's soul right then and there-also, it explains why he has the big guy tied up and stored in his body. And the catskull construct is DEFINITELY in the film. Also, there's supposed to be this really big thing that they have to face at the end. I was lucky enough to speak with one of the pre-production guys that worked with the concept art, so I know a little bit.

[YG-49]

The movie would have been better if they kept it silent. In the short, There's no talking. In the movie, however, there is talking. It would have increased the suspense (No-one saying "There's something with us") and been better for the movie. I don't think I'm goinng to see the at the cinema now.

Apart from that, the movie looks great

Goodbye...

*9*

[Oky]

The movie would have been better if they kept it silent. In the short, There's no talking. In the movie, however, there is talking. It would have increased the suspense (No-one saying "There's something with us") and been better for the movie.

You might be right about that, but then again, I don't think that I or anyone else, especially kids, is able to watch an entire movie without dialogue these days. It's one of the reasons why WALL-E wasn't as popular as it should have been. Therefore, I'm actually kinda glad that there is some dialogue. It adds to the story.

On a side note: I'm curious to see if the origin of these Robo-dolls is explained in this movie. That's one of the things that puzzled me most about the short film. Apparently, there is some kind of holographic message from 9's creator, so I'm hopeful!

Also, it's gonna be interesting to see a Tim Burton movie that is not a musical.

[user]

Also, it's gonna be interesting to see a Tim Burton movie that is not a musical.

You don't know that for sure! But it will be intresting most all his other movies such as The nightmare before christmas, Corpes brides, Heck even

had a song to it but it will also be weird to see a movie with absolutley no clay in it I mean nearly evert movie he has ever made had clay in it even "Pee Wee's big adventure" had a claymation scene in it! Edited April 29, 2009 by computerbug

[Oky]

You don't know that for sure!

Good point. But seriously, as beautiful Nightmare and Corpse Bride were, having these robo-dolls sing would be taking it too far.

But it will be intresting most all his other movies such as The nightmare before christmas, Corpes brides, Heck even

had a song to it but it will also be weird to see a movie with absolutley no clay in it I mean nearly evert movie he has ever made had clay in it even "Pee Wee's big adventure" had a claymation scene in it!

Not true. I don't think that there was any clay in Sweeny Todd, Scissorhands, or Frankenweenie. But I see your point: This is definitely something new for Burton.

Btw, does anyone else think that the fact that this movie is directed by the same guy as "Wanted" is not necessarily a good thing? I think that a lot of things in Wanted were extremely overdone which made it stupid, and in result, I didn't like the movie. However, with Burton producing "9", I'm not too worried.

[user]

Not true. I don't think that there was any clay in Sweeny Todd, Scissorhands, or Frankenweenie. But I see your point: This is definitely something new for Burton.

Whoops I meant to put "Most" But was frankenweenie ever actually on TV? Or was it just a bonus on some other Tim Burton movies because it was only about 30 mins long. But you are right Tim and the director of "Wanted" is a very odd mix but I am sure it will turn out well. But aM I the only one that thinks that some awesome MOCs could be made of the monsters?

~Computerbug

P.S I was kidding there obviously will be no singing in a post-apocolyptic movie about robo-zombies!

[Oky]

Whoops I meant to put "Most". But was frankenweenie ever actually on TV? Or was it just a bonus on some other Tim Burton movies because it was only about 30 mins long.

Dunno. I know it from my Nightmare DVD. But Burton is making it into a full-length movie, so it will be on TV eventually. What does this have to do with anything anyway?

But am I the only one that thinks that some awesome MOCs could be made of the monsters?

Of course not! I am already making plans in my head of how to make a nice cat-spider thing. And according to Da Death Star, a MOC has apparently already been done (anybody have a link?). The challenge in making mocs of them is how to make the parts of them that are cloth.

I'm sure the cloth from the upcoming Endor Battle set will be very useful for making a MOC of the bat-like machine.

Btw, you guys are right: The cat-spider thing is shown in the trailer thrice, so it's definitely in the movie. The question is what its role is. It could be the Mother Machine (so to say) or it's just another agent of the Mother Machine like the cobra and the bat. The theory that they are just catching and bringing their victims to the Mother Machine makes sense. But why are they doing it? I can't wait to find out!

[Da Death Star!]

(anybody have a link?)

I'm afraid theres a good chance it got deleted in the server crash,but I remember it had a Spinax head and I think Technic poles for limbs.I am also wondering if the RDRs origin will come up in the movie.If you look closely you can see a Human in part of the Trailer throwing something that was on fire,so either theres going to be flashback or there are still some Humans left alive(Methinks its the former though).

(_)DDS(_)

[Oky]

I'm afraid theres a good chance it got deleted in the server crash,but I remember it had a Spinax head and I think Technic poles for limbs.

Hehe, nice. That's exactly how I pictured it too.

I am also wondering if the RDRs origin will come up in the movie.

RDRs?

If you look closely you can see a Human in part of the Trailer throwing something that was on fire,so either theres going to be flashback or there are still some Humans left alive(Methinks its the former though).

Yeah, me too. From what I can see from the trailer, this is how I think the movie is gonna go: First, they show the humans loosing the fight against the machines. Then, they will go a little into the future where 9 wakes up in the post-apoc world in the house of his creator. He finds the box and watches the message from his creator which tells him what happened and why he was created. Then, 9 finds the other rag dolls (or they find him). Soon they get attacked by the machines and start going into hiding. At some point, 9 will speak up and tell the others that running away is not the best solution and that they have to find out why the machines are after them in order to defeat them. In the end, they find the Mother Machine and blow it up. That's what I think anyway.

[Da Death Star!]

RDRs?

What?Ragdoll robot is a bit of a mouthful,besides,acronyms are cool .

(_)DDS(_)

[user]

Okay So there is 5 RDR monsters that we know of? I know there is a Spider, a Snake, Cat-skull, walker, and a bat? Tell me if I forgot any.

[Oky]

What?Ragdoll robot is a bit of a mouthful,besides,acronyms are cool .

Lol. I see. Well, let's just call them ragdolls, because apparently they are not robots, but living beings, since they have souls and all.

Okay So there is 5 RDR monsters that we know of? I know there is a Spider, a Snake, Cat-skull, walker, and a bat? Tell me if I forgot any.

Actually, there are a lot more, I think. Just look at the trailer. There is that snake-like thing with the many eyes at 0:46, there is that thing with only one eye at 0:51, and there is whatever that is in the fog. And who knows what else is in the movie.

Btw, I don't think you can call the monsters RDRs. Just call'em machines.

Edited April 30, 2009 by Oky Wan Kenobi

[Da Death Star!]

http://www.bzpower.com/forum/index.php?sho...=299005&hl= .I found the topic!(I'm SO glad he re-posted it.)

(_)DDS(_)

[user]

http://www.bzpower.com/forum/index.php?sho...=299005&hl= .I found the topic!(I'm SO glad he re-posted it.)

AWESOME!!! He did a great job but he did'nt follow the color sceme whatsoever! But I am sure later we will get better MOCs for these horribly awesome monsters!

[Oky]

Awesome! Thanks, DDS! It's not as accurate as I thought it would be, but it still looks pretty cool!

I think it's time to outdo him. Let the MOCing begin!

[Da Death Star!]

Awesome! Thanks, DDS! It's not as accurate as I thought it would be, but it still looks pretty cool!

I think it's time to outdo him. Let the MOCing begin!

Your welcome,yeah,lets outdo him !(I wonder if he knows about this topic?)But I coud've sworn that it had a Spinax head. . . . . . . . . . .

(_)DDS(_)

[Oky]

I coud've sworn that it had a Spinax head...

Oh well. Looking at the reference images, a spinax head would have been way too flat anyway. So, it's actually pretty good how he did it, but its eyes could've stood out more IMO. Also, the spikes are way too long and the body is too skinny.

Time to make an accurate version of it!

[Darth Legolas]

This movie really does look quite good. But...where exactly did the evil robot-animal thingies come from...and how did the world end?

I guess I'll find out when I see the movie.

[---Vertea---]

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=25369

Here was my attempt at the Catskull construct. I made it after Bfahome introduced me.

[M'Kyuun]

I watched the original and Tim Burton's take. Pretty cool. The original looks very much like Tim Burton's style, so it's not much of a stretch from one version to the other. I actually like the original better..no words are necessary as every emotion is well conveyed through expression, and I like the look of the ragdolls better. The sound work on the original is great, IMO. No doubt Danny Elfman scored Burton's version, and he excels at creating wonderful dark moody music. The "cobra" creature had a creepier vibe going, esp when it opened and shrieked. Awesome! I hope there's no singing in Burton's version. I'm not a fan of musicals to begin with, but I've never enjoyed the songs in any of his stop-motion works, although I like the visual style.

[---Vertea---]

I watched the original and Tim Burton's take. Pretty cool. The original looks very much like Tim Burton's style, so it's not much of a stretch from one version to the other. I actually like the original better..no words are necessary as every emotion is well conveyed through expression, and I like the look of the ragdolls better. The sound work on the original is great, IMO. No doubt Danny Elfman scored Burton's version, and he excels at creating wonderful dark moody music. The "cobra" creature had a creepier vibe going, esp when it opened and shrieked. Awesome! I hope there's no singing in Burton's version. I'm not a fan of musicals to begin with, but I've never enjoyed the songs in any of his stop-motion works, although I like the visual style.

I think I've quite liked his musicals-but mostly because he has Danny Elfman doing the score. Looks like Elfman will be involved in this project as well.