Why do you like 9?

[Jazz]

I don't know about you guys, but I get asked that a lot. Mostly repeatedly by my younger sister, but that's besides the point.

Anyhow, this is what I'd tell her if she had the patience to listen to me.

1. Simple technological wizardry. Amazing animation and great attention to sound. The way the stitchpunks move, the really clear sounds, the smooth animation. Everyone talks about this, and I'm no different!

2. Unexpectedness. Tell me truthfully -- the first time you watched 9, were you expecting the kind of ending they gave us? 'Cause I know I sure wasn't. And here's something else that really gets to me: Acker and Co. could have chosen to let the Cat Beast wake up the Machine. After all, it nearly did. But they chose to let 9 do it instead, and out of that we get a whole secondary plot about redemption and sacrifice and all instead of just an action-adventure movie. I love that.

3. The movie doesn't tell you everything. Redwhistle and I once had a conversation in which she pointed out that whatever you take from 9, you have to find for yourself, and I agree with her. You can't sit and let the movie do all the work. It gives you the basic plot and characters and some hints and ideas, and the rest of it is completely up to you. It's taking plot holes and turning them into a fine art in which you actually might get more out of them than if there hadn't been a hole at all. Which I personally think is awesome -- particularly since it opens the gates for a lot of creative mediums, especially fanfiction.

These are three of the main reasons I've found for liking 9. What about the rest of you? Have you noticed anything? Myself, I like to know what's going on in my head, so I thought this might be an interesting thing to think about for the rest of you as well.

EDIT: Pazam reminded me: the music. How could I forget the music? It's beautiful. Sometimes scary, sometimes lonely, sometimes brave and action-filled. A lot of people complain about the lack of an overall theme, but themes aren't what makes a score great. Emotion is, and 9's score has that.

[Pazam]

Well, I like 9 because:

1. It is awesome as heck.

2. It shows that even animated films can take on the potential of being aimed more at teens and adults rather than children.

3. Unexpected scenes. Like Jazzy said before, I thought they would make the ending just like the short film, but instead made a few survive along with 9. And I liked that.

4. It's not too short and not too long, which is good.

5. FREAKING CRYSTAL CLEAR GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION. Nuff said.

6. Absolutely amazing story. Nuff said.

7. Great characters with hearts of gold (except the Chancellor and the Machines), despite little character development.

8. The music. Oh God the music. Most ambient, mysterious, and suspenseful music I've ever heard.

9. It is awesome as heck.

[deadgirlspainting]

Yeah the animation is one of the reason I love 9. It's so detailed and all the actions movement feel natural. Also I give them props for being able to pull off facial expressions with the stitchpunks very well.

I like how you can noticed something new every time you watch it.

Also I remember in the commentary they said they wanted the audience to sort participate in story and draw their own conclusions. Which I actually kind of like that more than just passively watching. To me it's sort of interesting how watching it is like trying to solve a puzzle, and every little detail is some how a piece of the puzzle.

Oh and I like the symbolism too. I seen the movie get criticized for using the technology bringing end of human kind for the Apocalypse. Some would call that unoriginal, but I think Shane kind of did an interesting twist on that idea. I don't think the movie was saying technology is bad. To me it's more along the lines of technology can be good or bad depending on how it use. When you think about it really, an object is only as good as it's user.

[Sock]

1. The animation is one of the BEST things about the film. The textures make it all look so real and breathtaking!

2. What Jazz said; unexpectedness. I wasn't expecting all those deaths! And so soon, too! *hugs 2* There were so many things that surprised me... I didn't know what was going to happen next. And that even happens when I've seen the film multiple times! XD

3. Sound effects. This film has the BEST sound effects, hands down. From the simple things like the individual shutters scrapping against one another whenever a stitchpunk blinks and the sounds of their feet against stone, metal or gravel, to the metallic screeching of a Machine roaring or the Factory turning itself back on after fifty years of being shut down. I even got goosebumps just from hearing 9's echoed footsteps as he ran out of the Scientist's house, and then when he jumps down from the last step and stumbles onto the heap of stone and rock.

4. The character designs! While most animated films make most of their characters look alike, this one makes sure that every single one looks different! Well, except for the Twins of course. XD;;

5. The idea itself. Only Shane could come up with a brilliant and unique idea such as this and set it into something so dark and yet so beautiful and familiar. While the concept of post-Apocalyptic worlds aren't fresh and new, the way Shane comes up with a way to get around that fact certainly is. I mean, nine ragdolls, with their own individuality, who are barely ten inches tall, fighting large mechanical beasts that could rip them to shreds in seconds in order to protect their already dead and deserted world? That's GENIUS!

6. The fact that the movie doesn't tell you everything is extremely interesting! I remember listening to the DVD commentary and Shane was explaining how it's up to the audience to interpret "how that wooden board got burnt" or "how that car got torn apart"--I realize that a lot of people bashed the movie for this very reason, and that's why it didn't do so well in the box office. I'm sorry, but bashers... I think you need to get AROUND that and just THINK for a second when you watch a film like this. THIS is the type of movie that makes the gears in your head turn, and I LOVE THAT! ^^ It allows us to use our imagination and fill up those plot holes to get something across! How did the Fabrication Machine get to the Factory? Why did it shut down? How did it create the Cat Beast? How long have 1 and the others been in hiding? When and Why did 7 and the Twins leave the Cathedral? PLOT HOLES. WE FILLS THEM.

[WarriorSparrow]

I know I'm going to be basically repeating some things that others have said, but...

1. The idea. It's sci-fi-ish, it has awesome technology things, science turns against mankind, the interesting soul thing which also, in a way, raises the question of artificial life and consciousness... right up my alley.

2. The characters, ESPECIALLY 6. What can I say, I'm a sucker for oracles and secret symbol thingies, and 6 and The Source both fit the bill!

3. The atmosphere. Sure, it's scary at times, but it's interesting! And it's neat how you sometimes forget that you're seeing things from the point of view of stitchpunks who are less than a foot tall!

4. The design of the characters. Cat Beast, for instance, is epic-looking.

5. The music. ESPECIALLY the ending music. My only question is WHY did they not include the credits music on the soundtrack?! They included Welcome Home and that was just in the trailers, and I can't think of another movie soundtrack that includes music played in its trailers but not the movie itself.

6. The speculation, and the openness of going whatever way you want with the characters, which got me back into fanfic writing

7. Not expecting things, even if a lot of it was sad unexpected things.

8. The whole soul thing is just awesome.

9. And most importantly... If the film didn't exist, then the forum wouldn't exist, and I never would have became super-good friends with you guys and got to meet Pazam, Zoro, and Hawkstar in real life!

There, 9 reasons I like 9!

[redwhistle]

Ahaha, I never get asked this question, because all my RL friends know better by now. XD SILLY NON-BELIEVERS. Actually, I'm glad you started this topic because I just rewatched the movie this afternoon for the first time in months, and I'll tell you, I fell in love with the darn thing all over again.

Like, those sound effects Sock was talking about? I was totally fangirling over those. The attention to detail is unbelievable! Like right after 9 sees the twins' film reel and puts his hand to his head all WHAT HAVE I DONE, there's the sound of his fingers clicking against the rims of his optics. Is that not amazing? And there are tons more of them, like when 5 picks up 2's hat, and 9 hands 7 back her shield, and when they're making the lightstaff... the filmmakers went out of their way to stay true to the fact that these characters have metal hands. Every time they pick up something or touch something or walk on something or whatever, there's a unique and realistic sound effect.

In one of Shane's interviews -- I don't remember the exact quote -- he said that the idea was to take this post-apocalyptic world and show it from eight inches off the ground. And that is what I truly love about the movie. Everything within it stays true to that concept and vision. Everything you see and hear, down to the tiniest little throwaway detail, tells the story. They actually take the time to work out how a given object could have gotten someplace and who put it there and what kind of condition it would be in. They actually take into account the physics of small bodies and the available materials to figure out what the characters could realistically accomplish. And it doesn't stop with the settings and effects, either. Just as much thought was put into the characters themselves, both as individuals and as a group. What would it be like to be a tiny ragdoll with a soul, living in a ruined and desolate world? How would they talk and how would they move and what would they know and what could they not possibly know? The filmmakers considered it all.

Sept 12, 2011 20:16:55 GMT -5 Jazz said:

The movie doesn't tell you everything. Redwhistle and I once had a conversation in which she pointed out that whatever you take from 9, you have to find for yourself, and I agree with her. You can't sit and let the movie do all the work. It gives you the basic plot and characters and some hints and ideas, and the rest of it is completely up to you.

I remember that conversation. XD I really think it's true, and it just makes me all the more amazed at this movie -- that they put in that much thought and that much effort while knowing that only a tiny fraction of it would ever reach the casual viewer. Think about how many times we've all seen this little 80-minute film and we're still debating things and discovering things and coming up with new explanations for stuff. It's unreal. It does more than just reward the attentive viewer. It almost seems like it was made for the attentive viewer -- and the imaginative one. It's a movie that was made to be obsessed over, and I just can't help but obsess. XD

TL;DR: BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME. And a big "amen" to everything everyone else said, too.

... Yeah. This is why nobody asks me. XDDD

[~*~ShadowFox~*~]

*cracks knuckles* I have some time before class - let's do this.

1. First and foremost, the main reason that I was drawn to this movie was the dark animation. I can say this with certainty. I don't usually go for movies much, and I can watch whole commercial breaks and a billion movies could fly under my radar. It was really Clover who brought my attention to the first commercial (though I like to think that I would've saw it if she didn't XD). It was so . . . different from other movie commercials, and something has to be different to get my attention. It wasn't like other animated movie commercials on TV, where it's bright and colorful, and there's a joke thrown in somewhere. No. This was the "This isn't your little brother's animated movie" commercial. And that? That's what hooked me. XD I was like, "Oh really? Challenge accepted. Let's see what you got." Also, I downloaded Welcome Home the next morning. XD

2. Secondly, it delivered. 8I I was just blown away. I remember my mouth dropping open when I first saw the Winged Beast clip. Yes, they were just rag dolls, but I was surprised at how quick and violent 7's leg impalement was. And when the plane wing started to tilt? "Clover, we're just gonna go watch this movie. Watch it because it looks awesome, and to apologize for calling it Ben 10."

3. The characters. 5, for instance, is one of the most loveable characters that I've seen in a long time. Not to mention 1, who I absolutely adore, though I don't say it much. 9, the twins, 2, god, 2 is just awesome. XD That, and hilariously I instantly had a dislike for 7 when I read her character description. "Oooh, she's the 'only female'. I bet she's going to be a stoic warrior and be all cool and things."

"Lemme try that again~"

"HUMOR. INSTA-FAV."

3. The CG and the animation and the detail put in to every little shot. I want to avoid repeating what has already been said, but . . . yeah. XD The detail, the small things. It makes it fun to watch, and it's like those old "I Spy" books every time you watch the movie.

4. THE SOUNDS. Like Red said, they go out of their way to make you remember they're metallic. The sounds stuck out in this movie more so than any movie I've watched before. You know it's good when you actually acknowledge the sound design. It's amazing. I3

5. OH MY GOSH, character interactions - and I'm talking the physical ones. There are little things you miss the first, second, third, hell, even the tenth time. The "Things You Caught" thread proves this. XD One of my favorite things that I never noticed about the character interactions for a while was after 7 says, "Where have you been hiding?" 7's the focal point in the next shot, but 9 starts to talk with the most adorable, confident face ever, then looks offended when 2 interrupts him. This was actually his first attempt at flirting, I think, not the gramophone. XD

6. And the fact that you had to think about the story. *nod nod* Shane Acker exercised movie-goers, I think. They want all the plot, all the story given, and Shane was like, "Lol, nope, do some for yourself." And I think all the people who did are the ones on this Forum. XD Figuring out plot holes and everything else already said is what makes this movie fun, and gives it the replay factor. It's also why I think it didn't do as well as it should - this movie had so much put into it, so much attention - that it should've been acknowledged for a little more than stunning visuals. XD

7. One of my favorite things is the stuff that got cut out. Finding new concepts or storyboards or interviews about what they were gonna do. Shane was going to kill off one of the twins in order to make it darker. Darker! This movie was gonna be darker. XD Also, the original screenplay was probably one of our treasure hunts gone right. I spent a night reading that over and just . . . relishing. ID

So yeah, textwall. XD I adore this movie~

[Annadesu]

Everyone else has pretty much said what I was thinking, but here's a short summary of my thoughts: I think the story is fresh, I love the characters and how they interact with the environment/each other, I love the creepy monsters, I love the music, I love the graphics, I love how much this movie makes you THINK...etc. etc. I just love it. XD And that's why I'm here.

[Azvolrien]

Let me think... To be honest, I can't really think of many that people haven't already said, but here goes all the same.
1. I like the character interactions. The plot's driven by what they do, not by a series of random events. Odds are, the whole thing would have come to a screeching halt if, say, 9 hadn't managed to convince 5 to come with him or 7 had been a few seconds late dealing with the Cat Beast.
2. The way things are hidden away. It's one of those films where not everything's right up on screen at all times; nobody sits down and explains most of the backstory, except for the twins' newsreel and the Scientist's little hologram at the end. If you want to know backstory beyond what's necessary for basic comprehension of the plot, you've got to sit down and really watch the film, paying attention to everything in the background as well as what the stitchpunks are doing.
3. The animation. It's just breathtaking, and not just on the characters - all the little background details, like the parachute snagged on a spike that 9 and 5 come across near the tunnel and the little sparks on the aeroplane's propeller.
4. I hadn't thought about it before people mentioned it here, but the sound effects too. They really go all-out to remind you that these guys are little robots, like the wee 'tink' sound it makes when 9 touches his face and that little clicking noise it makes every time they blink.
5. The soundtrack. I love that gloomy orchestral score - especially 'The Seamstress' and the remix medley that plays over the end credits.
6. I like the characters themselves as well as the way they interact. Nobody, with the exception of the three beasts, has just one layer to their personality. Let's go through this character by character, surface traits then deeper ones:
1: Grumpy, cowardly leader-figure; dislikes challenges to his authority. Talented, natural leader in times of war; genuinely wants to keep his family safe, even if that means making sacrifices.
2: Friendly, inquisitive old man. Unafraid to challenge 1's authority, and willing and capable to take up arms against the Cat Beast to defend someone he's only just met.
3 and 4: Curious; walking repositories of knowledge. Still feistier than they look, given that they were helping to load the cannon.
5: Meek, gentle, inclined to do as he's told. Has the capacity for extraordinary courage; as resourceful as his mentor; has a figurative spine of solid steel if pushed far enough.
6: Nuts. The only one who really knew what was going on, but couldn't articulate it properly.
7: Kickass warrior with a dislike of authority. Handles conflict poorly when beheading isn't an option, and has a tendency to try the same tactic over and over again when it is. Also has a maternal side to her, as shown by her interactions with the twins, and will listen to what you have to say if she deems it worth listening to.
8: Dumb, bullying muscle. Brave as hell, given that his final act facing the Fabrication Machine is to snarl in its face, despite being clearly terrified. Seems genuinely fond of 1, and there are other hints of a softer side to his personality, i.e. his big goofy grin when he's released from the Talisman at the end.
9: Naive and overly-curious. Brave and unafraid to challenge authority or to acknowledge his own mistakes, and determined to set them right at any cost to himself, though clearly not keen on sacrificing anybody else's life.
The Fabrication Machine: Terrifying, evil monster determined to rip the souls from our heroes. Frightened, lonely child, torn away from its 'father', tortured and overworked until it snapped and lashed out. Wants its daddy back.
So, yeah. Umm... There's probably some other stuff too as to why I like this film, but I can't remember what it was.

[Sock]

Sept 13, 2011 11:23:54 GMT -5 Azvolrien said:

6. I like the characters themselves as well as the way they interact. Nobody, with the exception of the three beasts, has just one layer to their personality. Let's go through this character by character, surface traits then deeper ones:
1: Grumpy, cowardly leader-figure; dislikes challenges to his authority. Talented, natural leader in times of war; genuinely wants to keep his family safe, even if that means making sacrifices.
2: Friendly, inquisitive old man. Unafraid to challenge 1's authority, and willing and capable to take up arms against the Cat Beast to defend someone he's only just met.
3 and 4: Curious; walking repositories of knowledge. Still feistier than they look, given that they were helping to load the cannon.
5: Meek, gentle, inclined to do as he's told. Has the capacity for extraordinary courage; as resourceful as his mentor; has a figurative spine of solid steel if pushed far enough.
6: Nuts. The only one who really knew what was going on, but couldn't articulate it properly.
7: Kickass warrior with a dislike of authority. Handles conflict poorly when beheading isn't an option, and has a tendency to try the same tactic over and over again when it is. Also has a maternal side to her, as shown by her interactions with the twins, and will listen to what you have to say if she deems it worth listening to.
8: Dumb, bullying muscle. Brave as hell, given that his final act facing the Fabrication Machine is to snarl in its face, despite being clearly terrified. Seems genuinely fond of 1, and there are other hints of a softer side to his personality, i.e. his big goofy grin when he's released from the Talisman at the end.
9: Naive and overly-curious. Brave and unafraid to challenge authority or to acknowledge his own mistakes, and determined to set them right at any cost to himself, though clearly not keen on sacrificing anybody else's life.
The Fabrication Machine: Terrifying, evil monster determined to rip the souls from our heroes. Frightened, lonely child, torn away from its 'father', tortured and overworked until it snapped and lashed out. Wants its daddy back.
So, yeah. Umm... There's probably some other stuff too as to why I like this film, but I can't remember what it was.

^
THIS. Couldn't have explained it better! You. Exalt. Now.

[Bane]

XD I think everyone beat me to the punch on this one.

I'll just say that, aside from the general things like the characters and the beautiful visuals, I like how interpretive you have to be into it. Everyone can get something... different out of it. I like that about it, very much, and I like how each character can be seen as something more than what you might have originally imagined.

[redwhistle]

Sept 13, 2011 11:23:54 GMT -5 Azvolrien said:

Nobody, with the exception of the three beasts, has just one layer to their personality. Let's go through this character by character, surface traits then deeper ones:
1: Grumpy, cowardly leader-figure; dislikes challenges to his authority. Talented, natural leader in times of war; genuinely wants to keep his family safe, even if that means making sacrifices.
2: Friendly, inquisitive old man. Unafraid to challenge 1's authority, and willing and capable to take up arms against the Cat Beast to defend someone he's only just met.
3 and 4: Curious; walking repositories of knowledge. Still feistier than they look, given that they were helping to load the cannon.
5: Meek, gentle, inclined to do as he's told. Has the capacity for extraordinary courage; as resourceful as his mentor; has a figurative spine of solid steel if pushed far enough.
6: Nuts. The only one who really knew what was going on, but couldn't articulate it properly.
7: Kickass warrior with a dislike of authority. Handles conflict poorly when beheading isn't an option, and has a tendency to try the same tactic over and over again when it is. Also has a maternal side to her, as shown by her interactions with the twins, and will listen to what you have to say if she deems it worth listening to.
8: Dumb, bullying muscle. Brave as hell, given that his final act facing the Fabrication Machine is to snarl in its face, despite being clearly terrified. Seems genuinely fond of 1, and there are other hints of a softer side to his personality, i.e. his big goofy grin when he's released from the Talisman at the end.
9: Naive and overly-curious. Brave and unafraid to challenge authority or to acknowledge his own mistakes, and determined to set them right at any cost to himself, though clearly not keen on sacrificing anybody else's life.
The Fabrication Machine: Terrifying, evil monster determined to rip the souls from our heroes. Frightened, lonely child, torn away from its 'father', tortured and overworked until it snapped and lashed out. Wants its daddy back.

YES. ALL OF THIS. And the amazing thing is that they did it with so little: nineteen minutes of dialogue in total, and with some characters only having a few minutes of screentime. It's some of the most deft characterization I've ever seen in film. SO MUCH LOVE. ♥♥♥♥

[WarriorSparrow]

Sept 13, 2011 11:23:54 GMT -5 Azvolrien said:

6. I like the characters themselves as well as the way they interact. Nobody, with the exception of the three beasts, has just one layer to their personality. Let's go through this character by character, surface traits then deeper ones:
1: Grumpy, cowardly leader-figure; dislikes challenges to his authority. Talented, natural leader in times of war; genuinely wants to keep his family safe, even if that means making sacrifices.
2: Friendly, inquisitive old man. Unafraid to challenge 1's authority, and willing and capable to take up arms against the Cat Beast to defend someone he's only just met.
3 and 4: Curious; walking repositories of knowledge. Still feistier than they look, given that they were helping to load the cannon.
5: Meek, gentle, inclined to do as he's told. Has the capacity for extraordinary courage; as resourceful as his mentor; has a figurative spine of solid steel if pushed far enough.
6: Nuts. The only one who really knew what was going on, but couldn't articulate it properly.
7: Kickass warrior with a dislike of authority. Handles conflict poorly when beheading isn't an option, and has a tendency to try the same tactic over and over again when it is. Also has a maternal side to her, as shown by her interactions with the twins, and will listen to what you have to say if she deems it worth listening to.
8: Dumb, bullying muscle. Brave as hell, given that his final act facing the Fabrication Machine is to snarl in its face, despite being clearly terrified. Seems genuinely fond of 1, and there are other hints of a softer side to his personality, i.e. his big goofy grin when he's released from the Talisman at the end.
9: Naive and overly-curious. Brave and unafraid to challenge authority or to acknowledge his own mistakes, and determined to set them right at any cost to himself, though clearly not keen on sacrificing anybody else's life.
The Fabrication Machine: Terrifying, evil monster determined to rip the souls from our heroes. Frightened, lonely child, torn away from its 'father', tortured and overworked until it snapped and lashed out. Wants its daddy back.
So, yeah. Umm... There's probably some other stuff too as to why I like this film, but I can't remember what it was.

Jumping on the exalt bandwagon here! *exalts* I especially like your deeper meaning on the Fabrication Machine, it explains why he wanted to suck their souls out in the first place - though the stitchpunks had their own separate consciousnesses, Fab Mac thought that maybe if he could get all of them, those separate consciousnesses would go away and he'd have the Scientist back...

*has the urge to make that into a one-shot now*

[Azvolrien]

I... was not expecting quite such an enthusiastic response to my ramblings, but thanks all the same!

[WarriorSparrow]

You're welcome, Az! You deserve it!