🎬 9 (2005)
Adapted as movie
9 is a 2005 animated science fiction short film created by Shane Acker as a student project at the UCLA Animation Workshop. The film follows a sentient rag doll named 9, who appears to be the last of his kind in a decaying, post-apocalyptic Earth. He is hunted by a mechanical Cat Beast, guided by a glowing talisman, and experiences a flashback of his mentor, 5, a one-eyed rag doll.
The short was produced on a minimal budget and showcased Acker's distinctive visual style, combining dark, steampunk aesthetics with emotional storytelling. It premiered at the Indianapolis International Film Festival and went on to win a Student Academy Award for Best Animation, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film.
The success of the short caught the attention of filmmaker Tim Burton, who later produced a feature-length adaptation also titled 9, released in 2009 and directed by Shane Acker. The short remains a celebrated example of independent animation and a testament to the power of student films in launching major careers.
