Research "9", the Short

 

    Earlier today, I watched the short film "9". Before even watching, this interested me because it was made into a feature film. As a student in a college-level media course, I can only imagine how much of a dream come true it must've been to be able to make your short film into a full-length film. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the film because I tend to be particular about the animation styles I prefer. In the beginning, it definitely interested me, but not enough that I would've watched it on my own. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the animation. This short film has a way of getting you invested in the characters. They definitely started this by showing you the friendship that the character, 5 and 9, had. After that, they introduce the antagonist and the way it kills 5. It seems to be a sort of, almost robotic, spider-like figure. The rest of the film shows the different ways 9 outsmart it. An aspect of this that I enjoyed was the varying perspectives. It presents, at one point, a POV of what the antagonist sees, which was a good way of emphasizing the pressure 9 was under. I also appreciated the use of character development. 9 was clearly terrified of this creature, but he knows he has to find a way to survive. This short film has a way of growing on you and that is partially due to the endearing emotion that is expressed by the characters. Again, the animation style allows you to see the malevolence that exudes from the spider-like creature and the anxiety that is plastered on 9's face. I am definitely excited to see how Shane Ackman, the creator, expands on this story in the full-length film. My next two blogs will be analyzing that and how they compare.