History Film / Nine

[[redirect:Theatre/{{Nine}}]]

[[redirect:{{Nine}}]]

There are two films that you could be looking for:

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}'': A Tim Burton-produced film about sackboys in a post-apocalyptic world.
* ''Theatre/{{Nine}}'': The film adaptation of the musical theatre adaptation of FedericoFellini's classic film [[Film/EightAndAHalf 8½]].
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* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Nine}} 9]]'': A Tim Burton-produced film about sackboys in a post-apocalyptic world.

* [[WesternAnimation/{{Nine}} 9]]: A Tim Burton-produced film about sackboys in a post apocalyptic world.
* Theatre/{{Nine}}: The film adaptation of the musical theatre adaptation of FedericoFellini's classic film [[Film/EightAndAHalf 8½]].

* [[WesternAnimation/{{Nine}} 9]]: A Tim Burton film about sackboys in a post apocalyptic world.

[[redirect:WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}]]

[[quoteright:358:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Nine.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:358:Ladies and gentlemen, our hero.]]

->''[[WellIntentionedExtremist 1]] to protect us...''\\
''[[GadgeteerGenius 2]] to inspire us...''\\
''[[SingleMindedTwins 3]] to define us...''\\
''[[SingleMindedTwins 4]] to teach us...''\\
''[[TheWoobie 5]] to guide us...''\\
''[[MadOracle 6]] to lead us...''\\
''[[ActionGirl 7]] to defend us...''\\
''[[TheBigGuy 8]] to guard us...''\\
''[[TheHero 9]] to save us.''

%% One quote is sufficient. Please put additional entries on the quotes tab.

The title ''9'' refers to two Animated movies, both directed by Shane Acker:
* The AcademyAward-nominated short, released in 2005.
* The movie, produced by TimBurton (who saw the original short and loved it), released on 9th September 2009. Note, however, that Acker designed, directed and co-wrote both films with Burton providing the financing. You can see the trailer [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnoJecu9e7c&feature=channel here.]]

The main characters are sackdolls, or ragdolls depending on who you ask, though two are made from garden gloves. The creator, Shane Acker, [[WordOfGod has officially dubbed]] them "[[PunkPunk stitchpunks]]". This has generally become the term for them in fandom.

In both cases, the plot follows a stuffed sackdoll, simply known by the number [[TitleDrop 9]] painted onto his back, as he attempts to survive in an AlternateUniverse where humanity has been [[AfterTheEnd wiped out.]]

The short was released first, and chronicles 9's attempts to defeat an unnamed mechanical creature, who killed [[TheMentor 5, his one-eyed mentor]], and the other dolls, and retrieve the machine's [[OurSoulsAreDifferent soul-stealing device]]. The film, while ambiguous about the setting, was praised for its storyline and plot.

The movie [[AdaptationExpansion expands]] on the short considerably; Nine's companions are still alive, and the team are [[WalkTheEarth journeying throughout the wasteland]] in an attempt to stop the machines that killed humanity from reawakening. [[TrailersAlwaysLie Judging by the trailer,]] it doesn't [[NiceJobBreakingItHero work.]]

!!The movie is the TropeNamer for:
* GoBackToTheSource
* FearIsTheAppropriateResponse

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!!'''Both contain examples of:'''
* AdorableAbomination: Some of the stitchpunks.
* AfterTheEnd
* ApocalypseHow: At least a Class 3a extinction but possibly ranging up from a Class 4 extinction event to a Class 5 as the planet appears to be devoid of any life whatsoever besides the dolls and the machines. However, whether the entire planet is like this or just the small portion where the movie takes place is unknown. The ending seems to suggest heavily Class 5. What with [[spoiler: all of the dolls except 9, 7, 3, & 4 gone, and as the dead ones ascend into the sky, it starts raining, showing a close-up of some sort of microorganisms in said raindrop.]]
* CatsAreMean: The Cat Beast in both incarnations, with its movie version's savagery being upped to eleven.
* CrapsackWorld: Sucks to be a doll.
* CueTheSun: Both films end at dawn.
* DesolationShot
* DoingItForTheArt: Just ''look'' at [[SceneryPorn those]] [[VisualEffectsOfAwesome visuals]]...
* FourFingeredHands
* {{Golem}}
* GoryDiscretionShot: To a point.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: The Cat Beast has an eye that it uses like a red flashlight.
* MechanicalLifeforms: The dolls seem to be small sentient robots made out of scrap, possess some form of "soul" and look like they could, say, repair themselves with anything to hand. The machines that hunt them incorporate non-standard building materials, like animal skulls.
** the method of their creation seems to point towards their being some manner of primitive [[ArtificialHuman Hommunculi]].
* MechanicalMonster
* PunkPunk: The movie, thanks to Shane Acker and [[http://www.amazon.com/Steampunk-Bible-Illustrated-Scientists-Literature/dp/0810989581 The Steampunk Bible]], technically coined a subgenre in SteamPunk called [[PunkPunk Stitchpunk]]
* RightBehindMe: In abundance in the film, but prominently featured in the original short: as 5 is looking around for the Machine, the camera shifts to show his front and the Machine behind him readying its claws with AudibleSharpness. 5's eye gets wide and he assumes [[OhCrap an expression we all know]].
* SceneryGorn: Multiple buildings reduced to rubble.
* SoulJar
* YouAreNumberSix: Even though the characters all had distinct personalities.
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!!'''The short contains examples of:'''
* AcademyAward: Nomination.
* ChekhovsGun: The intro sequence shows 9 setting up the trap to kill the Machine.
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: The Machine
* GoryDiscretionShot: The Machine falls into the hole, but it seems that's not the most painful part.
* LastOfHisKind: Then came the film.
* MentorOccupationalHazard: 5
* NoDialogueEpisode: Don't expect the voice talents of Elijah Wood or John C. Reilly in this one.
* RubeGoldbergDevice: The trap for the Machine is a borderline example, as it's a little more straightforward than a typical RGC.
----
!!'''The movie contains examples of:'''
* ActionGirl: 7, for a given value of "girl". The action part is most definitely inarguable, though.
* ActionSurvivor: Everyone aside from 7 and 8. 9 and 5 especially.
* [[spoiler:AdamAndEvePlot: Well, more of an Adam And Eve ENDING than anything.]] Kind of.
* AdaptationExpansion: The original short, which has a single mechanical beast collecting the souls for who-knows-what with a talisman and the silent 5 and 9 out to avenge their friends, is expanded to a voiced feature in which that beast is but a minion planning to use that talisman to revive something much worse, and all nine stitchpunks dealing with it.
* AffablyEvil: The Chancellor.
* AgonyOfTheFeet: 2 hops around holding one foot after kicking [[spoiler:the Beast that 7 killed.]]
* AIIsACrapshoot: The Fabrication Machine. Justified: The Fabrication Machine's AI was made to be a human-like as possible, so when the Chanceller forced it to work too hard for too long, it did what any human would have done, it snapped.
* AlchemyIsMagic: Quite possibly what the Scientist used to create the stitchpunks. In the MagicFromTechnology or {{Magitek}} sense, of course.
* AllThereInTheManual: A lot of backstory and other details are found in the Scientist's journal and Facebook page.
* AllStarCast: Surprisingly, for such a low-budget film.
* AlternateHistory: According to the director, the film takes place in a world where the Industrial Revolution never ended, with machines becoming more advanced earlier than our timeline.
* AlternateRealityGame
* AnyoneCanDie: And how!
* ApocalypticLog: The video feed 9 comes across in the Scientist's room.
* ArtEvolution: From 1 to 9, you can see that the Scientist improved his doll-making style. Lampshaded by 2.
* ArtificialHuman: The stitchpunks.
** Technically a form of homonculus?
* AscendedExtra: Every doll except 9 and possibly 5.
* TheAtoner: The Scientist, who carries out his atonement before the film even starts.
* AudibleGleam: During the Winged Beast scene.
* AutomaticCrossbows: 5's weapon of choice, which also becomes a GrapplingHookPistol when he fires a fishing hook.
* BadassLabcoat: Tell me that instilling sackdolls with your own life essence ''isn't'' badass.
* BeamMeUpScotty: 2 is widely associated with his famous catch phrase "This is smashing!" which was never put in the film, but on a couple of old trailers and an obscure [[http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/9-feature/b-roll-i B-roll]].
* BigBad: The Fabrication Machine.
* BigDamnHeroes: 9 and others are cornered by a beast twice with no apparent way out, when 7 suddenly appears out of nowhere to save the day. (although the second time this was attempted 7 [[spoiler: ended up with a harpoon in her leg]].)
** "Let me try that again."
* BigNo: It's got Elijah Wood. What do you think?
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:The machine is defeated, but the world is still no better than before and 1,2,5, 6, and 8 have all passed on. 9's narration says that he has no idea what is left...except that the world now belongs to the few sackdolls that remain.]] [[spoiler:Except for the somethings seen dividing in the raindrops hitting the camera at the end...implying that they've restored life to the world. Or something.]]
** [[spoiler:The freed souls of the dead sackdolls mixed with primordial ooze in the atmosphere and created new organic life.]]
** [[spoiler:And apparently it's up to 9, 7, 3 and 4 to oversee this new life]].
* {{BFG}}: The old artillery gun uses shells larger than the sackdolls themselves.
* {{BFS}}: 8's got two; a carving knife and half of a pair of scissors (they're big to ''him'').
* BlatantLies: "It will create new machines of peace!"
* BodyguardCrush: To some extent, 8 for 1. (But of course, much of this is fan-related.)
* BreakTheCutie: 5. In his blog, The Scientist talks about how ''pure'' and ''trusting'' 5 is... then he [[spoiler:loses an eye in an explosion, his best friend gets kidnapped, said friend dies before his eyes ''minutes after getting rescued'' due to idiocy on the part of the hero, and when he finally learns to stand up for himself and enjoy life, [[KillTheCutie he dies.]] [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel Disturbingly.]] He's happy at the end of the movie, but, still...]]
* BreakTheHaughty: 1. ''Is the loneliest number that you'll ever do...''
* CainAndAbel: 1 felt very threatened by 2's curiosity and feared that he might be overthrown, which is why[[spoiler: he sent 2 out into the Emptiness to die. (It may not be as violent, but it gets the job done)]]. 1 and 2 are also widely considered as brothers in the fandom.
* CassandraTruth: 6, no one seemed to listen to him before 9.
* ChekhovsGun:
** [[spoiler:Did you forget about the little box under the scientist's hand with the "9" tag on it?]] And [[spoiler:9's half of the talisman?]]
** And also [[spoiler:the big puddle of oil/petrol that 5 and 9 hop across when in the factory]].
** In a deleted scene, the key around 6's neck was used to open the box at the end.
** The [[spoiler:propeller of the aeroplane that's lodged]] in the church roof.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: 6, when not drawing out his visions or being chased, seems to be off in his own little world or acting silly. The twins, 3 and 4, may also count. 6 is also an example of TheCuckoolanderWasRight.
* CompositeCharacter: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]];
** 5 from the short film had his role split between 2 and 5 in the Burton-produced film.
** A second inversion: [[spoiler:''All'' the characters are technically the same person.]]
* ConflictBall: 1 starts out opposing everything 9 suggests. Then [[spoiler: everyone else starts opposing 9's ideas as well near the end, when they try to destroy the Machine but he doesn't want to.]] 1 even refuses at first to [[spoiler: take of his cape to save his life]], for no adequately explained reason.
** The last one can be sort of explained...1 never actually ''refused,'' or said "no," he said "I can't." He probably was afraid he'd fall if he freed one hand, but he still isn't flat-out opposing 9.
** The fact that 1 didn't want to remove his cape could have been symbolic. The cape could symbolize to 1 his authority over the stichpunks, and losing it would mean losing the very thing that defined him (besides his dogged stubbornness).[[spoiler: It could also foreshadow his eventual HeroicSacrifice later in the movie. First, a lost cape, next, Soul Theft.]]
** OR he could have just not wanted to loosen his desperate grip so as to free a hand for taking the cape off.
* CoolOldGuy: 2. Totally.
* CorruptChurch: 1's hiding place is a cathedral, he wears a tall mitre and cape and has a staff like a shepherd's crook, he scolds 9 for looking up magick, [[spoiler:''has 2 killed for being too inquisitive...'']]
* CreatingLife
* [[CreepyChild Creepy Children]]: The twins could be interpreted this way. It bears mentioning that [[http://www.timburtoncollective.com/uploaded_images/acker02_twins-sketch-759717.jpg some of the older concept art]] for them was less [[TastesLikeDiabetes cutesy]]. Though very awesome.
* CreepyTwins
* CrucifiedHeroShot: Interestingly, signifying the ''creation'' of the main character (whose tagline, as seen above, is 'To Save Us') rather than a HeroicSacrifice.
* [[CuteMute Cute Mutes]]: The twins.
* DannyElfman: With Tim Burton producing, of course he'd follow along, even if he only did the themes for the movie. Deborah Lurie did the score.
* DeadlyGas
* DefiantToTheEnd: How [[spoiler:8]] goes out.
* DemotedToExtra: The Cat Beast was the main villain in the short and was implied to have hunted and killed every single stichpunk, save 9, who defeats the creature. In the film it only shows up for two sequences before being swiftly killed by [[ActionGirl 7]] and doesn't cause the deaths of anyone.
* DiedHappilyEverAfter: [[spoiler:All the stitchpunks who died return for one final farewell to the survivors before dissipating.]]
* DiesWideOpen: Any doll who dies in the movie dies with their eyes and mouths wide open. ''Wide'' open.
* DirtyCoward: 1. In his defense, there's a reason this film has a HighOctaneNightmareFuel entry. "Sometimes fear is the appropriate response," indeed.
* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:9 at the end.]] The ''[[AnyoneCanDie other]]'' deaths, however...
* DissonantSerenity: Other than shouting at 9, 6 was awfully calm [[spoiler: before his death.]]
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Sometime pre-storyline, the unidentified country of setting was ruled by a dark-haired, stony-faced EvilChancellor who plasters cities with flags displaying his red, black & white symbol, promises "the dawn of a ''NEW ERA!'' " seems to have a decent amount of {{Mooks}} in his employ, and is ultimately responsible for many, ''many'' horrific deaths.
** Also, the scene where 8... ahem, pleasures himself by magnetizing his eyes right before [[spoiler: the new 2 appears]]... no less, this took place in a courtyard of giant female statues!
* DoomedByCanon: To anyone who's seen the short film it's a forgone conclusion that [[spoiler:most of the stichpunks will be dead by the end.]]
* DontTouchItYouIdiot: When 9 [[spoiler:awakens the machine that kills the majority of the cast. [[TooDumbToLive Oops.]]]]
* DumbMuscle: 8 is big and burly, but none too bright.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Scientist and the Chancellor.
* EvilChancellor: The Chancellor of course.
* EyeScream: Though it's not a ''human'' eye, and therefore less creepy, the scene of 5 losing his eye is still pretty cringe-worthy. There were frayed wires and sparks coming from his empty socket, fer crissakes! The fact that the souls get sucked out through the eyes and mouth, which ''shatters the glass'' in the optics ([[spoiler:Or, in 5's case, burns a hole through his patch]]) [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel DEFINITELY counts]], too.
** An original design shows that the scientist and the chancellor fought to the death, and the chancellor has a quill stuck through his eye socket. [[http://i52.tinypic.com/2qnpic5.jpg Not kidding.]]
** Also applies to when ([[spoiler: 5 shoots The Seamstress in the eye with his crossbow when it restrains 7]])
* FaceDeathWithDignity:
** If [[spoiler: 1's]] death isn't RedemptionEqualsDeath, than it is this.
** [[spoiler: 6's]] death as well. He had ''time'' to struggle and scream, but he never did. Also counts as DissonantSerenity.
* {{Facepalm}}: 1 does something like this when 8 fails to understand what he meant by "subjugate".
* FallingIntoHisArms: Used when [[spoiler:9 rescues 7]].
* FanFicMagnet: Name a character. ANY. Heck, the whole movie is this.
* FanNickname:
** "Mr. Fab," the Fabrication Machine. An alternate to this is "Fab Mac"
** [[TheLandBeforeTime Petrie]] for the pterodactyl monster.
** 1 is, of course, the Sack Pope. He is also known by Pope Doll and 1Pimp. Now there is this [[{{Earworm}} ridiciously addictive]] song for [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3LY3Pu5Rwk Pope Doll]]. ''Pope Dooooooolllllll! He enters the rooooooooooooom . . .''
*** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymMBmooJbrw Now with '''face melting guitar intro!''']] "He's got a cape, he's got a staff, he's got a great big '''BODYGUARD!'''"
** On certain {{DeviantArt}} communities, 5 is known as "Angst waffle".
*** He's also sometimes refered to as [[PyroManiac Pyro5]].
** 9 is also commonly referred to as 9Noob. For obvious reasons...
* FantasticDrug: While on guard duty, 8 pulls out a horseshoe magnet and holds it over his head. He starts guffawing like an idiot and bubbling can be heard. (By the way, the movie rating got marked up for drug use.)
* {{Fingore}}: Like with 5's eye, it isn't as bad since it's not a human hand, but [[spoiler:1's hand gets mangled in an explosion near the end.]]
* [[FiveManBand Nine Man band]]: 9 is TheHero, 8 is TheBigGuy, 7 pulls double duty as both TheLancer and TheBigGuy [[spoiler:after 8 gets soul sucked]], 6 is either TheSixthRanger or TheHeart, 5 is both TheChick and TheLancer, 3 and 4 are the [[TagalongKid Tagalong Kids]], 2 is TheSmartGuy, and 1 is the [[TheHero former hero]] (before 9 showed up) and eventually becomes [[CynicalMentor The Mentor]]. Depending on your point of view, 1 can also be the TokenEvilTeammate with 8 as his [[TheLancer Lancer]] / [[TheDragon Dragon]].
* FiveBadBand: The BRAIN/Fabrication Machine is TheBigBad and TheEvilGenius, the Cat Beast is TheDragon, The Winged Beast is TheBrute, leaving The Seamtress as TheDarkChick. The little spiderbots can be the [[TeamPet team pets]].
* {{Foreshadowing}}: See IronicEcho. There was a little bit of foreshadowing for 9's disastrous curiosity, too: 2 has to stop him messing around with a bullet while he fixes his voicebox. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB9yg9x2o9k See here.]]
** [[spoiler: "Sometimes, 1 must be sacrificed..."]]
** 8's design has [[spoiler:several vertical lines over his mouth, which look like, say, stitches... Later on 8 has his mouth stitched shut]].
* TheForties: In an alternate universe, at least, given the date on the newspaper clippings (1930) and the old-fashioned record player playing ''Somewhere Over the Rainbow'' (recorded in 1939). Not that it's really ''important'', though, since most human concepts of time have probably been eliminated.
** A Mark I tank (1916) can be seen sticking out of the ground at one point, but it's a blink-and-you'll miss it scene, so the 40s have much more evidence going for them.
* FreezeFrameBonus: Sort of. It's on screen for a few seconds, but is almost unnoticeable unless its been pointed out. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1207pJUzM2E A deleted scene]] has the characters open the music box/projector with 6's key, and we see there's a word inscribed inside. While the finished product didn't focus too much on this, the word is still there. The word is "hope". Pandora's box reference?
** In the beginning after 9 awakens, he passes a body. This body stands out because it is the only dead human body where the face is shown. This body has been confirmed to be the chancellor, having the same face and uniform.
** Another little thing: In the background while 8's investigating outside the library, there's a sign which reads "Every evil and every good is a shadow which we cast", which is a bit hard to make out due to the light.
* FreudianExcuse: Watch the Fabrication Machine in the flashback where [[spoiler: the scientist creates it. It appears to flail around when the scientist is dragged away from it, almost as if it's trying to reach out to him. After ''that'' is when it starts throttling {{Mook}}s.]]
* TheFundamentalist: "No! We have '''RULES!'''"
* FunWithAcronyms: '''B'''inary '''R'''eactive '''A'''rtificially '''I'''ntelligent '''N'''eurocircuit.
* GadgeteerGenius: 2 and The Scientist who created the sackdolls. The Fabrication Machine has this in its job description, and can create {{Killer Robot}}s from pretty much anything that's lying around. [[spoiler:This is because it has the Scientist's intelligence.]]
** 9, when he [[spoiler:uses the remains of 2's hat after The Beast kidnaps him. 5 even mentions it by saying, "2 would be impressed."]] to make the lightbulb staff. He later uses it as a decoy in a plan to [[spoiler:kill The Seamstress and succeeds.]]
* GainaxEnding: The end is left absolutely open to interpretation as to the future of the world.
* GeometricMagic: The talisman.
* TheGlomp: 2's reaction to seeing 7 alive and well.
* TheGlovesComeOff: 1's response to 6's death is to commandeer a cannon and use it against the Fabrication Machine.
* GoneHorriblyWrong: From the Chancellor's perspective: A sentient fabrication machine created in a time of war ? There's no chance it'll turn against us.
* GoneHorriblyRight: From the Scientist's perspective: The Fabrication Machine is a bit too good in building stuff.
* GrumpyOldMan: 1
* GuileHero: 9. No, really. Fair enough, he does make a pretty big mistake, but he does have a manipulative streak as well (as shown when speaking to 5 in the watch tower, and acknowledged in the DVD commentary) and makes good use of his wits when he actually gets into the action (case in point, [[spoiler:killing the Seamstress]]). Not bad for a little guy.
* HardHead: 2 gets smacked in the head by 9 with a monkey wrench. Despite how old he seems, he walks around with little trouble after 9 helps him stand. If you listen, you can hear glass break when 9 swings the wrench. This suggests that 2 had the eyeglass-lens visor of his hat down in front of his face when he got ambushed; it's broken after the attack.
** He is wearing it. You have to pay close attention, since the scene goes by so fast, but it's possible to briefly see 2's face, complete with visor, just before he's hit.
* HearingVoices: Though it is only slightly hinted at in the viral sites (and almost not in the movie) many fans believe that 6 hears voices in his head. However, in a deleted scene, it is heavily implied as [[spoiler: 6 appears to talk back.]]
** [[spoiler: "Huh? 2?...2 is...coming?"]]
* HeroicBSOD: 9 visibly goes through a miniature one following [[spoiler: 5's death]] and has to be dragged away by 1.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: 1]]. [[spoiler:9]] attempted it right before that too. [[spoiler:1: "Sometimes one must be sacrificed for the good of many"]] This is also a case of Foreshadowing, [[spoiler: because when 1 originally said it, he was talking about how he sent 2 off.]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: 5 and 2.
* HeyItsThatVoice: Basically it's a parade of this trope. [[LordOfTheRings Frodo]] wakes up in a post-apocalyptic city, argues with the WastelandElder [[TheSoundOfMusic Captain Von Trapp]], becomes bff with Amos Hart (''Chicago''), tussles with [[AssassinsCreed Jubair Al-Hakim]], and flirts with [[{{Film/Labyrinth}} Sarah Williams]]. other notable voices are [[GodOfWar Prometheus]] (The Scientist), [[AliceInWonderland The Knave of Hearts]] (6), and [[EdWood Bela Lugosi]] (2).
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The Chancellor.
* HumanitysWake: The world is a tombstone for humanity.
* ICantBelieveItsNotHeroin: Magnetism, apparently.
* IdiotBall: At first, the Talisman seems to be a physical manifestation of this at times. First of all, when 2 has it, he makes 9 hide from the Beast, but makes no attempt to do the same. And then when 9 has it... see TooDumbToLive.
* IdiotHero:
** Oh 9, you just had to hit every branch on the stupid tree when you fell didn't you? Though one could argue that he is just too curious and extremely unlucky.
** And/or that he represents that inextinguishable part of the human soul which fucked up the world in the first place.
** Keep in mind that 9 was only about 25 minutes old when he first encountered 2 and the Cat Beast. By the end of the film, 9 has only been ''alive'' for two or three days!
* IfIDoNotReturn: "...destroy it."
** [[HoYay Complete with meaningful look.]]
* ImpairmentShot: Used when 9 wakes up in the infirmary.
** And again when 1 awakens from his Seamstress-induced hypnosis.
* ImplacableMan: The Fabrication Machine; justified given its size compared to the stitchpunks and its history.
* InfantImmortality: Brutally subverted when 9 finds the corpses of a mother and infant in a car. [[spoiler:Also played straight in that 3 and 4, the most childlike of the bunch, survive the ending.]]
* IronicEcho: See the MeaningfulEcho below.
* ItGotWorse: All the time. After 7 kills the Beast, 9 awakens the Fabrication Machine. After they kill the Winged Beast, Mr. Fab sends the Seamstress. When they kill the Seamstress, Mr. Fab sends his spider robot mook things. When they blow the factory up, Mr. Fab [[spoiler:pulls a DisneyDeath, kills 5 and 6, and then kills 1 before they finally kill it.]] The poor sackdolls just can't catch a break.
* JerkAss: 1 and 8
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: 1 and 8 both show a few signs of being this, but they're pretty good at hiding it [[spoiler: until the very end.]]
* KillItWithFire: The stitchpunks blowing up the Factory
* KickTheDog: 1 [[spoiler:''sent 2 to die''.]]
* KillTheCutie: There are quite a few characters who'd fit the bill as "cutie." And since AnyoneCanDie...
* LadyOfWar: 7.
* LeParkour: According to DVD commentary, 7's fighting style was largely based on this and skateboarding moves.
* LifeEnergy: Some people think that souls are essentially this in this universe.
* LoveAtFirstSight: 9 [[YourMileageMayVary appeared]] to have this for 7.
* MachineWorship: Not outright stated, but there are definite hints of it in the newsreel that introduces the Fabrication Machine.
-->'''The Chancellor:''' We must praise this new technology! ... It will create new machines in its own image!
* MadArtist: 6 spends most of his time drawing.
* MadEye: 6's left eye is slightly larger than his right.
* MadnessMantra: "The source...the source...go back..."
* MadOracle: 6 has a strong taste of this.
* {{Magitek}}: The dolls and Fabrication Machine. Also a case of MagicFromTechnology, possibly.
* MagicPoweredPseudoscience: The technology that built the MechanicalLifeforms is actually ancient alchemy for creating [[{{Golem}} homonculi]].
* MeaningfulEcho: [[spoiler:"Sometimes one/1 must be sacrificed (for the good of many)."]]
* MeaningfulName: Brain - as in Brain-''Child''. Considering the FreudianExcuse above, this has even greater implications.
** Then there's 1.
--->'''1:''' They've left us nothing. Nothing. Why do we have to right their wrongs? Sometimes, one must be sacrificed.
* MentorOccupationalHazard: Both [[spoiler:2 ''and'' 5 this time]].
* MookMaker: The Fabrication Machine itself.
* MoodWhiplash
* {{Mordor}}: The wasteland has some serious [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Second_Battle_of_Passchendaele_-_Barbed_wire_and_Mud.jpg Passchendaele]] vibes going on.
* MrFixit: 2. Completely.
* ANaziByAnyOtherName: The Chancellor, of course.
* NiceHat:
** 1's hat looks similar to a bishop's miter.
** 2's candlestick hat.
** 7's skullmet is pretty nice, though it may fall under MaskPower as well.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: The first chance he gets, 9 sticks the talisman into an outlet without thinking about it ''at all''. [[spoiler:This not only kills 2 but wakes up the Fabrication Machine.]] As 1 points out, and not inaccurately, "Ever since you got here, things have been unraveling!"
** Keep in mind that he tried to smash a ''cased bullet'' early on; think of what would have happened had 2 not stopped him. He just seems dangerously curious.
** However he is [[YoungerThanTheyLook younger than he looks]]. 9 has only been 'alive' for about an hour when he meets 2. By this assumption, he's only a toddler, and what do toddlers do? [[{{captainobvious}} they try to put the round peg in the round hole]], he's only emulating someone of his age. To compare him to the others, they have been 'alive' long enough for 7,3 and 4 to go searching for answers to why the world is dead, and the others seem to have been activated for a while and none of them outright blame him for starting the Fabrication machine.
* NonActionGuy: 9 is mostly pulled along by 7 during the action sequences.
** [[spoiler:This loses its meaning when 9 kills The Seamstress]].
* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: The twins, 3 and 4. But 5 and 2 get pretty touchy-feely too.
** 5 also gets more and more touchy-feely with 9 as the film progresses.
* NumerologicalMotif: The number 9 shows up a lot, understandably enough.
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: 1. Totally.
* OhCrap: Mostly 5 and 9, but everyone gets their moment. Mr. Fab has one [[spoiler: when the Stitchpunks's barrel ignites the chemicals in the factory.]]
* OminousLatinChanting: Briefly plays when 9 and 7 are running through the tunnel to [[spoiler:escape the factory.]]
* OurHomunculiAreDifferent: The Scientist's soul-transfer device is shown to be based on the alchemist Paracelsus's creation of a homunculus.
* OurSoulsAreDifferent
* OutOfTheInferno: [[spoiler:The Fabrication Machine, post-explosion.]]
* OutrunTheFireball: At least twice.
* ParrotExpowhat: When told by 1 to "subjugate [9 and 5]", 8 responds with "subje - what?"
* PlummetPerspective: A chess piece falling from the bell tower, minus anyone hanging off a ledge.
* PsychicPowers: 6 has both precognition and postcognition, turning the visions into drawings.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: 1, after finding out 9 woke up the worst machine possible.
-->'''You. Awakened. WHAT?'''
* PuttingOnTheReich: The Chancellor. And try to tell me those machines' heads ''aren't'' modelled after Stahlhelms.
* TheQuietOne: 8. His lines that involve actual words rather than grunts can be counted on one hand.
* RecordNeedleScratch: [[SorryILeftTheBGMOn An actual record needle scratching on an actual record.]]
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler: 1 sacrifices himself to give the remaining heroes a chance to remove the talisman.]]
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Fabrication Machine and its offspring.
* RedHerring: The key that 6 carries. [[spoiler:9's box has a keyhole.]] DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything might be more appropriate. Confirmed by an alternate ending/scrabbed sub-plot from the DVD extras where [[spoiler: 6's key opens a second chamber in the box, which contains a mirror and the enscription "Hope" - which goes with a piece of paper in 9's zipper-pouch that reads "The Last."]]
* ReflectiveEyes:
** [[spoiler:6's death]] is seen in 9's optics.
** 6 also seeing [[spoiler:5's]] soul in the Machine's optic.
* RequisiteRoyalRegalia: 1's getup seems to be leaning toward this.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobot
* RoboCam
* RuleOfSymbolism: When we first see 1, the leader of the group, he has a cape with a jewel on it, a staff, and a NiceHat. Over the course of the film, he loses them one by one, as 9 starts taking more charge than him and the others listen to 9 instead. [[spoiler:The icing on the cake, the last part of his outfit that needs removing, he removes ''himself.'']]
** The above makes [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAOA8ErDKpc this deleted scene]] pretty interesting...the last part of 1's outfit to be removed falls off after he speaks with and finally accepts 9.
* SacrificialLamb: 2, who shows up, gives 9 a voice, is attacked and kidnapped by a cat-monster, and then kicks it minutes after his rescue due to some [[NiceJobBreakingItHero phenomenal stupidity]] on 9's part.
* SamusIsAGirl: 7
* SchizoTech: The newspapers from "before" list dates in the 1930s, but Over The Rainbow was not released until '39, and the B.R.A.I.N and other machines make it even more confusing. Being in an alternate reality though, it can easily be hand waved.
** DVD extras also have people pointing out how the lightbulb staff is made from a battery that looks like it came from a watch made in '75
* ScienceIsBad: [[spoiler:Subverted. Although "Science has turned against us!" is a prominent line, the guy who says it is actually the totalitarian dictator who's ''really'' to blame for the whole mess. When 9 finds the Scientist's video message, he learns the Fabrication Machine is simply a neutral technology that was easily corruptible.]] That said, every other word out of 1's mouth is some condemnation of human science. And regardless of what set it off, the villain is still technological progress. There is also [[spoiler:another subversion in that the stitchpunks themselves were created thanks to science]].
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: 9 and 7. And 5, sort of. We later found out 2 was, too.
* SecurityCling: 5. All the time. 3 and 4 do this a few times as well.
* ShrinkingViolet: 5 seems to have certain characteristics of this at the beginning of the movie. Which of course only adds to his status as TheWoobie.
* ShoutOut: The only female stitchpunk is [[StarTrekVoyager 7 of 9]]. Her fighting style and bird's skull helmet make her reminiscent of a [[FinalFantasy Dragon Knight / Dragoon]]. The Seamstress is a snake / [[{{It}} spider monster which hypnotizes its victims with bright lights and uses the image of a dead friend as a lure]], [[ToyStory as well as having an eerily familiar baby doll head.]] The pterodactyl has a [[TwilightPrincess head that completely opens up]]. A bulky character wears a helmet reminiscent of that of a [[{{Bioshock}} Big Daddy]]. The Scientist whose work was weaponized and whose subsequent falling out of favor was heavily publicized is voiced by an actor whose name is Oppenheimer.
** The machines are based off mythological beasts. Makes it a lot easier to describe the Seamstress as a Medusa than all the bits and pieces that make it up.
** Or, um, how about Clotho?
** A note about the voice actor of the scientist: yes, his name is Alan Oppenheimer, and it looks like an amazing coincidence from the way it is worded in the text there. But guess who his third cousin was?
* SingleMindedTwins: 3 and 4. Pretty close, anyway.
* SlouchOfVillainy: 1 isn't an outright villain, but he does one of these at the end of his introduction.
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: 7 is the only female sackdoll of the group. And that's only obvious because she sounds female-- sackdolls have no naughty bits. Justified; they all seem to stem from the Scientist's soul, so odds of his soul containing a lot of feminine qualities are very low.
** Might be justified even without that. It's considered a pretty solid theory that everybody (or at least almost everybody), has psychological qualities of the opposite gender, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the individual.
* SoundtrackDissonance: Deliberate. "Over the Rainbow" plays as [[spoiler:the Fabrication Machine pulls a DisneyDeath and pursues, and then captures/kills 5.]] Justified as [[spoiler: They were playing the track a scene earlier, [[SorryILeftTheBGMOn on a record player]]]]
** Although it could be interpreted as forshadowing, because despite the 'happy' tone of the song, the lyrics talk about failed dreams and disappointing events. And they were disappointed
** In fact, even the happy tone of the song is unintentional. It was meant to be a thoroughly sad song, but the actress sang it ''too'' convincingly, bursting into tears in the original takes, so it had to be changed.
* SoulJar: [[spoiler:The Talisman]]
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:Everyone except 9 died in the original short. In the full-length movie, he, 7, 3 & 4 all make it out alive.]]
* TheSpeechless: 3 and 4 never speak, using lights and film to communicate with each other and others respectively. Also, 9 at the beginning.
** It's worth noting that 9 can't speak until about ten minutes into the movie. The original short, which had no dialogue at all, was also ten minutes long.
* StabTheSalad: 9 first meets 5 when the latter lunges at him with a pair of scissors... to trim the thread he used to sew up 9's injured shoulder, but 9 didn't know that.
* SticksToTheBack: 8 uses a magnet hung on his back, in order to carry around his weapons. [[FantasticDrug He also]] [[TheStoner uses it]] [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment to get high]].
* TheStoner. 8 is implied as getting high... on ''magnets''.
* StupidJetpackHitler: The Chancellor, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard and his]] [[AIIsACrapshoot "machines of]] [[KillAllHumans peace and prosperity"...]]
* TakingTheBullet: [[spoiler: 1.]]
* TeamMom: 7 seems to be this to 3 and 4, if not to the rest of the group. The DVD commentary refers to 5 as the 'group mom', too.
* ThankTheMaker: The scene when the Seamstress presents [[spoiler:8]] to the Fabrication Machine REEKS of this.
** "Return to the Source!"
* ThreePointLanding: 7 does one after [[spoiler:beheading the Cat Beast]]. It's on her character poster and everything.
* [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks Throwing Your Broken Half-Scissor Always Works]]
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: In some cases it's "blink and you'll miss it," but some of the trailers and TV spots actually reveal that some of the main characters will die, and even show ''which ones.''
* TroubledFetalPosition: After [[spoiler:the death of 2]] 5 is sitting in this position while hiding, even rocking back and forth slightly.
* TwinTelepathy: Possibly how 3 and 4 can understand each other.
** In one of the scenes, they communicate between themselves by flashing their broadcast-camera-eyes directly at each other.
* ViralMarketing: Little bit. One of the most interesting ones was a random online-clip that showed Elijah Wood getting his soul sucked out while in the theater.
* WaifProphet: 6 gives off a general impression of being childlike, and is the shortest stitchpunk according to the heights in the scientist's facebook posts; he also doesn't seem to be entirely sane, given the [[RoomFullOfCrazy obsessive talisman-drawing]] and the way he blurts out what his powers tell him without any attempt to explain what he's talking about.
* [[RoomFullOfCrazy Wall Full Of Crazy]]: 6 fills up a wall of the church attic with scribblings of the talisman. This is ostensibly his ''purpose'', as all his fingers are fountain pen nibs.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: 1.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: YourMilageMayVary, it ''is'' awesome to many.
* WhatTheHellHero: Pretty much everyone, after 9 [[spoiler:activates the Machine and gets 2 killed]].
* WhatWereYouThinking: Asked of 9 after the above event. Good question, 7. Very good question.
* WorldWarOne: The trailer seems to hint that the film takes place after the War. Whereas some of the technology seen in flashbacks during the movie proper (four-engined bombers, Molotov cocktails, 1930's-40's styled helmets) seems evocative of WorldWarTwo. This can be explained by the fact that the film definitely depicts an AlternateHistory. If you look at the newspapers, you'll notice they were dated sometime in the 1930s. Of course, the setting and general aesthetic is consistent with this as well. The [[PuttingOnTheReich Nazi-like government]]. The old-style vinyl record phonograph and accompanying music collection. The walkers equipped with Vickers-like machine guns.
* XMeetsY:
** "Fallout 3 meets LittleBigPlanet."
** The Huffington Post describes it as "''TheTerminator'' meets ''WallE''".
** "ToyStory vs. TheMatrix"...the Fabrication Machine even looks like a Squiddy.
** "Sackboys fight a steampunk Skynet in a post-apocalyptic LittleBigPlanet."
*** Keep in mind, the short film of ''9'' was released 4 years ''before'' ''LittleBigPlanet''. In fact, there are several curious similarities, like the enemies, the clothes, the zipper... In fact, Media Molecule started developing ''LBP'' a month after ''9'' was nominated at the AcademyAwards.
* YouFool: Said by 1 to 9, after 9 [[spoiler: accidentally awakens the Fabrication Machine.]]
** He also says it to 5, when the latter is [[spoiler:trying to stop him from setting fire to the factory before 9 and 7 can escape.]]
** In fanfic, it's practically his CatchPhrase.
* ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld: Reconnaissance and recovery robot airships.
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* HeyItsThatVoice: Basically it's a parade of this trope. [[LordOfTheRings Frodo]] wakes up in a post-apocalyptic city, argues with the WastelandElder [[TheSoundOfMusic Captain Von Trapp]], becomes bff with Amos Hart (''Chicago''), tussles with [[AssassinsCreed Jubair Al-Hakim]], and flirts with Sara (''{{Labyrinth}}''). other notable voices are [[GodOfWar Prometheus]] (The Scientist), [[AliceInWonderland The Knave of Hearts]] (6), and [[EdWood Bela Lugosi]] (2).

* [[PunkPunk Stitchpunk]], a subgenre of SteamPunk.