Shane Acker expands his Oscar-nominated short into a feature about 9, a small burlap-and-metal ragdoll who awakens in a devastated, post-apocalyptic world where machines have wiped out humanity, and must unite a community of similar creatures to survive roaming mechanical predators. Produced by Tim Burton, the film pairs striking steampunk-gothic visual design with a bleak, wordless-feeling atmosphere unusual for an animated feature marketed to general audiences. Its ambition and artistry were widely praised even as some found its story thinner than its imagery deserved.