The whole movie is so...gothic, in its essence. Not the pretty, lace-and-frills gothic. I'm talking about the industrial, post-apocalyptic gothic.
It is never expressly said when it is actually set. However, from the setting and little bits along the way, I'm going to say 1950s America. Everything about it just reminds me of the Cold War.
Brief summary
The movie begins opening on a workshop, as the tiny ragdoll, with the number "9" on his back, awakens. He is totally alone. There is nothing else in the world. He steps out into the rubble and wreck of what was once a city, where he meets another ragdoll, named "2". 2 fixes his lack of speech (the first five minutes of the movie are silent).
In the first, silent minutes, we get a good view of the world. There is the body of a dead man, that has not been broken down in any way, suggesting lack of even microbial life, on the floor. As he ventures outside, the tiny ragdoll peaks into a car, to see the body of a woman, clutching a baby.
After meeting 2, he also has an unfortunate encounter with The Beast.
The Beast is some kind of mechanical monster, sporting - of all things - the skull of a cat. 2 is taken away, but 9 is rescued by another ragdoll, 5.
This whole movie is just...amazing. The tiny stature of the characters, compared to the crumbling, cold, empty city gives an amazing perspective and amazing shots. The characters themselves are brilliantly written and their progression is lovely.
I really can't think of anything to say badly about this movie. It's short enough that you can watch it lots, and long enough that you can follow along and understand everything. It's a cartoon, but it's definitely not a kid's movie. It's unsettling, in that it shows you what could have been, and what the world would look like should zombies take over. It's spooky, in its cold landscapes and rather chilling story.
Really. Watch this movie. My favourite bit about it?
7: because everyone's a little bit Xena.
alsoiwantthathelmet.
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