Animating by numbers: workflow issues in Shane Acker’s 9

This is a short overview of Starz Animation’s production process for Shane Acker’s debut animated feature, 9. The film was challenging to make because it was done on a small budget and a limited time frame and required a high degree of invention and creativity to address the issues raised without compromising the quality of the film. The piece details some of the ways in which we approached problems, and how we developed solutions, especially in relation to character design, art direction and workflow in the production pipeline. It seeks to offer an insight about a smaller studio seeking to make a ‘Hollywood’-style animated feature that can stand up against the work of major studios like Pixar and Dreamworks, and also find a crossover audience in art cinema and festival circles.