8 is a major character and anti-hero from the 2009 animated feature film 9. He is the brutish guardian of the Stitchpunks, 1's enforcer and bodyguard, and the bullying and ruffian portion of the Scientist's personality.
He is voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
8 is the brutish ruffian part of the Scientist's personality. He wields the one half of a scissor and a knife as his weapons. His number is found on his right arm. He is a master of his weapons, but is the least intelligent of the group. He is given to inebriation, as shown by his affinity for magnets that reduce his mental capacities. This is the assumed reason that he rarely speaks. He is the tallest of the group. The muscle and enforcer of the group, 8 was created to help the others physically survive the dangerous, post-apocalyptic world. 8 isn't very clever and is easily deceived. 8 is especially susceptible to 1's doctrines, so he becomes 1's personal weapon/bodyguard for the film. He is prone to harassing and intimidating the others, especially 6 as shown in the Deleted Scenes, but is also protective of them (such as defending 9 from the Winged Beast's harpoon when it shoots at 7). 8 is the second to die after falling into a trap set up by the Seamstress using the lifeless corpse of 2.
8 was the eighth of the stitckpunks to be given life by the Scientist, being a fragmentary portion of the Scientist's soul. The portion of the soul given to 1 was the brutish and rough side of his personality. 8 became the loyal enforcer of 1, helping him as he led the group through the last few years of the war between the machines of the Fabrication Machine and humanity. When the machines deployed a gas that killed every living thing on the planet, the stitchpunks were left alone in the world. 1 commanded everyone remain hidden as the world quieted, and wait for the machines to die out as well. 3, 4, and 7 disagreed and left him.
The final stitchpunk, 9, awakened and found 2, but he was taken by the Cat Beast. 9 is found by 5, who rescues him. 9 is confronted by 1 and 8, who bullies and harasses them for no reason at all. 1 explains that they will not attempt to rescue 2 and demands that 9 conform to his rules. 1 and 5 decide to go after 2 anyway and, with the help of 7, find him and kill the Cat Beast. However, 9 accidentally awakens the dormant Fabrication Machine, which kills 2 as the others escape. They regroup with 3 and 4 and decide that they need to see 6 back at 1's sanctuary to figure out how to stop the Machine. They go, but are caught by 8.
8 brings 9 and 5 before 1, who is furious that 9 and 5 disobeyed his commands, and commands 8 to detain them. However, he is interrupted by the Winged Beast, which attacks them and forces them out of the sanctuary. 8 defends 1 from the Beast, but is thrown from the roof. He catches onto a piece of hanging debris while the Winged Beast targets him with its harpoon, but 9 manages to make the Winged Beast miss and allows 8 to drop down onto the cable and then to the ground. 8 defends 1, and with 7's help, they manage to defeat the beast. They are forced to leave the burning sanctuary, but 8 comforts 1 as they travel to 7's hideout.
1 sends 8 on guard duty, but 8 takes the time alone to put a magnet to his head, which causes a feeling of euphoria and drug-like ecstasy. However, he is alerted by movement and goes to investigate, only to be captured by the Seamstress. It tries to capture 1 as well, but ends up capturing 7 and escapes with them.
The Seamstress presents 8 to the Fabrication Machine, who proceeds to rip out his soul and trap it within itself. 9 manages to save 7, and the others light an oil barrel to destroy the factory.
Personality
8 is a brutish bully that abuses and harasses just because he is the biggest and strongest of the group. This includes throwing around the other stitchpunks, ruining 6's drawings, and being a general jerk. He is also fiercely loyal to 1, and will aid him no matter how morally questionable his choices are. While it is unknown if 8 knew the truth about 1 sending 2 to die, it is likely he would have supported the decision. He is also not particularly smart, as he is illiterate, slow, and addicted to the effects of putting a magnet to his head. Despite his rude nature, he is also protective of his kind and willing to put his life on the line to defend them, and is overall just trying to keep the others alive by trusting 1's judgement.
Gallery
Trivia
In the 2005 animated short film that the 2009 film was based on, 8 was already killed by the Cat Beast when the events of the short film took place.
8's concept art shown his head was more like normal stitchpunks wasn't sewn with two fabric parts his arms were skinny and had armor around them like metal and buttons and his number was on his back unlike his final design.
In the Russian adaptation, 8 represents the Chancellor's guard.
The magnet might be trying to touch the circuit were his eyes are but is only sending a weak connection to it as the magnet is probably more attached to his hands.
8 has three buckles on his body but the second one has a part missing this might have happened if he fought the cat beast.
8's design might be a nod to Oogie Boogie, as he has a extra bit of fabric on the back of his head and same for the lack of a neck and almost similar head shape.
8 is the 2nd to die
According to the behind the scenes commentary, Elijah Wood describes 8 as "kind of an ogre" and " sort of unintelligent bulldog for 1".
