Variety [paid registration required], via Coming Soon, reports that Universal’s Focus Features will venture into animated movies for the first time, with the Tim Burton-produced 9. Set to be directed by Shane Acker, who directed a short of the same name, the pic is described as, “Surreal fantasy takes place in a parallel world where humanity is threatened.” Timur Bekmambetov, Jim Lemley and Dana Ginsburg will also serve producing duties for 9, while Corpse Bride writer Pamela Pettler will write the screenplay for the project. The computer animated 9 is expected to have a ‘stylized quality’ that will impersonate stop-motion animation.