The Animatrix

Born from the directors(Larry and Andy Wachowski)of "The Matrix" ,this 9 part great animated movie tell's the story of what happened whit mankind before the time that "The Matrix" takes place.

Here are the titles of the nine part of The Animatrix: 1.Final Flight of the Osiris 2.Kid's Story 3.The Second Renaissance Part I 4.The Second Renaissance Part II 5.Beyond 6.A Detective Story 7.Program 8.World Record 9.Matriculated

In the first part of The Animatrix "Final Flight of the Osiris" we find out that the Osiris is the ship who informs Zion that the machines are digging direct to it.

If you don't watch the "Kid's story" you will not be able to understand what does the kid is talking about to Neo in "The Matrix Reloaded"

But the most important parts of The Animatrix are the The Second Renaissance Part's in which is told the story between man and machine.

The movie is the necessary introduction of "The Matrix", don't miss it

When I first saw the original Matrix film, I was a teenager wandering the streets of Istanbul for hours, utterly mesmerized because I had never seen anything like it before.

Years later, I found myself in an old cinema in Kyiv, watching this animated series as a way to de-stress after my mandatory military service. The feeling of awe and wonder was just as intense.

The Wachowski sisters are geniuses, even if their recent work hasn't quite lived up to their earlier brilliance. They've left an indelible mark on cinema, anime, and television.

The DVD/Soundtrack CD package for this animated series is a masterpiece in itself. The choice of 24 frames per second for the visuals enhances the cinematic depth.

The Animatrix (2003): A Groundbreaking Anime Anthology That Expands the Matrix Universe

The Animatrix is a groundbreaking anime anthology that delves deeper into the complex and philosophical world of The Matrix. Released in 2003, this collection of nine short films, each helmed by a different director and animation studio, offers a unique and diverse perspective on the Matrix universe.

Animation Technique: The Animatrix is a visual feast, showcasing a variety of animation styles that range from the sleek and futuristic to the gritty and visceral. Each short film is a masterpiece of animation, with fluid movements, dynamic action sequences, and breathtaking visuals that immerse the viewer in the world of the Matrix. The use of 24 frames per second adds a cinematic quality to the animation, blurring the lines between animation and live-action.

Music Selection: The soundtrack of The Animatrix is a sonic masterpiece, featuring a diverse range of electronic, orchestral, and industrial music that perfectly complements the visuals. Each short film has its own unique musical identity, creating a rich and immersive auditory experience. The music not only enhances the emotional impact of the stories but also adds another layer of depth to the Matrix universe.

Narrative Depth: The Animatrix goes beyond the surface-level action of the Matrix films, exploring the philosophical and ethical implications of the Matrix's existence. The short films delve into the origins of the Matrix, the motivations of the machines, and the struggles of those who resist their control. Each story offers a unique perspective on the Matrix universe, expanding its lore and deepening our understanding of its complex themes.

The Animatrix is a must-watch for fans of The Matrix trilogy, offering a deeper exploration of the world and its characters. But even for those unfamiliar with the franchise, The Animatrix is a compelling and thought-provoking anthology that showcases the power of animation to tell complex and engaging stories.

Being a long time viewer of Anime and Anime Collecting, I found myself very intruigued by the notion of an "all Matrix inspired animation project", and having seen many anime anthologies (Robot Carnival, Neo Tokyo, etc.), I knew it was a sketchy territory to say the least. Most anthologies are hit and miss but this one for me was mostly a hit. Gladly, I was not dissapointed at all. All the stories became not just history to the Matrix world but poignant, frightening, disturbing and scintillating drama that takes the blasted landscape of the machine run Earth into a landscape of incalculable possiblities. The idea of the Matrix having its stylistic touches taken from anime makes this disc an even more appropriate and evolutionary step. Bravo to all who got this project together, because expanding the scope and vison of your work to honor its concepts was pure genious. Lucas could learn a thing by this.

Having never seen the Matrix, but being a loyal anime collector, I came across this high ranked animated feature.

Never in my life has I seen something as close as brilliant and poetically nightmarish that Ghost in the Shell has delivered, bringing the Matrix franchise closer to "art and soul" than "blockbuster".

Some of the amazingly dramatic episodes in this feature may make Animatrix a parallel brother to Ghost in the Shell itself. And the animation is very dreamy and expertly crafted, the second best thing that this feature will bring you.

If anime is your thing, or the matrix, or getting started to both, I couldn't recommend this higher.

The Wachowski brothers managed to create an inspiring new sci-fi universe when they released their now-classic "The Matrix" in 1999. The premise of a virtual world where the mind "lives" proved to be limitless with the release of this collection of 8 animated shorts; each one of them exploring the Wachowski's "Matrix" universe in very different and interesting ways. With superb animation by veterans of different styles of animation, some of "The Animatrix" shorts at times feel even better than the Matrix series themselves.

Andy Jones, one of the minds behind "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within", starts with "The Final Flight of the Osiris", a movie done completely with computer generated graphics that shows a race against time in order to warn the citizens of the rebel city of Zion that the machines found them and are going to destroy them. The beautiful and fluid animation is very good, but overall the story doesn't live up to the expectations. It is a cold start, but very good after all.

Veteran animator Mahiro Maeda continues with a 2 part story called "Second Renaissance", a story detailing the events that lead to the creation of the Matrix which easily ranks among the best shorts of the compilation. Its fabulous animation done in anime style is visually beautiful and in a short time it tells a powerful story with a great message. True masterpiece.

Shinichirô Watanabe, director of the acclaimed "Cowboy Bebop" directs two segments, "Kid's Story" and "a Detective Story". The first one is a bit uneven, with good animation but a weak story. No wonder why it is the shortest of all as it has no place for development. On the other hand, "A Detective Story" is a brilliant segment very reminiscent of Watanabe's own "Cowboy Bebop". Mixing perfectly film noir with the Matrix universe, this superb anime is definitely a must-see.

Another big name of anime, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, directs "Program", dealing with the doubts of those who have been awakened of the Matrix. With a beautiful setting in Medieval Japan, Kawajiri manage to show true emotions through the vivid visuals. I feel this short is a bit underrated and that it is more than what it seems.

The lead animator of the world famous "Ninja Scroll" (1993), Takeshi Koike, directs "World Record"; an interesting tale of a man who manage to awake by his own means, while trying to break the 100m dash time world record. While the story is top notch, the stylish design for the characters at times looks a bit too over-the-top, however, it still is one of the best shorts of "The Animatrix".

Koji Morimoto directs one of the most most imaginative shorts in the collection: "Beyond". A tale about a place where "The Matrix" has had a processing error, turning it into a "haunted house" where some kids go to test reality and go literally beyond imagination. This short truly shows what anime really is about, with an enormous display of creativity, not only in the visuals, but also in the writing.

Finally, "Æon Flux"'s creator Peter Chung delivers the grim "Matriculated". A tale about a group of humans who try to "humanize" the machines. Despite it's dark tone, this is probably the most optimistic short, and the most humane. The animation feels like another chapter of Chung's famous miniseries, so fans of his work will be pleased.

"The Animatrix" is definitely a must-see for any fan of sci-fi, as in the tradition of "Heavy Metal", it explores different aspects of science fiction, going even beyond what "The Matrix" movies have done. 8/10