I must be one of the many who didn’t totally embrace the phenomenon known as The Matrix. The philosophy aspect was quite interesting set in a dystopian, science fiction backdrop showcasing the results of mankind’s downfall and the rise of machines. Unfortunately, the sequels were less than impressive than its predecessor. Some things should be left alone if a good story and outcome cannot be properly achieved. However, if done correctly, then it can become something magical and spectacular.

The war between man and machine is explored in The Animatrix, a series of nine animated shorts that laterally moves across the world of The Matrix. The project is conceived by Larry and Andy Wachowski in an attempt to open things up and hopefully shed some more light into this dismal world. And they have done so by going back to the comic book/anime roots that started the whole ball rolling. The Wachowski brothers coerced some of the best anime creators to come aboard this project to create these stylish animated features.

"Final Flight of the Osiris" is the only completed rendered computer animated segment in this whole DVD set and beautifully created by Square, the same company that created Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. The photo-realistic CGI characters move with grace and fluidity that still boggles the imagination. It is a straightforward story that explains the fate of the Osiris, as takes place between The Matrix and The Matrix Reloaded, as well as Enter the Matrix video game. It is during this mission that the crew of the Osiris learn of the machines’ plan to invade Zion and they need to get word to them. Unfortunately, the machines are onto them and will stop at nothing to prevent the crew from succeeding with this mission. As the first movie in this set, this is a good bridge for both story and style. People are used to seeing live action characters from the movies and having photo-realistic CGI characters won’t make the transition into these animated shorts so jarring. Plus, it also helps give a little importance to the forward movement of the overall tale.

"The Second Renaissance, Parts I & II" tells the tale of the historical events leading to the First Man-Machine War, as told by a computerized narrator known as The Instructor. The creation of the machines and the start of the conflict hat arose with human civilization is explained in Part I. It continues with the first war and the machines’ dominance over mankind in Part II. It’s quite a fascinating story that is structured to resemble as a documentary film. Man believed to superior over the machines, since the created them in the first place, and treated them like slaves. It was only a matter of time when the machines started to adapt and override their limited A.I. (artificial intelligence) way of thinking and rebelling against their creators. All they wanted was equality and to live side-by-side with the humans, but this wasn’t the case as they were seen as a lower lifeform. Racism, segregation and prejudice never seem to go away. Rewritten from the Wachowski brothers’ original story and directed by Mahiro Maeda, these two shorts were a marriage of traditional hand-drawn animation and CGI. The detailing is superb and I marveled at what was finally presented.

Two other animated shorts from this set really stand out for me in terms of story, style and execution.

"Beyond" is a nice tale depicting the innocence of children living within the Matrix. Several children investigate a “haunted house” as strange and wondrous things start to manifest through various defiance in the laws of physics. The children learn to exploit this for their own amusement, not realizing that there is a glitch in the Matrix system that is allow for these anomalies to occur. However, this doesn’t escape the notice of the Agents and they plan on rectifying the problem. Koji Morimoto, of Akira, has the dubious honour of showcasing both his writing and directing prowess with this feature.

"A Detective Story" really explores the whole film noir scenario as the Agents hire a private detective to locate a hacker known as Trinity. Written and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, probably most well-known for the anime series Cowboy Bebop, the atmosphere is highly charged despite its subdued appearance. The black-and-white treatment is quite effective as traditional animation is rendered over grainy photographic backgrounds to give it a striking look. It’s a simple look at human perseverance over adversity and what one will do in order to do the right thing.

Other shorts included are:

• "Kid's Story" (written by the Wachowski brothers and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe)—Michael Popper, a young boy, comes to a realization that the world is not what it seems, only to discover the truth about the Matrix and Neo. This takes place between Matrix Reloaded. Remember that kid that was so excited to see Neo when he returned, the annoying kid that fawned over him? This is his story.

• "Program" (written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri)—Set in the Matrix construct of feudal Japan, a warrior named Duo asks his female companion Cis if she made a mistake escaping the Matrix. He offers both of them a way back, by making a deal with the Machines.

• "World Record" (written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and directed by Takeshi Koike)—Dan Davis is track runner competing in the 100-meter dash. Somehow, a glitch in the Matrix hasn’t accommodated human endurance and stamina when they achieve speeds under their own power. Dan manages to break free from the Matrix under his own steam but pays a price for it.

• "Matriculated" (written and directed by Peter Chung)—In a reciprocal fashion, a group of rebel humans lure sentinels and other hostile machines to their laboratory. There, they capture them and plug them into their own Matrix design for Machines. The goal is inject them with empathy and compassion, hopefully allowing them to develop free will and override them program to “search and destroy”.

The Animatrix is a good exercise for short story anthologies. Some were successful while others felt a bit short and flat in execution. “Matriculated”, in particular, was too philosophical in places arguing contentiously between the ideas of free will versus fate. “World Record” is another one that seemed to drag on despite the fact that it’s a story about a sprinter. But overall, I enjoyed what was attempted in this presentation. The Matrix really is designed for both comic books and anime. This was the inherent feeling I got from watching these segments and it works so much better, mostly because there is so much more than can be done in an animated world. Believe it or not, things made more sense when presented in this manner. At least it was for me, but this is coming from a guy who enjoys a visual medium like this.

Some nice extras are included, such as several mini featurettes on the making of all nine animated shorts and a 23-minute documentary examining the film’s development as it delves into its anime roots. It’s actually quite an interesting feature, especially with some commentary by Todd McFaralane, comic book icon and creator of Spawn.

I managed to pick up the gift set which includes the CD soundtrack for The Animatrix. For those not interested in that, a regular version is also available.

The Animatrix surprised me more than I thought it would and the overall experience was quite enjoyable. Even though these are all animated shows, by no means is this suitable for children. Graphic violence, blood and even brief nudity are shown. Anime is far different from American animation as the subject matter usually deals and depicts more mature themes. The two sequels to The Matrix diluted the mystique surrounding this world, but The Animatrix expands the notion quite more successfully. I enjoyed the anthologies a lot more and hope that it can continue in some form. It’s just my way of saying that more cartoons need to be made.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age