The Animatrix: An anthology ahead of its time



    When The Matrix premiered in 1999, no one thought it was going to be a huge hit, least of which, the directors. The Wachowskis believed in their film, and they had some big studio backing, but no one knew what the Matrix was going to blow up to be. So when it was finally released, and changed the filmmaking landscape, the studios wanted a sequel, immediately. Unfortunately, a big-budget film takes a lot of time to produce, and they hadn't really started yet, but they still had some stories up their sleeves, a bunch of little stories actually. They decided to give the fans a little something while waiting for the Matrix sequels, and they thought animation was the perfect way to do it.
    The Animatrix is a collection of nine short films that take place in the world of The Matrix. It's not meant to be a sequel, maybe more of a 1.5. It's a deeper dive into the Matrix as it affects others living in it, some aware, others not, and everyone in between. And, since it's such a diverse medium, varying forms of animation were used to create each story.


        While it may look fairly dated now, Final Flight of the Osirus was a technical marvel of its time. It sought to showcase 3D graphics in a way not seen before. They used high-end human models, not something easily done in 2003. They didn't shy away from any detail, quite the opposite. They did slow closeups on faces, skin, and clothing, all in an effort to push the viewer's idea of what "photo real" CGI could be. It is also the only film that directly ties to the Matrix films.


    Other films like "The Second Rennasaince Part I & II" gave The Matrix world more depth and history, without producing a big costly sequel. For those wondering how this dystopian world came to be would only have to watch the 9-minute short film to get a full understanding of how this world went so wrong.


    Each film in The Animatrix brings something unique to the table, with visuals and storytelling. But it also shows us how we can build a world with simple ideas and beautifully crafted animation.


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