A new Matrix is born in Animatrix.

The Animatrix is nine animated shorts following the extremely popular movie series. The titles of theses nine shorts from one to nine are “The Final Flight Of the Osiris”, “Second Renaissance part I” “The Second renaissance Part II” “Kids Story”, “Program,” “World Record,” ‘Beyond”“A “Detective’s Story”, and “Matriculated”. This DVD is unique in the sense that it is done not just with one animation style. Animation is done realistically like “Final Fantasy The Spirits Within”
Where the characters animation is so lifelike that they actual look almost like real people. I remember watching “The Spirits Within” and actually thinking for a moment whether or not they were real. Yes that is just how good animation has become. Though I could not be fooled for a single second this time around, there is a great amount of admiration in me for such brilliant creations. This awesome style of computer art you’ll see in the first episode.

Other styles include Japanese like anime and comic book style. So just what is this author trying to say by comic book style? By comic book style I mean computerized artwork that looks like comic book drawn characters set into fluent movement. There is also an episode that is done in black and white called “A Detective’s Story”. Most of the stories are very good, but some are just way too short like “The Flight Of Osiris” This was not a horrible short but episode number one could have been better had it just been a little longer.

The opening scene shows Jue and Thaddius having a simulated sword fight as part of a training program. Not only do these two provide good action but flips as well. Each one has the intention of getting the other as close to undressed as possible. Bummmmer the Sentinels come along and disrupt their good time. Some fun between two people just isn’t meant to last.Thaddius-voice Kevin Michael Richardson, Jue- voice Pamela Adlon

The second show proves very interesting. Not just interesting but it answers some of the questions the readers may have about the machines in “The Matrix”. This is narrated in the form of a futuristic history lesson.The Instructor's voice for both Second Renaissance parts one and two is by Julia Fletcher In this short we see how man built the robots with the intention to help mankind but things go haywire. One robot rebels against his master and kills him very goooorily, no more brains in his head. This same robot goes on trial where the prosecution argues for an owners right to destroy property. The result brings about massive protests by robots who don't like both the trial and the governments new plans towards the living machines. Whoa artificial intelligence is booming big time. The robots build their own society, away from man and try to join The U.N. The art style is anime for this short.

Short number three “The Second Renaissance Part II” also does the favor of answering questions. Here you’ll learn about the war between the mankind and the robots also referred to as machines, and the events that led to man becoming their scientific guinea pig. The art style once again is anime. This short is also narrated in a futuristic history lesson format.

Kids Story covers the life of a high school student and skater named Michael Karl Popper -voice Clayton Watson who has a dream where he’s falling. He also has been receiving strange messages on his computer. One day while in class his cellular phone keeps ringing. Michael answers the phone and is given basically the same advice as Neo when the agents came about on the hunt. The art style is comic book like set to fluent movement. To tell you anything more would be to say too much. I will however add this much the chase and ending prove very interesting. The ending I felt was very appropriate because of what happens to the teen and his association with Neo.


The Program is another training simulation one that seems just a tad bit too real for the one being trained. The women going through the training will actually turn aside flaming arrows with a spear like weapon, and catch a sword with her hands. Yes the sword catch is a wild scene. She’ll Cis- voice Hedy Burress do battle with a man named Duo- voice Phil LaMarr who demands that she go with him to “The Matrix”. This trainee will have a not so kind gift to give to the one running the simulation. She’ll also cut the mask off of a warriors face. This battle however is not completely one sided. Anime style artwork, and the fight scenes are great even down to the last attack. The fight is great not just because of the action, but that both warriors get their good whacks at the other fighter. Like I said it’s not just one sided.

World Record involves a runner named Dan- voice Victor Williams set on making a new record, but agents are watching him ,and have some very unpleasant plans.This runner is warned not to run do to his condition by Tom- voice Alex Fernandez. He does this action anyway not aware of who and what is waiting at the race.anime style art

Beyond deals with a teenage girl Yoko-voice Hedy Burress looking for her lost cat Yuki and what happens in the process. A contest takes place between some children while she is looking for her cat. This contest involves throwing bottles on the ground which come back together after breaking and vanish.The idea is to grab the bottle before it disappears. A second contest will take place that involves a little blood.Then something happens that disturbs quite a good number of people. This girl can actually float, but I honestly don’t know if she’s actually in “The Matrix.

Maybe the teenager is in an area that is only associated with The Matrix temporarily. Another possibility, the occurences may have been a dream. ” Perhaps the only complaint I have about this short is that the ending was weird. The exact concept behind the ending left me with a question mark.In other words just what is the end trying to state? Anime style

A Detective’s Story covers Private Investigator Ash- voice James Arnold Taylor who as he puts it doesn’t have much money or much in his refrigerator. He also discusses how great he thought detective work would be as a career. The detective is called over the phone and offered a job to catch a computer hacker named Trinity-voice Kate Ann Moss. At first he is very reluctant, but then told look at your bank account. In doing so he sees very much what he needs present on his electronic miniature banking account.

Ash winds up going on a train based on clues he’s been given,and I’ll let you learn of the rest if you haven’t already seen Animatrix. This is the short done in black and white.With exception to a cigarette lighter flame. Comic book style characters appear in this episode. You might want to say the words and what next as this short ends. This is another short where a little more story might have added too the greatness of the episode.

What’s in Matriculated? I have an idea let’s take a robot designed to battle with a couple humans and put him through The Matrix and see what happens. Just how will this robot act if he takes on a resemblance of human form? Will he be able to adapt to human like ways? More happens but I'll leave that out. I'll do this so the reader can find out morte of the occurences. Anime style. The ending credits include a song as usual. The song sounded more like people talking.I would have preferred singing. If you select the nine scenes on DVD individually then at the end of each scene will come the credits.

Play the whole movie and the credits won’t come until the end. Several languages can be selected on the DVD including French, Spanish, and Japanese. There is also an extra feature where the creators talk about their artwork and what they had in mind while going about the creation process.


My Recommendation for the DVD Animatrix Anyone who wants to expand their historical knowledge of The Matrix as to the who, what, why, when and where, and add on to what they have seen of the Matrix series should definitely check this movie out. This DVD should also be a plus for those who love sheer brilliance of today’s animation technological advances. Those of you who liked at least one of the three matrix movies will also probably like the Animatrix. I say this because the Animatrix features many of the same elements. M e I liked the original Matrix the best. The second Matrix reloaded I felt had great action scenes but not the great story of the original. The third in the series matrix Revolutions I felt was drawn out with the acting. I kept wanting too say so when is something interesting going to happen. So this is what brought about my interest in the Animatrix.




Rating

1. Animation 10 I loved the different styles of computerized art. A good variety will cater well to people of different tastes.
2. story 9 Story might have received a ten with a little more added on to some of the episodes.
3. Will I buy this DVD? 10 I certainly want to buy this DVD. I may even own the DVD within this month. Right now I am borrowing The Animatrix from a video rental. Luckily I didn’t pay a sin cent because of special coupons I receive fro being on blockbuster’s rewards program.
4. recommend to a friend 10 My friend recommended this movie to me and I’ll do the same I’m sure.
5. DVD Extras 10 Having several different translations is always a good idea. Learning about the creations is good as well.
6. Will I watch movie a second time before returning to the video store? 10
7. Should this DVD be watched at a party or other social gathering ? 10 Easily answered it’s not hard to picture many people liking “The Animatrix” as it encompasses so many aspects and events of the series.
8. A sequel follows this movie being talked about, is this worth watching? 10 Yes but I’d want the DVD to have multiple episodes again. Well I’d see it again without multiple episodes but the multiple episodes would be the better idea I feel. Because one storyline alone can go bad, however having multiple stories in my opinion decreases the animation’s chances of being a real downer.
9. An Animatrix video game comes out should it be played? 8 I would want to at least rent the game. I f the game was good then I would consider buying.
10. Animatrix cannot be found at a cheaper price, so are you willing to pay the full price to own the movie?10 Yes I liked the movies for the most part and I love the animated series.
11. Chances of the Animatrix becoming a classic?7.5 Being that the Animatrix didn’t get the theatre notoriety of it’s predecessors being that only "The Flight Of Osiris" was shown in theatres. This factor may hurt it a little in terms of becoming a classic.
12. buy as a gift 10 Need I say more about this brilliant product?

Overall Rating 9.54

This review will most likely be updated soon with more information from the credits.