The Animatrix
2003 · Directed by Kōji Morimoto, Peter Chung, Shinichiro Watanabe, Mahiro Maeda, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Andrew R. Jones
- animation
- science fiction
The story
Straight from the creators of the groundbreaking Matrix trilogy, this collection of short animated films from the world's leading anime directors fuses computer graphics and Japanese anime to provide the background of the Matrix universe and the conflict between man and machines. The shorts include Final Flight of the Osiris, The Second Renaissance, Kid's Story, Program, World Record, Beyond, A Detective Story and Matriculated.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn anime cels meet glossy computer-generated sheen across nine short films, each with its own visual signature: the crisp, high-contrast cyberpunk of city towers and rain-slick streets, sudden flashes of saturated red and green code, and the washed-out ruin of a post-apocalyptic earth under a bruised, dusty sky. Shots lean toward dramatic angles, sweeping camera moves through cramped interiors and vast machine landscapes, and a restless editing rhythm that snaps between stories. The score is taut and electronic, with synth pulses and percussive tension that swell into quieter, mournful passages. Vibe: stylish, brooding, and sleek, with a current of melancholy beneath the action. It suits a late-night watch alone or a weekend binge with a friend who likes sci-fi. The pacing is brisk and each chapter is self-contained, so the emotional arcs are compact: a ship's crew facing desperate odds, a child's growing awareness of a changed world, a detective's quiet unease. Intensity runs moderate to high, with stylised martial-arts fights, gunfire, and some bloody wounds, but nothing lingering or gratuitous. Dread is more common than gore. Best for viewers who want sharp visuals, ideas about machines and freedom, and a dark, adult take on sci-fi.