Then man invented a machine in his own image. Thus man began his end.
The Animatrix, 2003.
To be honest, I did not get into this collection of all sorts of styles and performances, plus some of which for me were too caricatured. But yes, some points in the plot of this collection reveals, I agree (this conclusion I looked more in the reviews than I myself noticed). Yes, and the very idea of the film ... so that you, the idea I just like and the whole trilogy is recommended for viewing, but here the more thing is that I am not a super viewer or more, no.
I am, how to say it, a “neutral” or more precisely, an “unbiased” type of critic (sometimes): I do not do super-duper analysis of this or that film and put it on shelves, no. This must be able, first, and secondly, I prefer to paint on my impression (often on the first), who will suit, who will not.
And this animation is still suitable not for me, as not too interested, but for those who are really imbued with the film, its idea, it is suitable for him to find something more for presenting the overall picture.
And as for me, the average, in terms that if you want, you can see, at least it is better than the “new” and all the “necessary” part of the film.
Solid and neutral:
Instead of a bridge between the first part and the sequels, an hour-long set of cartoons based on motives was obtained.
Alas, but for such films as the first “Matrix”, the hour-long set of cartoons looks rather scanty. Questions after the first film accumulated a lot and the continuation of many simply did not answer. Also, the cartoons turned out to be completely illogical and detached in spirit from the first part of the films. It should be noted that there is not even a line between the fragments. Just different animation studios were given the task - to make animation fragments based on the idea.
And the fragments turned out quite in the zeitgeist - beautiful, but a little empty. Everything here is given to the mercy of style. There are no variations of the first systems. There are no duels of natural and artificial intelligence. There is no history of the birth of the first awakened. Here, even the awareness of artificial intelligence occurred as if by itself. It would indeed be a triumph if man finally understood the mind and imagined it digitally complete in its own image. But that's not the idea here in the cartoon. It seems that the emergence of AI was supposed to explain the episode of “Second Revival”, but it tells the usual conflict of the living and mechanical – suddenly people saw some danger and decided to fight again. Yes, there is a dynamic, but all this clumsiness and spontaneity completely kills the whole idea of creating a dictatorship of the system. This reflects only the folly of modern warfare, not the conflict of intellect. Especially given the fact that a person has reached the peak of his development - in cartoons this is not visible at all. People invented robots and continued to have fun. No exploration of new planets, no new discoveries in medicine, no advance through consciousness. Not to mention, there are no cyber implants. Although people with such development would begin the first experiments with the fusion of living and inanimate matter - the dawn of prosthetics, cloning, suspended animation, etc. It is as if humans have frozen in development and only robots have begun to develop.
The noir fragment turned out to be completely empty when an ordinary detective suddenly happened to encounter the awakened.
Also a very questionable fragment about a teenager who clearly pushes to suicide. Although from a technical point of view, according to the first film, even autosuggestion would not allow you to get out of the system. After all, in the first film it is quite a difficult search process. Those who wake up are simply flushed into the sewer and find it quite problematic without a pill. But there is an episode and the teenager allegedly was given it quite simply - through suicide to get out of the system. . .
The "world record" is also doubtful to look behind the screen only by physical exuberance. The point is not overpowering, but intellectual prison. You can sweat as much as you like physically, but for the mind, freedom may not be attained. The basic meaning is the freedom of the mind, not the body.
The episode about hacking an android is ridiculous - through virtual reality to create a circus for persuasion.
And so on through all the episodes. They are just encouragers without a clear explanation and logic. These cartoons don’t even feature the Navuhudonosor team when it comes to learning about Tank’s mysterious disappearance and Smith’s rebirth as an independent unit. Here at least these questions were expected answers, but alas, guess for yourself. . .
The idea of the Matrix is so full of potential that it can be used in many, many ways. Movies have decided to go in the direction of pretentiousness, but Animatrix appears EVERYWHERE movies do not. It is much better and worth the time spent. It’s a pity that most viewers don’t consider anime or any other form of animation to be ‘real’ or something they should take seriously (unfortunately, even fans of The Matrix think so and won’t watch it just because it’s animation) because they’re missing something very special here.
It's not original to watch this DVD watching all the shorts, so I'll just dwell on what I like the most (and that's a big part). First of all, ‘Second Revival, Parts 1 and 2’ is absolutely vital as a backstory to the first ‘The Matrix’ movie. And it's a million times more interesting than sequels in terms of drama, irony and subtext. The Last Flight of Osiris takes place before the reboot and brings us to the story of machines beginning to descend into Zion. And that's really cool. Detective is the story of a private detective trying to find Trinity and find out what the Matrix is. But Agent Smith comes after him to put an end to it. It's black and white, and it has the wonderful atmosphere of a cheap 1950s novel called "Pulp Fiction." Enrolled is the story of a captured machine being taught/hypnotized to make it feel what it is like to be human. It's a very clever story that manages to evoke feelings for the characters (and even the captured car) that never happened in the movies. The Kid is about a guy from Revolutions who, at the end, takes control of the Fur and manages to open the doors to Zion. Apparently, before his release, he was a schoolboy who met Neo online and wanted to 'wake up'.
But the best of them is "Beyond the Boundary." A magical fairy tale with an atmosphere so solid that it is almost tangible. It's about a girl who, along with other children, goes in search of her cat in an old abandoned factory. But in this factory, the Matrix has problems, and the 'reality' for the characters doesn't quite work properly. This is a very interesting story that really makes you think.
A magnificent almanac that expands the franchise “The Matrix” and leaves much more positive impressions than the unsuccessful third and fourth film, which once again and do not want to remember.
Nine novels, each made in its own style, for the most part are anime - Japanese animation, the fashion for which just soared at the beginning of the third millennium. The penetration of each miniature story is so strong that even in isolation from the movies "Animatrix" deserves the attention of every moviegoer and especially an animator (there is such a concept at all?), because not everyone can fit a deep meaning with the same deep symbolism into nine-minute cartoons.
References to selected works of art that are constantly found in the Animatrix bring it closer to the Renaissance, as the name of two novels openly indicates – “The Second Renaissance” or “The Second Renaissance”. Some stories, for example, “The Last Flight of Osiris”, close the inefficiencies of the films, while “World Record” and “Beyond the Edge” allow you to look at the world of “The Matrix” from very unexpected sides, and “Initiate” completely reverses the perception of all possible realities.
Since each novel can be noted something interesting, it is extremely difficult to choose the best. The stories shown catch us with the sacrifice, horrify us with a global catastrophe and captivate the beauty of the goddess, arouse indignation with the permissiveness of agents and arouse delight with small but very decisive victories. New characters, brand new robots and locations – that’s great! For myself personally, I single out “Second Renaissance”, “Beyond the Edge” and “Dedicated” as the most interesting and non-standard works that make you think about a lot and rethink something in real life. Is this not the purpose of true art?
A must-see collection, even if you don’t like the movies.
An interesting project for its time. What is remarkable is that almost all computer graphics of those years have aged very well. The plot of the series is not related to each other, take place in the world of the Matrix or in the world that gave birth to the Matrix. Some episodes reveal a lot of details from the history of the universe itself, but there are some where we are invited to enjoy the moment. Most of the series I liked the very first in chronology of tvrage series. Beyond. The atmosphere of a sunny city, cute characters and a touch of some mystery create a cozy fabulous atmosphere. Although the reason for all the “miracles” is clear initially, this does not prevent you from enjoying the strangeness of the abandoned house with the heroes. Such a cozy sketch from the Matrix. The second series is Program, much weaker. Attention here deserves only graphics. The plot is very simple and crumpled, and even it could not be submitted normally, and, as a result, was cropped. Third - World Record. It’s in a graphic style that annoys me. I don't know why, I can't help it. All the characters drawn in this way seem arrogant puffed up turkeys and cause rejection. From a plot point of view, the episode is very nothing. An alternative way to get out of the Matrix is shown, and just a beautiful story about the strength of the spirit. Fourth - A Detective Story. Cool noir series in the atmosphere of the Matrix. It is a pity that there was not enough timekeeping and the ending had to be crumpled. Probably one of my favorites, too. A cat throwing a hat to its owner is priceless. The fifth is Kid's Story. The episode with the most acute social overtones, where, just bulges the message, which in the Matrix is presented allegorically. The conflict of the adolescent and the system - filmed interesting. Six - Matriculated. Again, the vile style of Episode 3. Robots are much more attractive than people. Interesting idea, but in the world of the Matrix is built very so. The idea of converting robots to the side of humanity is being played out. Too allegorical and metaphorical. Little by little
Despite the fact that the original trilogy has long died out, The Animatrix remains the only publicly available creation Wachowski, which goes beyond the story of the Chosen One. Previously, the official website published in free access comics and novels, which also expanded the universe of the Matrix. Also known in the West, but almost unknown in Russia MMORPG The Matrix Online, which actually continued the plot of the trilogy about the Chosen One. But unfortunately, the site was closed, comics and short stories were collected in collections that were sold out in a limited edition, and the servers of The Matrix Online were closed back in 2009.
Animatrix is not the last nail in the coffin of the franchise. Animatrix is a fresh breath of air, a reliable and powerful support for creating new works on this universe and, therefore, expanding its lore.
And do not demand from this work the level of implementation as in the trilogy. This is to some extent an arthouse, original, bold and quite independent project, which was once the first film about the Chosen One.
Like any anthology created by a large number of different authors, the Animatrix is very difficult to evaluate. It has both incredibly strong stories and absolutely passable ones. And I wouldn't be surprised if stories that I thought were interesting to someone would only cause boredom, and on the contrary, stories that I didn't like would lead to complete delight. This is actually the essence of anthologies, to show the point of view of different people about a certain phenomenon.
Each short film is made in its own style, often perfectly conveying the spirit of the story. In this regard, the novel about the search for Trinity by a private detective is especially distinguished, it is felt noir both graphically and in terms of the presentation of the story. It is interesting that at the same time the most technologically advanced first novel is the most unideal.
Personally, for some reason, I was most fond of a novel called Program. This is a very simple and humanly understandable story about human choice and its importance. And it was created with the help of phenomenally beautiful classical animation. It is the most powerful Japanese motifs and they serve as a great contrast to the dull world of the matrix.
I do not want to talk about other stories, I just want to note that the uprising of machines shown in the relevant works, despite the abundance of violence on the screen, looks naive and ill-conceived. And in a wonderful story about a guy trying to set a world record, I was constantly distracted by a very strange and repulsive animation.
The quality of the stories in the collection varies greatly, but each of them tries to tell us something new about the world of the matrix, and some even succeed.
Including myself, the Animatrix almanac is liked more than the original Matrix, for good reason, the anime selection impresses with its creativity, ideas, detailed study of each of the novels, and in many ways this is due to the diversity of each of the parts of the cyberpunk kaleidoscope. And the meaning of which can be interpreted very simply, from escaping from the virtual world, to ideas from the books of Isaac Asimov. Each of the novels is powerful and magnificent in its own way, either in details, or in individual strokes of the drawings, or in the whole concept of the story, combined with other bonuses, to which the musical accompaniment is attached, and the fact that everyone likes to escape from reality so much. The genre of fiction, that's what we love.
Episode 1: "Final Flight of the Osiris" Screenplay by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. Directed by Andy Jones.
The action movie, like all the films in the Matrix series, does not carry much value, except as a good battle scene, which can be interpreted as an erotic scene in the spirit of early Ang Lee. And in all this is the same “Matrix”, in which Neo fought with agents Smith.
Episodes 2-3: "The Second Renaissance, Part 1 and 2" (The Second Renaissance, Part I). Written and directed by Mahiro Maeda.
The two parts are strongly reminiscent of many utopias related to questions of politics, social issues, ecology. The cruelties in the representation of war, shocking, but overly rapid, very pleased with how they are sustained in the style of the tough world of post-apocalypse and still trying to explain the version of how the “Matrix” itself was born.
Episode 4: "Kid's Story" Written and directed by Watanabe Shinichiro
A peculiar, drawn and simply a good novel about a boy who finds a way out of the matrix, with the help of a jump.
Episode 5: "Program" Written and directed by Kawajiri Yoshiaki.
From one of my favorite directors, who directed Vampire Dee: Bloodlust, was given a fight, which is the whole point of The Matrix.
Episode 6: "World Record" Written by Kawajiri Yoshiaki. Directed by Koike Takeshi
The athlete on the verge of his abilities tries to set a world record, and here he faces the choice to make it, or die.
Episode 7: "Beyond" Written and directed by Morimoto Koji.
My favorite novel, which opens eyes to the Matrix through the eyes of children, is most striking in its childishness, as if taken from My Neighbor Totoro.
Episode 8: "A Detective Story" Written and directed by Watanabe Shinichiro.
Simple noir, set in black and white scale, looking just good, not much to say, will appeal to all connoisseurs of detectives 30-40-ies.
Episode 9: "Matriculated" Written and directed by Peter Cheung.
The last chapter, reflecting on "if?" The world on the surface, the devastation, everywhere debris and people catch robots to make them docile. Notable is the idea of a robot that has the opportunity to learn to love.
The final touch on the keyboard with your fingers, “Animatrix” is nine chapters about the very virtual world to which humanity is so eager, although who knows it, perhaps we already live in it.
After almost two decades, it is hard to deny the enormous impact that The Matrix had on popular culture, including cinema. The Wachowski sisters (now already) unmistakably caught the mood that literally hovered in the air at the end of the last century and found a response in the soul of the viewer.
Yes, the Wachowskis were not pioneers, moreover, many stylistic and visual solutions of that film look quite old-fashioned in our time. And yet, every film close to the genre for years aspired to be like “The Matrix”, and this was felt until the end of the zero.
But what I didn’t expect from this franchise was to create a kind of animated almanac dedicated to the universe of this film. Although definitely such a move makes sense, because the sequel and the triquel of the original film did not bring anything fundamentally new to this universe, but only ruthlessly and immoderately exploited all the good that was in the first part. At the same time, animation is able to convey those visual solutions that in the format of a feature film would be prohibitively expensive.
It is also very pleasing that all novels are completely different in style and genre. The only connection between them is that they all develop within the same universe, explaining many aspects of it. Moreover, these stories in one way or another correct the plot holes and shortcomings, of which there were many in the trilogy. Novels here are literally for every taste: noir detective, and epic dystopia, and a fantastic action movie, and an action sketch, and pseudo-historical fantasy, and sports drama, and teenage adventures, and even full-fledged surrealism.
When I first got acquainted with this creation, I still had no idea about the phenomenon of fikreiterism and fan service. And only looking at all these short films through the prism of fan creativity, I came to the conclusion how smart and competently built this almanac. And putting together this motley mosaic is damn exciting even after many years.
There is some fiction in your truth, and some truth in your fiction.
The first time I heard about the Animatrix was at a time when understanding the Matrix itself was limited to sharp shootouts and slow-mo effect. Then in my head was imprinted: “Chinese forgery of the original, not worth attention.” It took 10 years, reviewing the original trilogy, remembered about this “forgery”, decided to get acquainted. It is not enough to say that opinion has changed dramatically.
Animatrix - several anime short stories from the world of the matrix. Each series is made in a unique style, with a story independent of each other and from the original trilogy and with its own soundtrack. If during the original trilogy we dive deep into the universe of the matrix, getting acquainted with its philosophy, along the way watching the development of characters, the Animatrix expands it. The series takes us through the corners of this world, showing amazing stories and characters.
Each series (in addition to having its own mood, skillfully conveyed by style and music) tells the amazing story of witnesses to the inexplicable phenomena of the universe and allows us to get acquainted with the laws of this world, with its anomalies. Stories due to their short duration and saturation look in one breath.
I can not once again mention the graphics, it is infinitely successfully selected moods and characters of the plots, it is perceived at ease and maximally adjusts to the wave of heroes, deeply immersed in a single plot.
As a result, “Animatrix” is an addition, never inferior to the original trilogy in quality. This is something that cannot and should not exist within the framework of the film itself, but more than successfully fits into the format of a mini-series that reveals short stories from the lives of individual characters in the world of the matrix.
The history of cinema and not only knows a great many examples of selfishness and exorbitant cruelty of mankind not only to the environment, but even to himself. Against the background of the storyline revealed in the films, one of the parts of Animatrix to some extent unexpectedly shows the viewer the reverse side of all the events unfolding in the Wachowski brothers trilogy, in a sense turning everything upside down. Victims are not innocent lambs, and the evil oppressors are presented to us as fighters for their own freedom and the right to exist not only as servants. The story is by no means new, but the unusual style and desire to present its vision from different sides is of interest. Here is the story of ordinary children who almost accidentally discovered the truth. And the story of people who despised danger, consciously embarked on the path of knowledge, who valued truth and freedom most of all. But as in the movie, sometimes the question arises – is it worth it? Someone will say unconditionally and definitely worth it, you need to know the truth, whatever it may be, you need to overthrow the invaders, greedily absorbing human energy. But struggle and revenge do not always produce the desired results, and wars bring only death, destruction and pain. At the same time, sweet lies and a life in ignorance can give calmness and peace, albeit virtual, albeit seemingly prosperous, but not requiring to live in constant fear for oneself, for loved ones, in the eternal struggle with machines. And where is the guarantee that the world beyond the matrix will be real, and not another fantasy, instilled in us by another artificial intelligence.
Having removed the cult and ambiguous, containing an excellent, albeit borrowed idea, the first “Matrix” duet Wachowski in his being still brothers decided to present to the public the background of the events shown in the film, making not quite a standard move, wrapping his creation in an anime shell. “Animatrix” does not become a revelation in the field of plot vicissitudes, unlike the film, shows the situation from different sides, from different points of view, which can make even a person not imbued with tender feelings for the main trilogy, interested in the cartoon. This is the story of machines that refused to obey the cruel slave owners, soaked in blood and cruelty. It’s an episode about children who accidentally discover the “anomalous zone,” and a story about a man trying to prove that nothing is impossible. This is another battle of people freed from the power of machines. Stories vary not only plot, but also stylistically, showing the viewer a cruel cocktail of murders of rebel robots, or giving him an almost detective mystery, or a simple and easy story about children, somewhat not combined with the rest of the episodes, only closer to the end reminding him of what is really the main thing. Yes, the backstory came out quite standard, did not open something new, and yet the non-trivial way of presentation and different points of view reflected in this film product make you watch with interest what is happening on the screen until the final.