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 ost of "The Animatrix", 9 short animated
episodes (about 10 minutes a piece) that takes place within the world of "The
Matrix", is superfluous. But there are three segments that have direct
bearing on the world of the Matrix, not to mention acting as prelude to "The
Matrix: Reloaded" movie. And the last segment, "Kid's Story",
tells the background of the "Kid" character that appears in "Reloaded".
If you don't know, the title "Animatrix" is a
play on words. A combination of "The Matrix" and "anime", or
Japanese animation. In Japan, anime is a form of art in itself, rivaling even
celluloid film. "Animatrix" is infused with Japanese anime production
values, but each segment is vastly different from the last, and perhaps that's
the point -- to get as many names together as possible and see what they can
come up with. As a result, besides the segments written by the Wachowski
brothers, "Animatrix" has no unified look, just a bunch of images,
styles, and stories thrown into one big pot.
Peter Chung ("Aeon Flux") contributes
"Matriculated", about human survivors trying to convert sentient
machines onto their side. The animation is grotesque and weird, just like
Chung's other works. Andy Jones directs the "Final
Fantasy"-inspired "Final Flight of the Osiris", about a
doomed human hovercraft that discovers the machines are digging down to Zion,
and races to warn the others. It's the Osiris' message that inspires the humans
of "Reloaded"
to get ready for the oncoming machine invasion of Zion. The episode also
highlights the franchise's emphasis on African-American characters in prominent
roles.
The Wachowskis also contribute the two-parter "Second
Renaissance", about the rise of the machines and the fall of humanity. The
Wachowskis, not exactly known for subtlety, throws everything from analogies to
the Nazi Holocaust, outcast Jews, the civil rights battles of the '60s, and even
the recent Million Man March on D.C., to show us the evils of humanity. One
could even say the Wachowskis are on the machine's side. Although I think the
brothers were just showing a lack of understanding about the events they were
paralleling, and in failing this, cheapened them. The Nazi Holocaust, in
particular, reeks of exploitation.
Much more successful is "A Detective Story" by
Shinichiro Watanabe ("Cowboy Bebop"), who gives us a stylish and good
ol fashion tale about a well-worn P.I. who is hired by mysterious parties to
locate Trinity. This means Carrie-Anne Moss's Trinity shows up in a brief
gunfight, with Moss doing the voice. Although the period piece (the episode has
the look of 1920s Chicago) doesn't seem to fit in with the present look of the
Matrix world. Kouji Morimoto offers up the other delightful tale,
"Beyond", about a young Japanese woman who discovers a "haunted
house" that turns out to be an anomaly within the Matrix. The all-too-brief
episode serves up the question: "What if supernatural events were really
nothing more than glitches in the Matrix?"
"The Animatrix" isn't completely successful, but
it does offer up multiple unique perspectives on the Matrix universe. One is so
used to seeing Neo and company battle the machines that we forget the Matrix is
supposed to be housing a complete world of humans, each one with their own sets
of personal problems. If you're a fan of "The Matrix", then
"Animatrix" is a good addition to the series. Especially if you had
seen "Reloaded"
and was wondering, as I was, who the hell that Kid character was, and why does
he keep chasing after Neo like a lap dog.
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