Review of The Animatrix (2003) by Daniel D — 24 Aug 2011

The Animatrix is composed of nine Japanese animated short films that are supposed to teach you more of the Matrix. Let me get one thing straight with you guys out there; I'm the rare person who likes the last two Matrix films, simply for the fact that all the main characters are already developed, and it could be an excuse to show only action and special effects. And this happens to have come out after the last two films. So, about it educating you about the Matrix... for five of these films, they don't teach jack-shit about the Matrix! Three are extremely informative, and one more works within its own nitch. The films are beautifully animated, especially the first one, which is entirely done in CG. It reminded by of a better version of the Final Fantasy movie. However, it only serves the purpose of visuals and action. The second and third films (my favorite) are a two-parter about the build-up to the Matrix, which turns out to be started by robots built by humans. The fourth film is of a teenager trying to escape from agents through his high school. The fifth film is a take on Japanese fighting, from the armor to the weapons, and horses. The sixth is of a runner breaking a record of 8.2 seconds and afterward passing out. Number seven is of a teenager woman looking for her pet cat, and going into an abandoned home that serve as an anti-gravity force-field. The eighth is a take on noir being used in the Matrix, and finally, number nine is of robots in the matrix and their reaction around humans.

Overall, I'm probably not the man to review this film; it's one that you'll either love or hate. I enjoyed it myself, however, and this would make a good film for an action night with friends. When it's energetic, it's energetic.