Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Companion to the Matrix
Review: Before watching this dvd I was all in favor of its concept. Normally, great movies rarely give the audience a chance to fully understand the background of the story, but this dvd promises to do just that. To that it, end only marginally succeeds.This dvd collects nine stories from the Matrix universe, some that directly tie into the movies, and others that do not. This, in my mind, is where the dvd's problems arise. The stories involving known characters and events are wonderful, but the wholly original works lack spirit and direction. I gave this dvd 3 stars because the short episodes about the war with the machines, the discovery of the digging machines, and the search for Trinity all work wonderfully, if a bit unfocused. The downfall is in the other tales using characters with no tie to anything except the universe they are in. In my opinion, this dvd would have worked much better if it had gone into more detail about the rise of AI, as well as other points the movie's only mention. The different artistic styles only fueled the lack of focus of these stories. Either the creators were trying to push to much info through in a short time span, or the artists took too many liberties with the script. This dvd also has some interesting extras. Insight into its creation as well as others provide a small amount of enjoyment besides the films. These, however, are no reason to purchase the dvd if you are not a fan of the films, all of which can be seen online fairly easily. All in all, this dvd is an interesting companion to the Matrix films, but it is probably best to rent instead of purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: some shorts are incredible, others less so.
Review: The Animatrix consists of nine animated short films that are part of the Matrix universe. They deal with various aspects of the universe and some interact directly with the two movies. As the films are each made by different directors/animation houses, they all have different looks and feels to them. Each film is about 10 minutes long. Naturally, some are better than others. Final Flight of the Osiris: This one is referenced near the beginning of the Matrix Reloaded. This film has the crew of the Osiris discovering the Sentinel army drilling down to Zion. Considering the title, we know what happens to the ship, but this is one of the better films of the bunch. The animation was done by Square (the makers of the Final Fantasy movie) and it surpasses their previous work. The CGI is so well done that at times you can forget that this is not real. The Second Renaissance Parts I and II: These two films are connected. These films are a prehistory to the Matrix. We see how machines came into power and the war against Man and Machine. In the Matrix we are told that man blotted out the sun. In Part II we see how this is done. This is essential viewing as it is the history document of the Matrix. This is the how and the why the machines came to power and through it we see things that perhaps could have been done differently. If only. Kid's Story: I didn't think this was that great of a short film, but it connects directly into the Matrix Reloaded. There is a character in that movie trying to follow Neo around and says several times that Neo saved him. Neo replies that he saved himself. This is the story of that character and how he was freed from the Matrix. I found this one interesting because of the connection to the movie, but that is the only reason. This features the guest voices of Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne Moss. Program: Most of this film is fight sequences between two people in what feels like a training program. The man is trying to convince the woman that she needs to forget about the Matrix and the real world because while they wanted to know the truth, it would be better to live an artificial life in ignorance. I liked some of the ideas of this film, but the presentation was somewhat lacking. World Record: I'll admit that I'm a geek for track and field. This one features an athlete who broke the world record in the 100 meters in the prelims and wants to shatter his own record so that it will never be touched. He also becomes someone who is unknowingly able to affect the Matrix (thus the world record). It features slow motion action for the track portion as well as flashbacks of how he got to that point. Interesting for me, but I'm not sure about anyone else. Beyond: Beyond did not connect as well as some of the films to the Matrix, but it is probably going to become a favorite. Beyond follows a young woman who lost her cat. She (and several children) discover a "haunted" house where weird things happen. Gravity and other laws of physics are able to be circumvented without any of the control that someone manipulating the Matrix would need. A sweet little story. A Detective Story: This is my favorite short film of the bunch. This is done in black and white and is a classic detective story (like one would find in the stories of Marlowe). The dectective (truly a stereotype character) is contacted to try to find a hacker named Trinity (yes, that Trinity). It is a sweet little story and is visually impressive. Features the guest voice of Carrie Anne Moss. Matriculated: This is my least favorite of the bunch. It did not make any sense to me. It was the story of humans capturing a machine, hooking it up to the Matrix and trying to convert it to the cause of humanity. Throughout the film there was a lot of strange visuals that reminded me of an Isaac Asimov story without any of the depth or plotting. I found this to be the weakest of the bunch.
Rating:
Summary: The Matrix Has Me...Again
Review: The Animatrix has its ups and downs. Up: "Final Flight of the Osiris", which is a sort of prelude to The Matrix Reloaded and features excellent animation from the same people that made Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within; and "Second Renaissance Parts I & II", which chronicles how the whole dispute between man and machine began and is truly an awesome experience. Down: While a couple of the other 6 episodes are also good, none of them really stands out as being exceptional, and a couple of them just confused me. Up: There is over an hour of extra features. Down: Most of the people who created The Animatrix speak Japanese, so you have to read sub-titles most of the time. Overall, I highly recommend The Animatrix if you love The Matrix and are up for some deep thinking. Otherwise, I would advise you to stay away.
Rating:
Summary: Great collection, great supporting information...
Review: If you saw 'Reloaded', and wondered who the kid was that greeted the team as they returned to Zion, buy this. If you thought "huh?" when you heard the Osiris mentioned, buy this. How about Trinity? Any questions about her origins? Actually, if you have any questions after examining the two movies in depth, I'm sure that "The Animatrix" will satisfy them. I still haven't played the CD...but...okay, it's in there too. I didn't care for the Anime in some of the shorts, but all of the stories were well written and offerred substantial background information. 4 stars because of the last two points. For story alone, 5 stars all the way.
Rating: 
Summary: Animatrix Overrated
Review: I was fairly disappointed in this as it was not worth [money]. The first animation the Final Flight of Osiris was by far the best. However, perhaps this should have been put last in order to not raise expectations too high. The stories were good, however the animation could have been done much better. The other styles in a manner of speaking were unappealing with boring and long winded plots. I may watch The Final Flight of Osiris again, other than that the rest can lay on my shelf to collect dust. The Soundtrack is not much to listen to without dialogue either.
Rating: 
Summary: A new anime fan...
Review: This is what I LOVE about the Matrix: when you think you've got it all figured out, you'll read a review from someone else putting a whole new twist on the story, making you discover aspects of it you didn't quite catch before. I can personally spend hours happily reading all the reviews connected to any Matrix product, always fascinated at the power it has to make people think. As a fanatic of anything Matrix, I wanted to get this DVD even though I must state that I was not an anime fan to begin with and didn't expect to like all the material. Well, I was proven wrong. True, not all 9 shorts are of equal quality, each one with its own animation and storytelling style. Whether you'll prefer one over the other really depends on your personal tastes. In my case, I have my favorites but must admit that each piece, even the ones which I feel are weaker, have some redeeming qualities which make up for their shortcomings. "Final Flight of the Osiris" is without a doubt my personal favorite. This story could easily have been a part of Reloaded but since that movie was quite long to begin with, it was a very good idea to include it here instead. From the creators of "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within", the animation all in CGI is even better this time around, with a few years of technological progress. Some of the characters are so well done that they almost feel human, especially the male lead Thadeus. The story is erotic, chilling and moving at the same time. A must see. "The second Renaissance Part I&II" is my second favorite with a backstory to how the machines have come to enslave humans. I love the new spin this has put on the story where we discover that the machines are not as totally evil as we had previously thought. Quite violent and disturbing with images that will stay with you for a long time afterwards. Not for the squirmish and definitely not for kids. I also have to mention "Matriculated". I really loved it even though I saw that quite a few reviewers didn't seem to agree. It is the most abstract short here with a lot of psychedelic and very colorful imagery which is a big part of why I loved it. I also appreciated the reversal story where a robot is immerged into a virtual world created by the minds of several humans so they can entice him to join them in their resistance against the machines. The animation style was very much to my liking and I really loved the robot who ends becoming quite likable, therefore complicating the Matrix story even more, adding a very interesting spin to the mix. "Program", "Beyond", "Kid's story" and "A Detective's story" are engaging as well with different animation styles and stories I liked in various degrees. Only "World Record" is, in my opinion, not as strong as the others and I found myself not really connecting to its very unusual animation technique nor its somewhat static plot, even though it is still worth seeing. The extras are also noteworthy and I found myself captivated by the different directors and various crew members explaining how they came to craft these shorts with a lot of patience and dedication. Finally, for me the ultimate proof that this DVD is a must resides in the fact that after viewing it, I got the urge to seek out some classics in the Japanese Anime world, even though I really wasn't a big fan of it before. The Wachowsky brothers succeeded in my case to convert an anime neophyte into a fan. No small feat. Any Matrix fan has got to see this. And remember, one element which is very important in the Matrix world is to retain the freedom to make up your own mind and form your own opinion. Don't let any negative reviews keep you from seeing this. And once you've watched, write a review and put your own spin on it!
Rating:
Summary: Matrix 1.5
Review: I'll have to admit that this was a stroke of brilliant genius that would undoubtedly be a great seller. You combine many of the traditional elements that fan-boys hold dear in one package and offer something in addition: CGI, cell animation, manga, the Matrix universe as a common theme, comic-book-like stories, good writing, and most importantly a solid background on what the casual movie watcher may miss--backgrounds and origins of plotlines discussed in the Matrix and Matrix Reloaded. What awaits you and your friends are 9 well thought out and clever short anime movies. Ranging from 5-15 minutes each, the varying styles of animation here should please just about every anime palette. What I found amongst this DVD's highlighted shorts were:
1) The Second Renaissance parts 1 & 2: A great traditional cell film with an awesome backgrounds story that really lays the foundation of events that lead up to the formation of The Matrix.
2) Detective Story: A throwback to B&W film noir, the Detective Story does well in developing Trinity in Matrix lore while giving the viewer a taste of pulp movies of the 40's.
3) Final Flight of the Osiris: All CG, but a parallel story of another awakened crew running from Sentinels. The CG work here was phenomenal and really made the Matrix 'hero' universe seem bigger than just Neo and his crew.
4) Beyond: A beautifully animated story clearly grounded in Japanese tones unveils the fact that there are some people (notably children) who awaken within the matrix and discover a 'magical zone' in which their dreams come true...but the viewer will discover it is an area within the matrix that is suffering from an internal glitch. Very deep and a thinking man's short. A requisite documentary adds to the value of the DVD, but it was expected and nothing super special. Animated menu's are always nice, but I found these ones a tad busy and a little overdone. A trailer to a video game that has gotten a lack-luster reviews is not what I call a DVD bonus enhancement. In a few years we'll look back and know the game is obsolete and no longer available depending on what future console platforms are like so I don't see any value to this.
Rating:
Summary: To an artificial mind all reality is virtual.
Review: Animatrix is a welcome twist in the Matrix series. Those of us who are the true fans of Matrix world will find this series of episodes to be a creative elaboration on the concept of the Matrix universe. It could also be a device used by Warchovski's to keep our hunger to see Matrix Revolutions at bay. While some episodes are free standing, Kid's Story and Final Flight of Osiris are intimately linked to the events of the Matrix: Reloaded. Those of us who loved the Matrix have to admit; the idea of machines creating an artificial reality is a great one. Warchowski's were not the first ones to come up with the idea of dream skepticism but their execution of it makes for a fascinating concept. The idea of the Matrix is filled with mystery, danger, fear, and much of unknown and unexplored.
The use of the animation was a great idea to address some of the plot holes of the Matrix series as well as to create more entertainment for those of us who want to see Matrix without Keanu Revees. What makes Animatrix a good DVD is that it incorporates nine wholly different stories and styles of presentation. While some will dislike particular episode or episodes most of us will walk away with at least one element or a story as profoundly touching. In other words, you might not like all, but at least something here. Two episodes in the Animatrix are especially worthy of note. They are Matriculated and Program. Even though both of these episodes do not seem to appeal to general liking they are particularly profound and entertaining. Matriculated is very abstract piece and unlike some other episodes its message is not spoon feed directly to the audience. The visual imagery was stunning and memorable and was intended to make us come up with our own interpretations of what seemed bizarre. Perhaps Matriculated yields a hint at what will happen in Matrix Revolutions.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect For A Matrix Collection
Review: I'll just skip ahead to the films. 1. Final Flight Of The Osiris 10/10 STARS
A prequel to The Matrix Reloaded. Excellent CGI animation and sets up the movie well. One of the best films on the DVD, undoubtedly. FAVORITE SCENE: The sexy game of strip swordfight at the beginning. 2.The Second Renaissance Part I 10/10 STARS
While gory and violent, this movie is my personal favorite. This one is not for children. It explains the Genesis of The Matrix. Again with triumphant animation. FAVORITE SCENE: The robot mob's battle at Washington D.C. 3. The Second Renaissance Part II 10/10 STARS
This one focuses more on action. More of the same great animation and some really unique creations. FAVORITE SCENE: The robot horse riding out at the beginning of the war. 4. Kid's Story 9/10 STARS
The hand-drawn animation fits well here. This is the story of the kid in Reloaded that freed himself from the Matrix. FAVORITE SCENE: The skateboarding chase. 5. Beyond 9/10 STARS
Creepy animation. Strange story. FAVORITE SCENE: The falling contest between the two boys. 6. Program 10/10 STARS
Excellent fighting and animation. Equally good storyline. FAVORITE SCENE: The whole fighting sequence. 7. World Record 10/10 STARS
Possibly one of the best films on the DVD. Also gets an award for the Best Agent Design (ties with A Detective Story) FAVORITE SCENE: The end AKA 'Free Freeee' 8. A Detective Story 7/10 STARS
Good animation. Cheesy storyline. Good Agent Design. FAVORITE SCENE: "For what it's worth, I think you could have handled the truth." 9. Matriculated 5/10 STARS
Some good animation. Overall, Lame and disposable. FAVORITE SCENE: The robot break-in.
Rating:
Summary: the animatrix
Review: Here's my two cents on the disjointed/odd nature of the short films. I think it's best to view this collection as like a "special feature" of "deleted scenes" from the Matrix trilogy, things that fans might want to see afterwards, but aren't quite good enough for, or don't fit into, the movies. I for one like seeing deleted scenes from movies I really like, and I think this DVD is best for people who have a more active interest in the world of the Matrix.
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