Program

A story set in the Matrix world, it shows a soldier of Zion in a samurai training program (like the construct where Morpheus and Neo have a kungfu duel.) She has to choose between her loyalty to her comrades and the cause, and love for her boyfriend who wants to return to the Matrix... The backgrounds and the Japanese temples are very beautifully portrayed and the fight sequences are excellent. The overall look is like any anime action movie.

Inside a fight training program outside of the matrix, two warriors continue their games. When one reveals that he has struck a deal with the agents to return the matrix, he offers his female partner to come with him. When she refuses he has no choice but to begin a fight that only one of them will survive.

Part of the series of animations making up the Matrix companion piece `The Animatrix', I saw this as a stand alone piece recently at a festival of shorts and animations. The film gripped me immediately with it's visuals - very stylish, very manga in it's style. The plot was slick as well as being involving - the two protanginists talk until the point where it is obvious that there is only one way to resolve it. It is very enjoyable right until the epilogue that occurs outside of the training programme - that is poor and takes away from the short.

The film may have more in the way of style than substance but it does well enough to support the visuals with a basic premise that is interesting. It is flawed of course, but I have found that many of those who criticise the shorts that make up the Animatrix have not seen a great deal of short films or animations. With only a few minutes to do it's job, this short does well despite a rather bad conclusion that just spoilt it a bit for me.

This is a very good effort, one of the most enjoyable shorts that make up the Animatrix.

The story begins with a fight, indeed the entire story is a fight, between a girl and her friend or mentor, within a training programme, or perhaps it is a recreation programme, who knows? Either way, her opponent begins to display a more sinister side: He feels just like Cypher in the original Matrix, and asks her to join him in an effort to be reinserted, or die...

The animation is great, the story is thrilling and overall this is definitely a good short movie, fitting in very well in the Matrix-universe

8/10

One of my favorites, until the ending. While still highly enjoyable, Program's twist ending really takes it down a notch. Up until then it's a strong short with great action and a great moral dilemma. While I still like the twist I think it really drags down an otherwise solid action short.

2 People fight in a simulation and their confrontation escalates more and more.

I really loved the manga inspired art style here. It really creates an awesome looking short with distinct character designs and movement plus the environment looks good too. The only problem is some dated 3D effects but other than that it looks great.

The action is excellent here and full of tension. The art style also helps it a lot. Sadly the voice acting isn't the best, but it's okay

I really love the moral dilemma the short takes up. The idea of knowing the truth of the Matrix making you more sad and losing faith if the human race can even win. Is it easier to stay in the Matrix and forget about the torments of the real world? Again, interesting dilemma, more or less ruined by the twist. While it's still good, it takes the gravity away from the heart of the short.

Overall a pretty solid short. Good animation and action and a cool story until the end.

It was interesting that it was short and animated at the same time. The Matrix is a series of movies with a very interesting subject and I love it. This one wasn't bad either. I especially loved the style. It was like watching an anime. The story was weak, but visually it was very good, I think.