Matrixulated

Somehow the Animatrix shorts with the most interesting premises have the worst outcome. Matriculated is the worst of the bunch (although it's a close call with Program), as it takes a great idea (showing the machines the beauty of mankind by plugging them in) and turns it into the worst experience of the 9.

As I said, the story begins promising and interesting, but ends with a long, long, long sequence of 'weird' images, a cross between the famous scenes from 2001 and VGA-rain (who can remember it), but not as interesting as neither of them.

Too bad as the Animatrix wasn't great to begin with. Add the fact that Revolutions as well as Reloaded were a huge disappointment... who knew it would end this way 5 years ago when we were all in awe of The Matrix... don't you hate sad endings? 3/10.

In this rather depressing Animatrix short, from Aeon Flux director Peter Chung, a group of humans living on the Earth's ravaged surface experiment with robots. The capture a 'living' sentinel and plug into the Matrix where they proceed to trick it into believing that it is human through a series of bizarre scenes and imagery.

The look of the animation is very much in the style of Aeon Flux, so fans of that show will get a kick out of it. The humans don't have much character though, which helps focus on the 'de-robotizing' theme on the captured sentinel. It's an interesting concept that I wish could have been explored a bit more with a follow-up. I guess it will have to live in ambiguity.

This short film has an interesting twist on the Matrix universe, which is that of converting a machine by putting it into its own matrix. There are a lot of surreal and pretty sights in this world. I liked the weird designs of the robots as well.

I'm stunned by the previous review. I thought the CG animations at the end were exquisite. My favorite of the 9 by far (well, 'Beyond' was also beautiful). Sophisticated, breathtaking and very trippy. And all on top really deep concepts:

Scientist: "How do they know that the real world isn't just another simulation? How do you?"

Alexa: "I know I'm not dreaming now because I know what it's like being in a dream."

Scientist: "So dreaming lets you know that reality exists."

Alexa: "No - only that my mind exists. I'm not sure about anything else."

Once again, a concept that needed more emphasis on it.

Matriculated might be one of the most interesting shorts in terms of its concept, the idea and ethics of Matrixing the machines back. Sadly, it is swallowed up by an emphasis on making trippy animation and to me that is such a shame! Having an allegorical dive into a machines head and thoughts is such a good idea and the entire ethical debate the short sets up are so interesting but just don´t have the time to explore it. This could have been the greatest short but sadly feel so short. Still enjoyable though and the potential itself raises the short above so many others.

A team of human's trap robots and try to convert them to be on the human side, by making a Matrix experience for them.

The entire idea and concept it what make this short so great. The ethical question of the Matrix is questioned so well here. The humans are split in terms of taking over the machines, should they just be hacked? Do they have feelings and free will? Should we let them choose to join the humans or just take them over? The entire "we are not them" debate is incredible here, especially with the ending in mind. The entire idea of going into the mind of a machine to make them more human is very abstract and I like that. The human experience is different from the machine and making it more focused on emotional experience really elevates the concept.

Sadly, there is not enough emphasis on the concept. It is drowned by trying to make abstract animation and even that aspect is not looking too great here in my opinion. I don´t know if I liked the blend of 2 and 3D animation and it´s sad to have such a great concept being overshadowed by a team, clearly emphasizing their focus on the animation.

I liked the underlying theme of trauma, even after learning to bond, sometimes trauma affects us in situation they shouldn't, and this make aspects like the ending work so incredibly well.

This short could have been the greatest but ends up having it´s priorities mixed up. It has so many philosophical and great concepts that are just put to the side for mediocre animation and trippy ideas. I need a remake of this.