Animatrix, The

Publisher
Warner Bros.
Director
Koji MorimotoKoji Morimoto, Andy JonesKoji Morimoto, Andy Jones, Mahiro MaedaKoji Morimoto, Andy Jones, Mahiro Maeda, Peter ChungKoji Morimoto, Andy Jones, Mahiro Maeda, Peter Chung, Shinichiro WatanabeKoji Morimoto, Andy Jones, Mahiro Maeda, Peter Chung, Shinichiro Watanabe, Takeshi KoikeKoji Morimoto, Andy Jones, Mahiro Maeda, Peter Chung, Shinichiro Watanabe, Takeshi Koike, Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Production
Warner Bros.
Country of origin
USA, Japan
Format
OVA
Running time
9 short films
Year
2003

The Animatrix: The Final Flight of the Osiris

By Lyndonimus
26th Apr 04

The plot links directly to the Matrix: Reloaded story as the Osiris is the first ship to spot the machines digging towards Zion. As the title suggests this is the last flight the Osiris will make, and in turn we are set for a 10-minute roller-coaster ride through the real world and through the matrix. This is to be expected as the Wachowski brothers wrote it.

The Final Flight of the Osiris contained within 10 minutes everything I expected that Final Fantasy failed to achieve in over 2 hours. It has the drama, the action, the love interest and some of the best 3D animation the world has ever seen.

The scene opens up with some amazing blindfolded swordplay and it's not just the quality of motion that I was impressed by, it was the detail placed in EVERYTHING on screen. The wall scrolls flowing in the wind decorated with the ASCII code of the matrix in a faint green, the muscles on the body, ah the list is endless. This scene is utterly amazing and I can't stress anymore of how beautiful it is made. The sound effects and backing track mix flawlessly to draw the viewer into the scene, the 'shwish' of the swords, the 'whoosh' of fabric as it is sliced then slowly drapes to the floor. simply amazing. After this amazing choreography we are alerted to the real world as the Osiris is attacked by 'Squiddies' and then a fast paced chase ensues through the derelict world which ultimately ends up on the surface, where an army is being amassed by the machines drilling towards Zion. Now the race against the clock begins through the real world and the Matrix. Julie must make it to a drop point to warn Zion while the Osiris must stay operational long enough for her to get there. A dramatic will they, wont they plot.

All the while The Final Flight of the Osiris looks beautiful throughout and it's quite a shame it's only 10 minutes long, but indeed this was the plan all along and it makes you want more and more is to be found in The Matrix: Reloaded. The marketing of this is truly amazing :)
While not directly anime as such, it is compiled to be one as this is the first episode of The Animatrix. A must see, even if its just to see the quality of the work.

-- Lyndonimus 26th Apr 04

Animatrix, The Images