It's officially been 20 years since The Animatrix first released as part of The Matrix franchise, but does it still hold up today? 2003 was the height of The Matrix franchise's popularity. The Matrix Reloaded had just been released in theaters in May and the conclusion to the trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, was due out that same November. While these films weren't met very well by fans, the series was undoubtedly at the height of the cultural zeitgeist that had everyone talking about it. However, to tide over fans' anticipation for the final chapter of the trilogy, a supplemental anthology film was released in June 2003 called The Animatrix.

Directors Lilly and Lana Wachowski worked with some of the biggest animators in the anime industry including Mahiro Maeda and Yoshiaki Kawajiri to bring The Animatrix to life. Some of the directors' most notable works have included Studio Ghibli projects and Neon Genesis: Evangelion. Even Cowboy Bebop's very own Shinichirō hopped on board to tell his own story within the Matrix universe. The result was a franchise appendix that was acclaimed by fans and critics alike, expanded the dystopian world, and answered some of the biggest questions including how the Matrix's machines rose to dominate the planet. Now, 20 years have ed, and the question remains if the anthology still holds up long after the hype for The Matrix has gone down. Surprisingly, it has after all these years.

The Varying Animation Styles Make The Animatrix A Unique Anthology

What makes The Animatrix work so well is its varying animation style accompanied by its unique takes on the universe the Wachowskis created. Each short film has a different visual style that makes them stick out and tell their tale in different ways. For example, "Program" tells a story of a test for a new recruit in the resistance through the lens of a samurai action anime similar to series like Samurai Champloo. Then, the following story called "World Record" goes for a more exaggerated and dark style as it shows a man literally breaking through the Matrix as he runs faster than the simulation can keep up. Every short's animation is fluid and different enough to make them stand out on their own and not blend together. This ultimately makes every story memorable with a way to have audiences recant their favorites.

Each Story Ties Perfectly to the World of The Matrix

What also works best about The Animatrix is how each narrative is handled. None of the stories here feel like they were original ideas that worked the Matrix in at the last second. Each one has its own special way of exploring this universe's lore while executing them in different genres. One of the best examples of this is in "A Detective's Story," which is told through the lens of a gritty crime noir akin to Watanabe's best Cowboy Bebop episodes. The way it handles its narrative pulls the audience in from the opening minutes even though they know the truth about Trinity. Seeing this detective realize the truth in his own way makes for a great story that shows everyone sees through the simulation in different ways. This is just one of nine examples throughout this film, and each builds upon the other to craft a compelling experience through the eyes of people other than Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus.

This film may be old, but it has stood the test of time because of its clever visuals and expert narratives. In fact, looking back at it now after knowing what comes in the franchise's sequels, The Animatrix has become the best film in the franchise, outside the 1999 classic. The Animatrix is well worth a revisit all these years later and a must-see for fans of The Matrix that long for another entry that continues to hold up today.