The Animatrix Gift Set (Includes CD Soundtrack)

I'm surprised to read reviews that marginalize the commentary.Why?The commentary says the Matrix and the Wachowski brothers' work is essentially inspired by the Japanese animation style. Not just in visual perspectives, but Japanese animation and other media has long had an apocalyptic thread of reference (tied to the history of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings, of course). So for a series of anime shorts to be then based on the Matrix, things come full circle.It also says some writers chose to write their interpretations purely from scratch, rather than use existing references the brothers provided. So I think it's easier to view these episodes as side stories more or less exploring the concept of the Matrix, although a few had specific references and connections to the main story. It's slightly comparable to fan fiction, but with much more structure, and full official support, although I think that's a relatively crude and incomplete analogy, now that I think of it.I mean, c'mon, those that visited [...] when the promo website FIRST started-- weren't you thinking of the conceptual possibilities of the Matrix then?I think the brothers stumbled a bit with Reloaded and Revolutions, and I seem to recall other fans were similarly disappointed. Again, as The Animatrix is not fully bound by the main story, I think that makes it a gem, and worth keeping in a collection even if you don't collect the other two movies. It's certainly not a piece that is not much more than promotional fluff (as others pointed out with other animated tie-ins to other movies). It more or less stands well on its own. You could view this before the first movie and I don't think it'd necessarily spoil things.Oh, and I'm one of those movie soundtrack nuts, so I did buy this packaged with the CD soundtrack and enjoyed it as well. I think it related much better to The Matrix movie, actually (as it did have voice samples from the movie) but then it didn't have commercial artists singing songs that weren't necessarily written with the movie in mind (which is fairly typical of studio movie soundtracks, including The Matrix).

This was the most brilliantly interpeted, scripted and thought provoking thing I have seen in a very long time. The DVD gives you background filler for what the Matrix is and the Wachowski brothers allow some of Japan's best anime artists to interpet the 9 different stories on their own. I think, just like art, each viewer will have a different type of experience. You have 9 wonderful compelling stories and the visual style is so different that it adds much value to the telling of the stories. The brothers had a vision and clearly the Matrix effected many people and, what a wonderful gift they gave by incorporating the world of anime into the telling of their vision. But not only is it visually stunning and stylish, but the music is dead on. There are all sorts of morals in the stories. From SECOND RENNAISSANCE'S man's destructive nature and his down fall, to the sort of, don't-play-with-fire nature of MATRICULATED and the playfulness and joy of BEYOND. Plus the DVD special features take us into each director of each piece explaining his "art" and how the film the Matrix effected them. We even get a little history on the orgins of anime. It was just really enjoyable to watch people who are so passionate about their craft and about the Matrix. I think you will enjoy this immensly and take something out of it yourself.

I was never a fan of the Matrix trilogy (as the Nostalgia Critic says, there are more of us). But I adore animation and watched this set of short stories on an anime streaming site, then decided to purchase it because I liked it so much. Each story is a small piece of the Matrix world and it explains it beautifully.I wish the Matrix had had more of this style of storytelling. Even if you don't always understand what is going on (Matriculated) you do feel for and understand the characters.I highly recommend this piece for all.

This DVD included 9 different anime stories which follow the theme of the original Matrix movie. Each of them is very well done, but far too short. I think the creatures of each feature could have done much better by lengthening their creations. I highly recomend this DVD.The CD was a different story. If it were not for the CD in this set, I would have given this a five star rating. If I were to do it all over again, I would have only purchased the DVD and skipped the CD.The music on the CD was original, but not very exciting. This music goes quite well in the movies themselves. But not on a stand alone basis. Save the extra money and forget the CD.

Similar to someone else...I wanted to give this a 3 1/2 but that's not possible. People complain about the animation and gore and take the Christian relgious stuff way too seriously and can't handle "depressing and disturbing stories"...whatever...the Bros wanted to give you back info. The Matrix is a vast world and it's not all about Trinity and Morpheous and Neo and those guys. This is part of the rest of the world...and you can check their online comic books too. I found The Final Flight of the Osiris to be my favorite...partially b/c I love the photo-realistic computer animation, but also b/c it's connected to the game and Reloaded and it's so...bittersweet (the end). I also loved Detective Story...at the end of the film I kept thinking "wow, would've been so cool if he could've been freed". Soo...why the low rating? Simply because the films are so short...and I know that's the way they were intended (plus a few are boring)...but I would start getting into one of the films and then it'd be over. I'd want something longer b/c I liked that film so much I wanted to know more...but no luck.

i love the matrix (and i do like the two sequels, but this is far better than reloaded or revolutions)i don't watch much anime but i found the differing animation styles throughout very good and appropriate to what that episode was about (i.e. the sexy one at the beginning is more realistic, the trippy ones are in a really bright carttony style).my boyfriend watched this with me and he is a massive anime fan and he absolutely loved it. we agreed that many of the stories were really interesting, however prepare to be chilled by the history ones about the war better us and the machines :s

Thanks.

I have given this product a 3 star rating mainly because the CD was not a good as I was expecting it to be. I like 'Drum and Bass' and thought it would be a lot better than it is but, each to there own! The DVD is a good extra to the 'Matrix' Trilogy and is a good purchase in order to complete your collection. Thank you.

This is only the dvd no audio cd

No probs