THE ANIMATRIX

I know, I know.. commercialization, money making machines, big studios... But this time, product is not a mass-consumption ridden recycled idea. It is simply a masterpiece. Proof? If you don't trust me, check the names of anime gods involved in this omnibus:

Shiniciro Watanabe - man behind 'Cowboy Bebop'. Enough said.
Yoshiaki Kawajiri - 'Ninja Scroll' and 'Vampire Hunter D' ring a bell?
Peter Cheung - 'Aeon Flux' and fantastic 'Reign'.
Mahiro Maeda - worked on Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Koji Marimoto - 'Akira' and 'Memories' by Otomo are in his resumé...
Andy Jones -'Final Fantasy' man.
Takeshi Koike - assisted in making 'Ninja Scroll', learned from the best.

All-Star Game...

And yes, Wachowski brothers wrote most of the stories. Not much of a credit, though. The best trip is certainly Marimoto's 'Beyond' - real 'Twilight Zone' meets 'The Matrix' type of tale. Direction - phenomenal. Slow motions (bullet dodging not included) are well placed, sounds intriguing and characters seem real. My favourite.

Talking of direction and stories, Watanabe made 'Kid's story' on Wachowski's script. Not bad, if you don't count the synopsis: cliché after cliché - confused boy, conflict between dreams and reality, secluded, alone, alienated, looking for answer...I mean, total kissing-up to teen-generation of 'The Matrix' followers. All with skateboard and Sketchers shoes. Direction and animation? Top class, as expected. Furthermore, Watanabe wrote and directed 'Detective Story' on short notice: his kind of 'noirish 60-ies' stuff, ambience and music. No one can beat him on his turf.Simple.

Interesting, the best directors were used on lamest stories... Check Kawajiri's 'Program'.

Young Maeda outdid himself on '2nd Renaissance I&II' - he was surely watching a lot of CNN and mass-executions photos. Liked this introduction to 'The Matrix' - couple of questions answered.

Peter Cheung wins the prize for creating the most beautiful women. No, he doesn't win anything for story-telling. Confusing. Poor robot. He (it) was in love... I don't blame him (it)...

Speaking of women, do you like strip sword-fighting? Something like strip poker, but with katanas and while Juno Reactor is playing in the background, not Joe Cocker. Virtual world: 'Final Flight Of The Osiris'. Why did they surface??!

I can continue like this for pages...

Buy it, rent it, copy it - but get it. Amazing work. Would have been an über-werk if it wasn't a couple of 'commercialities'.... oh well.. we live in a corporate world and robots are our slaves...

*did I mention that Koike 'stole' the recipe for elongated people from Peter Cheung?*