Dan Owen reviews

The Second Renaissance, Part 1

And so it begins. Nine animated short films from various directors, each with the aim of adding layers to the mythology of The Matrix trilogy on the eve of The Matrix Reloaded's release this Summer.

The Second Renaissance: Part 1 is a prequel to The Matrix that sheds light on exactly how humanity became enslaved by robot overlords and placed inside the virtual-reality world of 'The Matrix'. The style of the short is of traditionally drawn 2D anime, replete with cutesy robots and bug-eyed Japanese people. The short also looks to have been aided by computer graphics in some sequences (as with TV's Futurama or The Iron Giant).

As an opener, the animation is strong and the story moderately involving, but this is still quite a disappointment for those wanting a quick fix of what made The Matrix movie so appealing: visual dexterity and high-octane action. The Renaissance storyline is interesting, yet ultimately a riff on numerous science fiction movies (most notably The Terminator), mixed with elements of AI: Artificial Intelligence.

It doesn't help that the download is just Part 1 of 2, meaning a satisfying conclusion is never reached. But this is still a well-made and intriguing piece of animation that, while lacking originality and the expected visual thrills, is still an effective enough short.

Not perhaps a great choice for a premiering episode so highly anticipated by fans, but this should perhaps gain more plaudits once seen together with its conclusion episode - which should be available online very soon.