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While many action films fade into obscurity, the Wachowskis’ groundbreaking 1999 film, “The Matrix,” remains a lasting icon of sci-fi action cinema. As the standout installment of its trilogy, the movie burst onto the scene at the turn of the millennium with a freshness that almost seemed to elevate it beyond traditional live-action storytelling.
Warner Bros.
The film’s enduring impact can be traced back to its roots in classic anime. “The Matrix” drew significant inspiration from three iconic anime films: Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk epic “Akira” (1988), Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s supernatural Edo-era tale “Ninja Scroll,” and Mamoru Oshii’s futuristic vision “Ghost in the Shell” (1995), which is based on Masamune Shirow’s manga.
In a chatroom interview hosted on the Warner Brothers site (sourced from Matrixfans), the Wachowskis discussed the profound impact these anime had on their work, particularly highlighting how they incorporated the anime technique of juxtaposing time and space within action sequences into “The Matrix.”
The filmmakers didn’t just talk about their influences; they actively incorporated them into their projects. The Wachowskis invited Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the writer-director of “Ninja Scroll,” to contribute to “The Animatrix,” a 2003 animated anthology that expands on the universe of “The Matrix.”
Kawajiri crafted “Program,” a segment set in a feudal Japan simulation, where a woman named Cis (voiced by Hedy Burress in English and Kaho Kôda in Japanese) faces off against a mysterious samurai named Duo (Phil LaMarr, Toshiyuki Morikawa). The segment reveals that the scenario is more complex than it appears. Kawajiri also wrote “World Record,” which depicts an Olympic runner (Victor Williams, Hiroki Tōchi) who momentarily breaks free from the Matrix through sheer determination.
The creator of Ninja Scroll later worked with the Wachowskis on The Animatrix
Warner Home Video
During an interview (sourced from Matrixfans), Kawajiri expressed his admiration for “The Matrix” and recounted his experience working on “The Animatrix.” He noted, “It’s a fantastic project. I was particularly drawn to it because, apart from staying within the Matrix universe, I had complete creative freedom. The short format, being only six to ten minutes long, made it an exciting challenge.”
Kawajiri wrote and directed “Program,” a segment that focuses on a feudal Japan simulation where a woman named Cis (Hedy Burress in English, Kaho Kôda in Japanese) encounters a mysterious samurai figure called Duo (Phil LaMarr, Toshiyuki Morikawa), only to find that the situation is far more complicated than she assumed. What’s more, Kawajiri also wrote the segment “World Record,” about a dedicated Olympic runner (Victor Williams, Hiroki Tōchi) who temporarily frees himself from the Matrix through sheer willpower.
In an interview (via Matrixfans), Kawajiri stated that he also appreciates “The Matrix,” and shared his experience working on “The Animatrix.” “It’s a great project,” he said. “It was very attractive to me because the only limitation was that I had to play within the world of the Matrix; other than that I’ve been able to work with complete freedom. And since it’s a fairly short schedule and a short film — six to ten minutes — it’s been great.”
