The Animatrix in order The Animatrix Marathon
Page Last Modified:
27 December 2025
Most Recent Release:
Kid's Story - 2003
Total Runtime:
98 Minutes
Total Items:
9
Average User Score:
(7)The Animatrix in order
Ready to dive deep into the world of The Matrix? Then you've got to check out The Animatrix. This cyberpunk anthology from Warner Bros. Animation and the Wachowskis will blow your mind with its deep dive into the Matrix lore. But there's always that one question: in what order should you watch it? The answer is chronological. And yes, it makes a big difference. The Animatrix is a set of nine short animated films, each with its own style, pace, and philosophical twist. Studio 4°C, Madhouse, and even Square USA (known for Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within) all had a hand in it, and the result is a wild mix of bullet-time anime, dystopian virtual reality, and hardcore lore about the AI uprising, the machine war, and the origin of Zion. Watching them in release order is like doing a brain hack without a manual. In terms of chronology? Everything falls into place.Grab your popcorn, silence your phone, and get ready for a movie night full of rogue programs, Red Pill awakenings, and a few familiar faces. Yeah, Neo and Trinity make cameo appearances, with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss providing the voices. Here's your chance to watch all of The Animatrix in order.
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1
The Second Renaissance Part I Movie 9 min. 2003Tells the early history of how conflict began between the humans and machines. Part 1 of 2.USER SCORE 7 -
2
The Second Renaissance Part II Movie 9 min. 2003The battle for Earth turns against the humans, despite their infamous desperate act of blackening the skies.USER SCORE 7 -
3
Final Flight of the Osiris Movie 9 min. 2003Immediately before the events of The Matrix Reloaded, the crew of the hovercraft Osiris discovers a quarter of a million sentinels drilling through the surface of the earth towards the last human city of Zion. But can the Osiris survive long enough to warn Zion?USER SCORE 7 -
4
A Detective Story Movie 10 min. 2003A private detective is hired to find the elusive computer hacker "Trinity." Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts in the Matrix universe.USER SCORE 7 -
5
Kid's Story Movie 15 min. 2003A high school student is haunted by thoughts of "The Matrix" and a person named "Neo".USER SCORE 7 -
6
Program Movie 7 min. 2003Cis and Duo discuss leaving the real world while during a samurai sword fight. Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts set in the Matrix universe.USER SCORE 7 -
7
World Record Movie 10 min. 2003A record-breaking competitive runner begins to stretch the limits of the Matrix. Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts set in the Matrix universe.USER SCORE 7 -
8
Beyond Movie 13 min. 2003While looking for her cat, a young woman and some kids find an abandoned building where strange things happen and the rules of physics don't always apply. Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts set in the Matrix universe.USER SCORE 7 -
9
Matriculated Movie 16 min. 2003The human resistance works to convert a sentinel to their side. Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts set in the Matrix universe.USER SCORE 7
The Second Renaissance, Part I
We're kicking things off with the origin story of the whole Matrix universe. This episode is basically the holy grail of the machine uprising. You'll see how AI came to be, from a human point of view, before everything went wrong. Picture robots taking over jobs, having to deal with ethical problems, and a society slowly turning into a cyber dystopia. The style is raw and documentary-like, with an anime edge that sets the tone right away: this is not light content, but it's super compelling.
The Second Renaissance Part II
The second half of this two-parter dives even deeper into the history of the machine war. In this case, you see how tensions between humans and machines escalate into a full-on war. The visuals are intense, the philosophy is dark, and the animation feels like a nightmare of neon and steel. This episode gives you the lowdown on everything you've ever seen in The Matrix trilogy. So, where did Machine City come from? Check. Why Zion is underground? Double-check. If you're a fan, you won't want to miss this.
Final Flight of the Osiris
This episode is the direct prequel to The Matrix Reloaded, and it's a doozy. The CGI from Square USA is impressive, especially for its time, and the action grabs you right away. As a team of rebels trains in the construct simulation, they stumble upon something that could determine the future of Zion. What follows is a race against time with a vibe of sexy danger and impending doom. The link to Reloaded makes this a key part of the Matrix timeline.
A Detective Story
Have you ever thought about what The Matrix would be like as a detective noir film? This episode's got the answers you're looking for. The style is black and white, grainy, and full of atmosphere. You follow a private detective searching for a mysterious hacker named Trinity—yes, it's Carrie-Anne Moss herself. It happens before Neo meets her in the original film, and it's full of hints about the Red Pill and the illusion of the Blue Pill world. Matrix meets film noir, what's not to love?
The Kid's Story
A familiar face? Yeah, the kid who shows up after Neo in Reloaded and Revolutions finally gets his own origin story here. And it's different than you might expect. The episode features a high school student who starts to question what's real. His Red Pill awakening is wild, chaotic, and super personal. This story hits home because it shows that you don't have to be the chosen one to wake up. That makes it one of the most human stories in this whole cyberpunk universe.
Program
Sword fighting in a virtual construct, with a twist. This episode feels like a samurai anime meets Matrix simulation theory. Two rebels are training in a Japanese simulation environment, but the session takes an unexpected turn. The program makes you think about loyalty, free will, and whether it's better to choose the truth even if it's uncomfortable. The animation style is sleek, the action choreography is top-notch, and the philosophy is 100% Matrix.
World Record
This episode is a visual rush. You follow an athlete who, through sheer physical strength and willpower, pushes the boundaries of the simulation. It's a great example of how people can push through when they're up against digital limits. The animation is expressive, with over-the-top movements that'll make you jump out of your seat. There's a story here about freedom, limitation, and what happens when you break the rules of a simulated reality.
Beyond
Welcome to glitch territory. This episode takes place in a "haunted house" where the Matrix becomes corrupted. Imagine a world where gravity doesn't work, things disappear, and time seems to stand still. A group of kids stumbles upon it by chance, and what ensues is an intriguing, almost playful journey as they explore the consequences of a simulation glitch. Beyond is visually stunning, but it's also kind of melancholic. Everything beautiful in the Matrix eventually gets cleaned up.
Matriculated
We end with a story about empathy and choice. A group of people is trying not to destroy a machine but to program it with human values, hoping it will voluntarily choose their side. The episode is psychedelic, with a trip-like style that feels more like a dream than a story. Matriculated might be the most important question of all: Can we coexist with AI, or are we doomed to war?
Ready for your marathon?
Now that you have the perfect order for The Animatrix, it's time to plan your evening. If you put it on shuffle, you'll miss the buildup. If you watch them in order, you'll see a story that goes from the rise of AI to the human struggle against the sentinels. Hey, you can combine this marathon with the original trilogy or see how it fits within our complete Matrix viewing orders.
So, snacks? Check. Dim lighting? Check. Is it an existential crisis in 9 parts? Check.