The Animatrix in order
The Animatrix Marathon

View The Animatrix in order

Page Last Modified:

9 December 2025

Most Recent Release:

World Record - 2003

Total Runtime:

98 Minutes

Total Items:

9

Average User Score:

(7)

The Animatrix in order

Are you ready to dive deep into The Matrix universe? Then you can't miss The Animatrix. This cyberpunk anthology from Warner Bros Animation and the Wachowskis fills in the gaps of Matrix lore in a way that will blow your mind. But there's always that one question: in what order should you watch it? The answer is chronologically. And yes, it makes a world of difference.

The Animatrix consists of nine short animated films, each with its own style, pace, and philosophical twist. Contributions from Studio 4°C, Madhouse, and even Square USA (known for Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within) result in 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 feels like a brain hack without a manual. Chronologically? Everything falls into place.

Grab your popcorn, silence your phone, and prepare for a movie night full of rogue programs, Red Pill awakenings, and a few familiar faces. Yes, Neo and Trinity make appearances with the voices of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. Here begins your perfect marathon of The Animatrix in order.

98 Minutes 9 Movies
  1. The Second Renaissance Part I Backdrop 1
    The Second Renaissance Part I Movie 9 min. 2003
    Tells the early history of how conflict began between the humans and machines. Part 1 of 2.
    USER SCORE 7
  2. Final Flight of the Osiris Backdrop 2
    Final Flight of the Osiris Movie 9 min. 2003
    Immediately 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
  3. A Detective Story Backdrop 3
    A Detective Story Movie 10 min. 2003
    A 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
  4. The Second Renaissance Part II Backdrop 4
    The Second Renaissance Part II Movie 9 min. 2003
    The battle for Earth turns against the humans, despite their infamous desperate act of blackening the skies.
    USER SCORE 7
  5. World Record Backdrop 5
    World Record Movie 10 min. 2003
    A 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
  6. Program Backdrop 6
    Program Movie 7 min. 2003
    Cis 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. Matriculated Backdrop 7
    Matriculated Movie 16 min. 2003
    The 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
  8. Kid's Story Backdrop 8
    Kid's Story Movie 15 min. 2003
    A high school student is haunted by thoughts of "The Matrix" and a person named "Neo".
    USER SCORE 7
  9. Beyond Backdrop 9
    Beyond Movie 13 min. 2003
    While 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

The Second Renaissance Part I

We begin with the origin story of the entire Matrix universe. This episode is essentially the bible of the machine uprising. You'll witness the rise of AI from a human perspective, before everything went wrong. Think robot labor, moral dilemmas, and society's slow slide into a cyber dystopia. The style is raw and documentary-like, with an anime edge that sets the tone immediately: this is not light content, but it's incredibly compelling.

The Second Renaissance Part II

The second half of this two-parter delves even deeper into the history of the machine war. Here, you see how tensions between humans and machines escalate into a full-blown war. The visuals are intense, the philosophy dark, and the animation feels like a nightmare of neon and steel. This episode provides context for everything you've ever seen in The Matrix trilogy. The origin of Machine City? Check. Why Zion is underground? Double-check. This is required viewing for every fan.

Final Flight of the Osiris

This episode is the direct prequel to The Matrix Reloaded, and yes, it packs a punch. 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 connection to Reloaded makes this an essential link in the Matrix timeline.

A Detective Story

Ever wondered what The Matrix would be like as a noir detective film? This episode is your answer. The style is black and white, grainy, and full of atmosphere. You follow a private detective searching for a mysterious hacker named Trinity, yes, Carrie-Anne Moss herself. It takes place before Neo meets her in the original film and is filled with hints about the Red Pill and the illusion of the Blue Pill world. Matrix mythology meets film noir what's not to love?

The Kid's Story

A familiar face? Yes, the Kid who follows Neo in Reloaded and Revolutions gets his own origin story here. And it's different than you might expect. The episode shows a high school student who begins to doubt reality. His Red Pill awakening is freaky, chaotic, and intensely personal. This story resonates because it shows that you don't have to be the chosen One to wake up. And that makes it one of the most human stories in this entire 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 train in a Japanese simulation environment, but the session takes an unexpected turn. Program raises questions about loyalty, free will, and what it means to choose truth over a comfortable lie. The animation style is sleek, the action choreography is top-tier, 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 beautiful example of how human perseverance can clash with digital limitations. The animation is expressive, with over-the-top movements that almost blow you out of your seat. Beneath the surface is a story 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. Think gravity that doesn't work, objects disappearing, time standing still. A group of kids discovers it accidentally, and what follows is a wondrous, almost playful exploration of what happens when a piece of the simulation crashes. Beyond is visually magical but also melancholic. Because everything beautiful in the Matrix eventually gets cleaned up.

Matriculated

We conclude with a story centered around empathy and choice. A group of people tries 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 may pose 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. Put it on shuffle and you'll miss the buildup. Watch them chronologically, and you'll get a story that spans from the rise of AI to the human struggle against the sentinels. Combine this marathon with the original trilogy or see how it fits within our complete Matrix viewing orders.

So, snacks? Check. Dim lighting? Check. Existential crisis in 9 parts? Check.