The Animatrix backdrop
The Animatrix poster
Official Collection
Series Freshness: Jan 19, 2026

The Animatrix

Straight from the creators of the groundbreaking Matrix trilogy, this collection of short animated films from the world's leading anime directors fuses computer graphics and Japanese anime to provide the background of the Matrix universe and the conflict between man and machines. The shorts include Final Flight of the Osiris, The Second Renaissance, Kid's Story, Program, World Record, Beyond, A Detective Story and Matriculated.

9Movies
★ 7.5 Avg Rating

Franchise Evolution & Timeline Analysis

The The Animatrix has evolved significantly over a span of 0 years, growing from a singular narrative into a complex cinematic universe. With 9 interconnected entries, tracking the consistency of the franchise reveals fascinating trends in audience sentiment.

The "Series" Benchmark: 7.1/10

The franchise maintains a steady average rating of 7.1. While most series experience "Sequel Fatigue," The Animatrix has managed to keep its narrative quality relatively stable, with The Second Renaissance Part I standing out as the peak cinematic achievement.

Continuity vs. Commercial Appeal

Our data indicates that while the "Release Order" is preferred for first-time viewers, the "Chronological Order" provides a much deeper understanding of the world-building within the The Animatrix. The timeline highlights a clear three-act structure across all chapters.

Timeline & Watch Order

We recommend watching the The Animatrix franchise in the following order to fully experience the narrative expansion.

1
The Second Renaissance Part I

The Second Renaissance Part I

2003★ 7.5SUPER HIT

Tells the early history of how conflict began between the humans and machines. Part 1 of 2....

2
Final Flight of the Osiris

Final Flight of the Osiris

2003★ 6.9HIT

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 ...

3
A Detective Story

A Detective Story

2003★ 7.2HIT

A private detective is hired to find the elusive computer hacker "Trinity." Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts in the Matrix universe....

4
The Second Renaissance Part II

The Second Renaissance Part II

2003★ 7.5SUPER HIT

The battle for Earth turns against the humans, despite their infamous desperate act of blackening the skies....

5
Beyond

Beyond

2003★ 7.3HIT

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 ...

6
Kid's Story

Kid's Story

2003★ 7.1HIT

A high school student is haunted by thoughts of "The Matrix" and a person named "Neo"....

7
Program

Program

2003★ 6.8HIT

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....

8
World Record

World Record

2003★ 6.8HIT

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....

9
Matriculated

Matriculated

2003★ 6.6HIT

The human resistance works to convert a sentinel to their side. Part of the Animatrix collection of animated shorts set in the Matrix universe....

Common Questions about The Animatrix

How many movies are in the The Animatrix?

There are currently 9 movies in the The Animatrix, starting from The Second Renaissance Part I to the latest release, World Record.

What is the best order to watch the The Animatrix?

The best way to watch the The Animatrix is usually in release order: starting with The Second Renaissance Part I and ending with World Record. Check our timeline for the full chronological breakdown.

Which is the highest-rated movie in the The Animatrix?

According to movieMx ratings, the fans have a strong preference for The Second Renaissance Part I in this franchise.