The influence of anime on The Matrix, the sci-fi classic directed by the Wachowski sisters in 1999, is undeniable and has been the subject of analysis for more than two decades. The directors recommended that the protagonist, Keanu Reeves, watch two essential works: Akira and Ghost in the Shell, whose aesthetics and themes intertwine with the journey of the main character, Neo. Two anime classics that you should watch if you haven’t seen Akira, released in 1988 and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, is essential in the development of the universe of The Matrix. The film, which presents a dystopian Neo-Tokyo […]
The influence of anime on The Matrix, the classic science fiction film directed by the Wachowski sisters in 1999, is undeniable and has been the subject of analysis for over two decades. The directors recommended that the protagonist, Keanu Reeves, watch two essential works: Akira and Ghost in the Shell, whose aesthetics and themes intertwine with the journey of the main character, Neo.
Two anime classics you should watch if you haven’t seen them
Akira, released in 1988 and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, is essential in the development of the universe of The Matrix. The film, which presents a dystopian Neo-Tokyo and explores power and destiny through the story of Kaneda and Tetsuo, resonates strongly with Neo’s transformation, as he discovers hidden abilities while dealing with a system that manipulates his reality.
In turn, Ghost in the Shell, released in 1995, addresses themes of identity and the fusion of the natural with the artificial. The character of Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg in search of her true self, reflects Neo’s concerns about humanity and digitalization in a world where the lines blur. Both animes not only served as visual inspiration but also raised philosophical questions that are central to The Matrix.
The iconic “bullet time” effect, which slows down time while the camera moves at normal speed, is another direct legacy of the visual aesthetic of these animes. Thanks to Reeves’ understanding of these influences, he was able to effectively project his character’s emotions in the face of the challenges he faces within the Matrix simulation.
The impact of The Matrix not only cemented Keanu Reeves’ career in the science fiction genre but also opened the doors for the recognition of anime among Western audiences. Currently, the films of the The Matrix saga are available on platforms like Prime Video, Movistar+, and Max.
The wait for fans of The Matrix came to an end with the release of The Matrix Resurrections, where Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprise their iconic roles as Neo and Trinity. Expectations were high, partly due to the return of these central figures, but the absence of Laurence Fishburne, who played Morpheus in the original trilogy, has raised questions. Although Fishburne expressed his desire to return to the character, he was not invited to participate, leaving Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the new version of Morpheus in the film. An online video game that is canon […]
The wait for The Matrix fans came to an end with the release of The Matrix Resurrections, where Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprise their iconic roles as Neo and Trinity. The expectations were high, partly due to the return of these central figures, but the absence of Laurence Fishburne, who played Morpheus in the original trilogy, has raised questions. Although Fishburne expressed his desire to return to the character, he was not invited to participate, leaving Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the new version of Morpheus in the film.
An online video game that is canon within the franchise
The background of this decision may be linked to the events of The Matrix Online, an MMORPG in which the character of Morpheus was killed. This event has sparked a debate about its canonicity within the universe of The Matrix, and it could be part of the reason why the creators chose not to include Fishburne in the new installment. However, in The Matrix Resurrections, the new Morpheus is presented as a digital recreation, with no further explanation about the absence of the original.
Likewise, Fishburne offered a measured critique of the film, stating that “it’s not as bad as I thought, but it’s not as good as I hoped”. This assessment reflects the mixed reception the film has had among critics and fans, who were hoping for an experience that would revive the magic of the original trilogy.
Meanwhile, the saga continues with the development of The Matrix 5, a project that is progressing without the direct involvement of the Wachowski Sisters and with Drew Goddard as the main creative. This new approach could signify a significant change in the direction of the franchise, opening the door to new narratives that explore the universe of The Matrix in unexpected ways.
Discover what you never knew about this action movie classic.
So… will you take the red pill or the blue pill? “The Matrix” remains one of the most iconic and influential sci-fi films of all time. Keanu Reeves stars as underground hacker Neo, who gets sucked into a war between humans and machines fought within a massive computer simulation. The film won multiple Academy Awards, and continues to have a huge influence on pop culture even 20 years later. Here are a few easter eggs and facts about the first movie… just don’t tell the Agents we told you.
10 mind-blowing facts about The Matrix
1. Anime had a huge influence on the film
Image courtesy Kodansha
The Wachowskis, the visionary siblings behind “The Matrix,” drew their inspirations from a variety of sources, including anime. In particular, they cite “Ghost in the Shell” and “Akira” as major influences on the overall tone and the stylized fight sequences of the movie. Reportedly, they even specifically told producers that they wanted the film to feel like live-action anime.
2. Will Smith turned down the role of Neo
Image courtesy Warner Bros.
Before eventually going to Keanu Reeves, the role of Neo was offered to a number of Hollywood giants. In particular, Will Smith was heavily considered for the role, but turned it down in favor of “Wild Wild West.” The role was also offered to Nicolas Cage, and The Wachowskis themselves have stated that a young Johnny Depp was their top choice for the part.
3. The movie includes many Alice in Wonderland references
Image courtesy Warner Bros
Though they may appear unrelated at first, “Alice in Wonderland” had a huge thematic influence on The Matrix. Both deal with unsuspecting, normal people who get dragged into a mind-bending alternate world that they never realized existed. Follow the white rabbit, Neo.
4. It was the first DVD ever to sell over 1 million copies
Image courtesy Warner Bros.
Though the day of the DVD has come and gone, “The Matrix” came onto the scene right as DVDs were beginning to eclipse VHS tapes. It was the first DVD in the United States to sell over a million copies, and went even further to become the first to break the 3 million mark. At last count, the total tally stands at over 30 million DVD copies sold.
5. A lot of the dojo fight scenes were real
Image courtesy Warner Bros.
The scenes where Neo and Morpheus train together in the dojo feature some tightly crafted fight sequences. The crazy thing is, those aren’t stunt doubles. Much of the time, to preserve the authenticity, the actors did their own stunts. They weren’t pulling punches, either: all that kung-fu is real, and oftentimes the fight scenes would end with actual bruises and injuries.
6. The Agent’s costumes were inspired by the Secret Service
Image courtesy Warner Bros.
Costumes play a big role in “The Matrix.” From custom sunglasses to bespoke ties and skin-tight catsuits, every costume works together to create a distinct visual style. In the case of the infamous Agents, the costume designer wanted a practical, undercover look that would set them apart from the more stylishly adorned hackers. For this look, real-life Secret Service agents served as inspiration, particularly as they were portrayed in the film “JFK.”
The shining emerald green lines of the Matrix’s computer code are made up of rapidly changing, stylized characters. At first glance, this appears to be an entirely fictional language, but it actually isn’t. The Matrix code was created by blending together Japanese half-width kana and Latin characters. Coder Simon Whitely worked closely with his wife, who is Japanese, to create the iconic code. What does the code translate to? According to Whitely, it’s just a bunch of sushi recipes.
8. Keanu Reeves shaved his entire body for the pod scene
Image courtesy Warner Bros.
Early in the movie, Neo is awoken from his computer-simulated life to find out that his actual body is being held in a gel-filled feeding pod for the machines to use. For the scene, Reeves went above and beyond, going so far as to shave and wax his entire body. He also voluntarily dropped 15 pounds to give Neo a starved look; the weight loss meant this was one of the final scenes to be completed for the movie.
9. Each character has a unique fighting style
Image courtesy Warner Bros.
To create the movie’s tightly choreographed hand-to-hand fight scenes, The Wachowskis hired martial artist to Yuen Woo-Ping to train each of the primary actors. Each actor spent four months training with Yuen, where he developed a fighting style unique to each actor. To do so, he focused on a trait specific to each actor and trained around it. For Neo (Keanu Reeves), it was “diligence.” For Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), it was “resilience.” Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) was built around “precision” and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) was “grace.”
10. WB is currently working on a Matrix reboot
Image courtesy Marvel Studios
That’s right, Warner Brothers currently has a Matrix reboot in the works. First announced in 2017, exact plans are still murky, and the films don’t currently involve The Wachowskis. Zak Penn, known for his writing work on several Marvel superhero films, has been tapped for a rewrite. Who’s going to star? Michael B. Jordan, famously known as “Black Panther” antagonist Erik Killmonger.
To paraphrase the iconic words of Morpheus, it’s time to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Head over to Softonic’s Where to Watch site discover where to watch “The Matrix” online right now, and see if you can spot any other references or easter eggs we might have missed. Just remember… there is no spoon.
Keanu almost wasn’t Neo. Here’s why Will Smith turned down “The Matrix.”
One of the most interesting things a movie fan can do is play “What if?” Some of the most iconic roles in movie history almost went to other actors. Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone auditioned for Han Solo. Nicolas Cage was almost Superman. Cameron Crowe intended Tom Hanks to play Jerry Maguire. And in one jaw-dropping scenario, Will Smith was offered Neo in “The Matrix.”
For the first time, Smith is now sharing the story of why he turned down one of the most important movies of the last 20 years. Watch this video to hear Smith explain his decision.
But we got this instead:
Another shocker in Smith’s video: If he had accepted the role, Val Kilmer would have played Morpheus. So maybe everything worked out for the best.
