After previously announcing that the short film FINAL FLIGHT OF THE OSIRIS, directed by Square USA, will have its theatrical premiere with the feature film DREAMCATCHER, Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures have now announced the DVD release date for THE ANIMATRIX. The nine animated episodes that make up THE ANIMATRIX (including FINAL FLIGHT OF THE OSIRIS) will be released worldwide on DVD and videocassette on June 3, 2003. In addition, four of THE ANIMATRIX shorts will be streamed for free at www.theanimatrix.com prior to the collection's DVD and video release. The four shorts that will be available for free are:
- THE SECOND RENAISSANCE - PART 1 (streaming February 4, 2003). Written by Larry and Andy Wachowski; directed by Mahiro Maeda. This epic two-part story delves into the history of the war between mankind and the Machines and the genesis of The Matrix itself.
- PROGRAM (streaming in March 2003). Written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. In the simulated world of a Samurai training program, a soldier of Zion is forced to choose between love and her comrades in the Real World.
- DETECTIVE STORY (streaming in April 2003). Written and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. Film noir meets anime in this story of a hard-boiled private eye who tracks cyber-criminal Trinity (voiced by MATRIX star Carrie-Anne Moss) through the looking glass.
- THE SECOND RENAISSANCE - PART 2 (streaming in May 2003). Written by Larry and Andy Wachowski; directed by Mahiro Maeda. The dramatic conclusion of the story behind humanity's downfall and ultimate enslavement by the Machines.
