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Kid's Story is one of 9 short films in The Animatrix series that reveals more about the world of The Matrix. It was written by the Wachowski brothers and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, with animation and production design by Studio 4°C, Tokyo.
The Kid gets a personalized invitation from Neo, The One, to escape The Matrix. He is the first character in the series to achieve "self substantiation" (removing himself from the Matrix) through what seems to be a combination of faith and death. However, in both Kid's Story and The Matrix Reloaded The Kid seems to believe it was Neo's actions, not his own, that saved him. This short film has a clear Gnostic motif.
It is never mentioned what the theory behind self-substantiation is at any part of the series, but speculation at the nature of the case, in that Kid willingly let himself go, suggests that self-substantiation is achieved as a result of bridging the vital gap of the mind in its relaxed state to perceive the actual reality through either logic or faith, much as one would be aware of having a dream and recognizing its inconsistencies to the point where one would awaken. It would therefore most likely have an effect similar to what is encountered upon consuming the "Red Pill", in providing the necessary stimulation needed for removal from the Matrix in order to "wake up." This is not abnormal, as Dan in the Animatrix short, World Record, manages to achieve this without the use of a Red Pill.
Voice actors
- Clayton Watson — Michael Karl Popper (The Kid)
- Keanu Reeves — Neo
- Carrie-Anne Moss — Trinity
- John DeMita — Teacher
- Kevin Michael Richardson — Cop (as Kevin M. Richardson)
- James Arnold Taylor — Additional Voice
Music
- Opening: Who am I (Peace Orchestra)
- Chase Scene: Masters of the universe version (Juno Reactor)
Trivia
- The school in the film is based on two schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, where filming for The Matrix Reloaded took place: Alameda High School located in Alameda, California, and Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California.
- The teacher in the film is based on the former Vice Principal of Alameda High.
External links
"Kid's Story"