Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures Present ``The Animatrix,'' a Groundbreaking Collection of Nine Short Films From the Creators of ''The Matrix'' Trilogy.

Entertainment Editors

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2003

Featuring Techno Soundtrack Including Juno Reactor, Death in Vegas,

Meat Beat Manifesto & More; Music Supervised By DJ Jason Bentley;

Worldwide Release June 3 on DVD & VHS

After breaking domestic and international box-office and DVD sales records, garnering four Academy Awards(R) and setting the standard by which all futuristic action films are measured, "The Matrix" is poised to break new ground with the highly-anticipated release of Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures' "The Animatrix."

An unprecedented fusion of CG-animation and Japanese anime, "The Animatrix" is a collection of nine original short films conceived by the Wachowski Brothers, the creators of "The Matrix" trilogy. Inspired by the visionary action and innovative storytelling that power the trilogy, this spectacularly visual short film series delves deeper into the mind-bending world of "The Matrix" and the characters who inhabit it. Created in the anime style pioneered by Japanese animation artists and helmed by world-renowned anime directors, "The Animatrix" also features the voices of actors Keanu Reeves (Neo) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity) in two of the shorts.

One complete episode from "The Animatrix," "The Final Flight of the Osiris," will accompany the worldwide release of the supernatural thriller "Dreamcatcher" when it debuts in theaters on March 21. Written by Larry and Andy Wachowski, this nine-minute computer-generated short serves as an explosive prelude to "The Matrix Reloaded."

"The Animatrix" debuts worldwide on DVD and videocassette on June 3, between the release of the next two films in "The Matrix" trilogy - "The Matrix Reloaded," which opens theatrically on May 15, followed by "The Matrix Revolutions," which debuts in theaters in November. "The Animatrix" will be available on DVD for $24.98 SRP/$19.95 MAP and on VHS for $19.98 SRP/$13.95 MAP from Warner Home Video (WHV).

"The Animatrix" features an eclectic techno soundtrack supervised by renowned DJ/producer/remixer Jason Bentley with some of today's hottest electronica artists such as Juno Reactor, Death in Vegas, Meat Beat Manifesto and others. The original score for the project is provided by Don Davis, who crafted the music for all three films in "The Matrix" trilogy.

"The Animatrix" features short films directed by some of the world's premier anime filmmakers, including:

-- Yoshiaki Kawajiri (writer/director of the anime classics "Ninja Scroll" and "Vampire Hunter D")

-- Shinchiro Watanabe (writer/director of the anime feature "Cowboy Bebop")

-- Koji Morimoto (animation supervisor of the seminal anime film "Akira")

-- Mahiro Maeda (director of the sci-fi anime series "Blue Submarine No. 6")

-- Takeshi Koike (lead animator on several of director Yoshiaki Kawajiri's films including "Wicked City")

-- Peter Chung (creator and director of the popular MTV series "Aeon Flux")

-- Andy Jones (animation director for the stunning CG film "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within")

This "ultimate dream team" of anime collaborators provides "The Animatrix" with the creative power to take viewers on a cerebral journey of cutting-edge animation, mind-blowing visuals and pulse-pounding music.

To generate early awareness for the release, fans will be able to view several complete episodes before street date as well as learn more about "The Animatrix" by visiting www.theanimatrix.com.

"The Animatrix" DVD Features

"The Animatrix" DVD is highlighted by the following special features:

-- Scrolls to Screen - The History and Culture of Anime

-- Seven "making-of" featurettes including director profiles

featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at each film

-- Four audio commentaries (featured on the films "The Second

Renaissance Pt. 1 & 2," "Program" and "World Record") - all

with Japanese audio and English subtitles

-- Enter the Matrix Game Trailer - exclusive look into the

creation of the "Enter The Matrix" video game, featuring

interviews from some of the film's stars including Jada

Pinkett and Carrie-Anne Moss

BASICS
DVD SRP $24.98/$19.95 MAP
VHS SRP $19.98/$13.95 MAP
Street Date: June 3, 2003
Languages: ENG (5.1), JAP (5.1)
Subtitles: ENG, FR, SPAN
Program Running Time: Approx 90 mins.
DVD Running Time: Approx 180 mins.
Rating: Not Rated
Dolby/Digital (CC)

With operations in 78 international territories -- more than the video division of any other studio -- Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Company, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

Note: Photo material can be downloaded at www.whvdirect.com