The first part of The Animatrix hits the big screen.

What is The Matrix? The answer is out there and it’s looking for you. Love it or loathe it, it'll be inescapable for the rest of 2003. Thanks to an array of product almost as complex as the Wachowski brothers’ masterwork itself. And it all starts with The Animatrix, nine specially-commissioned anime shorts that explore Matrix World.

Three of the films are already online at The Animatrix website (with a further episode showing in May), while The Final Flight Of The Osiris is being released in cinemas, along with Dreamcatcher, on 25 April. All nine of the films will then be released on DVD on 03 June. See, I told you it was complicated.

The computer-generated Final Flight…, written by the multi-tasking Wachowskis, cunningly sets the scene for the two feature sequels, The Matrix Reloaded (out 23 May) and The Matrix Revolutions (out 07 November) - under attack from the Machine Army, rebel warriors aboard the Osiris are desperately trying to send a message to the last human city on earth. A nice little prelude then. However, you don’t get off that lightly.

Although the brothers insist that the Animatrix short will add to your “movie-going experience”, they also claim that it will be “immeasurably enhanced” if you also play the video game Enter The Matrix (out 15 May). Thus, “gaining a deeper understanding of the world of The Matrix”. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Jonathan Carter 17 April 03

The Final Flight Of The Osiris will be shown with Dreamcatcher on national release, 25 April 03.