Before the release ofPredator’s first animated anthology film, consider watching a similar picture from another beloved action franchise. During its heyday, an anime spinoff ofThe Matrix, titledThe Animatrix, was released, telling stories in the same universe as the live-action films.
ThePredatorseries has the potential to do something similar,as the saga is expanding into the world of animation with the release ofPredator: Killer of Killerslater this year.Preydirector Dan Trachtenberg is returning to helm the filmalongside another live-actionPredatorfilm this fall, titledBadlands. A shift to anthology storytelling and animation similar toThe Animatrixcould yield unique storytelling and fan-favorite results for the franchise.
The Animatrix Is An Anthology Movie Featuring Standalone Matrix Stories
The Anime Film Uniquely Expanded Upon The Universe Of The Live-Action Movies
The Animatrixis an anthology movie in more ways than one. Not only does it tell tales separate from the live-actionMatrixtimeline, but the anime film is also comprised of nine different short stories presented as one feature. Written by the Wachowski sisters, who broughtThe Matrixuniverse,one of the best dystopian movie series of its era, to life,The Animatrixwas released on home video betweenThe Matrix ReloadedandThe Matrix Revolutionsin 2003, receiving positive reviews from both critics and audiences.
The anime anthology expanded the lore established in the live-actionMatrixfilms, including a creation story for the villainous machines and their apocalyptic rise to power, as seen inThe Second Renaissance, Part 1andPart 2. Other shorts includeKid’s Story, the only one featuring Keanu Reeves as Neo, set between the second and third films. Additional highlights involve a detective named Ash, voiced by James Arnold Taylor inA Detective’s StoryandWorld Record, showcasing a sports story inThe Matrix.
Killer Of Killers Can Be To Predator What The Animatrix Was To The Matrix
Expanding Into Animation Opens Up A World Of Possibilities For The Predator Franchise
Predator: Killer of Killers, which looks great, begins streaming on Hulu this June. It has the potential to do for thePredatorfranchise whatThe Animatrixdid forThe Matrixsaga. The conceit ofKillers of Killersis already similar, an animated anthology checking in on Predators terrorizing different warriors throughout specific points in human history. These combatants includea Viking protecting her son, a ninja in feudal Japan, and a pilot during World War II.
The sandbox of animation combined with the broad scope of anthological storytelling opens up an entire universe of possibilities for thePredatorfranchise moving forward.
Killer of Killersalso has the chance to bring back characters from live-action films, just asThe Animatrixdid with the likes of Neo and Trinity.Arnold Schwarzenegger could return as Dutch in the newPredatorseries, 38 years since his last appearance, reprising the character in a voiceover part. The sandbox of animation combined with the broad scope of anthological storytelling opens up an entire universe of possibilities for thePredatorfranchise moving forward.
