This is a history of the world before the Matrix was created. The Second Renaissance is the most powerful 20 minute animated story I have ever seen. The powerful imagery shocked, horrified, and forever changed me after my initial viewing. Images like the robotic horse rider storming across the nuclear battlefield or the televised execution of robot protesters show us a future that is terrible to behold. Second Renaissance brings about a new emotion towards the machines, sympathy. In the first Matrix movie, our only view of the machine’s personality is through Agent Smith. His short efficient speeches don’t invoke much sympathy for the robotic plight. Second Renaissance shows us that we were the ones who screwed up and we paid for it with our souls.

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