The Meatrix

Last updated
The Meatrix
Meatrix poster.gif
Promotional poster
Directed byLouis Fox
Written byLouis Fox
Jonah Sachs
Produced by Free Range Studios
GRACE
StarringLouis Fox
Music byLouis Fox
Production
company
Free Range Studios
Release date
  • November 3, 2003 (2003-11-03)
Running time
4 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Meatrix is a short flash animation critical of factory farming and industrial agricultural practices. It has been translated into more than 30 languages and watched by more than 30 million people. [1] A parody of The Matrix series by Warner Bros. Entertainment, it was made by the green messaging firm Free Range Studios in 2003 as a commissioned project for Grace Communications Foundation. Two sequels were released in 2006, [2] The Meatrix II: Revolting, and The Meatrix II ½.

Contents

Plot

In a dark satire of the 1999 film The Matrix , Leo, a pig on a seemingly bucolic family farm, is approached by Moopheus, an anthropomorphic bull. Moopheus shows Leo that the farm he has known is an illusion, and that he is really trapped in a horrific factory farm. Leo and Moopheus then work to break out of the Meatrix and help others do the same, with some help from a third character, Chickity. [3] The animated short aims to encourage consumers to purchase organic food products and free-range meats. [4]

Awards

The Meatrix has won a number of awards, [5] including a 2005 Webby and the Annecy 2004 Netsurfers Award for Short Films. Free Range Studios claims that over 15 million people have viewed The Meatrix, [6] [7] and it has been translated, either dubbed or subtitled, into 40 languages. [8] The Meatrix and its two sequels were included as bonus material on the DVD for the 2006 film Fast Food Nation .

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References

  1. "About The Meatrix". The Meatrix. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  2. "Media That Matters Film Festival: Films". Mediathatmattersfest.org. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  3. Fog, Klaus; Budtz, Christian; Yakaboylu, Baris (2005). Storytelling: Branding In Practice. Springer. p. 167. ISBN   978-3-540-23501-9.
  4. "Watch The Meatrix : Planet Green". Planetgreen.discovery.com. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  5. "Film Festivals and Awards". The Meatrix. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  6. "News". The Meatrix. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  7. "Ecology TV | The Meatrix". Ecology.com. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  8. "International". The Meatrix. Retrieved 2009-07-17.