The Wachowskis created not only a legendary Sci-Fi-movie with Matrix, but it was also an important role for Keanu Reeves. The world full of hackers and codes fascinated the audience, but the iconic green code is not as complicated as one might think.
Why is Matrix so special? Matrix is a legendary science fiction film because it not only dealt with technical aspects like hackers and codes, but also with philosophical questions about one’s own reality and control over one’s actions.
The film’s unique style became immortalized in pop culture. Black trench coats and sunglasses became the trademarks of the film. A visual highlight is also the falling green code, which can hardly be recognized in the film.
What kind of code is this? The Matrix code is seen, like the backstory in Star Wars films, directly in the intro of the first film. It consists of green text made up of numbers, mirrored Japanese characters, and mysterious symbols. It runs vertically from top to bottom. However, behind the complicated characters hides something quite simple.
A simple sushi recipe
What kind of code is this? The code was designed by Simon Whiteley. He is a production and conceptual designer who also worked on films like The Lego Movie or The Thin Red Line. For Matrix, he was tasked with creating the iconic code. He didn’t deal with programming languages or other technical aspects, but with his Japanese wife’s cookbook.
As he revealed to CNET in 2017, the green code consists of sushi recipes. It was apparently an explicit request from the two directors that they wanted something Japanese for the code:
The Wachowskis didn’t think the design was old-fashioned and traditional enough. They wanted something that felt more Japanese, more manga. […] They asked me if I would like to work on the code, especially since my wife is Japanese and she could help me in working out the characters and give me insight into which characters were good and which were not.
Simon Whiteley on the green Matrix code (via wired.com)
Here is what the code looks like in the films:
He grabbed an unknown cookbook from his wife and hand-painted the individual characters. These characters were then digitized and combined with numbers. Originally, the characters were supposed to fly from left to right, but it was ultimately decided against.
The contrast between the mechanical code and its origin particularly pleases Whiteley: I love the idea that it’s about something so mechanical, but the actual code is extracted from something so organic and free-flowing.
Although the code comes from a cookbook, it ensured that Matrix is visually so unique. After Matrix and its sequels, the creators also attempted an anime adaptation, but it flopped in theaters: An anime adaptation by the makers of Matrix cost 120 million dollars – the film flopped but became a cult film
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