Before reading through ‘Searching for the Origami Unicorn’ my knowledge regarding the Matrix trilogy’s significant transmedia presence was very limited.
I’ve seen the films, and I think I borrowed an Animatrix DVD from a Blockbuster (back in the day), but I had no idea that the Wachowski brothers had created such a detailed and expansive transmedia universe.
What I find most impressive is the extreme precision that must have been required to create such dynamic links between the films and their accompanying materials. The fact that the Wachowskis supervised the creation of essentially all the official Matrix products is what I believe allowed their transmedia universe to flow so well. This deep involvement with the Matrix world allowed them to be more coordinated (and therefore more playful) in their creation of additional stories and material.
I find it amazing that there are cheat-codes for The Matrix video games hidden within the films and that so much effort was put into the creation and implementation of the narrative links that are littered throughout the Matrix universe. The overall consistency of the entire Matrix narrative is something that’s actually quite ridiculous to think about.
The reading asserts that the Wachowskis created a “play-ground where other artists could experiment and fans could explore”. I think this summarises the concept of transmedia ‘world-building’ quite nicely. By breathing life into the Matrix universe, an immense amount of narrative ‘space’ and potential was created and placed in the hands of these “other artists” and fans. As long as these artists/fans stayed within the walls of the Wachowski brothers universe, then they too would have the opportunity to contribute to the stories and lore of The Matrix.
It’s certainly clear that the creation of a detailed and well thought-out universe is crucial to the production of a transmedia narrative. I also think that consistency is key when assembling a transmedia product like ‘The Matrix’. The world you create must remain consistent across the various media environments that you introduce your narrative into.