As previously mentioned in the Inspiration: Inception post, prior to Inception the Matrix films were my favourite ever films, and still rank very high now. There was something about the original film – apart from being the first film I ever watched at the cinema – that captured my imagination and opened certain doors for me regarding religion and faith. The entire concept of the film was the element of control, and even now is relevent in the today’s society. The sequels later on confirmed even more my love for the series, expanding on the original’s ideas and providing mind-blowing effects, awesome fight scenes and some much-debated theological concepts.
One thing that always stood out to me though was the artistic angle of the series, ever since watching The Matrix: Revisited DVD special and watching in awe the concept art and ideas behind the original film being mapped out and explained by the film producers, directors and artists. The sequels were also just as artistic and it wasn’t just the effects budget that got bigger, but also the artists’ ideas behind the famous scenes.
One main concept artists’ work stands out the most and that is George Hull, who has also worked on Avatar, Finding Nemo, and V for Vendetta, and worked with Industrial Light and Magic on such films as Star Wars, The Lost World and Jumanji. The sheer scale of the work he produces puts any digital artist I’ve ever heard of to shame, with massive sketches and digital matte paintings detailing the tiniest speck highlighting the extreme talent George has.
But that’s not to say that the other concept artists’ work is not as good, with Rich Mahon and Brian Flora also producing some incredible work especially on environments. Overall, the concept artists’ work on the Matrix sequels have produced some stunning work, work that I believe that if it wasn’t for these guys, the films would never have been as successful, if not made at all.
Below you’ll find a massive collection of work from these guys and also a selection of screengrabs from the Matrix: Ultimate Collection DVD boxset.
