Fascinating Story Behind The Matrix Code as Revealed by Its Creator Simon Whiteley
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Remember the first time you watched The Matrix? The mind-bending reality, the intense action sequences, and most notably, that hypnotic cascade of green characters running vertically across a pitch-black screen. To most fans, this iconic imagery is ingrained in the mind like an old friend.
The Matrix code—arguably one of the most iconic visual elements in cinematic history—has left audiences mesmerized, and it’s something that has remained imprinted in the collective pop culture consciousness since the film’s release in 1999. The constant green rain of characters wasn’t just a visual effect; it became symbolic of the deep, often unfathomable reality in the world the film created.
Keanu Reeves as Neo | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
And yet, when you dig a little deeper into the origins of that hypnotic code, it’s hard to believe what you’re about to hear. That very same code—the one that countless fans have obsessively tried to decode for decades—was not born from complex algorithms or futuristic tech simulations. No!
Well, before you throw your hands up in disbelief, let’s dig into the fascinating origin of the code that’s forever etched in cinematic history. You might just find it more enlightening than you thought.
The Matrix: A scintillating code or delectable recipe?
The Matrix film, directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, was a game-changer in terms of both storytelling and visual effects. Among the many revolutionary elements in the film, The Matrix code stood out as the most enigmatic and immediately recognizable. This code wasn’t just eye candy; it was the window into the hidden world beneath the surface, representing the Matrix itself, a computer program that kept humanity on a tight leash.
Origins of The Matrix Code | Credits: FandomWire Exclusive
However, it wasn’t the product of some avant-garde algorithmic wizardry or deep mathematical equations, as many might have imagined. Simon Whiteley, who also designed the opening sequence for the 1995 hit Babe, explained the unexpected origin of this iconic imagery in an interview.
According to Whiteley, The Matrix code wasn’t born from abstract tech concepts; it was inspired by something far more grounded. “I like to tell everybody that The Matrix’s code is made out of Japanese sushi recipes,” Whiteley admitted (via CNet).
How? He’d simply scanned characters from his Japanese wife’s cookbooks. Whiteley went on to say, “Without that code, there is no Matrix,” and frankly, it’s hard to argue with him. That simple, unexpected inspiration gave us the visual language of The Matrix we all know and love.
Yes, The Matrix code you’ve come to associate with a dystopian future, artificial intelligence is actually based on something much more personal to Whiteley—a collection of Japanese food recipes, passed down from his wife. It’s a quirky, human touch that somehow resonates perfectly with the cold, mechanical world of The Matrix.
The Wachowskis were fans of Japanese art?
One of the biggest reasons behind The Matrix taking inspiration from Japanese symbols was The Wachowskis’ fascination with East Asian art, especially manga. During an exclusive interview with FandomWire on The Matrix’s 25th anniversary, Whiteley recalled how initially the task of designing the code was given to Thomas Kaiser.
Keanu Reeves in The Matrix | Credits: Warner Bros.
He said:
At the beginning, Animal Logic was asked to do some shots and design the code. The original designs were Thomas Kaiser, and he created this beautiful three-dimensional code. The Wakowskis loved it, but they felt it wasn’t manga enough, not Japanese enough.
The task would eventually be passed on to Whiteley, someone The Wachowskis knew had Japanese connections thanks to his wife. Whiteley’s wife helped him look in the “right places for influence”.
He reiterated:
My partner was Japanese. I had some connections, so they asked if I would have a crack at it. I looking into manga and Japanese typography. I started designing some graphics. I looked at the old IBM monitors because the Wachowskis wanted that period feel. So I started running Japanese characters across the screen. All the Japanese typography ran from the back of the book to the front, from right to left. It then ran down the page. So we took the shooting stars, made them vertical, and had it like falling stars. Then we slowed it down, and it looked like rain. It changed from being a graphic element to an emotional one.
The Matrix code falling from the top like rain added a serene abstract to The Matrix’s theme. As Whiteley perfectly encapsulates, adding an emotional element brought the movie closer to the viewers, which is why it was so successful.
The Matrix represents a green forest-like space, where you can find calm and focus amidst the chaos of reality. A place where Neo could figure out how he was truly ‘The One’.
Will Smith was almost cast as Neo in The Matrix
As things stand now, we can barely imagine anyone else who would have made a better fit to play Neo in The Matrix than Keanu Reeves. However, there was once a time when Neo was supposed to look entirely different. Before the role went to Reeves, the Wachowskis approached the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Will Smith to play humanity’s savior.
However, the actor had his hands full with other projects, particularly Wild Wild West, and couldn’t jump on board the Matrix train.
Will Smith in Men in Black 3 | Credits: Columbia Pictures
In an earlier video on his YouTube channel, Smith explained why he declined the movie, worried it might not be the best decision:
The Wachowskis, they came in and it was like, they had only done one movie…They came in, and they made a pitch for The Matrix… As it turns out, they’re geniuses, but there’s a fine line in a pitch meeting between genius and what I experienced in the meeting.
Recently, Smith posted a Matrix-esque video reminiscing about the same, which threw The Matrix fans into a frenzy. However, Deadline reports that the promo might be for an upcoming music project that Smith has been working on, not a film or an advertisement. Thus draining all the waves of excitement down the sinkhole of disappointment.
Well, we have all seen Will Smith don a black suit before, and honestly, he rocks it better than most. Having led a futuristic setup in more than one story, including Men in Black, he knows how to make a sci-fi fly and make it stick.
While it may not be his moment to step into The Matrix just yet, who knows? There could still be a window of opportunity for Will Smith to don the coat and become The One after all.
The Matrix is available to rent/buy on Apple TV.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
