Matrix Mystery Solved: The Burning Question Everyone’s Asking!

When “The Matrix” was released in 1999, audiences were introduced to a bizarre virtual world dominated by the color green. Directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski, along with cinematographer Bill Pope, made a clear distinction between the dark-colored real world and the Matrix, which was predominantly green.

Welcome to the Real World

This lighting choice continued in “Matrix Reloaded” and “Revolutions,” with characters always navigating through the same fabricated world. But why did the creators of the series choose this color? It was essential to differentiate the real world from the computer simulation, but why was this shade ultimately chosen?

The explanation is quite simple: it’s a nod to old computers, as explained by Daniele Massaccesi, the cinematographer for “Matrix Resurrections.” “The dominant color of the Matrix was green because old computers displayed green text on a black background. So, the Matrix was green,” he noted in an interview with Première in December 2021.

The dominant color of the Matrix was green because old computers displayed green text on a black background. So, the Matrix was green.

Mysterious Lines

Furthermore, the green lines that scroll across the screen in the movie, particularly in the opening scene, are nothing more than… sushi recipes! In October 2017, designer Simon Whiteley revealed this during an interview for cnet.com.

After rejecting an initial design whose characters were not traditional enough for their taste, the Wachowskis, wanting a more Japanese, manga-like appearance, turned to this young artist. He used his wife’s cooking manuals to create the code, then scrolled it from top to bottom on the screen, as is traditional in the Japanese writing format known as tategaki.

“Creating the Matrix code was relatively simple. It’s strange that, of all the things I’ve designed, this one has remained the most iconic and memorable,” he shared in an interview with Wired in 2019.

A New Visual Style for the Fourth Film

22 years later, cinematographers John Toll and Daniele Massaccesi decided to adopt a new visual approach for “Matrix Resurrections,” moving away from the matrix’s green hue. For the fourth installment, Lana Wachowski asked the duo to draw inspiration from the painter Caravaggio, known for his style that oscillates between bright lights and darkness.

“We moved away from green to search for these beautiful colors. We wanted to create a beautiful reality that does not exist. To see beauty. The story is no longer monochrome, it unfolds like a rainbow. It’s not about one person, but about everyone,” analyzed Daniele Massaccesi.

We moved away from green to search for these beautiful colors. We wanted to create a beautiful reality that does not exist.

Massaccesi took over the cinematography of “Matrix Resurrections” solo after John Toll left due to health issues within his family. After a very pragmatic, storyboarded, and controlled visual approach in the original trilogy, Lana Wachowski wanted to make a 180-degree turn.

Thus, the director and her cinematographer prioritized improvisation on set: spontaneity in framing choices and the use of natural light became the creed of the two artists.

“I worked a few days on ‘Speed Racer’ then on ‘Cloud Atlas.’ It was probably the first time Lana and Lilly Wachowski shot in real settings,” Massaccesi recalled in an interview with IndieWire.

“They were a bit worried about the lack of control, but eventually realized they liked the quality of natural light and the chance to capture unique moments. They also realized that one must seize serendipitous opportunities when they occur – you have to be ready to embrace the moment when something unplanned happens and it feels right,” he added.

If you’re eager to revisit the saga with the red pill in mind, it’s available on the Max platform. Resurrections can also be watched on Netflix.