Before the release of Predator's first animated anthology film, consider watching a similar picture from another beloved action franchise. During its heyday, an anime spinoff of The Matrix, titled The Animatrix, was released, telling stories in the same universe as the live-action films.

The Predator series has the potential to do something similar, as the saga is expanding into the world of animation with the release of Predator: Killer of Killers later this year. Predator film this fall, titled Badlands. A shift to anthology storytelling and animation similar to The Animatrix could yield unique storytelling and fan-favorite results for the franchise.

The Animatrix Is An Anthology Movie Featuring Standalone Matrix Stories

The Anime Film Uniquely Expanded Upon The Universe Of The Live-Action Movies

The Animatrix is an anthology movie in more ways than one. Not only does it tell tales separate from the live-action Matrix timeline, but the anime film is also comprised of nine different short stories presented as one feature. Written by the Wachowski sisters, who brought The Matrix universe, one of the best dystopian movie series of its era, to life, The Animatrix was released on home video between The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003, receiving positive reviews from both critics and audiences.

The anime anthology expanded the lore established in the live-action Matrix films, including a creation story for the villainous machines and their apocalyptic rise to power, as seen in The Second Renaissance, Part 1 and Part 2. Other shorts include Kid's Story, the only one featuring Keanu Reeves as Neo, set between the second and third films. Additional highlights involve a detective named Ash, voiced by James Arnold Taylor in A Detective's Story and World Record, showcasing a sports story in The Matrix.

Killer Of Killers Can Be To Predator What The Animatrix Was To The Matrix

Expanding Into Animation Opens Up A World Of Possibilities For The Predator Franchise

Predator: Killer of Killers, which looks great, begins streaming on Hulu this June. It has the potential to do for the Predator franchise what The Animatrix did for The Matrix saga. The conceit of Killers of Killers is already similar, an animated anthology checking in on Predators terrorizing different warriors throughout specific points in human history. These combatants include a Viking protecting her son, a ninja in feudal Japan, and a pilot during World War II.

The sandbox of animation combined with the broad scope of anthological storytelling opens up an entire universe of possibilities for the Predator franchise moving forward.

Killer of Killers also has the chance to bring back characters from live-action films, just as The Animatrix did with the likes of Neo and Trinity. Arnold Schwarzenegger could return as Dutch in the new Predator series, 38 years since his last appearance, reprising the character in a voiceover part. The sandbox of animation combined with the broad scope of anthological storytelling opens up an entire universe of possibilities for the Predator franchise moving forward.