None of the other shorts stood up the hairs on the back of my neck like this one. Even in the stern droll world of the Matrix, innocence, wonder and purity survive. I was reminded of Castle in the Sky at certain moments. Yoko (Hedy Burress of FFX) and the three kids have a carefree little afternoon in this amazing house that defies all the rules. They're oblivious to the truth that they are in a computer program that just happens to be glitching in this time and place. The sights and sounds of this short are gorgeous and sublime (how I would also describe the score), and despite lasting only 12 minutes, it evokes an immense emotional impact, bringing you up to a high, then wrenching everything away. It is one of the finest films of any length I've ever seen, and definitely the best of the Animatrix shorts.
