The Meatrix (Annecy 2004 Netsurfers Award for Short Films)

With this short, Free Range Studios wants to criticize the methods of industrial agriculture and to encourage consumers to purchase organic food products and free-range meats.
In early 2003, Free Range Graphics invited nonprofit groups around the country to submit proposals for their first-ever Free Range Flash Activism Grant. After reviewing 50 proposals, Free Range awarded the grant to the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE), an organization committed to halting factory farms and promoting sustainable agriculture. Their decision to spoof The Matrix was based on the similarities between the film and today’s corporate system of agriculture.



Leo, a pig on a seemingly bucolic family farm, is approached by Moopheus, an anthropomorphic bull. Moopheus shows Leo that the farm he has known is an illusion, and that he is really trapped in a horrific factory farm. Leo and Moopheus then work to break out of the Meatrix and help others do the same, with some help from a third character, Chickity..
In 2006, Free Range studios also released two sequels: The Meatrix II: Revolting and The Meatrix: II and 1/2.
The Meatrix will be the best parody flash animation with a political message you've ever watched!

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