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Oni matrix: Difference between revisions
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==Visual appearance== | ==Visual appearance== | ||
===Bungie West's template=== | ===Bungie West's template=== | ||
The original source file for the matrix is called "japanese matrix.psd" in Bungie West's archives.<ref>Point of interest: the other background template from the archives, "circuitpatterngrayscale.psd", is in fact a derivative of "japanese matrix.psd", featuring the upper-left 29x25 cells (out of 42x28). | The original source file for the matrix is called "japanese matrix.psd" in Bungie West's archives.<ref>Point of interest: the other background template from the archives, [[:Image:Circuit_pattern_grayscale.jpg|"circuitpatterngrayscale.psd"]], is in fact a derivative of "japanese matrix.psd", featuring the upper-left 29x25 cells (out of 42x28). Another derivative is [[:Image:Oni_matrix_pattern.jpg|"pttrn.JPG"]] (a 9x9 section of the matrix, with a different set of circuitry).</ref> | ||
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The 1999 trailer's screen proportions exactly match those of "japanese matrix.psd". Also, during the titles we see exactly 28 symbols down and 42 across. Thus, although the trailer's low resolution makes it hard to tell for sure, it is safe to assume that the template was made specifically for the trailer, and that the trailer's two sheets of "matrix data" sliding up and down are simple copies of "japanese matrix.psd". The only thing that needs to be determined is the sliding speed, initial offset timing, and shape of the holes in the frontmost matrix sheet (the one that slides upwards). | The 1999 trailer's screen proportions exactly match those of "japanese matrix.psd". Also, during the titles we see exactly 28 symbols down and 42 across. Thus, although the trailer's low resolution makes it hard to tell for sure, it is safe to assume that the template was made specifically for the trailer, and that the trailer's two sheets of "matrix data" sliding up and down are simple copies of "japanese matrix.psd". The only thing that needs to be determined is the sliding speed, initial offset timing, and shape of the holes in the frontmost matrix sheet (the one that slides upwards). | ||
From a casual examination, the scrolling speed is such that it takes about 5 seconds for the columns (28 symbols) to cover the height of the screen. The holes in the upwards-moving foreground columns, as well as the initial offsets of the columns at the start of each title sequence, are not documented at this point. | |||
===Static version=== | ===Static version=== | ||
Hardly an exhaustive list, this is merely meant as a representative collection of matrix sightings, more or less high-quality, for anyone curious to see how ubiquitous the matrix was. | Hardly an exhaustive list, this is merely meant as a representative collection of matrix sightings, more or less high-quality, for anyone curious to see how ubiquitous the matrix is/was. There are multiple variations, e.g., the "circuitpatterngrayscale.psd" and "pttrn.JPG" derivatives, or versions with two superimposed matrices at different scale factors. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
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==Notable lookalikes== | ==Notable lookalikes== | ||
===The Matrix (1999)=== | ===The Matrix (1999)=== | ||
The Matrix's code used a custom typeface consisting of decimal digits, Latin capital letters and [[wp:Half-width kana|half-width kana]] - all of them mirrored horizontally. The characters do not actually slide downwards across the screen; instead they | The Matrix's code (a.k.a. "digital rain") used a custom typeface consisting of decimal digits, Latin capital letters and [[wp:Half-width kana|half-width kana]] - all of them mirrored horizontally. The characters do not actually slide downwards across the screen; instead they form a static grid which refreshes in downwards-scrolling sequences. | ||
In the Oni 1999 trailer, the columns are actually sliding up and down, rather than revealed through in-place refreshing. This is a major difference between the animated Oni matrix and Matrix code. The other differences are: | In the Oni 1999 trailer, the columns are actually sliding up and down, rather than revealed through in-place refreshing. This is a major difference between the animated Oni matrix and Matrix code. The other differences are: | ||
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===Ghost in the Shell (1995)=== | ===Ghost in the Shell (1995)=== | ||
A possible inspiration for the "digital rain" in "The Matrix" is the opening titles of "Ghost in the Shell" (1995) ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4tj7I2-q1s&t=26s seen here]). In this case we are looking at a monochrome screen (hexagonal halftone) densely packed with lines of fixed-width characters (with slight height variations from one line to another). There are no letters or kana, and the digits are decimal rather than binary. Instead of scrolling, the digits are flickering in rapid succession, seemingly at random (patterns can be identified only by looking at snapshots). The opening titles' lines are gradually "extracted" from this rapid succession of digits, not unlike a [[wp:Split-flap_display|split flap display]]. | |||
Since Oni's 1999 trailer specifically uses the sliding matrix columns as a background for titles (with titles seemingly emerging from the flowing data), it is possible that the | Since Oni's 1999 trailer specifically uses the sliding matrix columns as a background for titles (with titles seemingly emerging from the flowing data), it is possible that the GitS opening had a direct influence as well. | ||
===Meteo (1990)=== | ===Meteo (1990)=== | ||