While, in entertainment value, the Animatrix was exciting to watch with some fairly sad endings to each vignette, the idea was still impressive: a animated direct-to-video (with some downloadable introductions) release with a soundtrack attached.

In fact, I found the Animatrix (a songs album) to be a far more listenable album than the first disc of Matrix Reloaded- but that's conjectured opinion.

Now, with the advent of Van Helsing: The London Assignment, we have a score release to what promises to be good animation for the similar idea to the Animatrix. Obviously, it's different in that we can't download it (except in alternate fashions I should guess by bootleggers on Kazaa or something like that). I think we can also expect a different sort of situation just by the context of the narrative and characters.

Beyond that, it presents an interesting trend that perhaps more commodities should try- but if they're going to do it- then it should be for something that should have a full commitment and a solid piece of entertainment to get behind, not just marketing fluff- which I have a feeling Van Helsing won't be for me. I can't speak for anyone else.