On April 29th, Warner Bros is releasing a brand new, revised and upgraded Matrix: Special Edition DVD. The 2-disc set will SRP for $27.95, and will come in "collectible foil" packaging. The revised DVD is timed to promote (and take advantage of) the release of The Matrix Reloaded into theaters on May 15th.

Disc One is the same special edition DVD disc that was available previously including the film in anamorphic widescreen video, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio (sorry guys, no DTS), audio commentary (by star Carrie-Anne Moss, effects guru John Gaeta and editor Zach Staenberg), the Making the Matrix featurette, a music-only track with commentary by composer Don Davis, 9 Follow the White Rabbit interactive featurettes, 2 hidden Take the Red Pill documentaries and numerous DVD-ROM features.

Disc Two is the original Matrix: Revisited DVD, but upgraded with several new bonus features. The new material includes Preload: On the Set of Reloaded (an exclusive behind-the-scenes preview of the new film), an extended trailer for The Animatrix with previews for every short film, the Marilyn Manson music video for Rock is Dead, the What is the Game? teaser for the new Enter the Matrix videogame, a preview of upcoming TheMatrix.com website and numerous theatrical trailers and TV spots. All of the contents on the original Matrix: Revisited disc are here as well, including 6 behind-the-scenes featurettes on the first film (2 hours total), 3 hours of music/audio tracks, The Art Revisited art galleries (with over 800 drawings and still images) and more.

Then, on June 3rd, Warner Bros will release The Animatrix (SRP $24.98). The DVD includes 9 short films directed by some of the most talented artists working in Anime and CG animation today, written and conceived by the Wachowski Brothers and set in the same universe as The Matrix feature films. The shorts take place in parallel to the stories depicted in the feature films, and tie into them in many ways. One of the shorts, the 9-minute "The Final Flight of the Osiris" (directed by Andy Jones, animation by Square USA, Inc), is actually a prelude to The Matrix Reloaded. (You'll have the chance to see it in theaters on March 21st, attached to Warner's Dreamcatcher.)

In addition to "The Final Flight of the Osiris", you'll get "The Second Renaissance: Parts 1 and 2" (directed by Mahiro Maeda (of Blue Submarine No. 6 fame), animation by Studio4°C, Tokyo), "Kid's Story" (directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop), animation by Studio4°C), "Program" (directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Vampire Hunter D and Ninja Scroll), animation by Madhouse Studios, Tokyo), "World Record" (directed by Takeshi Koike (lead animator on Wicked City), animation by Madhouse Studios), "Beyond" (directed by Koji Morimoto (animation supervisor on Akira), animation by Studio4°C), "Detective Story" (directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, animation by Studio4°C) and "Matriculated" (directed by Peter Chung (creator of MTV's Aeon Flux), animation by DNA, Seoul).

The Animatrix will also include Scrolls to Screen: The History and Culture of Anime, 7 behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentaries for "The Second Renaissance: Parts 1 and 2," "Program," and "World Record" (all in the original Japanese audio with English subtitles), and a look at the making of the Enter the Matrix game, featuring interviews with Jada Pinkett and Carrie-Anne Moss. Audio will be English and Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1. At least some of the shorts (if not all) are anamorphic widescreen.

As a word of caution, given that the release dates for these two DVDs are three and five months away respectively, some of the details listed above may be subject to change. But again, this is all direct from Warner Home Video.