How are the Animatrix episodes related to the movies?

[handbrake2]

I recognize the kid from Kid's Story as the kid who idolizes Neo in Reloaded. Second Rennaisance 1&2 give you the back story of how the Matrix came in be, and Final Flight of the Osiris is pretty self explanatory. What about the other Animatrix movies? How do they advance the plot in any way? Matriculated suggests (vaguely) that somehow humans and machines will learn to coexist. Does the previously mentioned kid have any greater significance, especially since he was the 1st one capable of sustaining his own life outside the matrix although he dies within it?

Handbrake2.

BTW, My latest theory is that Neo isn't given a choice, Neo "is" choice. A sort of embodiment of it, which is the polar opposite of Agent Smith, who is the embodiment of inevtbalility. That explains the reason why Neo and Agent Smith are always at one another's throats.

 

[Mariner]

My theory is this:

I saw the film last night and it was OK. Unfortunately, it contained too much pseudo-mystical mumbo jumbo which everyone is trying to read a lot into. As with many films (Donnie Darko, for example), it is left to the viewer to decide what was intended by the director. As long as it 'sort of' makes sense, why ponder too much? 8)