Just in case folks had missed the HUGE anime inspiration in the original Matrix (you should see the original movie’s storyboards — they look like a manga), I got another dose of it last night watching the Matrix preview that came before X2.
No spoilers, but…
They show a bit where Neo’s about to take off and do that flying thing… He crouches, puts his hand on the pavement and, just before he takes off, there’s this circular little ‘dust devil’ swirling effect around him.
Grab any anime with someone flying in it — especially during combat and give it a look — you’ll see the effect.