Pop some popcorn and get ready to hunker down at your computer for the next 14 minutes or so – the first of Ubisoft’s short films promoting Assassin’s Creed II, the Assassin’s Creed Lineage series, is available on YouTube.

Developed by Hybride Studios, the people who helped bring you 300 and Sin City,  the production values are pretty spiffy for what are essentially promotional shorts designed to set the backstory of the game world. It’s sure as hell better than anything Uwe Boll has ever cranked out, though I suppose that may not be setting the bar too high.

The first part focuses on the father of ACII‘s protagonist, Ezio, who is – shock! – an assassin as well! Keeping it in the family, I suppose. We’ll definitely be bringing  you the rest of these as they become available. Enjoy!