[Context: I wrote this movie review back in April 2019 following the 2018 release of Sony’s Spiderman Into the Spiderverse for Agnes Scott’s student newspaper The Profile. Accompanying the review is a digital illustration of Miles Morales, the film’s main character, which I created myself in Adobe Photoshop.]
With great power comes great responsibility. That’s surely what was going through the minds of directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman as they were tasked with developing the first animated feature film about Spider-Man. And boy, did they wield their executive power! On Dec. 14, 2018 Sony Pictures Animation released Academy Award winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
Rather than regurgitating the same Peter Parker origin story, “Into the Spider Verse” focuses on Afro-Puerto Rican Miles Morales as he struggles with a new school, new powers, and the fate of multiple universes resting on his shoulders. Miles is the breath of fresh air every superhero fan of color has been waiting for in a white-dominated genre. Not only can children of color see themselves on screen, but also Miles’ interactions with his family and friends, both in English and in Spanish, make him relatable to many different minority groups.
Another reason that “Into the Spider-Verse” is an incredible film is that it is a film for people of all ages–it puts the P back into the “PG” rating. It completely annihilates the common misconceptions that animation is only for children. At the same time, it also respects kids enough to allow them to handle tough themes and process “mature” emotions like grief and loss.
Maybe you like comic books, but don’t care for all the Spider-people? That’s fine! The movie is a full on homage to any and all things comic bookish. Not a fan of comics, but you love Spider-Man? No problem! The movie is also a love letter to the very essence of Spider-Man. It’s a versatile film that, by introducing different renditions of the same character, emphasizes the morals on which they all stand–anyone can wear the mask. Any person of any color, gender, etc., is capable of amazingly compassionate heroism.
What really sets “Into the Spider-Verse” apart from any other animated film of 2018 is its I N C R E D I B L E and highly stylized animation. The film is a combination of 3D computer graphics and hand-drawn animation, all in the style of comic book art. This is the most admirable aspect about “Into the Spider-Verse.” It took 180 animators roughly three years to create what can literally be called a moving comic book. Stop the movie at any point and the frame mimics a panel straight out of a comic book. This highly stylized art pushes the boundaries on what 3D animation can accomplish by going past the needlessly realistic, rendering other big animation companies alike to flaunt. Its masterful design and their love for the craft show through in every frame, and that’s exactly what fans of quality animation have been waiting for.
Really cool! I have yet to see this movie, but it is definitely on my list. From what I have seen, the animation looks awesome and is definitely is a step in the right direction in terms of representation. Loved the article, and the illustration!