Risktaking is one of the biggest hurdles that filmmakers have to face. Though it might be hard to believe, it is much harder to think outside the box and do something new instead of doing things by the book. Fortunately, for those who do take the risk and make the effort to change the game, the rewards are truly spectacular. 5 years ago today, the landscape of animation changed forever with the release of Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse, a masterclass of animation ingenuity and artistry that sent shockwaves through pop culture and the genre itself. Since that fateful December in 2018, we have never been the same since the on-screen debut of Miles Morales. In this special post, I wanted to look back at this amazing film, its impact on the animation genre, and the legacy it continues to build half a decade later.
Before Into The Spider-Verse, the Spider-Man franchise was in the middle of a renaissance of sorts. After the shortcomings of The Amazing Spider-Man films, the character was beginning to find some newfound resurgence. The character’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe via Captain America Civil War in 2016 and Spider-Man Homecoming in 2017 proved that this character was still a drawing beacon for the cinematic audience. 2018 proved to be a peak year for Spider-Man fans with Tom Holland's Spider-Man being a central figure in the MCU's culmination event Avengers Infinity War and the release of Insomniac's Spider-Man video game on PlayStation 4 which introduced us to the video game variant of Miles Morales played by Nadji Jeter. News of an animated Spider-Man movie from Sony drew intrigue but also plenty of raised eyebrows. The idea of doing an animated Spider-Man film was so outlandish and risky that there was obvious doubt that it could work. Couple that with the fact that the studio's most recent release, The Emoji Movie, had put significant doubt out there that Sony Pictures Animation could handle a project involving one of the studio's most valuable IPs. For Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the task was a huge undertaking, especially knowing that the Spider-Man at the center of this story was going to be afro-latino Miles Morales, who was still relatively new in the Marvel landscape.
Created in 2011, Miles Morales was a figure that some people knew about given his roots in the comics. Though controversial upon arrival, Miles quickly gained significant popularity to become one of the rising stars in the Marvel Universe. With Into The Spider-Verse and the 2018 PS4 Spider-Man game, Miles Morales was introduced into the mainstream pop culture scene. The task of introducing this Spider-Man variant in Hollywood was a tall order given pop culture's antagonistic views on things like representation and diversity. However, the team behind Into The Spider-Verse had a clear understanding and love for this character. From his character design to the casting of his voice actor Shameik Moore, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and the directing team of Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, and Bob Persichetti took the task of bringing Miles into the cinematic landscape very seriously.
From an animation perspective, what more can be said about what this film did to the genre. Into The Spider-Verse's animation style sent shockwaves through the industry. A mindblowing blend of animation styles that all seamlessly weave together to create an awe-inspiring canvas of artistry never seen in an animated film before. 2D, 3D, Anime, Stop-Motion, Comic Art, and Watercolor animation were all on display throughout the film some of which occurred within the same frame. This was truly a masterclass of animation done on a scale that truly changed the way we look at the art form. To this day, I am still blown away by the intricate details that are showcased in every frame of this film and its sequel Across The Spider-Verse released earlier this year. But I think the greatest strength this film has is its storytelling component. Into The Spider-Verse is such a well-crafted coming-of-age story told in the vein of the Spider-Man mythos. Miles is struggling with finding his identity while living up to the expectations put forth by his parents, his teachers, and his fellow Spider-Man variants as well. Being given the powers of the web-slinger has thrust great responsibility on him that he doesn't believe he's ready for. So much is thrown at him that it is hard to keep constantly doubting if he's ready for the burden of becoming Spider-Man.
I for one and grateful for the gift that is this film. 5 years later, it truly is remarkable how much Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse has revolutionized the industry. This year alone has seen several animated films follow the formula and change their approach to animation. That type of influential impact is not lost on me and I'm grateful that it put the animation industry on notice that this should be the standard moving forward. As a fan, I'm blessed to say we are living in a golden age of Miles' ascension. Miles has reached icon status thanks to his two Spider-Verse films and his incredible video game stories in 2020's Spider-Man Miles Morales and this year's Spider-Man 2. To think that this Afro-Latino kid from bed-stuy would inspire a generation on such a wide scale is so emotionally uplifting as someone who shares his complexion. The best part about all of this is, we're just getting started.
Miles' journey is still growing with the impending release of the concluding chapter Beyond The Spider-Verse on the horizon in addition to his future endeavors in the Insomniac Spider-Man universe and his long-awaited rumored live-action cinematic debut. Miles Morales has become a symbol for those who embrace who they are. The fact that a kid from Brooklyn can rise up and be the hero of his own story should be a wake-up call to anyone who feels they don't belong or can't live up to the expectations of others. Take control of YOUR story and know that anyone can wear the mask. Anyone can be Spider-Man. Anyone can be a hero. All it takes...is that leap of faith.
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