Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse:

A Masterclass on How to Make Spider-Man

9/10

Poster showing Miles Morales (center), Peter B. Parker (left), and Gwen Stacey (right)

It is not hyperbole to say that almost everyone knows who Spider-Man is. Everyone knows Peter
Parker and the radioactive spider he was bitten by. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is not a
movie to tell you who Spider-Man is. However, through a unique comic book style, fantastic
voice work, and great writing it provides a fresh spin on a classic character.
With the rise of Marvel and DC movies, it can be hard to remember a time where superhero
movies did not have to carry a large cinematic universe. Into the Spider-Verse bucks this trend
by telling an excellent standalone story with great characters, an engaging story, and amazing
animation that makes this film not just one of the best Spider-Man movies, but one of the best
superhero movies of all time.
This film was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and it is the first Spider-Man film that a
Sony studio produced since The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014. The first thing that jumps out
about Into the Spider-Verse is its comic book visual style. In an interview with The Verge the
three directors, Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti, and Rodney Rothman, discuss their decision to
use this style of animation. The unique art style sets Spider-verse apart from other animated
films, and the creativity shown by the animators can be seen throughout the whole movie.
 Miles Walking through the halls after the spider bite

This emulation of comic books does not just appear in the way the characters move. Ben-day
dots were a style of drawing comics used in the 1950s-70s that were used to add more color and
depth to a picture, while also saving on the cost of printing. The attention to detail goes even
further when looking at each different character in the film
Throughout the movie, the animation will change depending on the character being focused on.
For example, whenever Peni Parker and her mecha-suit are on screen they appear in a manga
inspired style. Similarly, Spider-Man Noir is animated in only black and white, and Spider-Ham
is drawn in a style reminiscent of older cartoons such as Loony Toons. All these different
animation styles and attention to detail do so much to add to the presentation of the film and
draw the viewer into the world.
 Peter B. Parker and Miles Suiting Up

While the gorgeous animation is a high point of the film, it is not the only thing that turns this
film from a decent superhero movie into a masterpiece. Into the Spider-Verse also boasts a great
voice cast that do an amazing job making the characters jump off the scene. Two people
particularly worthy of praise are Shameik Moore as Miles Morales and Jake Johnson as Peter B.
Parker. The chemistry between these two can be seen throughout the whole film, especially in
the teaching moments where an older and out of shape Peter B. Parker sees Miles and learns to
believe in being a hero again.
The writing is also excellent, with fast pace
and witty dialogue that never detracts from
the emotional weight of scenes. For
example, the fight inside Aunt May’s house
is full of back-and-forth banter between the
heroes and villains, however this changes
once Mile’s uncle is killed. The jokes stop
and is replaced by a much somber tone.

Aaron Davis’s death

One problem seen in many Marvel movies is that their focus on humor can take away from very
heavy or dramatic moments. While there are plenty of jokes to be found in Into the Spider-Verse,
they never take away from the emotional weight of a scene. Some of the best parts of the film are
when we see Miles grow into his own as a hero. Writers Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman did an
excellent job at making sure Miles was not just a replacement Peter Parker, but his own unique
version of Spider-Man.
Upon its release Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse saw near universal critical and public
acclaim. It received numerous glowing reviews, with the New York Times remarking, “this
animated reworking of the Spidey mythos is fresh and exhilarating in a way that very few of its
live-action counterparts – including the last couple of “Spider-Man” chapters – have been”
(Scott). In addition to positive reviews the film also won eighty different awards including the
Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2019.
Through stunning visuals and one of the best Spider-Man screenplays ever written, Spider-Man:
Into the Spider-Verse has earned its place as not just the best Spider-Man film, but one of the
best animated films of all time. It is a must watch for not just fans of comic books, but for any
fan of animation.

Works Cited

“‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Review: A Fresh Take on a Venerable Hero (Published
2018).” The New York Times, 2020, www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/movies/spider-man-into-the-
spider-verse-review.html. Accessed 19 Nov. 2020.
McMillan, Graeme. The Hollywood Reporter. “Superhero Movies Are Facing One Big New
Problem - Business Insider.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 27 June 2016,
www.businessinsider.com/problem-with-superhero-movies-2016-6. Accessed 7 Dec. 2020.
Maloney, Devon. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Directors on the Film’s Gorgeous Style.”
The Verge, The Verge, 17 Dec. 2018, www.theverge.com/2018/12/17/17609436/into-the-spider-
verse-directors-interview-style-animation-filmmaking-behind-the-scenes. Accessed 19 Nov.
2020.
Solomon, Charles. “How the ‘Spider-Verse’ Animators Created That Trippy Look (Published
2018).” The New York Times, 2020, www.nytimes.com/2018/12/25/movies/spider-man-into-the-
spider-verse-animation.html. Accessed 7 Dec. 2020.
Wiley, Natalie. “The History of Comic Book Printing Dot By Dot -.” Printivity Insights, 8 Aug.
2019, www.printivity.com/insights/2019/08/08/the-history-of-comic-book-printing-dot-by-dot/.
Accessed 7 Dec. 2020.
Labonte, Rachel. “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’s Complex Rewrites Revealed.”
ScreenRant, Screen Rant, 22 Mar. 2020, screenrant.com/spiderman-spiderverse-phil-lord-
rewriting-process/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.
‌“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - IMDb.” IMDb, 2020,
www.imdb.com/title/tt4633694/awards. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.
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