Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
In 2018, the animated world was introduced to Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), high school student. Just as he gets bit by the radioactive spider turning him into his universe’s new Spider-Man, mobster Kingpin uses a super collider which brings others from across the Spider-Verse into Miles Morales’ world. After saving the day, Miles and company go their separate ways, thinking all is well. Original writers Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman are back. Five years after the film’s release Sony Pictures along with Marvel bring us the films highly anticipated sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. In his new adventure, after reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Miles is shot into the Multiverse where he encounters a team of Spider-People, the Spider Society, who have been tasked with protecting the Multiverse. While we expect teams to disagree, the Spider Society clash on how to handle their oncoming threat and Miles must set out on his own to save those dearest to him.
It is always a question whether film sequels will be just as good as the original, and if they will bring anything to the franchise, or if it will gain a negative response from the audience. In the case of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, it is nothing short of amazing. Gripping from the very beginning, the crew and cast deliver a dazzling new film sequel to the world.
Even without the plot of the film itself, the animation team deserves more than just a round of applause for what they achieved in Across the Spider-Verse. A fresh new look to the character, and new styles show the different universes. A brilliant way to show the multiverse is the use of different styles of animation for each one. Audiences were shown this possibility in Into the Spider-Verse (2018), however the five-year development that occurred between the two films shows how far the animated medium has come and where it can grow to.
Original cast and crew, as well as new faces, come together to deliver this incredible story. Lord and Rothman keep the film family friendly (albeit there are a few swears) and continue to include the importance of finding your place in the world. Yes, the focus still remains on the relationship between Miles and Gwen, but the two of them must go through their own maturation. While they go through adolescence, the arrival of several new Spidey’s into their lives throws them on different paths and new tasks are set for them.
Using many elements of past Sony Spider-Man films, along with a sly MCU reference, Across the Spider-Verse is a compilation of many multiverse ideas and thoughts into an explosion of creativity. Giving viewers, what could be considered, the best multiverse film so far, Across the Spider-Verse leads the way for what is to come – in the sense of this series, as well as future multiverse films.
Credits to Sony Pictures Animation for the photo.
