Across The Spider-Verse: Breaking the Boundaries of Cinema

With resounding success at the box office and critical acclaim, the creators of “Across The Spider-Verse” have demonstrated their ability to explore the boundless potential of animated films. Elevating visual elements and breaking away from traditional superhero storylines, “Across The Spider-Verse” grossed $200 million worldwide, garnering praise from both audiences and critics alike.

Following in the footsteps of its Oscar-winning predecessor, “Into The Spider-Verse,” the film revolutionized the animation industry. “Across The Spider-Verse” not only met enormous expectations from fans but also succeeded in exploring and harnessing the limitless potential of the animation genre.

A Tribute to the Iconic Black Spider-Man

“Across The Spider-Verse” begins with the Comics Code Authority logo, a familiar stamp to Marvel comic readers from before the 2000s. From the first frame, the film pays tribute to classic comic book stories.

After the events of “Into The Spider-Verse,” Miles Morales struggles to balance his dual identities, that of a 10th-grade student and a superhero protecting New York City. Now a member of a council of Spider-People tasked with safeguarding the multiverse, Miles embarks on his next great adventure.

Before starting this journey, Miles has a heartfelt conversation with his mother on the rooftop. “No matter where you go,… never let anyone tell you that you don’t belong,” Rio’s last words echo throughout the film, not just for Miles Morales in the animated universe but for every iteration of the character.

Reflecting on the history of Miles Morales’ introduction in the comic version, we understand the significance of this statement. Following the “Death of Spider-Man” storyline, Miles Morales inherited the mantle and officially became the first Black Spider-Man.

The swift change received mixed reactions. Newspapers like The Guardians and Fox News called Marvel’s decision to change the character’s race an attempt to appeal to a wider audience. Even Stan Lee initially disagreed with the idea, but he later changed his mind.

Despite criticism, Miles Morales continued to appear in Marvel’s Ultimate universe and later joined the main universe (Earth 616). Today, Miles Morales is closely associated with Peter Parker as Spider-Man, appearing in various video games and animated series.

Continuing the Animation Industry’s Innovation

Following the remarkable success of “Into The Spider-Verse,” animation studios have taken steps to depart from Pixar’s photorealistic style. The success of films like “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” has demonstrated the audience’s appetite for new animation styles.

From the first five minutes of “Across The Spider-Verse,” any doubts about its ability to live up to its predecessor are dispelled. The world of Gwen Stacy’s Spider-Woman, depicted with watercolor-like textures, seamlessly intertwines with Miles Morales’ world. “Across The Spider-Verse” proves to be even more impressive and daring than its predecessor.

From the spotlight of a car headlight illuminating a wet road to a Spider-Punk represented like a Zine magazine, every visual element in “Across The Spider-Verse” is meticulously crafted and creatively presented, creating a visual feast for the audience.

Maximalism in filmmaking isn’t limited to visual elements; it’s also an essential component of the film’s storytelling.

In one scene, Gwen Stacy talks with her father, enveloped in a cool blue hue, while warm light surrounds her, creating a clear emotional contrast between the two characters.

When she runs to embrace her father, the warm light spreads across the frame, reminding the audience that Gwen is just a young girl struggling on her journey, and all she needs is a hug from the person she loves the most. This scene exemplifies how “Across The Spider-Verse” fully exploits the boundless potential of animation.

A Film Conveying Filmmakers’ Dreams

“Across The Spider-Verse” challenges all the limitations that the film industry sets for the superhero/animation genre. While not adhering to any preset standards, the creators of “Across The Spider-Verse” knew exactly what was needed to make such an innovative film work.

The story of “Across The Spider-Verse” reflects the filmmakers’ own dreams of breaking free from limitations. As the tragic hero of Spider-Man becomes a brand, “Across The Spider-Verse” challenges this notion and allows Miles Morales the opportunity to change the “mainstream narrative” and defy the predetermined destiny.

While “film within a film” movies previously used the element of “breaking free” from the confines of a traditional film to allow characters to reconsider their own stories, often as a form of self-parody by the writers, “Across The Spider-Verse” approaches this differently. The film takes a respectful look at the classic hero and tragic hero storyline of Spider-Man. It understands that its success, the iconic status of Miles Morales, can only exist today due to the “mainstream narrative” that those who came before worked hard to preserve.

 

The battle against Miles Morales’ destiny is simply a fight for personal happiness, a desire to write his own story. When the creators of “Across The Spider-Verse” give Miles a chance to fight, they might also be sending a big dream to this superhero, a dream they themselves are fighting to achieve.

When Stan Lee spoke about Spider-Man, he said, “I love the fact that… anyone can imagine that they’re under the mask. And that’s a good thing.” Perhaps those kids who grew up with that superhero have now grown into writers, crafting their own stories under the mask of Spider-Man: “Across The Spider-Verse.”

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