The animated film “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is the sequel to “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which changed the landscape of animated films in 2018. It serves as the first of a two-part story, with the second, “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” now postponed to 2027.
‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ has had its release date moved to June 25, 2027. This change prompts an examination of the reasons for the delay and highlights key elements to anticipate in the upcoming film.
Beyond the news about the film’s release, what stands out most is its huge scale, with more than 250 different Spider-Men. Each one comes from a different dimension and is shown in a unique art style, creating a visual experience that feels truly experimental.
Visual Beauty and Innovative Direction
Watercolor Meets Da Vinci
The film’s visuals are especially memorable. It begins with a stunning scene where abstract shapes move to the rhythm of Gwen Stacy’s story, and the watercolor background shifts in response to her emotions. One of the most impressive moments is when villains, who look like they came from Da Vinci’s sketches, enter this watercolor world. The mix of these different art styles creates a unique and exciting visual experience.
Unique Art Design Across Dimensions
A defining feature of this work is its exploration of various Spider-Man worlds. In Spider-Man India, vibrant mandala-like visuals unfold, inspired by India’s Chitra Katha. The Spider-Punk world perfectly captures its anarchic nature through expressions that seem like moving montages and collages embodying 1970s British punk culture. Miguel O’Hara’s future world, Nueva York, presents a homogenized aesthetic reminiscent of 1980s dystopian sci-fi films, influenced by Syd Mead.
This unique artistic approach is central to the film. The different visual styles are more than just creative choices—they show what animation can do as a storytelling tool. How viewers react to these bold visuals will likely shape their overall impression of the movie.
Story Structure and Deepening Parent-Child Relationships
A Minimal Yet Universal Theme
The creative signature of the Lord/Miller duo, established in the previous film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, is showcased here in a more refined form. The opening sequence, which begins with Miles’ three-way meeting with his parents, depicts the realistic family conflict surrounding college admissions, maintaining a minimalist feel that contrasts sharply with the grand, multiverse setting.
While the last film was about Miles becoming Spider-Man, this one focuses more on his father learning to accept Miles’ growth. There’s a moving scene where his father gazes at the ruins of Alchemax, with the blue sky on a tarp resembling the ocean. This image captures the complicated feelings of a parent watching their child grow up.
This applies not only to Miles but also to Gwen, making the “child and father” relationship a defining feature of this film.
Deepening Character and Theme
Gwen’s Growth: A Journey from Solitude to Companionship
Gwen Stacy, who played a smaller role before, now shares the spotlight with Miles as a main character. Her story, told at the start of the film, is set up in a way that contrasts with Miles’ journey from the last movie.
In the last film, Miles was trying to figure out who he wanted to be. Now, Gwen is looking for her father’s acceptance of who she is. The film adds extra meaning by using background colors that look like the trans pride flag and showing a ‘Protect Trans Kids’ poster in her room.
A pivotal emotional scene occurs near the conclusion, as Gwen’s father affirms, ‘You’re my masterpiece.’ Like Miles in the earlier story, Gwen experiences her father’s unconditional love, marking a milestone in her personal growth. Additionally, her initiative to form a ‘band’ at the end symbolically represents her transition from isolation to companionship, embracing the theme of ‘Anyone can be Spider-Man.’
Miles’ Evolution: From Passive Hero to Active Revolutionary
Miles is portrayed in a more complex and challenging manner this time. Instead of just wanting to become Spider-Man, he now questions the usual Spider-Man story. This is more than just growing up—it’s a big change in how he sees himself.
In the last movie, Miles became a hero with his father’s support: ‘Whatever path you choose, I love you.’ Now, his mother’s words—’Wherever you go, that is your place. Hold your head high.’—give him strength. This shift indicates Miles’ transition from being protected to becoming independent.
The most important part of Miles’s journey is what happens in the Spider Society. Even when Miguel O’Hara says he’s an ‘anomaly’ who was never meant to be Spider-Man, Miles refuses to accept it. He challenges the old Spider-Man idea that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ by saying, ‘I don’t have to carry that responsibility.’ This is a bold and new direction for the character.
Peter B. Parker’s Acquisition of Fatherhood
Peter B. Parker has also undergone significant changes since the last film, where he was worn out by life. Now he’s a father, and his bond with Miles feels more like a father-son relationship than just mentor and student. At the same time, as part of the Spider Society, he must hold Miles back, which reveals the complicated feelings that come with growing up. This is a big step forward from his earlier, simpler role.
A Sharp Perspective on Modern Society and the Work’s Limitations
Excellence as a Digital-Age Fable
The film does a great job of showing what modern society is like through its multiverse story. The Spider Society is a clear metaphor for life in the social media age. The AI Lyla, which removes ‘anomalies’ found by algorithms, is a strong symbol of how social media can create echo chambers.
Miguel O’Hara’s lifeless gaze as he follows AI directives to manage the multiverse is a scathing satire on modern humans, who are shaped by algorithms into their own timelines. Miles’s cry, “I won’t be controlled by algorithms!” articulates the rebellious spirit of the digital native generation, carrying an intensely contemporary message.
The Merits and Demerits of Information Overload
This movie is a bold experiment in animation. Showing more than 250 Spider-Men in so many different styles is visually impressive, but it can also feel overwhelming.
Watching the film for the first time, there’s so much going on that it’s hard to take it all in. Sometimes, the visuals are so intense that they pull attention away from the main story. While this might encourage people to watch it more than once, it could also make the film less accessible for some viewers. The balance between experimental art and mainstream fun doesn’t always feel quite right.
Strategic Decisions and Challenges of the Two-Part Structure
The biggest challenge for the film is that it feels unfinished because it’s only the first part of a two-part story. It clearly sets up the next movie, leaving Miles’s story on a cliffhanger. Gwen’s story does get some closure, and having two main characters helps keep things balanced for now.
Still, the film’s main message loses some of its power because Miles’s story isn’t finished. This works as a setup for the sequel, but it might make the movie feel less complete on its own.
Balancing Innovation and Tradition
Ultimately, the film stands out for blending innovative visual ideas with timeless themes about family and self-discovery. By reimagining the Spider-Man story through creative animation and storytelling, it demonstrates that every generation can create its own version of the legend.
Summary: A Revolutionary Visual Experience Unveils a New Spider-Man Legend
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse opened up new possibilities for animated movies by combining creative visuals with a story everyone can relate to. The blend of watercolor and Da Vinci-inspired art is a symbol for today’s world, where diverse values and styles can coexist in the multiverse.
When Miles says he wants to ‘smash destiny,’ it speaks for a new generation that doesn’t want to just follow the path set by adults. The question remains: Can he truly create his own story, free from algorithms and the expectations of others?
With the next sequel, ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse,’ on the horizon, it’s worth asking again: Are you creating your own story?
At the time of writing, the sequel, ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,’ is scheduled for release in 2027.
