The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story

Sony Pictures Animations' The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story is yet another strong example of the studio's magnificent chops. Only 7 minutes in length, it tackles a heck of a lot under the surface - battles with anxiety, youthful pressures, and familial bonds through trauma. The cast is minimal (Shameik Moore and Brian Tyree Henry returning as Miles and Jeff Morales, respectively), but these minimal interactions with Miles' growing mental anguish create a turning point for both characters that culminates in something wholesome - a stark contrast to the short's dark, horror-inspired imagery.

Mental health has been an element of many cinematic Spider-Man stories, but this short confronts these themes head-on, pulling no punches in creating imagery that helps us feel what Miles is enduring. However, I can't help but feel that this short did not flourish like it could have. To me, this begs to be incorporated into a larger work, where we can examine this side of Miles and his feelings towards herodom as it relates to a grander story. This is not a make-or-break critique, of course, as the end product was effective, empathetic, and I'm sure started a lot of productive conversations.

No pun intended - until the next animated Spider Man movie comes out we did get this short to bridge the time. And while it does not really says it out loud, the short is about anxiety. Something you hopefully do not have about the release date of the next adventure Miles Morales is about to have ... no pun intended here also.

Obviously this is about a more serious topic and something we may not talk enough about. Expectations, just normal day life! Anyone can feel the pressure, can feel that they are not able to breathe. Not just super heroes! Once again we make him human - and Spider Man is really best to use for that form of connecting with the audience! Taking us back to our youth or talking to the youth directly of course.

But also incorporating the dad/parent, to show there is help (hopefully), we can fall back to. It can be many forms or persons - it is important to talk about things though. If you take anything from this, let this be it (and not that entertainment or horror is not important - sorry one last joke, had to)

Spider-Man fans rejoice! Although last weekend was originally slated for the release of the now-delayed Beyond the Spider-Verse, Sony Animation did not leave us empty-handed. Premiering at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2023, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story has been the topic of conversations for fans yearning to leap back into the stylized world they've come to adore. After waiting almost a year, Sony Animation finally released the short film on their YouTube channel for everyone to enjoy for free. In a collaboration with the Kevin Love Fund, the short aims to raise awareness and resonate with those facing emotional or mental struggles. Taking a short trip into the Spider-Verse, audiences can now enjoy the short film whenever they'd like.

Taking place between the first and second Spider-Verse films, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) finds himself on a momentary break from crime fighting. Crashing back to reality, he stumbles past his father, Jefferson Davis (Brian Tyree Henry), to lock himself in his bedroom. Suffering from an anxiety attack, Miles finds himself faced with his own mental demons. After standing against various struggles and foes, Spider-Man must now work to overcome his own internal battle.

Centering on Miles, the short attempts to provide a deeper exploration of his character, with Shameik Moore continuing to deliver a flawless portrayal of the young Spider-Man. However, despite its noble intentions, the short feels somewhat inconsequential. Depicting anxiety as an ordinary villain, the metaphor seems drowned out by the lackluster execution. Though rarely touched on within the genre, Marvel previously succeeded at a similar story with Iron Man 3. Additionally, the short concludes abruptly, closing the chapter on Miles mental health struggle almost as quickly as it began. Although beautifully animated, The Spider Within fails to prove necessary in the larger Spider-Verse by pulling its punches on its realistic subject.

While The Spider Within sheds light on a lesser-explored aspect of superheroes, it doesn't quite measure up to the exceptional films that preceded it. Hopefully, future endeavors will delve into other realistic struggles of Spider-Men and allow more time for issues to be explored. While it's a commendable effort to bridge the Spider-Verse, The Spider Within falls short of its full potential, despite originating from a promising concept.

The Spider Within: A Spider-verse Story is a great short film with an amazing message at its core that makes Miles Morales even more relatable. Watching him struggle with something so universal as anxiety and finding help by talking about it with his father is beautiful, superheroes have rarely felt this human.

Even in 7 minutes, it shows how this franchise is bolder, more mature, and more exciting than so much of the competition. It was never in doubt but it's also nice to have further proof of how perfect the soundtracks to Spider-verse films are with a closing credits song worthy of the previous two films.

The animation is stunning as usual, a love letter to the source material that visualises Miles' anxiety in very interesting ways and still finds time to throw in quick references to iconic Spider-Man imagery. It leans into horror like never before and confirms that animation is a way better and more creatively freeing medium than live action could ever be.

In a Short, Sony and Marvel did brilliant to create a relatable adventure for Miles Morales' Spider-Man. The animation is well-done just like the Film that comes before it (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse) and the music is also put together nicely to keep it a calm and engaging experience. It also sends the correct message across in a way where Anxiety is the Villain and that anyone can over come it. You don't need superpowers to prove Anxiety wrong and you don't need them to prove doubts wrong. You can always open up to someone likes Miles did to his Father and whatever is going on in your life between Miles' struggles of homework and fighting crime, there will always be someone there to support him in life.