Film Review: "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018).

"Enter a universe where more than one wears the mask" with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This computer-animated superhero film directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, written by Phil Lord and Rothman, based on the Marvel Comics character Miles Morales / Spider-Man. It is the first animated feature film in the Spider-Man franchise, and is set in a shared multiverse called the "Spider-Verse", which has alternate universes. The film centres on Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.

During the 2014 Sony hack, emails between Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal and president Doug Belgrad revealed plans for an animated Spider-Man film to be developed by Lord and Christopher Miller. In April 2015, it was officially announced, by new Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman, with a July 20, 2018 release date. In December, Sony moved the film's release date to December 21, 2018. In June 2016, Lord had completed the script, and Bob Persichetti and Peter Ramsey were chosen to direct. Lord and Miller wanted the film to have its own unique style, combining Sony Pictures Imageworks' computer animation pipeline with traditional hand-drawn comic book techniques inspired by the work of Sara Pichelli. In April 2017, the film's release date was pushed up one week from December 21, 2018, to December 14, 2018. In December, Lord and Miller announced that the film was titled Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and revealed that multiple Spider-Men would appear in the film, with the character of Miles Morales at the centre. It was also revealed that Rodney Rothman became co-director. In July 2018, Daniel Pemberton was announced as the film's composer. By November, it was revealed that Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Luna Lauren Velez, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, and Liev Schreiber had rounded out the cast. This film is dedicated in memory of Spider-Man co-creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, who died on November 12, 2018 and July 6, 2018. It was revealed that Lee had recorded a cameo for the film and that it would be his final voice-acting role.

Lord and Miller wanted the film to feel like "you walked inside a comic book", and were excited to tell the story in a way that the live-action films could not. Persichetti concurred, feeling that animation was the best medium with which to honor the style of the comics, allowing the production team to adapt 70-year-old techniques seen in comic artwork into the film's visual language. One of the many ways the animation team has paid tribute to old comic books through the visual style is to imitate the imperfections of offset printing. Completing the animation for the film required up to 140 animators, the largest crew ever used by Sony Pictures Animation for a film.

Boasting spectacular animation, an amazing voice cast, laugh-a-minute gags, and a surprisingly thoughtful story, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is fun for all Spider-Man fans, old and new.

Simon says Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse receives:

Also, see my reviews for Rise of the Guardians and Venom.