Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse swung into theaters in December of 2018 and immediately captivated audiences with its revolutionary take on the beloved superhero genre and breathtaking animation style. Directed by the talented trio of Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, and Bob Persichetti, this animated masterpiece defied conventions and soared to unprecedented heights.

The film successfully introduces the concept of the multiverse and seamlessly weaves together the stories of various Spider-People from different dimensions. At its core, the film follows the journey of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), a teenager grappling with newfound powers in the wake of the death of his universe’s Spider-Man. His world is spun even more out of control as he meets alternate universe heroes that make him question if he is ready for his new responsibilities.

Accolades poured in for the film, with the crowning achievement being the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. This recognition affirmed not only the technical brilliance of the animation but also the emotional depth and storytelling prowess that elevated Into the Spider-Verse beyond the status of a mere superhero film.

As first time viewers delve into the intricate web of dimensions and the extraordinary journey of Miles, it becomes clear that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is more than a cinematic experience – it’s a groundbreaking achievement that redefined expectations for animated storytelling in the West and left an indelible mark on the superhero genre.

In this Movie List from The Film Magazine, we are highlighting the 10 best moments from the film that define why Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse continues to enthral audiences, and we will explore its legacy as one of the best comic book movies of all time.

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10. Welcome to the Spider-Verse

This is how you start a movie.

The rising intensity of the opening music. The glitching of the studio logos. The flashes of graffiti. Then blam: the intro fully kicks in and we are treated to the visual feast that is this movie. An explosion of colours and funky graphics inform us that Into the Spider-Verse is unlike any other comic book movie in that it is unashamed of its genre.

Following this is the opening monologue from Peter Parker (don’t get too attached), beginning the recurring “Alright, let’s do this one last time” gag. Peter, voiced by Chris Pine, gives a brief rundown of things most audiences will already know, narrating his life and the responsibilities that come with being Spider-Man. Yes, we’re technically seeing another screen Spider-Man origin story, but the writers make this one concise and fresh. This self-awareness lends itself nicely to some humorous moments, such as detailing the smaller Spider-Man duties, like having his own cereal or recording a Christmas album. 

Furthermore, there are plenty of references to Spider-Man in pop culture for fans to feast on. Did anyone expect them to reference the abominable Spider-Man popsicle? The animators even draw comparison to other Spidey iterations on screen, like the upside down kiss, the train scene in Spider-Man 2, and the legendary dance scene from Spider-Man 3.

It is the film’s thesis statement: funny, fast-paced and visually spectacular. The perfect introduction to one of the most unique comic book movies. Simultaneously, these opening 2 minutes are a celebration of all things Spider-Man, and a reminder why the iconic hero has endured for so long on page, on screen, and in wider popular culture.

Recommended for you: 10 Best Moments from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy

9. Meet Miles

A film is arguably only as good as its characters, and a film filled with fantastical Spider-people could have a hard time making its protagonist stand out. Within seconds of meeting Miles Morales, its clear audiences have a beloved hero to root for.

The first time we see Miles, he is caught up in his passions: artwork and music. His singing is gradually drowned out by his parents calling his name. He is pulled out of his daydream and into an all too relatable scenario – a teenager late for school. 

This quickly transitions to a high-energy montage showcasing Miles’ daily life, complete with the vibrant backdrop of Brooklyn. We are immersed in the sights and sounds of Miles’ world as they see a new side to him. As he walks through his neighbourhood, he is cool and approachable. His effortless charm makes him instantly likable. The dynamic animation, coupled with a hip-hop soundtrack, creates a sense of kinetic energy that mirrors the pulse of Miles’ urban environment. As Miles parades through the streets, leaving stickers of his artwork, he trips and is caught by his dad, a police officer. We are reminded that, despite his coolness, he’s still an awkward kid. These relatable struggles form the necessary strong connections between Miles and each of us.

These first moments with Miles do more for the film’s central character than a lot of comic book movies manage to do in their entire runtime. Miles’ humour and occasional awkwardness make him endearing. He embodies the youthful enthusiasm and idealism associated with adolescence, making him a perfect vessel for audiences diving into this larger than life story.

Incredibles 2
Directed By: Brad Bird 

Incredibles 2 was the latest release from the animation powerhouse Pixar, which brought us a sequel that was fourteen years in the making. Incredibles 2 begins in exactly the same spot that we left the Parr family in fourteen years ago. While we still get the traditional superhero story, it also delves in to the family dynamic that made the first film so relatable. The story is fuelled by the fact that super heroism has been made illegal and Elastigirl has been chosen by a millionaire mogul to help the general public to become more accepting of the ‘supers’ and their special abilities. As a result of this, Mr Incredible has to adapt to domestic life just at the point when Violet is struggling with being a teenage girl, Jack-Jack is discovering his powers and Dash is being his usual self. With some help from Edna, watching the transformation from Superhero to stay at home Dad is hilarious. It is undoubtedly Jack-Jack who steals the show, every scene he’s in is incredibly entertaining. As always, Pixar knocks it out of the park with its animation, the aesthetics and the technical aspects are just what you would expect from the masters of the medium. Above all, this film is nostalgic – as mentioned, fourteen years has passed since the first film, so getting to see and fall in love with the characters all over again is (no pun intended) incredible.

Isle Of Dogs
Directed By: Wes Anderson

While Wes Anderson is known for his eccentric and whimsical style in all of his films, this is only the second time (following Fantastic Mr. Fox, also nominated for an Oscar in 2010) that we have seen a feature length animation from the director. The story is a simple one: after a case of dog flu breaks out in the Japanese city of Megasaki, the Mayor banishes all dogs to Trash Island. In pursuit of his lost dog Spots, a young boy accepts the help of 5 dogs who live on the island and the film follows their adventure and the obstacles they encounter along the way. Isle Of Dogs has that distinctive Wes Anderson stop motion animation style and a voice acting cast to be envious of (Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Jeff Golblum, Greta Gerwig, Scarlett Johanson and Francis McDormand to name a few). The fact that it is an animated film should not make you think that is any less of a Wes Anderson classic, all the characters are deeply developed, the use of a consistent colour theme and very obvious symmetry that are synonymous with the director are still very prominent. Isle Of Dogs, out of the five nominated for best animated feature, is the one to watch if you want something very different out of your animated film viewing – it is quirky and extremely stylised, making it stand out from more traditional hand-drawn animation and computer generated animation that now dominates the genre.

Mirai
Directed By: Mamoru Hosoda

Mirai is a Japanese fantasy adventure animation from the mind of director Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu, the studio that he himself established. Like much of the animation that comes out of Japan, the animation in Mirai takes on a more traditional form which you may recognise from more popular titles from Studio Ghibli. Not only does it take on traditional Japanese visuals, but the story centres around family and the adventures of children with a little bit of the fantastical thrown in, which are prominent themes in many other Japanese animatied features. Mirai follows the story of a young boy who discovers a magical garden that allows him to travel in time to meet family members in different eras, all while being guided by his younger sister from the future. The film is charming, witty and overall it is fun. This is coupled with its stunning depiction of nature and well crafted characters, making it a great choice if you are looking to dip your toe into the world of Japanese animation.

Ralph Breaks The Internet
Directed By: Phil Johnston & Rich Moore

Did you really think we could have a true animation race without a showing from the biggest contender of them all? Disney brought us another sequel this year with Ralph Breaks The Internet, a follow up to the incredibly underrated Wreck It Ralph, released in 2012. The story once again finds the two friends Venelope and Ralph in a dilemma that leads them to taking a trip into the internet, where of course trouble ensues and only their friendship can help them overcome their obstacles. It is, however, not only the story that makes this film, it is the world that Disney has created. The world of the internet is so cleverly crafted, and the fact that our protagonists go in without a clue what the internet is, something that we the viewer have come so accustomed to, makes the situation so much only more engaging and hilarious to watch. With so many relatable and nostalgic easter eggs to enjoy, including a hilarious encounter with every Disney princess there has ever been (voiced by their original voice actors), Ralph Breaks The Internet is any technology/Disney fan’s dream. Is the film fun and enjoyable? Yes. Does it deserve to win? Probably not – the heavy hitters Disney and Pixar are actually the weakest in the pack this year, mainly for the fact that they have brought us exactly what we have come to expect from the two major studios.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey & Rodney Rothman 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the front runner in this year’s race. It seemed to come so out of left field – Marvel associated animations are always good but rarely are they something that everyone raves about as they did with this release. The story follows teenager Miles who becomes the Spider-Man. He then teams up with his counterparts from other dimensions to take on a common enemy that becomes a threat to all their collective realities. The story is compelling, the characters are well rounded and the action is thrilling. However, it is the animation style that sets this film apart from the rest, the animation is something new and exciting, a style that has never been seen before. The visuals are absolutely enchanting, bright, bold and sophisticated. There is very little to criticise about this film – the combination of the visuals, concepts, soundtrack, characters have made it one of the Marvel greats and something that would have made Stan Lee very proud. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the number one pick for this year’s awards.

So there you have it, the very best of animated feature film in 2018 as voted on by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Which film do you think will win? Did any great animations get left off the list? Let us know in the comments below!

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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Screenwriter: Phil Lord
Starring: Shameik Moore, Chris Pine, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Luna Lauren Velez, Zoe Kravitz, John Mulaney, Kimiko Glenn, Nicolas Cage, Kathryn Hahn, Liev Schreiber

Sony Pictures Animation’s hotly anticipated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse promised to take the idea of cross-dimensional travel and superhero team ups to the next level through a brand new animation style filled with vibrancy and life. Oh boy did they deliver.

Into the Spider-Verse is simply an unforgettable animated movie experience, a soft opening drip-feeding the less usual elements of its original visual style and potentially complicated central story arc in a way that was easy to digest, the impactful, exciting and often moving narrative beats consequently hitting you like a rush of blood to the head, the aesthetic wonderment of the film’s comic-book-inspired visuals pulsating from the screen and screaming “look at how cool this is!”

This animated feature is simply bursting with life, every frame filled with colour and an energy to its motion, its youthful exuberance right on the pulse of youth culture from the ideals and concerns of its central character to the fashions and technology used by the cast, right through to the pulsating beat of the soundtrack.

And it’s layered too…

Into the Spider-Verse relies upon some pre-existing knowledge of the Spider-Man universe, sure, and the joyful experience is bound to be increased if you’re at least somewhat familiar with the character, but it offers enough uniquely comic book style explanations to get itself through what would usually be tedious expository dialogue, and ultimately offers a cast made up of some truly fleshed out characters and one of the best central protagonists in any superhero movie ever – Miles Morales is someone you can’t help but want to see succeed. It’s a feeling emphasised by the piece’s unusual take on an origin movie – that being an inter-dimensional team-up of sorts – that (alongside the fantastic and original animation) distracts from some of the movie’s more clear-cut tropes and cliches, creating the feeling of an entirely fresh and distinct piece of work in every aspect.

It is for this reason that Into the Spider-Verse becomes transcendent of what it could have easily fallen into the trap of being: a superhero movie for comic book superhero fans. It simply screams too loudly and holds too tightly to be relegated to such a position; a truly fantastic achievement.

Visually, the team at Sony Pictures Animation have achieved something extraordinary, their new technologies taking the comic book visual form and firmly stamping it into the mainstream cinema experience. The film is awash with colour and an almost palpable electricity as a result, every single frame rendered with some of the most beautiful and striking visuals in any film this year. It’s in this respect that Into the Spider-Verse is really sent over the edge as an overall movie; the visual construction wrapping an otherwise solid picture in something so spectacular and original that it is absolutely monumental, and will guarantee that audiences (if not the industry itself) will look back upon this film as a game-changer and history maker of our time.

This electric, atmospheric festival of colour is simply fantastic; a memorable and hearty superhero film with a revolutionary take on its own medium, a treasure of this year in cinema and absolutely the very best in Sony Pictures Animation’s studio history. This may even be the best superhero film of 2018.

21/24