In 2019, the film industry was bestowed with one of the best animated films, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” The film was a blockbuster hit, and even even earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The film’s epic animation and plotline made it a fan favorite. But what impacted the audience the most was its lead character, Miles Morales/ Spider-Man. The beloved character of Miles Morales is once again back, but not on the big screen as earlier. Rather, you will be watching Morales on YouTube from the comfort of your choice. Following its North American debut at last year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story is coming exclusively to YouTube courtesy of Sony.
Miles Morales makes a comeback in The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story
While fans are highly anticipating part three of Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse after the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, they can satisfy themselves with the new story about Miles Morales for free from the comfort of their own home. As reported by Variety, the short film titled The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story will be available on Sony Pictures Animation’s channel starting on March 27 as part of a partnership with the mental health outreach and support program, the Kevin Love Fund.
Physical health is something people are highly vocal about, but when it comes to mental health, people become skeptical of opening up about it. The upcoming short film aims to spread the message to people suffering from mental health issues to open up and seek help from others. The Spider-Within follows Miles taking a break from fighting multiverse threats and villains to deal with a more insidious and common enemy: anxiety. Burdened with the day-to-day responsibilities as a student, a teenager, a friend, and the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, he starts feeling overwhelmed with everything in life, which leads to panic attacks. But it is not in Miles’s nature to sit with problems, so he confronts the manifestations of his anxiety and reaches out to his support system in his time of need.
Miles is a character who resonates with many, and with The Spider-Within, he is certainly going to relate to the core with people dealing with anxiety. The short film also appeared in last year’s Animation Is Film Festival lineup. The new Spider-Verse film was made for Sony Pictures Imageworks as part of the LENS (Leading and Empowering New Storytellers) mentorship program, with Jarelle Dampier directing and Khaila Amazan writing.
As usual, the character of Miles is brought to life by Shameik Moore. Brian Tyree Henry also reprises his role as Miles’ father, Jefferson Davis.
In an official statement, Dampier shared how he wanted to ensure audiences related to
Miles’s struggle with The Spider Within and hoped that it would spark a realization in many viewers who love the character. He said, “Miles represents so many of us doing the best we can in our day-to-day lives. We don’t often realize all that we’ve been through until our own body forces us to become aware of its experience. My intention is that ‘The Spider Within’ can motivate deeper conversations amongst friends & family about their own mental health journeys – and I hope it feels like a love letter to those who adore Miles Morales.”
The film is funded by NBA star Kevin Love, who wanted to ensure everyone has the means to live a healthy life mentally and physically without stigma.
The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story debuts on the Sony Pictures Animation YouTube channel on March 27 at 6 a.m. PT.
