By Sunnove Carlson

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is the long awaited sequel of the movie ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’. It came out June 2, 2023 and was immediately adored by the world. With the introduction of new characters, diving deep into the lore of the Spider-Verse, and the incredibly heightened animation quality, ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ became an instant hit!

The main character, Miles Morales, is a 17-year-old superhero, who reunites with his friend, and fellow Spider-person, Gwen Stacey. Miles travels across the Multiverse and meets countless versions of Spider-people all working together to defeat dangerous super villains and keep the Multiverse intact. Along the way, Miles finds out a new downside of what it means to be a Spider-person. He reflects on the morality of the Spider-society and tries to find a way to save the people he loves, whilst simultaneously striving to defeat a super villain known as ‘The Spot’.

The outstanding animation of this movie and the heartfelt story have gotten this movie numerous awards across the board, including, ‘Excellence in Production Design for an Animated Film,’ ‘Best Animated Feature,’ ‘Top 10 Films of the Year,’ seven Annie Awards, forty others, and even more nominations. 

The animation alone is a good enough reason to see this movie. There are six different styles of animation used throughout this film, including both 3D and 2D animation. But the most praised aspect of this animation is how different characters have different frame rates. The artistic choice of moving between frame rates depending on the mood and character absolutely escalates the quality and feel of the film. All of the colors and animation styles make this a true visual experience deserving of all the praise it receives.

Although the animation shines, the plot of this story is incredible, with a balance of humor, heartfelt conversations, huge reveals, high-stakes action, Spider-Verse lore, plot twists, and devastating revelations. This movie can bring the viewer to tears with its phenomenal storytelling. All of the foreshadowing that had gone unnoticed in the first movie is paying off, where everything comes full circle. As the story follows Miles and Gwen, the film explores themes of identity, responsibility, and love.

The voice cast delivers impressive performances that capture their characters’ energy perfectly. Shameik Moore’s portrayal of Miles Morales continues to resonate with audiences, while new additions, including Daniel Kaluuya and Karan Soni, bring fresh spirit and soul to the table.

What sets ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ apart is its ability to cater to any viewer, whether they’re a fan of Spider-Man, or a casual moviegoer. With its engaging storyline, there are zero boring scenes that can keep anyone hooked into these character’s stories.

Overall, ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ not only has lived up to the expectations set by its predecessor, but surpasses it in many aspects. With its origination animation, compelling story-telling, and a cast that brings the characters to life, this sequel is a must-see cinematic masterpiece.

My rating: 5/5