Spider-Verse Reveals New Short Before Third Film
According to a Variety exclusive, in addition to the three main films, the Spider-Verse will feature a short animation called The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story. The upcoming short is focused on Miles Morales, of course, and was made as part of a partnership with the Kevin Love Fund. Instead of a standard superhero adventure, it will cover the importance of mental health.
Great Responsibility
This Spider-Verse short doesn’t focus on an adventure or a superhero saving the day. Instead, it’s more about a superhero realizing that sometimes, even they need a little help. The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story focuses on Miles Morales and the struggles he faces with his mental health since, as Spider-Man, Miles has to find a balance between teenager, student, friend, and superhero.
Asking For Help
It’s not always easy. In the short, Miles ends up having a panic attack. To get better, he has to figure out what causes his anxiety and learn to reach out for help.
The main purpose of The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story is to help those who love Miles Morales realize that sometimes, even the strongest people need to ask for a little help. It doesn’t make them weak, and in fact, sometimes requires more bravery than saving the day.
Not Required Viewing
While it’s not required as part of the Spider-Verse story, it’s a good video for anyone to watch. The Spider-Within: A Spider-Verse Story will soon be available free on YouTube, starting on March 27. At the very least, it will help fans get a little more of their beloved Spider-Man before the next movie of the Spider-Verse comes out.
The Hero Within
The Kevin Love Foundation was founded by Kevin Love, NBA superstar currently playing for the Miami Heat, and an advocate for mental health. This Spider-Verse short is a part of the foundation’s mental health-focused lesson plan, called “The Hero Within.” The purpose of this plan is to entice students to tell their own stories with a focus on mental health. The curriculum includes interactive lessons and a creative storyboard activity.
Sony’s LENS Program
In addition to being a part of a partnership with the Kevin Love Foundation, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story was a part of Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks LENS program. LENS stands for “leading and empowering new storytellers.” It’s a nine-month leadership program that helps candidates from underrepresented groups have an opportunity to learn more and gain experience in animation and leadership in the animation industry.
At the end of the program, the candidates presents a short film that has to be original but set in the world of a feature produced by Sony. The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story was written by Khaila Amazan, directed by Jarelle Dampier, and produced by Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and David Schulenburg.
Miles Represents The Best Of Us
According to Dampier, “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 Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story first debuted in 2023, as part of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. However, it will soon be available for public viewing. Sony Picture Animation’s YouTube channel will air the short for free on March 27 at 6 p.m. PT.
Source: Variety
