If there was one phrase I would use to describe Sony Pictures animation, it would be “hit or miss”. This studio has delivered some really bad, cynical films over the years. But when they put forth passion into their work and try their best to deliver a worthwhile product, it truly shows. This has resulted in some great films, from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, to Arthur Christmas, to what I believe to be their magnum-opus, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which not only stands as a fantastic animated movie, but as Spider-Man’s best film to date.

Spider-Verse is to Spider-Man what The Lego Batman Movie was to Batman. Both films have fundamental understanding of what makes their respective characters so iconic, and are able to respectfully pay homage to them, while also throwing in a few jabs at their history. Not only are there so many great references to the character’s history, but the filmmakers also take the chance to subvert many of the standard Spider-Man tropes. There are quite a few jokes made at Spidey’s expense, such a particularly funny reference to Spider-Man 3. But I also like how the film knows why Spider-Man inspires so many people, and why so many find him relatable. At the end of the day, Spider-Man is just a normal guy with everyday problems, who chooses to stand up for those who can’t, and the film fully realizes this aspect of the character.

However, instead of focusing on the traditional Peter Parker, the film centers around newcomer, Miles Morales, a normal kid trying to figure out his place in the world. He soon receives spider powers, and has to learn how to use them properly after the death of his world’s Spider-Man. Miles is insanely likable, but also quite relatable. You empathize with him struggling to adapt to a new school. You want to see him master his powers with the help of the other Spider-people. You want to see him patch things up with his dad. And when Miles eventually does master his powers, it's incredibly satisfying to watch unfold. This might actually be my favorite incarnation of Spider-Man, as Miles provides a fresh, new take on the character, while remaining true to the character’s roots.

Miles is aided in his journey by Peter B. Parker, a Spider-Man that is similar to the one found in Miles’ dimension, but is also quite different. This new version of Peter has been Spider-Man for much longer, and has thus become much more jaded and cynical than his blond counterpart. He still strives to help people, but you can tell he’s become more apathetic and tired over the years. This is honestly such a brilliant twist on Peter Parker. We tend to think of Spider-man as this cheerful, idealistic person, and this film completely subverts that convention. His chemistry with Miles is fantastic, as it seems like teaching his young protege has given Peter’s life purpose.

The plethora of side characters work really well. The other Spider-people are great additions to the film, from the likable Spider-Gwen, to the overly-edgy Spider-Man Noir, to the anime-inspired Peni Parker, to the wonderfully cartoonish Spider-Ham. These characters are a lot of fun to see on-screen, with many of them having their own unique art styles that contrast well with the standard one. The villain this time around is Kingpin, who they actually manage to give some depth to. While you ultimately don’t agree with his actions, you do understand why he’s doing what he’s doing, and it all makes sense.

I can’t believe I’ve made it this long into the review without bringing up the animation. It is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t want to know how much effort was placed into making every frame look as eye-catching as possible. The filmmakers frame the animation in such a way that it replicates the feel of an actual comic book. I can’t think of any other comic book movies that have done that. The color palette is fantastic. There is never any moment that is dull to look at. The animation lends itself quite well to jaw-dropping action. It’s very fast and fluid, taking full advantage of the technology at their disposal. Despite the action being very fast-paced, you can always tell where every character is and what’s going on. This is up there with some of the best 3D animation ever produced, and I really hope to see this style used in other films.

Honestly, it's kind of shocking that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse turned out to be this good. I could have easily seen the filmmakers screwing this whole thing up. But if I’ve learned anything, it's to always trust a project that Phil Lord and Chris Miller are attached to. These guys are the kings of turning bad ideas into the best ideas. However, I don’t want to ignore the hundreds of talented animators and storytellers who brought this masterpiece to life. All of these people came together to create what is no doubt the best animated movie of 2018, and possibly one of the best animated movies of all time. 

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