SPIDER-VERSE Animated Short Film THE SPIDER WITHIN Coming to YouTube Soon
Sony has announced that they will be releasing its Spider-Verse animated short film, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story on Sony Pictures Animation’s YouTube channel at 6 am. PT on March 27.
The digital release comes in partnership with the Kevin Love Fund, and it will be incorporated as part of the fund’s new mental health-focused lesson plan, “The Hero Within.” The lesson plan invites students to tell their own story through the lens of mental health awareness through an interactive curriculum including a creative storyboard activity.
This short film gives Miles Morales his own horror story of sorts. It focuses on “what happens when Miles Morales (once again played by Shameik Moore) starts to feel the pressure of his life as Spider-Man, which results in a scary, trippy little jaunt through his subconscious.”
The short was directed by Jarelle Dampier, and the synopsis reads: "Miles Morales struggles to balance his responsibilities as a teenager, friend, and student while acting as Brooklyn's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. After a particularly challenging day living with these pressures, Miles experiences a panic attack that forces him to confront the manifestations of his anxiety and learn that reaching out for help can be just as brave an act as protecting his city from evil."
Jarelle Dampier, director of “The Spider Within” shared in a statement: “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.”
KLF founder, professional basketball player and mental health advocate Kevin Love said: “My hope for the short film would be for everyone, especially young people, to understand that your feelings are valid and that you are not alone in this. You see it with Spider-Man in the short film, where Miles has a trusted confidante. He is able to take a walk with his dad and express what he’s going through. We can all learn from that – how important it is to reach out to someone, express your true emotions, speak your truth and not hold everything inside.”
The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story was initially released at Annecy in 2023.
Source: Variety