How 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse' Was Animated | Movies Insider

Summary

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a groundbreaking animated film, known for its innovative animation and storytelling. It combines characters from various universes and uses unique techniques like alternating frame rates, smears instead of motion blur, and comic book-inspired effects such as half-toning, action lines, and onomatopoeia. The movie’s attention to detail, such as mixing different animation styles for various characters, pays homage to traditional comic books while introducing new visual styles. With 177 animators and intricate animation work, it stands as one of the most visually distinctive films of its time.

Takeaways

• 🎥 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' is a groundbreaking animated movie, both in terms of its story and its innovative animation style.
• 👥 The film involved 177 animators, which is more than double the typical number for animated movies.
• ⌛ It took one week to animate just one second of footage, showcasing the complexity of the project.
• 🎞️ The film used a combination of animating on ones (one image per frame) and twos (one image per two frames), giving it a unique 'crunchy' feel.
• 🚫 Instead of motion blur, the film employed an old-school technique called smearing to depict motion, which is evident in scenes with characters like Gwen and Miles.
• 📚 The film blended traditional comic book elements such as half-toning, hatching, and Kirby Krackle, creating a moving comic book experience.
• 🖌️ 2D hand-drawn elements were layered on top of 3D animations, giving the characters a unique, textured look.
• 🌍 Multiple animation styles were used for different Spider-people, such as exaggerated anime for Peni and Spider-pig, and black-and-white textures for Spider-Man Noir.
• 🗽 The creators paid extreme attention to detail, especially in recreating accurate backgrounds like New York City streets.
• 👤 The film features multiple appearances of Stan Lee as an homage, hidden throughout different scenes.

Q & A

What makes 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' stand out as an animated film?

'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' stands out due to its innovative animation style, blending multiple animation techniques and comic book elements to create a visually unique experience. The film intentionally avoids photo-realism, instead opting for a mix of traditional comic book aesthetics and new animation approaches.

How many animators worked on 'Spider-Verse', and how does that compare to typical animated films?

At one point, 'Spider-Verse' had 177 animators, which is more than twice the number for a typical animated film. For comparison, the original 'Toy Story' had only 27 animators.

What is the significance of animating 'on twos' in 'Spider-Verse'?

Animating 'on twos' means holding an image for two frames instead of the standard one frame per second. This technique gives the animation a 'crunchy' feel and allows for a more stylized, exaggerated effect. It was used to emphasize certain characters or moments, such as Miles being animated on twos to show his inexperience while Peter B. Parker, being more skilled, was animated on ones.

How does 'Spider-Verse' use motion techniques differently from other animated films?

Instead of using CGI motion blur, 'Spider-Verse' uses an old-school technique called motion smearing. This method, seen in early cartoons, creates the illusion of movement by showing multiple limbs or shapes within a single frame.

What comic book techniques were incorporated into the animation style of 'Spider-Verse'?

The film incorporates several comic book techniques, including 2D ink lines layered on 3D art, misprinted colors for depth of field, half-toning for color gradients, hatching for shadows, and the 'Kirby Krackle' for energy effects. Additionally, onomatopoeia and action lines are used to represent sounds and motion.

What role did the frame rate play in the character development of Miles Morales?

The frame rate was used to depict Miles' growth and increasing confidence. Early in the film, he is often animated on twos, reflecting his clumsiness and struggle with his powers. As he becomes more skilled, he is animated more frequently on ones, matching the fluidity and expertise of the other spider-people.

How does the animation style differ between the various spider-people in the film?

Each spider-person has a distinct animation style to reflect their unique universe. Peni Parker and Spider-Ham have exaggerated, anime-style movements, while Spider-Man Noir is depicted in black-and-white with detailed textures. These styles contrast with Miles' world, which has a more traditional comic book aesthetic.

What were some of the challenges animators faced while creating 'Spider-Verse'?

The most challenging aspects included animating the unique styles for each spider-person and blending them seamlessly into one film. One specific scene involving all the spider-people took two months for one animator to perfect. Animating Spider-Man Noir in black and white, while keeping the textures detailed, was also particularly difficult.

What are some examples of visual comic book elements that 'Spider-Verse' borrowed?

'Spider-Verse' borrowed visual elements such as comic panels made out of webbing, half-toning, action lines, and onomatopoeia to show movement and sound effects. These touches helped make the film feel like a comic book in motion.

How did the filmmakers pay homage to traditional comic books in the design of 'Spider-Verse'?

The filmmakers paid homage to traditional comic books through techniques like using misprint-style errors for depth, hatching for shading, and Jack Kirby's iconic 'Kirby Krackle' for energy effects. These techniques, along with hand-drawn stills layered over 3D animation, gave the movie a comic book-like quality.