Innovations in Animation - Part 2 - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

 It's been a hard year. As we start to dig out from under the horrors of 2020 and the Covid pandemic, let's take a moment to get back to my topic of Innovations in Animation. After my first entry from the 1980's, ("Twice Upon A Time") I want to jump forward to the 21st Century. Through the years, Sony Pictures was not my top pick as far as animation or superhero film studios go. But Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for the studio. I finally saw it on Blu-Ray, and it definitely caught my attention.

(copyright Sony/Marvel/Disney?) 

Comic book style! Other attempts have been made, with dubious success.

Hand drawn effects over 3D, far advanced from old cell shaders.

 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4633694/

https://www.imageworks.com/our-craft/feature-animation/movies/spider-man-spider-verse

 https://www.foundry.com/insights/film-tv/into-spiderverse 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEXUG_vN540

https://characterdesignreferences.com/art-of-animation-7/art-of-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-part-1?fbclid=IwAR1iIrNQ4S-zKVtUY0NEt36ya6HTwBJd1dfF6s8C4k-8EGVT5UupxSUXr4E

 Art Direction by Dean Gordon, Patrick O'Keefe

Production Design -  Justin K. Thompson

Danny Dimian - Visual Effects Supervisor

Directed by
Bob Persichetti     
Peter Ramsey     
Rodney Rothman

Writing Credits  
Phil Lord     ...     Screenplay
Rodney Rothman     ...     Screenplay
 
Phil Lord     ...    Story

Paul Watling - Head of Story

 

While it's not a direct part of the MCU, Kevin Feige's hand still seemed to be felt.

Cartoon Crossroads Columbus - CXC

Managed to stumble on this while channel surfing in Ohio before Christmas.

Very good discussion.

Will have to get back down to Columbus someday soon.

Gustavo Duarte graphic novel and comics!

Someone brought in a copy of Gustavo Duarte's graphic novel "Monsters! and Other Stories" to the lab today. All I can say is-watch out Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes), Ben Balistreri (Seaweed) and Jeff Smith (Bone)! Bold, yet subtle inking on ironic characters and brilliant visual storytelling without any dialog. Very clever sense of humor.

Little bit of Michel Gagne or even some Vaughn Bode' in there too. Hurry up and get a copy soon!

                           (Artwork copyright Gustavo Duarte)

http://mangabastudios.blog.uol.com.br/

http://comicsalliance.com/dark-horse-gustavo-duarte-monsters-and-other-stories-january-preview/

UPDATE: There is some disturbing (but still cool) imagery in "Monsters! and Other Stories. Just in case the little ones are curious. (Now all the Bart Simpsons will want to see it.)