Exploring mental health through animation, The Spider Within short debuts on YouTube.
Sony Pictures Animation and the Kevin Love Fund have collaborated to release an animated short film titled “The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story.” The film aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, especially among students, through the educational initiative “The Hero Within.” The film is a genre-blending thriller that follows the journey of Miles Morales, the Spider-Man of Brooklyn. Miles faces everyday struggles of being a teenager, friend, and student while also shouldering the responsibility of protecting his city. One day, Miles experiences a panic attack after a particularly tough day. This leads him to confront the manifestations of his anxiety. Through his journey, he learns the importance of seeking help. He learns that vulnerability can be just as heroic as battling villains. Watch the short below!
“The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story” was born out of the inaugural year of the Leading and Empowering New Storytellers (LENS). It is a program by Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks. As part of the program, participants develop an original short film set in the existing world of a feature produced by Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Directed by Jarelle Dampier and written by Khailia Amazan, “The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story” is a testament to the talent and creativity fostered by the LENS program.
Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and David Schulenburg, the creators of the LENS program, served as producers. Clara Chan and Joe Darko contributed as VFX and animation supervisors. This initiative is part of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s broader commitment to racial equity and inclusion through its global strategy, Sony Pictures Action. To learn more about this groundbreaking collaboration and the mental health-focused lesson plan, “The Hero Within,” visit kevinlovefund.org.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
