New Spider-Verse outing is now available to watch for free
We might still be waiting for Beyond the Spider-Verse, but there is a new Spider-Verse short movie to enjoy.
The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, which is set in the world of last year's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, is available to watch for free on YouTube right now.
The short premiered at Annecy Festival in June 2023 and follows Miles Morales (voiced in the franchise by Shameik Moore) as he struggles to balance his responsibilities as Spider-Man.
As he experiences a panic attack after a challenging day, Miles learns that reaching out for help can be just as brave an act as being Spider-Man and protecting his city.
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"In navigating those 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," reads the official synopsis for the film.
The digital release comes in partnership with the Kevin Love Fund, the mental health organisation founded by American professional basketball player Kevin Love.
The film will be incorporated as part of the charity's new mental health-focused lesson plan, The Hero Within.
"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," said Love on the film's importance.
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"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 film's director Jarelle Dampier added: "Miles represents so many of us doing the best we can in our day-to-day lives. We don't often realise 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."
The Spider Within was made by Sony's LENS filmmaking team. LENS is an initiative that gives underrepresented groups the chance to tell stories from Sony's animation films.
The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story is available to watch now on YouTube.
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