Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has quickly solidified its position as the reigning champion of animated films and comic book adaptations, making it a tough act to follow until its sequel, Beyond the Spider-Verse, arrives. From its thrilling action sequences to its poignant emotional moments and exceptional voice performances, the second installment of the Spider-Verse trilogy has captured the hearts of millions.
However, this success has come at a price.
Recently, concerns have been raised about the working conditions of the animators behind Across the Spider-Verse. One particular comment from producer Amy Pascal has drawn significant criticism and deservedly so. Pascal’s dismissive response to animators feeling demoralized after revising final renders five times reflects a troubling lack of empathy, especially considering the long-standing issue of overworking VFX professionals in the film industry.
When key members of a team express dissatisfaction with being overworked and undervalued, it is unacceptable to respond with such indifference. Twitter users have rightly called out Pascal for her remarks.
In a recent article, one of the interviewed artists revealed frustrations that extended beyond the excessive working hours. They highlighted how Phil Lord’s supposedly haphazard approach to storytelling and revisions resulted in wasted efforts and an overall disrespectful treatment of the animators, who undergo an intensive and time-consuming process.
“Like, okay, yeah, it’s easy to make a movie if you just say, ‘Don’t plan anything.’ You tell the artists, ‘Come up with stuff. Create the footage and then I’ll decide which direction to go.’ It’s easier to do it that way. But it’s very destructive and time consuming. The hardest thing on the animators has not been working 11 hours a day, 70 hours a week. It’s been the wasted work and the frustration of putting in that many hours just to see it changed or thrown away. You work like nuts on a shot and then in a review, suddenly they’re like, ‘Oh, you didn’t get the latest edit? That’s not how it is anymore.’”
As someone who deeply appreciates the Spider-Verse films and recognizes their significance in the world of animation, comic book adaptations, and cinema as a whole, I believe it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of the animators over expedited release dates. If delaying Beyond the Spider-Verse means creating an environment where animators can thrive and be treated with the respect they deserve, then it is a sacrifice worth making. The wait for Across the Spider-Verse was undoubtedly worth it, and I am certain the same would hold true for Beyond the Spider-Verse even if its release date were pushed back by a few years. Artists deserve better.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently showing in theaters.
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