Exclusive: Unveiling the Untold Secrets of the Disruptive Journey Behind 'Across the Spider-Verse'

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse, a visually stunning masterpiece that took half a decade to create, proved to be an arduous endeavor for some of its animators. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, a dynamic duo known for their successful collaborations, co-wrote this film, which has gained immense popularity, raking in over $500 million worldwide, despite facing restrictions in certain nations. Notably, the film has received widespread critical acclaim for its breathtaking animation, including the intricately detailed Spider-Punks animation that required a staggering three years to complete. However, the pursuit of this aesthetic excellence evidently came with a toll on the animators involved.

Four animators have recently come forward anonymously to share their concerns about what they are describing as "unsustainable working conditions" during the production of a certain film. While it is common for animated projects to undergo numerous changes and overhauls, this particular film stands out due to the timing and extent of these alterations. According to the animators, approved and fully finished segments of the film were actually scrapped much later in the production process. It is difficult to fathom exactly what was removed from the final cut, considering the film's already long duration of 2 hours and 16 minutes, with two different versions being shown in theaters. Consequently, these dedicated animators claim that they were forced to work tirelessly, putting in exhausting hours of up to 11 per day, seven days a week, for over a year in order to compensate for the lost time.

The blame for most of the issues surrounding the production seems to be placed on Phil Lord by the four animators. They claim that Lord overshadowed the work of the three directors and that Miller was absent for most of the production. Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, and Kemp Powers, as well as Lord and Miller, have not commented on this matter. However, Michelle Grady, the executive vice-president and general manager of Sony Pictures Imageworks, stated in an interview with Vulture that Lord should not be held accountable as he was only relaying decisions made by the co-directors, Miller, the executive producers, and the studio.

This situation sheds light on several problems that currently exist in the film industry. Due to the lack of job security, animators often continue working on a project even if the pay and hours are unfavorable, as they may struggle to find another project to work on. Moreover, completing their past projects successfully is crucial for their future employment prospects and ability to obtain rehiring opportunities. Additionally, some animators hold work visas, and leaving the project prematurely could potentially result in having to leave the country.

Many animators who worked on Across the Spider-Verse actually have a different perspective, as evidenced by the behind-the-scenes content they have been sharing on social media for several months. They express great joy and satisfaction in their experience of working on the film. Even a 14-year-old animator contributed to the project by creating a scene during his spring break. Amy Pascal, the executive producer of the film, mentioned that it was not unexpected for around 100 animators and technicians out of the 1000 involved to leave the project, as this is simply a common occurrence in the industry.