Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was once a firm favorite for the “Best Animated Feature” at this year’s Oscars, with even some rumblings that it might be one of only a few animated movies to web up a “Best Picture” nomination as well. The highly-anticipated sequel to the groundbreaking Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse from 2018 pushed the boundaries of animation even further with its innovative visual style and mind-bending exploration of the multiverse concept.
Into the Spider-Verse was a critical and commercial smash hit, winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and grossing over $375 million worldwide. The film followed Miles Morales, a Brooklyn teen who becomes the new Spider-Man, as he teams up with Spider-People from other dimensions to save the multiverse. It revolutionized superhero animation with its unique visual aesthetic that combined computer animation with traditional hand-drawn techniques.
Across the Spider-Verse promised to raise the bar even higher, with early footage revealing a dizzying array of artistic styles as Miles travels through wildly different universe iterations. From the photorealistic to the quirky 2D worlds, the film’s ambition to depict the infinite possibilities of the multiverse through animation was staggering.
Then, The Boy and The Heron came along and captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike. The latest masterpiece from Hayao Miyazaki and his legendary Studio Ghibli had been racking up awards on the festival circuit, so its Oscar win for Best Animated Feature over Across the Spider-Verse wasn’t entirely surprising. Directed by the Ghibli veteran Miyazaki, the hand-drawn film is a poignant yet whimsical tale about a young boy forming an unlikely friendship with a heron as they journey together.
Hailed as a return to the studio’s and Miyazaki’s artistic prime, The Boy and The Heron’s exquisite hand-crafted animation and deeply moving storytelling struck a profound chord. While Across the Spider-Verse pushed technology’s limits, The Boy and The Heron celebrated the unparalleled beauty and magic of traditional 2D animation in the hands of masters like Miyazaki.
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In the end, both films represented animated excellence in different ways. However, Miles Morales actor Shameik Moore was understandably disappointed and took to X after the ceremony to make his feelings known about the Spider-Verse sequel’s loss.
Christopher Miller, the producer of the Spider-Verse franchise, also discussed X. Despite his obvious hurt over the defeat, he seems to have no issue losing to a legend such as Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away).
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Studio Ghibli patriarch, Hayao Miyazaki, was unable to receive the award, but producer Toshio Suzuki has shared the following statement about last night’s win:
“As producer of The Boy and the Heron, I am extremely honored to receive the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Academy. I would also like to give my thanks to those who were involved in the production of this film, and to all those who worked to distribute the film worldwide.”
“This film began with director Hayao Miyazaki retracting his retirement statement. Following that, we spent seven years in the production of this work. It has been ten years since Hayao Miyazaki’s previous film, The Wind Rises, during which time there have been dramatic changes in the environment surrounding films.”
“This film was truly difficult to bring to completion. I am very appreciative that the work that was created after overcoming these difficulties has been seen by so many people around the world, and that it has received this recognition. Both Hayao Miyazaki and I have aged a considerable amount. I am grateful to receive such an honor at my age, and taking this as a message to continue our work, I will devote myself to work harder in the future. Thank you very much.”
What you think about Shameki’s behavior or about Miyazaki’s film? Let us know in the comments.
Not a good look for Shameik Moore.
Miller’s comment had the right amount of salt. It is seldom fun to lose, but if you lose to one of the most legendary creators of all time…
You can put a feather in your cap at least.