It's been a hard year. As we start to dig out from under the horrors of 2020 and the Covid pandemic, let's take a moment to get back to my topic of Innovations in Animation. After my first entry from the 1980's, ("Twice Upon A Time") I want to jump forward to the 21st Century. Through the years, Sony Pictures was not my top pick as far as animation or superhero film studios go. But Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for the studio. I finally saw it on Blu-Ray, and it definitely caught my attention.

(copyright Sony/Marvel/Disney?)

Comic book style! Other attempts have been made, with dubious success.

Hand drawn effects over 3D, far advanced from old cell shaders.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4633694/

https://www.imageworks.com/our-craft/feature-animation/movies/spider-man-spider-verse

https://www.foundry.com/insights/film-tv/into-spiderverse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEXUG_vN540

https://characterdesignreferences.com/art-of-animation-7/art-of-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-part-1?fbclid=IwAR1iIrNQ4S-zKVtUY0NEt36ya6HTwBJd1dfF6s8C4k-8EGVT5UupxSUXr4E

Art Direction by Dean Gordon, Patrick O'Keefe

Production Design - Justin K. Thompson

Danny Dimian - Visual Effects Supervisor

Directed by
Bob Persichetti
Peter Ramsey
Rodney Rothman

Writing Credits
Phil Lord ... Screenplay
Rodney Rothman ... Screenplay

Phil Lord ... Story

Paul Watling - Head of Story

While it's not a direct part of the MCU, Kevin Feige's hand still seemed to be felt.

https://www.gnomon.edu/community/events/animatics-for-indie-filmmakers-with-unreal-engine

Here is the short film project of Miguel Ortega, director and VFX artist, and Tran Ma, production designer and VFX artist. They demonstrate on the fly layout, scene composition and film direction using 3D assets in the Unreal Engine. Moderated by Beau Janzen, Gnomon Education lead.

Will look for youtube link asap.

https://www.gnomon.edu/about/instructors/tran-ma

https://www.gnomon.edu/about/instructors/miguel-ortega

https://www.facebook.com/TheNingyo/