It's been revealed today (via Toonado.com) that Sony will release its new animated short, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, on Sony Pictures Animation's YouTube channel at 6 am PT on March 27.
It first debuted during last year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and the film - which is set in the world of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - puts the spotlight on Miles Morales and his struggles with mental health.
According to Variety, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story "follows Miles Morales/Spider-Man as he struggles to balance his responsibilities as a teenager, friend, student and Spider-Man."
"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."
This digital release comes in partnership with the "Kevin Love Fund" and is part of their mental health-focused lesson plan, The Hero Within. That aims to get students to tell their own stories through the lens of mental health awareness through an interactive curriculum, including a creative storyboard activity.
"Miles represents so many of us doing the best we can in our day-to-day lives," Jarelle Dampier, director of The Spider Within says in a press release. "We don’t often realize 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."
KLF founder, professional basketball player and mental health advocate Kevin Love adds, "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."
"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."
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was released in theaters last year and narrowly missed out on winning the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar earlier this month (The Boy and the Heron proved a worthy victor). The final instalment of the trilogy, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, has no release date.
A new still from The Spider Within has also been released highlighting Shameik Moore's Miles Morales.