The animated masterpiece Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hit the screens on June 2, 2023. Ever since it’s what every Spiderman fan could talk about. Not just because of the exceptionally brilliant imagery, or the whopping $100 million that went into its production. An amazing discovery has led to thousands of people trooping to cinemas to watch this movie.
An incredibly talented fourteen-year-old high school student, Preston Mutanga animated the movie’s trailer in a viral clip on Twitter. A shot-by-shot LEGO version of the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse original trailer. This stunned the film’s writers and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, leading them to personally approach him for a key scene in the movie.
Mutanga, hailing from Toronto, showcased his creativity in early January when he shared the two-minute recreation of the ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ trailer. Using Blender software, he cleverly mimicked Lego bricks and boom, it went wild on Twitterverse. After the trailer was released last year, Mutanga has dedicated himself to perfecting the clip since December 2022. With his remarkable animation skills, it didn’t take long for luck to shine his way.
In an interview with the New York Times, Miller said “We found out that it was a 14-year-old kid who made it. And we were like, This looks incredibly sophisticated for a non-adult, non-professional to have made. It blew us all away, including some of the best animators in the world.”
Spider Man: Across The Spider-verse Animation Is Exceptional Even For A 14-year Old
Recognizing his gift, Mutanga’s parents, who are physicists, and public health instructors, have always encouraged his artistic pursuits. His father introduced him to the 3D software that caught his interest and tilted their world positively. Ever since discovering Blender, Mutanga has been whetting his animation skills. Learning all he could from YouTube videos for several years. Although at first, they were hesitant when Miller and his team reached out, they eventually allowed his talents to flourish. His father even got him a new computer and the latest graphics card for advanced animation.
Working diligently during his high school spring break and with regular guidance from Miller, Mutanga poured his efforts into animating the LEGO sequence for the movie. The experience proved enlightening for the young animator and he revealed it to the New York Times. “One new thing I learned was definitely the feedback aspect of it, like how much stuff actually gets changed from the beginning to the final product.”
After several weeks of dedicated work, Mutanga’s animation contribution was complete. And his role in the film’s success was equally evident. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ has already generated over $208 million worldwide, following in the footsteps of its critically acclaimed predecessor. Mutanga’s incredible talent has also garnered him a significant following on social media. Where he showcases his Lego-style creations inspired by various franchises such as Minions, Moon Knight, and Better Call Saul.
Reflecting on his experience, Mutanga expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with the creators of the film that he adored. “I adored the first movie and was so hyped for the second one. So getting to work with the people who actually made this masterpiece was honestly like a dream,” he shared with The New York Times.