Sony is Looking to Patent Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse's Animation Tech

CBR

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Animation Tech May Be Patented By Sony

By Colin Hickson

Published Dec 13, 2018

A new report states that Sony is looking to patent the animation technology used in the making of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Since the first trailer dropped, the most universally praised element of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has arguably been the animation. But now, Sony may be seeking to patent the technology used for the film, if the Unite States Patent and Trademark Office deems the effort inventive enough.

Reported by Deadline, Sony has applied for patent protection for the animation process technology used in the film, which is meant to evoke classic Marvel Comics storytelling, incorporating such accents as thought balloons and panels. On their end, Sony states the movie's innovations qualify as a new invention, filing a half dozen components used in the process, which took years to finish. However, the company has declined to comment on the application, as well as its contents. Should the patent office determine the effort was inventive enough to deserve its own classification, the review process may take years.

The film's three directors -- Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rondey Rothman -- have also credited the film's producers, Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, with pushing the film as a way of completely reinventing the usual look of animated films by using a new process that incorporates hand-drawn art and textures. "We had this mandate to basically challenge how animated movies are made and what they can be, from top to bottom," said Rothman. "There were large periods of time where we wondered if it would even work."

Given the reviews Spider-Verse has accumulated, it would seem that Sony has the proof it needs to justify its patent. Not many studios have new ways of revolutionizing movies for audiences, but as Spider-Verse has proven, the effort is worth it for the payoff.

Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse stars Shameik Moore, Brian Tyree Henry, Jake Johnson, Mahershala Ali, Hailee Steinfeld, Liev Schreiber, Luna Lauren Velez, Lily Tomlin, Nicolas Cage, John Mulaney and Kimiko Glenn. The film opens Friday nationwide.