Ayrton Oneill
Kobe Bryant's short film 'Dear Basketball' won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. The film is based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2015, announcing his retirement from basketball. The film was directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams. It was the first Oscar win for a professional athlete and the first for Keane, a veteran Disney animator.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the film | Dear Basketball |
| Year of release | 2017 |
| Director | Glen Keane |
| Music composer | John Williams |
| Writer | Kobe Bryant |
| Narrator | Kobe Bryant |
| Based on | A letter Kobe Bryant wrote for The Players' Tribune on November 29, 2015, announcing his retirement from basketball |
| Awards won | Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, Best Traditional Animation and Special Jury Award at the 2017 World Animation Celebration International Film Festival |
| Year of winning the Oscar | 2018 |
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What You'll Learn
Kobe Bryant's first Oscar win
Kobe Bryant's Oscar win for 'Dear Basketball' in 2018 was his first. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, making Bryant the first former professional athlete to be nominated for and win an Academy Award.
'Dear Basketball' is based on a poem Bryant wrote for 'The Players' Tribune' in November 2015, announcing his retirement from basketball. The film was directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams. It was released in April 2017, a year after Bryant's retirement.
In his acceptance speech, Bryant said: "As basketball players, we're really supposed to shut up and dribble. But I'm glad we did a little bit more than that." He also thanked Williams, and his wife and daughters, saying they were "his inspiration".
The Oscar win was a controversial one, with many supporters of the #MeToo movement criticising the decision to award Bryant due to the 2003 sexual assault allegations made against him. However, Bryant's win also served as a form of validation for athletes pursuing other interests outside of their sport.
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Dear Basketball's awards and nominations
Kobe Bryant's 'Dear Basketball' won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards. It was the first Oscar win for a professional athlete and the first for veteran Disney animator Glen Keane, who directed and animated the film. The film was based on a poem or letter Bryant wrote for The Players' Tribune in 2015, announcing his retirement from basketball.
'Dear Basketball' also won the Best Traditional Animation and Special Jury Award at the 2017 World Animation Celebration International Film Festival held at Sony Pictures Animation. The film was included in The Animation Showcase world tour in 2018.
In addition to the Oscar win, Bryant became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. He was also the first former professional athlete to be nominated for and win an Academy Award in any category.
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The film's production team
Kobe Bryant assembled a dream team for his short film 'Dear Basketball'. The film was directed and animated by Glen Keane, a veteran Disney animator known for his work on "The Little Mermaid", "Aladdin", and "Beauty and the Beast". Keane's unique style and hand-drawn animation captured the power and grace of Bryant's moves on the basketball court. He also experimented with new techniques, such as animating sweat by using his iPhone to turn the drawing into a negative, creating the illusion of sweat running down Bryant's face.
Keane's son, Max Keane, served as the production designer for "Dear Basketball", just as he had done for Glen Keane's previous film "Duet". Max played a crucial role in the film's storyboarding process, including the complex images of Bryant as a boy. He also used flashes of light to capture the reactions of Lakers fans, adding depth to the animation.
Legendary composer John Williams created the score for "Dear Basketball". Williams, best known for his work on "Star Wars", is a multi-Oscar winner with 52 Academy Award nominations. Bryant and Williams had a longstanding friendship, which led Williams to join the production team.
In addition to the talented team he assembled, Bryant himself contributed significantly to the film. He wrote and narrated "Dear Basketball", basing it on a letter he wrote for The Players' Tribune in 2015 announcing his retirement from basketball. The film was a labour of love for Bryant, who had a passion for writing and storytelling.
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The poem that inspired the film
Kobe Bryant's poem "Dear Basketball" was written in 2015 to announce his retirement from the NBA. The poem is a love letter to the sport and a reflection on his childhood and career. In it, he describes his deep love for the game and how it inspired him to give his all—his "mind, body, spirit, and soul". He also acknowledges that due to his age and injury, he can no longer play at the same level and must say goodbye to the sport. The poem ends with a heartfelt declaration of his enduring love for the game: "Love you always, Kobe."
The poem is written in the style of an epistolary poem, which is a type of poem that takes the form of a letter, note, or diary entry. It was published on The Players' Tribune and later inspired the animated short film of the same name, which Bryant also wrote and narrated. The film, directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams, brings the poem to life through hand-drawn animations and a moving score.
> "I played for the sweat and the hurt / Not because the challenge called me / But because YOU called me / I did everything for YOU / Because that’s what you do / When someone makes you feel / As alive as you’ve made me feel / [...] / But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer."
The film "Dear Basketball" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards, making Bryant the first former professional athlete to receive an Oscar nomination and win. It was also the first Oscar win for veteran Disney animator Glen Keane.
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The film's plot
"Dear Basketball" is an animated short film based on a poem and retirement letter by Kobe Bryant, a former professional basketball player. The film was directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams.
The film opens with a depiction of Kobe Bryant making a game-winning dunk for the Los Angeles Lakers as the clock runs out. He then addresses basketball directly, reminiscing about his childhood dreams of becoming a professional player. As a six-year-old boy, he would roll up his father's tube socks to form a ball and shoot imaginary game-winning shots. He describes his unwavering dedication to the sport, playing with all his heart and soul.
Bryant then reveals that due to his Achilles heel injury in 2013, he only has one more NBA season left in him. With a heavy heart, he accepts that it's time to retire from the sport he loves. He wants to make the most of the precious time he has left with basketball, having given everything he had to the sport.
The film ends with Bryant reflecting on his iconic buzzer-beater shots and declaring his everlasting love for the sport. He acknowledges that no matter what he does next in life, he will always be that kid with the rolled-up socks and a ball, dreaming of victory.
"Dear Basketball" is a heartfelt tribute to the sport that defined Kobe Bryant's life and career. It showcases his passion, dedication, and the emotional journey of accepting retirement from the sport that brought him so much joy and fulfillment.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'Dear Basketball' won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018.
Kobe Bryant won the Oscar for 'Dear Basketball' along with animator Glen Keane.
'Dear Basketball' is based on a poem Kobe Bryant wrote in 2015 announcing his retirement from basketball. The film starts with Bryant making a dunk, winning the game for the Los Angeles Lakers, and goes on to reminisce about his childhood and his love for the game.
