Ayrton Oneill
Kobe Bryant's short film 'Dear Basketball' won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2018. The film was based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2015, announcing his retirement from the NBA. The film was directed and animated by Glen Keane, a former Disney animator, and narrated by Bryant himself. The score was composed by John Williams, known for his work on films such as Star Wars and Jurassic Park. 'Dear Basketball' tells the story of Bryant's love for the game, starting from his childhood and spanning his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. The film captures the themes of purpose, acceptance, and learning to let go, providing a moving portrayal of Bryant's dedication and passion for the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 2017 |
| Film type | Animated short film |
| Director | Glen Keane |
| Animator | Glen Keane |
| Music composer | John Williams |
| Narrator | Kobe Bryant |
| Executive producer | Kobe Bryant |
| Writer | Kobe Bryant |
| Based on | Kobe Bryant's retirement letter and poem |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, Annie Award, Best Traditional Animation, Special Jury Award |
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What You'll Learn
- The film was based on a poem Kobe Bryant wrote to announce his retirement from basketball
- It was directed and animated by Glen Keane, a veteran Disney animator
- The music was composed by John Williams, a 52-time Academy Award nominee
- Bryant narrated the film himself, pouring his heart and soul into the voice-over
- It was the first Oscar win for a former professional athlete
The film was based on a poem Kobe Bryant wrote to announce his retirement from basketball
Kobe Bryant's film Dear Basketball won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The film was based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2015 to announce his retirement from basketball. The poem was published in The Player's Tribune on November 29, 2015.
The poem, addressed directly to the sport, describes Bryant's emotional connection to basketball and his gratitude for the joy it brought him. It takes the reader through his journey, from discovering the sport as a child to his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant's love for the game is evident in every line of the poem, and he uses literary devices such as alliteration, enjambment, and personification to convey his passion.
In the poem, Bryant announces his retirement, explaining that his body can no longer handle the physical demands of the game despite his unwavering love and dedication. He reflects on his childhood, rolling his father's tube socks and shooting imaginary game-winning shots, and concludes with a countdown: "5 seconds on the clock".
The film adaptation of Dear Basketball was released in 2017, a year after Bryant's retirement. It was directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams. The film captures the tone of Bryant's goodbye to basketball while celebrating his successful career. It utilizes innovative animation techniques, such as animating sweat, to bring Bryant's story to life.
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It was directed and animated by Glen Keane, a veteran Disney animator
Kobe Bryant's short film "Dear Basketball" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The film was directed and animated by Glen Keane, a veteran Disney animator. Keane had worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios from 1974 to 2012, serving as a supervising animator on films such as "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," and other Disney classics.
Keane's involvement in "Dear Basketball" came about due to Bryant's interest in animation. In a 2017 interview, Bryant explained that he believed animation could "capture the emotion in the story in a much more compelling, visual way than live action." After seeing Keane's film "Duet," Bryant approached the veteran animator to direct and animate his short film.
Keane's rough pencil drawings in "Dear Basketball" depict Bryant as both a Los Angeles Lakers superstar and as a small boy, executing the same leaps and dribbling maneuvers. The animator also experimented with new techniques, such as animating sweat. He laid a separate sheet over the drawing where a soft layer of graphite was added. By taking pictures with his iPhone and turning them into negatives, Keane achieved the effect of sweat running down the character's face.
In addition to his directing and animation duties, Keane recruited legendary composer John Williams to score the film. Williams, best known for his work on "Star Wars," had worked with Keane previously and agreed to compose the music for "Dear Basketball." The score captures the tone of the film, with parts that are delightful and others that are devastating, reflecting the theme of saying goodbye while celebrating a successful career.
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The music was composed by John Williams, a 52-time Academy Award nominee
Kobe Bryant's short film "Dear Basketball" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The film is based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2015 when he announced his retirement from the NBA. The music for the film was composed by John Williams, a 52-time Academy Award nominee and 5-time Oscar winner. Williams is known for his work on several monumental films, including "Jaws", "Schindler's List", "Star Wars", "Jurassic Park", and "Home Alone".
Williams' score for "Dear Basketball" captures the tone of the film, which is both a celebration of Bryant's successful career and a sad goodbye to the sport he loved. The music adds to the emotion of the film, making it a touching and beautiful piece.
John Williams is one of the most celebrated composers of our time. He has been nominated for 54 Academy Awards, winning 5, and has received numerous other accolades for his work. He holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for a living person and is the second-most nominated individual after Walt Disney. Williams has also been honoured with several awards for his lifetime contributions to film music, including the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016.
Williams' music has brought some of Hollywood's most iconic films to life. His scores for "Star Wars", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Superman", "E.T.", and many others are considered some of the greatest American film scores of all time. His compositions have added emotion, suspense, and magic to the films we know and love.
The collaboration between Kobe Bryant and John Williams on "Dear Basketball" is a testament to their respective talents. Bryant's powerful words, brought to life by Williams' music, showcase their shared ability to inspire and move audiences.
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Bryant narrated the film himself, pouring his heart and soul into the voice-over
Kobe Bryant's short film "Dear Basketball" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The film was based on a poem Bryant wrote when he announced his retirement from the NBA. Bryant narrated the film himself, pouring his heart and soul into the voice-over.
Bryant's passion for basketball is evident in the film, as he describes his love for the game that began when he was just a child. He reminisces about his childhood, rolling his father's tube socks and shooting imaginary game-winning shots. Bryant's narration is not just a love letter to the sport of basketball but also to the years he spent dedicating his mind, body, and spirit to the game. The pain in his voice as he bids farewell to the sport is undeniable, and it is clear that he is leaving a part of himself behind.
Bryant's decision to narrate the film himself adds a layer of authenticity and emotion to the story. As the writer and narrator, Bryant is able to convey the depth of his feelings for the game and the difficult decision to retire. His voice-over brings the animation to life, and his passion for basketball shines through in every word.
The film "Dear Basketball" is a testament to Bryant's talent not just as an athlete but also as a storyteller. By narrating the film himself, Bryant ensures that his message of love and dedication comes across in the most powerful and authentic way possible. His narration is a key component of the film's success and contributes to its memorable and moving impact on audiences.
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It was the first Oscar win for a former professional athlete
Kobe Bryant's animated short film "Dear Basketball" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. The film is based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2015 when he announced his retirement from the NBA. It was directed by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams.
Bryant's win was the first Oscar win for any former professional athlete. It was also the first Oscar win for Keane, a veteran Disney animator. In his acceptance speech, Bryant acknowledged the common expectation that athletes should stick to their sport: "As basketball players, we're really supposed to shut up and dribble. But I am glad we do a little bit more than that."
Bryant's poem describes his love for basketball, from his childhood to his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. The film starts with him making a dunk as the game clock is running out, winning the game for the Lakers. He then says "Dear Basketball", and reminisces about his childhood, rolling his father's tube socks and shooting imaginary game-winning shots. He describes how his love for basketball inspired him to give his all to the game.
Keane experimented with new techniques in the film, such as animating sweat. He laid a separate sheet over the drawing where a soft layer of graphite was added. By taking pictures with his iPhone and turning them into negatives, he created the effect of sweat running down a face.
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Frequently asked questions
'Dear Basketball' won an Oscar because it was a powerful and moving short film that captured the emotion of Kobe Bryant's retirement from basketball. The film was based on a poem Bryant wrote in 2015, and it was directed and animated by veteran Disney animator Glen Keane, with music by the legendary John Williams.
'Dear Basketball' is about Kobe Bryant's love for the game of basketball, starting from when he was a child, and his eventual retirement from the sport. The film begins with Bryant making a game-winning dunk for the Los Angeles Lakers and then reflects on his childhood and 20-year career with the team.
Kobe Bryant made 'Dear Basketball' as a way to announce his retirement from the NBA and to express his love and passion for the sport. In the film, Bryant accepts the inevitability of retirement due to his body no longer being able to bear the demands of the game.
'Dear Basketball' won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2018, making it the first Oscar win for a former professional athlete and the first for veteran animator Glen Keane. The film also won the Annie Award, the animation industry's most prestigious prize, and the Best Traditional Animation and Special Jury Award at the 2017 World Animation Celebration International Film Festival.
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