The world is still in a state of shock over the news of the untimely death of retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant. Considered to be one of the greatest to ever play the game, Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, won five NBA Championships, two Olympic gold medals, and sits as the league’s 4th-all-time scorer.
On top of his massive sporting accomplishments, he also dribbled in the world of film. This dribbling earned him an Academy Award in 2017 for Best Animated Short Film for his film, DEAR BASKETBALL. Historically, he was the first former professional athlete to be nominated and win an Oscar in any category.
Running just over five minutes, DEAR BASKETBALL is a literal love-letter from Bryant to the game of basketball; a game that he dreamed of playing as a kid and then dedicated his heart and soul to. Far from traditional, the film veers away from the usual story-of-my-life, and instead focuses on Bryant’s deep love for the game; treating the game itself as a living thing. The script reads like a love letter that anyone would write to a lover. But it does have a melancholy to it, as film is based on a letter Bryant wrote to The Player’s Tribune announcing his retirement from basketball. There’s a strong theme at work of letting go something that we love, and it resonates deeply.
The animation was done by veteran Disney animator Glen Keane, who had worked on classics such as THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. The animation style was made to look like a series of hand-drawn pencil drawings, and was layered in a way that was immersive and eye-catching. It retained the classic 2D look, which was a welcome sight in an age of 3D computer-generated imagery that goes out of its way to look too real. The score was provided by another legend, John Williams.
The film won Best Animated Short Subject at the annual Annie’s, and eventually took home the Oscar at the 90thAcademy Awards. The win was the first for Keane in his storied career. Today, DEAR BASKETBALL still works for any player who has played any game, and it also works for any one of us who have a passion that we have been pursuing our entire lives. Its non-traditional style shows that film doesn’t necessarily have to be used to tell stories, but also to express feelings. Decades from now, DEAR BASKETBALL will stand as one of Kobe Bryant’s finest achievements, and a tribute to his life.
*
You can watch DEAR BASKETBALL (HERE).
Read Reel Speak’s original review for DEAR BASKETBALL, along with its fellow nominees, (HERE).
Great share thanks for writing this
ReplyDelete