Dear Basketball

Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant announced his 2015 retirement from the sport through a poem entitled "Dear Basketball". It's a sweet little poem, basically saying that the sport will always be in his heart. It's easy to imagine a short being made based on this, but harder to imagine being a legitimately emotionally affecting one.

This animated short jumps back and forth between a young and adult Kobe following his professional sport dreams, from shooting tube socks to his injuries on the court. The animation, by Disney Legend Glen Keane is done in a fluid, but delightfully sketchy style. The lovely musical score that really amps up the emotion is by the surprising, and always wonderful John Williams. Kobe serves as the narrator, reading his poem throughout. Obviously he wrote it, and it has the most meaning to him, so who else would read it. His voice is full of humility and humanity.

This is a beautifully animated, wonderfully scored short. Even for those not interested in the sport, you may find yourself invested in Kobe's emotion. This is about as good as it can get for a 6-minute long retirement announcement!

My rating: **** out of ****. 6 mins.

It is to easy to define it as touching. but it is more. not admirable illustration of a poem, not the eulogy to a great sportsman, not exactly a fluid story in which the force of drawings are high emotional. but it is a film about each viewer. about love, passion, dreams,, hard work and force to change yourself as change of world. that fact defines it. in moving - brilliant manner. as a splendid trip across personal memories. it is not a film about basketball.maybe, not about the public of basketball show. but about meanings of life. not as pieces of succes. but as root of precious legacy. so, for me, a pure gem. extraordinary for loving simplicity. and for clear message.

Being a Kobe Bryant fan when I was in high school, I enjoyed watching this animated short. I thought the film, which is based off a poem written by Kobe, was inspiring and reminiscent of his successful career. The hand drawn animation style was well done; it added an imaginative look to the short. I would recommend this film to any fans of Kobe or basketball in general.

'DEAR BASKETBALL': Four Stars (Out of Five)

A 6-minute animated short film in which NBA legend Kobe Bryant describes his love for basketball, over his entire 20-year career (dating back to his childhood), through an interview on the eve of his retirement. The short is a depiction of his poem 'Dear Basketball', and it's accompanied with music by legendary film composer John Williams. It was directed by Glen Keane and written by Bryant. I'm not a fan of basketball (or any sport for that matter), and I definitely don't look up to Kobe Bryant. The short is well made though; the animation is beautiful, and the music is of course really powerful and moving. It inspired me, even though I don't care at all for it's subject matter. That's the sign of a good film in my opinion.

Kobe Bryant's words describes in personal flashbacks : The gratitude, the love for game, the proud to represent the same shared spirit of success around the years, with his fans and country. The life, our life without witnesses is a kind of dream. A one that have to become real until the clock stops. Who knows? The time to love, to go, to rest, to grow up or just to thank.

Then the humbles traces of Glenn Keane come over Kobe's words. Few colours but always brighted by the warm voice of a grateful Kobe. Some seconds flow like a game clock and Keane play back to back, to Kobe's words. Sometimes the complex drawings appears when the last Kobe's moments appears playing on the Court or he had growed. Others are just like a little boy sketches and strokes, just living the emotion of respresent the idea that we'd enjoyed in our childhood: Play, have fun and smile.

Finally, John Williams conducts the heart of two men in the play court. Reads any creative and emotional moment, the movements between Bryant and Keane looking for success until the farewell. Williams is the coach, seeks the moments to take timeouts, no matter what come next, is Kobe's time. The chords touches the heart such a Mother listens to her kids, waiting for the time Kobe's call the game as the same way he love his family and parents. Maybe in this day, seems to be words to thank every one who had witness his life. Finally Williams, repeat in a triunfal and powerful chord, the crowd, success until the farewell.

Is an amazing short film, powerful and lovely. A perfect way to honor a great player and show us the way of built our dreams since childhood.

In Memoriam of Kobe Bryant's sport words, the Academy Award 2018 Winner - Dear Basketball...

"There is power in understanding the Journey of Others to help create your Own".