The 2018 Academy Awards were a decidedly unremarkable ceremony (considering the 2017 awards featured the “La La Land” mix-up), besides the Academy’s decision to bestow Kobe Bryant with a golden statue for Best Animated Short Film. The basketball player based his 2017 animated short, “Dear Basketball,” on the emotional poem he wrote to the sport when he announced his retirement. Bryant lent his voice acting, writing, and producing talents, plus he partnered with animator and director Glen Keane to bring the story to life.
When Bryant and Keane’s names were called at the 90th Academy Awards, the NBA star emphasized his shock and awe at the honor during his Oscar acceptance speech. “As basketball players, we’re really supposed to shut up and dribble, but I’m glad we did a little bit more than that,” Bryant joked. He delivered thank you’s to the Academy and others but ended with a sweet message to his family. “To my wife, Vanessa, our daughters Natalia, Gianna, and Bianka, ti amo con tutto il cuore,” he spoke in Italian, which translates to “I love you with all my heart.” Their fourth daughter, Capri was born one year later.
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Not only was this a historic win because he was the first professional basketball player to win an Oscar, but Bryant was also the first Black person to win in the Best Animated Short Film category!
