Director Matthew Cherry and Issa Rae star in an animated short film highlighting the challenges associated with having textured hair while dispelling any stigma related to it or Black fathers who may often be depicted as absent in media portrayals. At a time when Hollywood has struggled to embrace diversity, this touching movie encourages others to embrace their kinks and appreciate who they are.
Story
Zuri has long, flowing curls on her head, which she wants to be styled for an important event. Unfortunately, her mother was unavailable; therefore, her father decided to give it a go himself, following instructions from an online natural hair vlogger – only soon realized his daughter’s locks had other ideas! This animated short film from Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times-bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison shares the heartwarming tale of father and daughter bonding over their curly locks, raising three times their initial goal on Kickstarter. When it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short at the 2020 Oscars, Cherry used his acceptance speech to advocate for The Crown Act – legislation to protect people against discrimination based on hairstyle and texture discrimination – with themes of family, race, and culture all intertwined throughout this delightful movie that should appeal both parents and children alike!
Voice Acting
Employing a talented voice actor can bring your film to life and capture audience interest. An experienced talent can also interpret your script in unexpected ways that might add an extra level of interest for viewers. hair Love is an animated short that shows a heartwarming relationship between a Black father and his daughter, Zuri, with thick textured locks, and her father, who attempts to do her hair for the first time after being left home alone by her mother. This short film, written and directed by Matthew A. Cherry and Everett Downing Jr, stars Issa Rae as its lead, alongside other popular actors like Bruce W. Smith (an animator and writer). Additionally, Vashti Harrison of the New York Times best-selling illustration was chosen to adapt it into a book adaptation for publication.
Animation
hair Love’s animation is of exceptional quality, featuring both hand-drawn and computer-generated imagery to create more detailed characters. Furthermore, its fluid animation greatly adds to the emotional depth of its story. Kickstarter proved an overwhelming success for this short film project, raising over a quarter of a million dollars within weeks and allowing its crew to get production underway with help from animators Everett Downing and Bruce W Smith, along with voice talent Issa Rae for voice work. This short film chronicles the relationship between a black father and his daughter, Zuri. When her mother leaves them without assistance in styling their afro locks, Zuri turns to her father for help in styling it despite his best efforts – leading him into heartfelt stories about family life that even Sony Pictures picked up for distribution! Consequently, screenings were held before multiple movies.
Soundtrack
Zuri’s father takes charge of styling her locks, producing an Oscar-winning animated short that also inspired a picture book written by former NFL receiver Matthew Cherry and illustrated by New York Times best-selling artist Vashti Harrison. Hair Love was made in six minutes but contained more meaning and emotion than many movies with ten times longer running times. It skewers negative stereotypes associated with natural Afro-textured hair and black fathers while celebrating family togetherness and togetherness. This short was crowdfunded on Kickstarter and distributed by Sony Pictures, premiering in theaters prior to Angry Birds 2 last year. It won an Oscar for Best Animated Short, providing an outstanding example of using technology to tell an engaging story in an innovative manner. Furthermore, its premiere helped promote Crown Act which seeks to end discrimination based on hair type.
