Kobe Bryant Pernah Menulis Skenario Film Animasi, Raih Oscar

Film Dear Basketball dirilis pada 2017, yang terinspirasi dari sebuah surat atau puisi yang ditulis oleh Kobe Bryant. Puisi atau surat tersebut diterbitkan di The Players Tribune pada 29 November 2015 silam.

Surat atau puisi ini dibuat Kobe Bryant menjelang masa pensiunnya dari NBA.

Dear Basketball merupakan curahan hati Kobe Bryant selama bermain basket. Film berdurasi lima menit ini, menggambarkan kisah masa kecilnya saat bermain basket.

Dalam film ini juga tampak bagaimana Kobe Bryant menggulung kaus kaki dan menjadikannya bola. Selain itu, ada juga gambar masa-masa keemasannya saat bergabung dengan LA Lakers.

Narasi dan skenario film animasi ini ditulis sendiri oleh Kobe Bryant. Sementara, sutradara dan animator dipercayakan kepada Glen Keane.

Seperti diketahui Glen pernah terlibat dalam animasi Disney seperti The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, dan lainnya.

Sedangkan musik digarap oleh John Williams, yang merupakan komposer untuk film Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, dan lainnya.

Selain meraih Oscar, Dear Basketball juga mendapatkan penghargaan World Animation Celebration International Film Festival 2017 untuk kategori Best Traditional Animation. Dan Special Jury Award, Annie Awards 2018 untuk Best Animated Short Subject serta Sport Emmy Award 2018 untuk Outstanding Post-Produced Graphic Design.

Dalam salah satu narasinya, Kobe Bryant mengatakan, "Tak apa-apa. Saya siap untuk merelakanmu. Saya ingin kamu tahu agar kita bisa menikmati momen yang tersisa bagi kita. Baik dan Buruk. Kita telah memberikan semua hal yang kita punya."

Berikut ini surat atau puisi yang ditulis Kobe Bryant, dilansir NME, Senin (27/1/2020).

"Dear Basketball,

From the moment

I started rolling my dad's tube socks

And shooting imaginary

Game-winning shots

In the Great Western Forum

I knew one thing was real;

I fell in love with you.

A love so deep

I gave you my all -

From my mind & body

To my spirit & soul.

As a six-year-old boy

Deeply in love with you

I never saw the end of the tunnel.

I only saw myself

Running out of one.

And so I ran.

I ran up and down every court

After every loose ball for you.

You asked for my hustle

I gave you my heart

Because it came with so much more.

I played through the sweat and hurt

Not because challenge called me

But because You called me.

I did everything for You

Because that's what you do

When someone makes you feel as

Alive as you've made me feel.

You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream

And I'll always love you for it.

But I can't love you obsessively for much longer.

This season is all I have left to give.

My heart can take the pounding

My mind can handle the grind

But my body knows it's time to say goodbye.

And that's OK.

I'm ready to let you go.

I want you to know now

So we both can savor every moment we have left together.

The good and the bad.We have given each other

All that we have.

And we both know, no matter what i do next

I'll always be that kid

With the rolled up socks

Garbage can in the corner

:05 seconds on the clockBall in my hands.

5... 4... 3... 2... 1

Love you always,

Kobe,"

(Antaranews.com)