I like how the dad is always trying to make his daughter happy and give her the best hairstyle for her. Not my favorite book, but heart-warming and adorable and legit. Cute and simple, about a hard-working family letting their daughter express herself as she pleases 👧. Mom walks in at the end, her own hair covered (without explanation, so we discussed whether she might be coming home from the hospital, or something). The tale is a father-daughter story, where he tries (for the first time) to help his daughter get her hair the way she wants it. This is book #15 (of more than 20) of 2019, and we thought it was sweet.

My family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books every year. And, mainstream films don’t often showcase happy, smiley, well cared for and much loved darker brown-skinned children at all.Good for Matthew Cherry, former NFL football player, whose animated version of this picture book was just awarded Best Animated Short, at the 2020 Academy Awards!

That’s because mainstream films don’t often showcase the love between black fathers and daughters. And because Cherry’s film is showcasing a strong black father who wears his own hair in ‘locs and loves his little brown-skinned, Afro’d daughter, the concept is even more personal. It’s because the still drawings already provide a glimpse into strong family bonds and the nostalgia behind something every little girl can relate to: Their dad (or granddad, or uncle, or brother) doing their hair. We hope that audiences can feel this team’s dedication up on the big screen, we are incredibly proud of it.”Ī lot of what I originally said still rings true: 'People are excited about this short film, myself included.

“This is such a special story that means so much to us,” said Ramsey, “Matthew has rallied an insanely talented group of people to get this short made, and to be able to share it with the world is a gift. Peter Ramsey (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”) and Frank Abney (animator, “Toy Story 4”) are the executive producers. Cherry, and Lion Forge Animation’s David Steward II and Carl Reed. The short is produced by Karen Rupert Toliver, Stacey Newton, Monica A. The short’s associate producers include N’Dambi Gillespie, Gabrielle Union-Wade & Dwayne Wade Jr., Gabourey Sidibe, Stephanie Fredric and Claude Kelly. The short’s co-executive producers include Jordan Peele, Andrew Hawkins, Harrison Barnes, Yara and Keri Shahidi. The credits are also a who’s who of Hollywood. Smith (creator of The Proud Family and an animator with Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. (an animator with Up and WALL♾), and Bruce W. Cherry executive produced BlacKkKlansman, and then brought Issa Rae ( Insecure) on to voice Zuri’s mother in the film, which he co-directed with Everett Downing Jr.

Hair love by matthew cherry