Jun 20, 2018

Exclusive: Academy Denies Animation Producer Kobe Bryant Opportunity for Membership

Kobe Bryant, who shared an Oscar with Glen Keane this year for his animated short film “Dear Basketball,” has been denied admission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The decision was made known to selected Academy members yesterday in a letter from Bill Kroyer, one of the governors of the Short Film and Animation Division.

By Academy tradition, those nominated for an Academy Award, especially those who have won in that category, are often offered an invitation to the Academy branch that represents their craft. While all winners and nominees are considered for membership, invitations are not guaranteed. For example, Mark Sondheimer, producer of Pixar's Oscar-winning “Piper,” was not invited, nor was singer Adele after winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Skyfall.”

In Bryant's case, the Short Film and Animated Feature Film Division followed tradition and approved his admission. However, the Academy's Board of Governors made the unusual decision to reject the Short Films and Animation category and rescind Bryant's invitation.

The governors' committee decided that Bryant, who wrote, produced, and narrated “Dear Basketball,” needed to show “evidence of a larger career” in the chapter he was joining.

Croyer submitted the chapter's argument to the Academy Board, telling them that Bryant had “expressed a desire to continue working in short films,” but the Board said that the criteria of having an established career applied to applicants from other chapters and applied to Bryant as well insisted that it be applied to Bryant.

The Short Film and Animated Feature sections decided not to challenge the Academy's overall decision.

For the animation community, it would be a missed opportunity for someone as well-known as Bryant to be selected for the animated short film category, especially after he had achieved great success with his first project. Bryant has shown that he is part of the animation community by participating in many events, including multiple editions of the ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Awards. It seems odd to penalize Bryant for his young filmmaking background, especially when we see the Academy trying to encourage participation by fresh and diverse voices.

From another angle, however, Bryant was a controversial Oscar contender. Many questioned the Academy's choice to nominate someone accused of rape, especially in the midst of the “#metoo” movement. In fact, over 17,000 people signed a petition asking the Academy to rescind Bryant's nomination.

If Bryant's personal background was considered, the Board of Governors did not reveal it to Academy members who were informed of the decision. Even if his background were considered, it would not reflect well on the Academy. It seems as if the Academy is a privileged boy's club that protects itself. John Lasseter continues to be a member of AMPAS despite a long history of inappropriate language and behavior, while denying equal opportunity to up-and-coming creative talent to join.