Before Kobe Bryant’s epic, 20-year NBA career, he was a little kid with a big dream, and Dear Basketball, launched on Verizon’s original platforms, is his heartfelt ode to the sport that made him a superstar. With Dear Basketball, our objective was simple, but daunting: win the short film an Academy Award, and do so while inspiring the passion inside millions of consumers.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
By finding something that everyone could identify with, we activated an emotion-led campaign that utilized everything from press, trade advertising, social media, screenings with in-person Q&As, festivals, and targeted digital advertising using our proprietary Ad tech to reach voters.
With our help fueled by passion for this incredible story, Dear Basketball won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, as well as a plethora of other accolades, including an Annie and a Sports Emmy. It was selected as the Best Short Film in the World Animation Festival and issued the festival’s first-ever Special Jury Award for its high quality.