This Sunday In LA: You’re Invited To An ‘Ultraman: Rising’ FYC Screening, Q&A, And Reception

Retired NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant, 41, was among nine people killed in a helicopter crash this morning in Calabasas, California. The NY Times is following the story.

Bryant wrote, starred in, and executive produced the animated short Dear Basketball (pictured at top), which won the Oscar and Annie for best animated short in 2018. Bryant was the first African-American filmmaker to win an Oscar in the animated short category.

At the time of his death, Bryant was developing other animation projects through his production company, Granity Studios.

Glen Keane, who directed Dear Basketball, released a statement this afternoon:

Members of the animation community have joined countless others in responding to Bryant’s death. Here is what people are saying:

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RIP. #kobebryant #kobe #24

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I can’t believe it… RIP Champ. #KobeBryant

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Amid Amidi

Amid Amidi is Cartoon Brew's Editor in Chief.