After the break-out success of its daring Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Sony Pictures Animation feels emboldened to try new things, and it’s just done something that few other major animation studios have ever done: acquired an independent animated short that was developed outside of its studio.
Sony Pictures Animation (SPA) is partnering with former NFL player-turned-director Matthew A. Cherry to bring his animated short film Hair Love to the big screen. The news was first reported by Deadline.
“In the past year, it has been very clear that audiences have been yearning to see fresh stories that are universal and culturally authentic,” SPA president Kristine Belson said in a statement on Cherry’s Kickstarter page. “Hair Love is a wonderful father-daughter story and we are proud to nurture talented young filmmakers like Matthew who are breaking new ground.”