Short Film Hair Love Will Release With Angry Birds 2 After Viral 2017 Kickstarter

Allie Gemmill

There's going to be a special treat for audiences who go see The Angry Birds Movie 2 when it's released in theaters on August 14. Set to debut as a short film ahead of the animated feature film is Hair Love, the product of a two-year labor of love for executive producer Matthew A. Cherry (BlackKklansman). The short film was at the heart of Cherry's viral Kickstarter campaign in 2017 and will finally get a wide release to share with the world.

As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Hair Love tells the story of a black father learning how to properly style his daughter Zuri's hair. Cherry's original Kickstarter campaign sought $75,000 in order to make sure the film could be made. Instead, the Kickstarter exceeded its goal and brought in approximately $280,000, setting a new record in short-film financing on the website.

In a statement about the success this project has seen at every stage of the production process as well as the final product, Cherry commented: "To see this project go from a Kickstarter campaign to the big screen is truly a dream come true. I couldn't be more excited for Hair Love to be playing with The Angry Birds Movie 2 in front of a wide audience and for the world to see our touching story about a black father trying to figure out how to do his daughter's hair for the very first time."

Cherry directed the film, with animators Everett Downing Jr. (Up, Wall-E) and Bruce W. Smith, the man behind Disney Channel's The Proud Family, making big contributions to the film. The short film has also gotten tons of celebrity endorsements and a portion of them — Issa Rae (who is also the voice of Zuri's mother), Jordan Peele, Yara Shahidi, Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, and Gabourey Sidibe — are credited as producers.

As a final cherry on top of this very wonderful news sundae, it's worth noting, as EW does, that Hair Love would be eligible for the 2020 Oscars Best Animated Short Film category because of its attachment to a major theatrical release. Consider our vote already cast.

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue