by Natasha
The Oscar-winning animated short, Hair Love, from writer-director Matthew A. Cherry, is getting a spin-off! HBO Max has greenlit a 12-episode animated series, Young Love, based on the short film Hair Love. Excited to expand on the story, Cherry and Carl Jones (The Boondocks, Black Dynamite) will be showrunners in the series. It will be executive produced by Monica A. Young, of Blue Key Entertainment (Hair Love), along with Lion Forge Animation’s David Steward II, and Carl Reed.
The animated short film, Hair Love, is 7 minutes and focuses on the relationship between an African-American father, Stephen, his daughter, Zuri, and her hair. Zuri’s mom has always been the one to do her hair, but when she’s unavailable right before a big event, Stephen must step up and figure it out. The short won Best Animated Short Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, and the picture book is a New York Times Bestseller.
Beyond excited to continue telling the story of the young Black millennial family we established in our short film Hair Love as an animated series. Couldn't ask for better partners in @SonyAnimation @HBOMax @iamcarljones @classicdayna @Monica_aYoung @KarenRToliver & @lionforge.
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) July 7, 2020
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the Young Love series will:
Explore family dynamics through this young Black millennial family — Stephen and Angela, their daughter, Zuri, and her pet cat, Rocky — as they juggle their careers, marriage, parenthood, social issues and multigenerational dynamics, all while striving to make a better life for themselves.
Until the show’s release, you can watch Cherry’s short film, Hair Love from Sony Picture Animations, and check out the bestselling picture book on Amazon.
