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Granity Studios
Granity Studios
from Wikipedia

Granity Studios is a multimedia original content company formed by former NBA player Kobe Bryant, focused on creating new ways to tell stories around sports.[1] The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

Key Information

History

[edit]

Granity Studios was launched by Kobe Bryant in 2013 as a company that developed different media, ranging from films, to television shows, to novels.[2]

In 2017, Granity Studios produced Dear Basketball, an animated short film based on Kobe Bryant's retirement poem in The Players' Tribune, and was directed and animated by Glen Keane, with music by John Williams.[3] At the 90th Academy Awards, Keane and Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for their work on Dear Basketball. Bryant became the first African-American to win the category and the first former professional athlete to be nominated and to win an Academy Award in any category.[4] The film also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject and a Sports Emmy Award.[5] This was also the first Oscar win for Keane, a veteran Disney animator.[6]

In addition to future animation projects, Bryant had been in talks with animator veterans Bruce W. Smith and Sergio Pablos for the last six months before his death about starting his own animation studio.[7]

Beginning in 2018, Bryant wrote, produced and hosted the television series Detail, which aired for multiple seasons on ESPN and ESPN+. It featured his insights into the game of basketball and in-depth analyses of games and individual players.[8][9]

On October 23, 2018, Bryant's book The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, with photographs and afterword by Andrew D. Bernstein, an introduction by Phil Jackson, and a foreword by Pau Gasol, was published by MCD / Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The book looks back on his career with photos and his reflections.[10][11]

At the time of his death in 2020, Bryant was working with Brazilian author Paulo Coelho on a children's book aimed at inspiring underprivileged children. After Bryant's death, Coelho deleted the draft, saying in an interview that "it didn't make any sense to publish without him." He did not say how many pages had been written or whether the book had a title.[12]

Bryant also co-wrote/produced several young adult novels through Granity Studios: The Wizenard Series: Training Camp, Legacy and the Queen, and Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof. A fourth novel, The Wizenard Series: Season One, was released posthumously in March 2020.[13] The Wizarenard Series: Season One topped the New York Times middle-grade hardcover list.[14]

Vanessa Bryant is the president and chief executive officer of Granity Studios.[15]

Films

[edit]
Year Title Director Notes Ref
2015 Kobe Bryant's Muse Gotham Chopra [1]
2017 Dear Basketball Glen Keane Winner of Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards. [2]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Created & Written by Notes
2017 Musecage Kobe Bryant Produced by Granity Studios for ESPN and ESPN+
2018 Detail Kobe Bryant Produced by Granity Studios for ESPN and ESPN+; 18 episodes as a host, 16 episodes as a writer for Bryant

Books

[edit]
Year Title Written By Created By Publisher Notes
2018 The Mamba Mentality: How I Play Kobe Bryant Farrar, Straus and Giroux Introduction by Phil Jackson, foreword by Pau Gasol & photos by Andrew D. Bernstein
2019 The Wizenard Series: Training Camp Wesley King Kobe Bryant Granity Studios
2019 Legacy and the Queen Annie Matthews Kobe Bryant Granity Studios
2019 Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof Ivy Claire Kobe Bryant Granity Studios
2020 Geese Are Never Swans Eva Clark Kobe Bryant Granity Studios
2020 Epoca: The River of Sand Ivy Claire Kobe Bryant Granity Studios
2020 The Wizenard Series: Season One Wesley King Kobe Bryant Granity Studios posthumously published after Bryant's death
2021 Legacy and the Double Annie Matthew Kobe Bryant Granity Studios posthumously published after Bryant's death

Podcasts

[edit]
Year Title Written By Created By Notes Ref
2018–present The Punies Jon Haller Kobe Bryant 2 Seasons [3]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Granity Studios is an American founded by basketball icon in 2013, specializing in original sports-themed content designed to inspire young athletes, foster a competitive , and impart life lessons through innovative across books, films, television, and podcasts. Originally established as Kobe Studios, the company evolved into Granity Studios, emphasizing high-quality, youth-oriented projects that blend with elements of fantasy and to build champions both on and off the field. Bryant's vision centered on creating premium content starting with , which serve as the foundation for many of its adaptations, combining inspiration with practical guidance for personal growth. Notable achievements include the 2018 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for , an animated adaptation of Bryant's retirement letter, produced in collaboration with animator and composer . The company's portfolio features bestselling young adult book series such as The Wizenard Series, co-authored by Bryant, which follows a magical basketball coach guiding underdog players through personal and athletic challenges, and Epoca, exploring sibling athletes navigating a mystical sports academy to harness their inner power. Additional titles include Legacy and the Queen (2018) and its 2021 sequel Legacy and the Double, both by Bryant and Annie Matthew, centering on a girl's tennis journey infused with magic to save her community. In television and digital media, Granity produced the ESPN+ series Detail (2018), where Bryant breaks down NBA players' techniques using animation and analysis to educate viewers on elite performance. Following Bryant's tragic death in January 2020, Granity Studios has continued operations from its headquarters in , under the leadership of , releasing new content and maintaining its commitment to sports storytelling as of 2025. The studio's work has earned additional accolades, including Sports Emmy and for Dear Basketball, underscoring its influence in blending athletic narratives with broader themes of resilience and excellence.

Background

Founding and early development

Granity Studios, originally founded by in 2013 as Kobe Studios, was rebranded and publicly launched in 2016 as a multimedia original content company dedicated to sports storytelling. The rebranding followed Bryant's retirement from professional that year, marking his increased focus on creative endeavors in media production. From its , Granity Studios aimed to produce content that blended elements of sports with imaginative narratives, targeting young audiences to inspire emotional growth and athletic development through innovative formats. In its early years, the studio focused on developing projects that merged fantasy and reality in sports-themed stories, emphasizing accessibility for youth. A key early initiative was the announcement of "The Punies," a scripted series designed for children, which entered production around 2018 as part of the company's initial content efforts. This project exemplified Granity's approach to engaging young listeners with relatable, motivational tales rooted in sports and personal challenges. The studio's first major content slate was unveiled in , highlighting a lineup of five middle-grade and novels scheduled for release between and 2020. These book deals represented Granity's foundational push into print media, with each title intended to serve as a foundation for expanded multimedia adaptations, underscoring the company's strategy for building interconnected storytelling franchises. This timeline solidified Granity Studios' position as an emerging force in youth-oriented during its formative phase.

Kobe Bryant's vision and philosophy

After retiring from the NBA in 2016, Kobe Bryant accelerated his focus on through Granity Studios, which he had originally founded in 2013 as Kobe Studios. This transition was deeply influenced by his lifelong passion for narrative arts, including Japanese anime, which he credited as a key source of artistic inspiration, and literature such as the series, which shaped his approach to crafting immersive worlds. Bryant's core centered on using as a powerful for life's essential lessons, particularly perseverance, teamwork, and overcoming adversity, while incorporating fantasy elements to captivate young audiences and make abstract concepts relatable. He believed sports provided an ideal framework for teaching these values, stating that "sports is the greatest we have" for real-world challenges like and collaboration. Through Granity Studios, this manifested in youth-oriented projects blending athletic narratives with imaginative , such as epic quests in basketball-themed fantasy realms, to foster emotional engagement and personal growth among children. Central to Bryant's creative process was the integration of his "Mamba Mentality"—a relentless, competitive mindset honed on the court—into , where he treated like a strategic game requiring meticulous preparation and adaptability. He applied this by obsessively studying narrative techniques, writing daily for over a decade, and approaching projects with the same intensity as game preparation, such as dissecting character arcs as if analyzing opponents. For instance, in developing podcasts and books, Bryant channeled this tenacity to ensure every detail served the story's inspirational purpose, viewing creative challenges as opportunities to "outwork" limitations and elevate the final product. In a 2018 address at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, Bryant elaborated on his detail-oriented philosophy, emphasizing the need to intimately understand collaborators and narratives to push creative boundaries, much like motivating teammates during practice. He articulated a broader goal for to redefine sports storytelling by moving beyond conventional biopics and documentaries toward innovative, multifaceted formats that blend reality with aspiration, creating "new ways to tell stories around sports" that resonate universally.

Operations and leadership

Company structure and key personnel

Granity Studios operates as a private multimedia headquartered in . The company was founded by in 2013 as Kobe Studios, later rebranded to Granity Studios, and led by him until his death in January 2020. Following this, leadership transitioned to the Bryant family, with serving as President and , managing inheritance, operations, and creative direction as of 2025. Key personnel have included publishing executives such as Alaina Mauro, who served as Senior Vice President of Publishing from 2017 to 2021, overseeing the development of bestselling titles. Under Vanessa Bryant's oversight, the structure emphasizes family-guided continuity in storytelling initiatives. Internally, Granity Studios maintains dedicated divisions for books, audio productions like podcasts, and visual media encompassing films and television series, enabling focused content creation across formats.

Business model and partnerships

Granity Studios operates a hybrid business model centered on self-publishing books through its own imprint while licensing intellectual property for film and television adaptations to established studios. The company publishes titles like The Wizenard Series: Training Camp directly under the Granity Studios label, allowing control over creative output for youth-focused narratives. Key revenue sources include book sales, which propelled multiple Granity titles to the New York Times bestseller list, and streaming agreements for podcasts and television content. For instance, the podcast series The Punies generates income through distribution partnerships, including availability on Spotify via collaboration with Cadence13. Merchandise, such as collector's editions of the Wizenard series, supports additional revenue and is offered through the company's official shop to enhance fan engagement. Major partnerships bolster this model, including a 2018 agreement with —a Disney subsidiary—for the basketball analysis program , which debuted on and expanded Granity's reach into . The company also maintains distribution ties with for broader market access to its self-published works. These collaborations with audio platforms like further enable podcast monetization through ad-supported streaming. The expansion strategy emphasizes a multi-platform prioritizing youth-oriented content across books, podcasts, films, and television to inspire young athletes. As of 2025, this includes integrating the online shop for merchandise tied to series like Wizenard, fostering ongoing fan interaction and loyalty.

Media productions

Films

Granity Studios has produced a select number of films that emphasize through , blending personal narratives with innovative and formats. These works reflect founder Bryant's vision of inspiring audiences by exploring athletic journeys, , and the emotional depth of competition. The studio's debut film, (2015), is a documentary that chronicles Bryant's 20-year NBA career, highlighting key rivalries, alliances, and personal challenges. Directed by and executive produced by Bryant, it premiered on Showtime and provides unprecedented access to his mindset, including interviews with figures like and . With a runtime of approximately 90 minutes, Muse underscores themes of resilience and evolution in . In 2017, Granity Studios released Dear Basketball, an animated short film written and narrated by Bryant, based on his 2015 retirement poem published in The Players' Tribune. Directed and hand-drawn by animator Glen Keane, with an original score by John Williams, the seven-minute film traces a young boy's dream of basketball stardom, evolving into Bryant's reflective farewell to the sport. Produced in collaboration with Believe Entertainment Group, it premiered at the Tirana International Film Festival and was later distributed by Disneyland Digital Network. The project exemplifies Granity's approach to sports fantasy, merging real-life athleticism with fluid animation to evoke universal themes of passion and closure. Dear Basketball won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2018, marking Bryant as the first professional athlete to receive an Oscar. Building on this success, Granity Studios announced an titled *The in 2018, inspired by Bryant's iconic nickname and intended to blend sports fantasy with , featuring real athletes in imaginative scenarios. Directed by and scripted with Bryant's direct involvement, the project was part of a broader slate aimed at youth-oriented content. As of 2025, development details remain limited, with no confirmed release date. These films highlight Granity Studios' commitment to cinematic storytelling that fuses biographical elements with fantastical sports narratives, often with Bryant's hands-on scripting to ensure authenticity and motivational impact.

Television series

Granity Studios' television endeavors primarily revolve around projects that blend sports analysis with inspirational storytelling, though much of the focus has been on planned scripted adaptations from its book properties that remain in development. In 2018, Granity Studios announced plans to adapt its novel series, including The Wizenard Series, into multi-platform content encompassing live-action formats suitable for episodic television. The Wizenard Series, co-created by and written by Wesley King, centers on themes of infused with magical elements, following a diverse group of young players under a enigmatic coach who uses mystical training to foster mental and emotional growth. These adaptations aim to emphasize episodic narratives for streaming platforms, highlighting diverse representation in youth sports stories to inspire young audiences with lessons on perseverance and self-discovery. No specific casting or production timelines have been confirmed, and development appears to have stalled following Bryant's death in 2020, with no further updates as of 2025. As part of the same slate, Granity outlined early initiatives for youth-oriented sports dramas, including an animated television series based on the The Punies property, which explores fantasy-sports themes through scripted stories of young athletes overcoming challenges. These projects were pitched as part of a broader vision for unproduced pilots in the fantasy-sports genre, prioritizing inclusive narratives for broadcast or streaming, though none have advanced to production. Granity's sole completed television series is (2018), a basketball analysis program created and hosted by Bryant, which aired 15 episodes on ESPN+ and featured animated visualizations to break down players' mental strategies, serving as an educational tool for families.

Books

Granity Studios has published several young adult and middle-grade novels that blend with fantastical elements, emphasizing themes of personal growth, , and , often created under the vision of Kobe Bryant. These books target young readers, drawing from Bryant's philosophy of "Mamba Mentality" to inspire resilience and self-discovery through athletic narratives infused with magic. The Wizenard Series, launched in 2019, consists of two primary installments written by Wesley King based on a concept by . The first book, , released on September 24, 2019, follows the West Bottom Badgers, an underdog team from a impoverished neighborhood, as they train under the enigmatic Coach Rolabi Wizenard, whose methods involve magical trials that force players to confront their fears and unlock inner potential. The series explores themes of overcoming adversity, the power of grana (an inner magical energy), and collective strength in sports. The second book, Season One, published on March 31, 2020, continues the story with Reggie navigating intensified challenges at the elite , further developing motifs of destiny and self-belief. A collector's edition of Season One was released simultaneously, featuring deluxe binding and artwork to enhance the immersive experience. The Epoca series, co-authored by and Ivy Claire, debuted in 2019 and integrates gender-integrated competitive within a fantasy powered by grana. The inaugural , Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof, released on October 27, 2019, centers on Rovi, a low-born , and Pretia, a disguised , who enroll at the prestigious Ecrof Academy and uncover a sinister threat, mastering grana to battle dark forces while challenging societal divisions in . Themes highlight equality, identity, and the transformative role of athletic in a magical world. The sequel, Epoca: The River of Sand, published on December 15, 2020, advances the narrative as Rovi and Pretia compete in the Junior amid rising unrest, emphasizing perseverance and unity against oppression. In 2019, Granity Studios released the novel Legacy and the Queen by Annie Matthew, created in collaboration with , on September 3. The story is set in the Republic of Nova, where reigns supreme, and follows 12-year-old Legacy Petrin, a talented player from a struggling , as she enters a high-stakes to win a prize that could save her home, discovering her latent magical abilities along the way. The book delves into themes of female empowerment, family legacy, and using sports as a vehicle for personal and communal triumph. Its sequel, Legacy and the Double, published on August 24, 2021, continues Legacy's journey as she faces new magical challenges in to protect her community. Granity Studios also published the young adult novel Geese Are Never Swans by on November 10, 2020. The book follows Alex, a talented from a troubled family, as he grapples with loss, pressure, and the pursuit of excellence in , incorporating themes of , resilience, and the "Mamba Mentality" without fantastical elements. In late 2024, Granity Studios announced three new book projects slated for 2025 release, continuing its focus on inspirational youth stories that merge sports narratives with elements of fantasy and self-empowerment; as of November 2025, no further details or releases have been confirmed.

Podcasts

Granity Studios' podcast offerings center on audio content designed to inspire young audiences through stories centered on , teamwork, and personal development. The company's primary production, The Punies, exemplifies this approach by blending fictional with life lessons drawn from athletic experiences. Released in 2018, the series was developed under the creative direction of , who sought to address children's anxieties in new activities by portraying sports as a vehicle for joy, imagination, and resilience. The Punies follows the adventures of "Puny" Pete, a biracial boy, and his diverse group of neighborhood friends known as the Good Ol' Gang, who engage in various sports and face challenges that highlight themes like perseverance, trust, and overcoming obstacles. Hosted by and produced by Granity Studios in partnership with Cadence13 (later Endeavor Audio), the features scripted episodes approximately 15 minutes in length, incorporating original songs, , and a spoof of sports broadcasting to engage listeners. The first season consisted of 10 weekly episodes premiering on , , every Saturday morning, mimicking the format of classic cartoons, while a second season followed in 2019, bringing the total to 21 episodes across two seasons. Bryant's narration and overarching vision infused the series with his philosophy on mindset and growth, drawing from his NBA career to emphasize playing with limitless imagination. Distributed widely on platforms including , , and Audible, The Punies reached broad audiences, topping kids and family charts and earning acclaim for its educational value in promoting social-emotional learning. Episodes such as "Take a Swing," "Make a Splash," and "Push Through It" explore specific scenarios—like adapting to or —where characters learn to embrace failure and support one another, aligning with Bryant's goal of fostering inspirational narratives around sports figures' mindsets without relying on real-life interviews. The 's production style prioritizes immersive audio elements, including by a diverse cast and thematic music, to create an accessible format for family listening.

Legacy and impact

Awards and recognition

Granity Studios achieved significant recognition through its debut production, the animated short film "Dear Basketball," which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. It also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject at the 45th Annie Awards in 2018. Produced by Kobe Bryant and directed by Glen Keane, the film was nominated alongside other shorts including "Negative Space" and "Revolting Rhymes," marking the first Oscar win for a professional athlete. During the acceptance speech, Bryant shared insights on bridging sports and storytelling, stating, "As basketball players we're really supposed to shut up and dribble, but I'm glad we did a little bit more than that," while thanking his family and collaborators for enabling his creative transition. The film also earned a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Post-Produced Graphic Design at the 39th Annual Sports Emmy Awards in 2018, highlighting Granity's excellence in visual storytelling for sports-themed content. It received a nomination in the same ceremony for Outstanding Graphic Design or Art Direction, underscoring the studio's innovative animation techniques. Granity's literary output gained acclaim with the Wizenard series, including "" and "Season One," which debuted at No. 1 on middle-grade hardcover bestsellers list in 2019 and 2020, respectively, reflecting the series' impact on young readers through fantasy-infused sports narratives. Three titles from the studio occupied the top three spots on the list in early 2020, boosting visibility for its focus on mental resilience and teamwork. In audio production, the podcast "The Punies" received a Silver Radio Award in the Best Children/ Program category at the New York Festivals Radio Awards in 2020, recognizing its engaging tales of young athletes learning perseverance. Posthumously, was honored with the 72nd Area Emmy Governors Award in 2020 for his contributions to philanthropy, community building, and storytelling, with explicit mention of Granity Studios' role in producing award-winning films, podcasts, and books that inspired global audiences.

Cultural influence and recent developments

Granity Studios has significantly influenced sports media by promoting inclusivity, particularly through its Epoca series, which features female protagonists like Pretia navigating gender-divided athletic worlds to advocate for equality in sports. In Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof, Pretia, a talented Surface , challenges societal norms by aspiring to compete alongside boys, emphasizing themes of perseverance and breaking barriers for in male-dominated sports. This narrative approach extends to the 2020 sequel, Epoca: The River of Sand, where Pretia and her teammate Rovi confront and across diverse backgrounds, fostering discussions on representation in athletics. The studio's books and have also impacted youth literacy by inspiring reading and emotional growth among young audiences. Through titles like The Wizenard Series and Geese Are Never Swans, Granity Studios delivers stories of athletic dedication and mental health awareness, encouraging children to engage with literature that mirrors real-life challenges. The Punies , a scripted series about a group of young athletes learning life lessons through sports, has been integrated into educational curricula, such as the Orange County Department of Education's lesson plans that incorporate social-emotional learning to build in students. Following Bryant's death in 2020, Granity Studios has continued operations under the leadership of , who serves as president and CEO, emphasizing the preservation of the family legacy through inspirational storytelling. has actively overseen the studio's mission to uplift young athletes, ensuring projects align with Kobe's vision of motivational content that transcends basketball. This post-Kobe era reflects a commitment to family-driven continuity, with the studio maintaining output amid the emotional and operational challenges of losing its founder. The Mamba Mentality philosophy, central to Granity's ethos, has permeated educational settings, with school programs drawing on its principles of resilience and focus to inspire students beyond . Media coverage has highlighted Granity Studios' pivotal role in sustaining Bryant's posthumous empire, portraying it as a enduring force that amplifies his influence on and creative storytelling. Despite the profound loss, the studio has navigated these challenges by prioritizing high-quality productions, solidifying its position as a beacon for inclusive narratives in the years since 2020.

References

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