Kickstart This! Time Signature
Matthew A. Cherry has quite the unique career in animation. Originally an American Football player, he broke through with the crowd-funded short Hair Love, which went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short. He went on to write Hair Love the book, which went on to become a New York Times best-seller, and created the animated series Young Love for HBO Max. Now, he is returning to Kickstarter once again to create a new short, that is also intended to be a proof of concept for a future animated feature.
Time Signature is a 2D animated musical short that blends magical realism, time travel and original music to explore identity, legacy and creative inheritance.
The story follows Melody, a teenage prodigy on the verge of a prestigious musical school audition- an opportunity her pragmatic mother refuses to support. When she struggles with writer's block, Melody decides to clean out the attic and stumbles upon an unfinished piece of sheet music tucked inside her late grandmother's piano. The piano seems to have magical qualities. The sheet is signed by her grandmother, but the other signatures are faint and unreadable. When she plays the piece, she is transported through a number of time loops that transport her through defining moments of her family's musical past.
Along the way, she encounters younger versions of her grandmother and mother- witnessing the dreams they set aside, the talents they hid and the emotional truths they never really expressed. Through this journey, Melody comes to understand not only where she came from but how to finish the song and shape her future.
The proof-of-concept short focuses on the trio of Melody, her mother Harmony and her grandmother Lyric (who has passed away, but appears via the time travel sequences). Should they be lucky enough to turn it into a full feature, the focus will expand and also feature the men in their life, including Melody's father, grandfather and best friend.
Cherry says: "In today’s cultural climate — where DEI efforts are being rolled back, books are being banned, and stories by and about marginalised communities are increasingly under attack — Time Signature stands as both a celebration and a statement. This project is about representation, yes, but more than that, it’s about presence. It’s about putting Black girls and Black women at the centre of a story that is joyful, emotional, creative, and rooted in love across generations."
He adds that we rarely see animated musicals that highlight modern Black American music or centre Black families in magical, emotionally rich narratives."Musicals have always brought joy to audiences around the world" Cherry adds, "they invite us to dream, to feel, to sing along. And this film is grounded in that same spirit of joy. Not trauma. Not survival. Joy. Specifically, Black joy — passed down through melodies, refrains, and rhythms that continue to shape the culture. This project is a reminder that joy is not only revolutionary, it’s essential. And it deserves the spotlight."
Time Signature aims to be the first musical rooted in modern Black American music, from gospel and blues to funk, R&B and Hip-Hop. The film will be rooted in this rich lineage, not just as a background or setting but as the very language of storytelling."Every beat, every rhythm in the film reflects the journey of Black creativity across generations." To Melody, every note she plays is a metaphor for inherited identity- the pain, the power and joy passed down through blood and sound. And now it's her turn to add something to the symphony.
The different time periods Melody travels through will be distinguished by their art-style. Each era will take inspiration from iconic album covers from that time. The 1970's will feature a painterly analogue texture reminiscent of classic soul and funk records. The 1980's will have a graffiti-inspired bold urban design. The '90s will have a sketchy comic-book style design and the "modern day" will have a cleaner, more digital look.
When Cherry originally brought Hair Love to Kickstarter he wanted to prove that specifically Black stories were worth telling and that the audience is ready. It was very much proven by a record-setting crowdfunding campaign and ultimately by the Oscar.
He's hoping to do it again with Time Signature. The project deserves to be made on its own terms- bold, soulful and unfiltered "We want the creative freedom to explore our musical heritage with honesty and ambition," Cherry says "and we want to tell a story that resonates with young Black audiences, aspiring artists, and anyone searching for where they come from — and where they’re going."
Backer rewards include a digital download of the finished short, a tie-in children's book and soundtrack album as well as behind-the-scenes access and invites to private screenings.
The project is seeking $24,000 a goal it has now surpassed. It's now working towards the stretch goals, which include improved animation budget, increased music budget, the potential to hire higher-profile voice talent and more.
The campaign runs until Saturday, June 14 at 5.00 AM BST/ 12.AM EDT. If you want to help make this happen head over to the campaign page now.
