Joe Ranft

Joe Ranft, was one of the heads of story on both "Toy Story" films, as well as the voice of Heimlich the Caterpillar in "A Bug's Life" and Wheezy in "Toy Story 2". He also worked on "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "Beauty & the Beast", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", and many other films. Joe Ranft died from a car accident Tuesday August 16th, 2005. He was the very first Head of Story at Pixar, feature animation.



"...Joe Ranft is part of the fabric of your life, and your child's. His work has become a part of your life, without you even realizing it. Many of those films Joe didn't just contribute to, he put his soul into. When you were laughing or being touched, it was often Joe's doing.

You should care because you've lost something significant without even realizing it."



Actor - filmography

The Incredibles (2004) (voice) .... Additional Voices
... aka Hum Hai Laajawab (India: Hindi title)
Extreme Skate Adventure (2003) (VG) (voice)
... aka Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure (USA: complete title)
Finding Nemo (2003) (voice) .... Jacques
Finding Nemo (2003/II) (VG) (voice) .... Jacques the Shrimp
Monsters, Inc. (2001) (voice) .... Additional Voice
Monkeybone (2001) (voice) .... Streetsquash Rabbit
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000) (V) (voice) .... Wheezy
Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice) .... Wheezy the Penguin
A Bug's Life (1999) (VG) (voice) .... Heimlich
A Bug's Life (1998) (voice) .... Heimlich
Toy Story (1995) (voice) .... Additional Voice
The Brave Little Toaster (1987) (voice) .... Elmo St. Peters
Filmography as: Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Writer, Himself

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography

Mike's New Car (2002) (V) (special thanks)
Monsters, Inc. (2001) (additional story material)
Toy Story 2 (1999) (additional story material) (story supervisor)
The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue (1999) (V) (character designer: other characters)
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998) (V) (creator of additional original characters)
James and the Giant Peach (1996) (storyboard supervisor)
Toy Story (1995) (story supervisor)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (storyboard supervisor)
... aka Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (USA: complete title)
Drop Dead Fred (1991) (title designer)
... aka My Special Friend (Philippines: English title)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) (storysketch)
The Brave Little Toaster (1987) (directing animator)

Filmography as: Actor, Miscellaneous Crew, Writer, Himself

Writer - filmography
(1990s) (1980s)

Fantasia/2000 (1999) (story)
A Bug's Life (1998) (story)
Toy Story (1995) (story)
The Lion King (1994) (story)
Beauty and the Beast (1991) (story)
... aka Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (USA: longer version)
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
Oliver & Company (1988) (story)
The Brave Little Toaster (1987) (also story)



Pixar intranet employee listing for Joe Ranft lets you know that he was Born on March 13, 1960 and was hired at Pixar on October 5, 1992. Under this he writes in the generic getting-to-know-you questions:

What do you do at Pixar?
I draw storyboards

What did you do before you came to Pixar?
I drew lots of storyboards

What do you do when you're out having fun?
I try not to draw any storyboards, but sometimes I can't help myself.

What is your favorite quote?
"Developing a picture from back to front is a work habbit which, once aquired, becomes one of the artist's most valuable tools.
-Don Graham

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