I knew thats what I wanted to try to accomplish.. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through a guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. The car plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. ^_^. 2023 Cartoon Brew, LLC. [11] In the film Inside Out, the character of Jangles the clown is based on a character created by Ranft outside of Pixar named "Buttocks the Clown",[12] according to co-director Ronnie del Carmen and story artist Domee Shi. He studied for two years at CalArts, a breeding ground for gifted filmmakers who were using 3-D computer technology, art and storytelling in fresh ways that re-energized the moribund world of animated movies and made them hugely profitable. I will miss Joe Ranft and the work hes done for Pixar will live on. live: true, color: '#ffffff' Sad day :( Finishing high school in fall 1978, Joe Ranft began studying in the character animation program at the California Institute of the Arts. It was a car accident. After graduating from Monte Vista High School, Whittier, in 1978, Ranft began studying in the character animation program at the California Institute of the Arts alongside John Lasseter and Brad Bird. That is a seperate loss. "He could do these beautiful sweet gags for a family film and then do these weird, depraved cartoons of anyone who needed to be skewered," Selick said. If you need to cancel your entry, please use this form to request your cancellation. He was the voice of Heimlich the ravenous caterpillar in "A Bug's Life," Jacques the cleaner shrimp in "Finding Nemo," and Wheezy the Penguin in 1999's "Toy Story 2," and he provided voices for "Monster's, Inc." (2001) and last year's "The Incredibles.". The California Highway Patrol said the crash occurred at about 3 p.m. Tuesday as the driver tried to regain control of the car after swerving when he headed into a tight left curve. Ranft was a co-writer on 1995's Toy Story, for which he earned an Oscar nomination, and 1998's A Bug's Life. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. The Pixar fixture had just completed story work on the studios latest feature, CARS. He was taken to . You know, it's like, animation is so complex; 'How many drawings are in there?' [5][6] At 15, he became a . Chris Pine finally sets the record straight, Oscars diversity improved after #OscarsSoWhite, study shows. Longtime Movieweb contributor that was uploading 1-minute movie reviews to the world wide web via AOL before Youtube or social media existed. Red Jerry Recycled Batteries Cars (co-director, writer, and voice actor) Cars was the last film that Ranft worked on, and it was very dedicated to him. Share Joe's life story with friends and family. He was 45. We are all hit hard by this sudden news and were all beyond sadness here at the studio. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Im sorry for the family left behind. After two years, Joe Ranft's student film, Good Humor caught the attention of Disney animation executives who offered him a job. I liked evoking a response from an audience through the illusion of magic, he said. California. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived by escaping through the sun roof and received moderate injuries. Joe Ranft, the heart of Pixar, was killed yesterday in a car . Will the luck of the Irish affect the Oscars? The car fell 130 feet over the side of the road, overturning twice before it landed in the water near the mouth of the Navarro River where it meets the Pacific Ocean, the CHP said.". Share. A spokeswoman for the Mendocino County Sheriff-Coroner's Office confirmed Wednesday that Ranft was one of two people who died when the 2004 Honda Element they were traveling in veered off the road while heading north on Highway 1. Visual Development & Storyboard Artists: Dean DeBlois Claire Keane Brittney Lee Jin Kim Shiyoon Kim. He was the co-director and writer of Cars, and performed the voice of Red in the film. Joe Ranft (March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was a key creative member of Pixar. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through . At age 15, he became a member of the Magic Castle Junior Group. Investigators said the car appeared to have been traveling at about 30 mph. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, 39, also of Los Angeles, was hospitalized with moderate injuries at Mendocino Coast District Hospital in Fort Bragg, according to . Joe Ranft { "" } Share. Joseph Henry Ranft (March 13, 1960 August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist and voice actor. Update (12:41pm): A remembrance by Sputnik on Animation Nation: I was already working for Disney features when this new guy showed up one day from CALARTS. Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, "Eric Larson, Disney Family Album: Part Three", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EMZrbS7N_k, "John Lasseter Talks Cars 2 and the Memory of His Friend and Collaborator, Joe Ranft", https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/553767-pixar-head-john-lasseter-remembers-good-pal-late-great-joe-ranft, https://web.archive.org/web/20021211090732/http://www.pixar.com/artistscorner/joe/index.html, Pixar's Joe Ranft Falls to a Tragic Death, With 'Cars,' Pixar Revs Up to Outpace Walt Disney Himself, Joe Ranft, 45; Artist for Pixar Animated Films, Voice of Heimlich in 'A Bug's Life', http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/detail?key=Joe+Ranft, https://catalog.afi.com/Person/192980-Joe-Ranft, https://www.salon.com/1999/11/23/story_2/, https://variety.com/2005/film/news/pixar-exec-dies-in-car-accident-1117927706/, https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba99d2cad, https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/cars-3-1200515758/. " " Pete Docter Joe Ranft (13 1960 - 16 . Later in his Disney career, he was promoted into the Feature Animation department, where he was mentored by Eric Larson. I actually cried at the end. He was a classmate of Pixar's John Lasseter at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s. Discovery Sues Paramount For An Illicit Conspiracy To Circumvent $500M South Park Deal, Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Dropped By Syndicate After Posting Racist Youtube Rant, Stop Motion Rules At 50th Annie Awards As Pinocchio And Marcel The Shell With Shoes On Top Winners List Analysis, My Sunny Maad, Grannys Sexual Life Score French Academy Csar Awards, The Animation That Changed Me: Bruce Smith On One Hundred And One Dalmatians, Know Your Indie Filmmaker: Cristbal Len And Joaqun Cocia, Government Cuts $2M Check For The Restoration Of Walt Disneys Laugh-O-Gram Studio In Kansas City, Missouri. The California Highway Patrol said the crash occurred at about 3 p.m. Tuesday as the driver tried to regain control of the car after swerving when he headed into a tight left curve. at least a tear in his memory its good from all hoo watch his great movies Another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived by escaping through the sun roof; he received moderate injuries. Eric Frierson, 48. Joe Ranft was riding as a passenger with his friend Eric Frierson in his Honda Element which was being driven by . Who gave Hemlich a funney and sweet personallity A spokeswoman for the Mendocino County sheriff-coroners office confirmed that Ranft was killed when the car in which he was a passenger veered off the road while traveling north on Highway 1, plunging 130 feet over the side of the road and into the ocean. Golden Globes Best Picture Winners by Tomatometer, 100 Best Computer-Animated Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer, 49 Best Stop-Motion Animated Movies of All Time, The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Features Sad Bo-Katan, a Bad Baby, and a Pirate Problem, The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of March 2023, The Mandalorian Creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni on Grogus Force Training and the Darksabers Significance, Copyright Fandango. He was taken to Mendocino Coast Hospital and treated for moderate injuries. . All Rights Reserved. The SUV tumbled down a cliff and plunged 130 feet (40m) into the mouth of the Navarro River where it meets the Pacific Ocean in Mendocino County, killing both Ranft and Earl instantly. He was a classic example of a maladjusted child with a dark imagination finding great success in the film industry. . In 1990, he moved to Seattle to write a children's book and then settled in the Bay Area to work on Pixar's "Toy Story, " a 1995 blockbuster for which he was nominated for an Academy Award as co- writer. Its hard to imagine a world without Joe Ranft and the joy and fun he brought to all of us on a daily basis. Now Hollywood Shuffle is a classic, Remember that Harry Styles Spitgate drama? [14] Additionally, the 2020 film Soul includes his name on a wall of previous mentors to the character 22. Update (2:32pm): . According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joe Ranft, Pixar Animation Studios' head of story for more than a decade and a cornerstone of the company's creative team, died Tuesday when the car he was riding in plunged into the ocean after running off the road in Mendocino County, Calif. He also served as story supervisor on TOY STORY 2, and A BUGS LIFE, and was a story artist on MONSTERS, INC. On August 16, 2005, Ranft and his friend Eric Frierson were passengers in Ranft's 2004 Honda Element, which was being driven by another friend, Elegba Earl. For the past 14 years, Ranft worked on animated feature films at Pixar Animation Studios, where he played a major role in writing and shaping many of that innovative Studios blockbuster hits. The secret of Pixar's magic can be found at CalArts Obituary by the former President of the Northern California Disneyana Enthusiasts club, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Articles with invalid date parameter in template, also screenwriter story artist and directing animator, Animation screenplay and story supervisor, Story Supervisor, Co-director, screenwritter, dedication & Writter. shell: { DVDs are back and I like it! The 2010 DVD re-release of Toy Story 2 includes a special feature that focuses on Ranft and his accomplishments. Earl, the driver, mismanaged a hairpin turn and the car spun off of the roadside cliff, crashing onto the banks of the Navarro River. Henry Selick called him "the story giant of our generation. We all knew a giant was among us. At 15, he became a member of the Magic Castle Junior Group. Joseph Henry Ranft (March 13, 1960 August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, comedian, animator, storyboard artist, voice actor and magician who worked for Pixar Animation Studios and Disney at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation. Joseph Henry Ranft (13 de marzo de 1960 - 16 de agosto de 2005) fue un animador, actor de voz y guionista estadounidense. His younger brother Jerome Ranft is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films. His younger brother Jerome Ranft is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films. And after the story was toldwe had met new animated friends that would be with us for our entire lives. His favorite magicians were John Carney, Daryl, Michael Ammar, Ricky Jay and Jimmy Grippo.[4]. Supervising Animators: Glen Keane Andreas Deja Eric Goldberg Mark Henn John Pomeroy Randy Haycock Dale Baer T. Daniel Hofstedt Tony Bancroft Tom Bancroft Tony Fucile Anthony DeRosa Russ Edmonds Randy Haycock Michael Surrey Bruce W.Smith Duncan Marjoribanks Ruben Aquino Nik Ranieri Ron Husband Rick Farmiloe Tom Sito Tony Anselmo Will Finn Kathy Zielinski He was a classic example of a maladjusted child with a dark imagination finding great success in the film industry. Also killed was the driver, Elegba Earl, 32, of Los Angeles. }, Joe Ranft died at the age 45 Mendocino County, California, United States of car crash August 16, 2005. REST IN PEACE. Joe Ranft. Search; Search. You know it like, animation is so complex; 'how many drawings are in there? and stuff, but Eric always comes back to like; What does the audience perceive?'" V3.1. During his first five years with Disney, Joe worked on a number of television projects that were never produced. The movers themselves are modeled after Ranft and his brother Jerome; Jerome Ranft voiced one of the movers. During his first five years with Disney, he worked on a number of television projects[1] that were never produced. rpp: 5, On August 16, 2005, Ranft, 45, and his friend Eric Frierson, 39, were passengers in Ranft's 2004 Honda Element, which was being driven by another friend, Elegba Earl, 32. Interesting case though, in light of the recent hand-wringing about rear-seat . When I saw this I was in shock I cant believe it I am so sorry for the loss and there are so many people out there that feel the same way. Joe Ranft was an American 'Academy Award'-nominated screenwriter, comedian, animator, voice actor, director, and magician. . My tribute goes out to his family and friends. Update (1:32pm): Pixar story artist Enrico Casarosa writes in his journal: Joe Ranft, the heart of Pixar, was killed yesterday in a car accident. I walked into the Atrium to over 700 people standing silently, looking at Ed Catmull and John Lasseter try to speak through their grief. Ranft reunited with Lasseter when he was hired by Pixar in 1991 as their head of story. He is mentor, friend and inspiration to all of us who do this job. Furthering into his Disney career, he was bumped up into the Feature Animation department, where he received training from Eric Larson. Joseph Henry Ranft (March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist and voice actor, who worked for Pixar Animation Studios and Disney at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation. links: '#ffffff' FireflyARBooks. Pixar's Ranft dies in crash Aug. 18, 2005 Source: Holywood Reporter By Sheigh Crabtree Joe Ranft, Pixar Animation Studios' head of story for more than a decade and a cornerstone of the company's creative team, died Tuesday when the car he was riding in plunged into the ocean after. Resides in Covington, GA. Joe Ranft, Pixar Animation Studios' head of story and a founding member of the animation company's creative team, died Tuesday afternoon in a car accident in Mendocino County, Calif. . His brother, Jerome Ranft, is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar movies. After two years, Ranft's student film Good Humor caught the attention of Disney animation executives, who offered him a job. Visit AWN on Twitter Visit AWN on Instagram Visit AWN on Google Plus Visit AWN on FlipBoard Subscribe to AWN. :sad: He wrote parts of The Brave Little Toaster, Toy Story and A Bug's Life, and was active at Pixar all the way through Cars, which will probably be dedicated to his memory now. Besides a good story man Joe was also the voice in many Pixar films such as Hemlich the Caterpillar in A BUGS LIFE and Wheezy the toy penguin in TOY STORY 2. scrollbar: true, It is the saddest day at Pixar. He also voiced characters in many of the films, including Heimlich the caterpillar in A Bug's Life, Wheezy the penguin in Toy Story 2, and Jacques the shrimp in Finding Nemo. Ranft died during the production of Cars, which he co-directed and voice acted in. A gentle soul with a heart of gold who magically knew how to make us interested in any stories he wanted to tell us. The car fell 130 feet over the side of the road, overturning twice before it landed in the water near the mouth of the Navarro River where it meets the Pacific Ocean, the CHP said. Joseph Henry Ranft (March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist and voice actor, who worked for Pixar Animation Studios and Disney at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through the guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived by escaping through the sun roof and received moderate injuries. Joseph Henry "Joe" Ranft (March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, voice actor, and magician who worked for Pixar and Disney at Disney Animation and Disney Television Animation. Lived In Van Nuys CA, Panorama City CA, Decatur GA, Lithonia GA. Related To Sandra Frieson, Kevin Frieson, Sarah Frieson. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through the guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. In 1980, Ranft joined Disney as a writer and storyboard artist. Selected filmography (1982 - actor "I.Q.") The Brave Little Toaster (1987 - voice of Elmo St. Peters, Screenplay and Story . Im sure Joe would have been pleased to know how loved he was. Update (12:08pm): Animation legend Floyd Norman remembers Joe Ranft: Amid Amidi is Cartoon Brew's Publisher and Editor-at-large. Whitepages people search is the most trusted directory. Cornerstone of Pixar's creative team is killed when the car he was driving in went into the ocean. Henry Selick called him "the story giant of our generation. By Evan Jacobs . He taught and mentored a whole generation of creators, I cant even begin to describe how dearly he will be missed. He was 45. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through a guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. and Eric Frierson, 39, were driving northbound on Highway 1 in Mendocino County, Calif., en route to take part in a retreat for a mentoring program. "This is not only a huge personal loss for all of us at Pixar, but a tremendous loss to moviegoers the world over," said John Lasseter, Pixar's creative head and a close friend of Mr. Ranft's since their student days at Los Angeles' CalArts in the late 1970s. Joseph Henry "Joe" Ranft was an American animator, storyboard artist, director, comedian, voice actor, and magician, who worked for Disney and Pixar. } By The Associated Press. All rights reserved. More than anything in his life, his quiet and committed work with those less fortunate was his true passion. . Joe Ranft. Joe was really a major part of Pixars soul. Joseph Henry "Joe" Ranft was an American animator, storyboard artist, director, comedian, voice actor, and magician, who worked for Pixar and Disney. background: '#333333', And we earmark things we want to improve. i watch the movie about 10 times a day. "Sometimes he contributed small details, sometimes the whole thing. Joseph Henry Ranft[1] was born in Pasadena, California, on March 13, 1960,[1] and raised in Whittier. i am so glad he made the movie CARS! I loved it. He also voiced characters in many of the films, including Heimlich the caterpillar in A Bug's Life, Wheezy the penguin in Toy Story 2, Jacques the shrimp in Finding Nemo and Vinnie Terrio the gecko in Finding Meow-Meow (2005). }, For the last 13 years, he worked in story development and provided the voices of Heimlich the caterpillar in A Bugs Life, Wheezy the asthmatic penguin in Toy Story 2 and Jacques the cleaner fish in Finding Nemo. For co-writing the 1995 film Toy Story, Ranft earned an Academy Award nomination. His favorite magicians were John Carney, Daryl, Michael Ammar, Ricky Jay and Jimmy Grippo.[4]. Animators: Bill Tytla Art Babbitt Lee Blair Preston Blair Fred Moore Shamus Culhane Cy Young Don Lusk Norman Ferguson Hal King Jack Hannah Dick Kinney Hal Ambro Ken O'Brien Judge Whitaker Bill Justice Don Bluth Gary Goldman Charles A. Nichols Blaine Gibson John Ewing Walt Stanchfield Fred Hellmich Amby Paliwoda Wilfred Jackson Xavier Atencio Ben Sharpsteen Earl Hurd Dale Oliver Eric Cleworth David Hand Fred Spencer Julius Svendsen Kenneth Muse Rudolf Ising Hugh Harman Friz Freleng Walt Kelly Leo Salkin John Dehner Ranft was credited with additional story material for Monsters, Inc. (2001) and oversaw the story on Lasseters Cars, which is slated for release next year. Producers: Walt Disney Ron Miller Ken Anderson Don Duckwall Perce Pearce Margaret J. Winkler, Story Trust Directors: Ron Clements Chris Buck Byron Howard Don Hall Chris Williams Rich Moore Stephen J. Anderson In the movie Monsters, Inc., Ranft had a monster named after him (J.J. Ranft) as most of the Scarers in the film were named for Pixar staff. The driver, identified by the Coroner's Office as Elegba Earl, 32, of Los Angeles, also was killed in the crash. All rights reserved. Animation sites have been filled with blogs and remembrances of this gifted animator, known for giving loads of advice and encouragement to his animation brethren as well as to the needy. Sorry for his family. Ranft was a passenger in the car. 1960-2005, i saw (Cars)the movie great. Support Us; FAQs MAN he was a great guy. Eric Frierson. Joseph Henry "Joe" Ranft (born March 13, 1960) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist and actor. Unlike many story artists, Ranft never expressed an interest in directing. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Signature Musicians: Robert B. Sherman Richard M. Sherman Alan Menken Kristen Anderson-Lopez Robert Lopez Lin-Manuel Miranda Howard Ashman Tim Rice Phil Collins Stephen Schwartz Marc Shaiman Danny Troob Frierson, who was riding in the back seat, survived by climbing through the cars sun roof. Prayers to your family. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived by escaping through the sun roof; he received moderate injuries. Joseph Henry "Joe" Ranft was an American animator, storyboard artist, director, comedian, voice actor, and magician, who worked for Disney and Pixar. Joseph Henry Ranft (March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, and voice actor, who worked for Pixar Animation Studios and Disney at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation. The car plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. Ranft, who was 45, died during the production of Cars, which he co-directed and voice acted in. In 2020, the category was transferred to the, Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, "Eric Larson, Disney Family Album: Part Three", "Pixar's Joe Ranft Falls to a Tragic Death", "With 'Cars,' Pixar Revs Up to Outpace Walt Disney Himself", "Joe Ranft, 45; Artist for Pixar Animated Films, Voice of Heimlich in 'A Bug's Life', "Two Disney/Pixar Animated Classics Come to Life as They've Never Been Seen Before TOY STORY & TOY STORY 2", "John Lasseter Talks 'Cars 2' and the Memory of His Friend and Collaborator, Joe Ranft", "9 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT INSIDE OUT", "Easter Eggs and other hidden tributes in Pixar's 'Inside Out', "Heimlich's Chew-Chew Train attraction will live on with audio tribute in Pixar Pier at Disneyland Resort". In addition to his story credits on TOY STORY, TOY STORY 2, A BUGS LIFE and MONSTERS, INC., Ranft has provided voices for a variety of Pixar characters, including Lenny the Binoculars in TOY STORY, the insatiably ravenous Heimlich the caterpillar in A BUGS LIFE, Wheezy the asthmatic squeeze-toy penguin in TOY STORY 2, Pete Claws Ward in MONSTERS, INC. and Jacques, the over eager cleaner shrimp in FINDING NEMO. Earl, who was driving, lost control . Includes Address (14) Phone (5) Email (3) See Results. He was a passenger in the front seat of a 2004 Honda Element driven by Elegba Earl, a 32-year-old Los Angeles man who also died. Screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, director, comedian, voice actor, magician. The car's driver, Elegba Earl, was also killed, while another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived the accident. He was a big part of our lives and we loved him and loved working with him. Bill Plympton took me there to meet him and the 3 of us had a lovely lunch together. Ranft has been recognized by colleagues and in various tributes in animated films released after his death. Required fields are marked *. In the movie Monsters, Inc., Ranft had a monster named after him (J.J. Ranft) as most of the scarers in the film were named for Pixar staff. . I dont know if people really understand what I do, he said in a 1998 interview with The Times. The car plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. No wonder he made a fantastic voice actor later. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through a guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. Tuesday's crash happened when the car Mr. Ranft was riding in went out of control on Highway 1 and plunged into the ocean near the mouth of the Navarro River around 3 p.m. Joseph Henry Ranft (March 13, 1960 -- August 16, 2005) was a beloved god of animation, {{Creator/Pixar}}ian, {{Creator/Disney}} animator and writer, magician, impressionist, actor, and prankster extraordinaire. [1] There he worked on all of their films produced up to 2006; this included Toy Story (for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay) and A Bug's Life, as the co-story writer and others as story supervisor. The car plunged 130 feet and crashed into the ocean. During the 1980s, he was writing stories for Disney . The Friends and Colleagues Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. Joseph Henry Ranft was born in Pasadena, California on March 13, 1960, and raised in Whittier. Joesph Henry "Joe" Ranft (born March 13, 1960) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, voice actor, and magician who had a net worth of $5 million. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Review: Michael B. Jordan is the one to fly now with Creed III, Hunger Games star Jena Malone says someone I had worked with sexually assaulted her, Review: The gorgeous new movie Pacifiction will hypnotize you. He was also given lead story credit on The Brave Little Toaster (1987) and voiced Elmo St. Peters, the appliance salesman. So terribly sad for all his friends and family. 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The SUV plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. As a child, Ranft developed a love for magic, storytelling, film and comedy. "Joe was an important and beloved member of the Pixar family, and his loss is of great sorrow to all of us and to the animation industry as a whole," the Emeryville, Calif.-based company said Wednesday. ", After finding a home at Pixar, he worked as a story editor on titles such as "A Bugs Life" and both "Toy Story" films. Joesph Henry "Joe" Ranft (born March 13, 1960 - August 16th, 2005) was an American Screenwriter, Animator, Storyboard Artist . In lieu of flowers, the Ranft family respectfully requests that donations be made to the Joseph Henry Ranft Memorial Fund, and sent care of Pixar Animation Studios, 1200 Park Avenue, Emeryville, California, 94608. While at Disney, Ranft became friends with John Lasseter, who later became a top executive at Pixar Animation Studios. After graduating from Monte Vista High School, Whittier, in 1978, Ranft began studying in the character . but when it got to the end. and Wheezy the toy Penguin his soal. My 2 yr old son, Aaron, loves the movie Cars. Chief Creative Officer: Jennifer Lee "A spokeswoman for the Mendocino County Sheriff-Coroner's Office confirmed Wednesday that Ranft was one of two people who died when the 2004 Honda Element they were traveling in veered off the road while heading . During his first five years with Disney, Joe worked on a number of television projects[1] that were never produced. Even though they were just still drawings, they screamed to be animated, Ranft recalled. height: 350,