Joe Ranft ... In Memoriam

Here's to you Joe Ranft.

My friend Joe Ranft died in a car accident on California's Highway 1 on August 16, 2005. Joe was a major player in the Feature Animation industry. He provided stories, storyboards, voices, artwork and more ... for some of the most beloved Feature Animations of all time (see below for a complete list of his credits).

For all his amazing achievements, I will always remember him as the voices of Heimlich (A Bug's Life) and Wheezy the Penguin (Toy Story 2).

Those people who know me have heard me speak of Joe often. He was the man who , a decade ago, hired me to teach my leadership workshop to Walt Disney Feature Animation. Much more recently, he was striving to have me present it to Pixar.

Joe was only 45. He was born on March 13, 1960 in Pasadena, California. Joe is survived by his wife (Su), two children (Jordan -- 13 and Sophia -- 9), his mother (Ruth) and father (James), his two brothers (James and Jerome) and a sister (Ruth Ann Scott).

While the national media have virtually ignored his passing ... by August 19, searches for Joe Ranft were ranked THIRD by Technorati (a website that tracks search activity of over 15,000,000 BLOGS).

Goodbye Joe. You will be remembered. You will be missed. Your work is eternal.

"... and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."
(Lennon & McCartney)

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Joe Ranft -- CREDITS

2006
The 78th Annual Academy Awards -- In Memoriam
Cars -- Co-Director
Cars -- Screenplay
Cars -- Story
Cars -- Voice (Red/Peterbuilt)
Cars -- In memory of
Cars -- Dedicatee

2005
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride -- Executive Producer
Tim Burtons' Corpse Bride -- Dedicatee

2004
The Incredibles -- Additional Voices

2003
Finding Nemo -- Voice (Jacques)
Fish Extreme Skate Adventure -- Voice

2002
Mike's New Car -- Special Thanks
Beauty and the Beast: Disney's Animation Magic -- Himself

2001
Monsters, Inc. -- Additional Voice
Monsters, Inc. -- Additional Story Material
Monkeybone -- Voice (Streetsquash Rabbit)

2000
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins -- Voice (Wheezy)

1999
Fantasia/2000 -- Story
Toy Story 2 -- Story Supervisor
Toy Story 2 -- Additional Story Material
Toy Story 2 -- Voice (Wheezy the Penguin)
The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue -- Character Designer: Other Characters

1998
A Bug's Life -- Story
A Bug's Life -- Voice (Heimlich)
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars -- Creator of Additional Original Characters

1997
The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue -- Character Design

1996
James and the Giant Peach -- Storyboard Supervisor

1995
Toy Story -- Story
Toy Story -- Story Supervisor
Toy Story -- Voice (Lenny the Binoculars)

1994
The Lion King -- Story

1993
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas -- Storyboard Supervisor

1991
Beauty and the Beast -- Story
Drop Dead Fred -- Title Designer

1990
The Rescuers Down Under -- Story

1988
Oliver & Company -- Story
Who Framed Roger Rabbit -- Storysketch

1987
The Brave Little Toaster -- Story
The Brave Little Toaster -- Directing Animator
The Brave Little Toaster -- Voice (Elmo St. Peters)

1982
Luau -- I.Q.