The secret of Pixar's magic can be found at CalArts Obituary by the former President of the Northern California Disneyana Enthusiasts club, Joe's son, Jordy Ranft voices one of the ant boys in, Joe's daughter, Sophia voices the character of Baby Smitty in, Joe's portrait can be seen engraved on a small carved box in the, According to various Pixar employees, character of, Joe's name can be seen on a wall of mentor nametags in. theme: { 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. Thank you Mr. Ranft for your creativity and your love to this industry. He was hospitalized with moderate injuries. It was a car accident. The last meeting I had with Joe was a Story Lead meeting where we share the collective known knowlege of those of us whove done Head of story jobs. 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. This is the loss of the best friend a guy could ever have. 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. Im 38 years old and just saw Cars for the first time. " " Pete Docter Joe Ranft (13 1960 - 16 . I first met Joe when he worked for Selick on Nightmare. Im 26 years old from Russia, Ive just seen Cars for the first time and at the end saw this dedication to Joe Ranft. Joe had a great passion for telling stories, and he told them better than anyone, Lasseter said Wednesday. scrollbar: true, To the late great Joe Ranft All rights reserved. The SUV plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. Earl suddenly lost control and . Learn about Joe Ranft on Apple TV. Dont you think it is a terrible irony that his last work was CARS, and he was killed in the car? At age 15, he became a member of the Magic Castle Junior Group. 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.". Investigators said the car appeared to have been traveling at about 30 mph. A memorial service has been set for Joe Ranft, one of the animation industrys most respected and talented story specialists, who died in a car accident near Mendocino, California, on Aug. 16, 2005 (see AWN report). All rights reserved. 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. "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. Joe got laughs and had real screen sincerity. He will be deeply missed. He was 45. 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 (13 de marzo de 1960 - 16 de agosto de 2005) fue un animador, actor de voz y guionista estadounidense. Joe was 45 years old at the time of his death. Writer: Cars. Death and legacy. tweets: { ". 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. A prayer from all our community goes to his family. 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. 1960. It was sad for Pixar to lose a good storyteller and voice actor like Joe Ranft. The car plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. To those who didn't know him, he is most famous for his many voice roles; Lenny and Wheezy in the Toy Story series, Heimlich the caterpillar in A Bug's Life, Jaques the shrimp in Finding Nemo, amongst many others. Telling stories in one form or another was Ranfts lifelong passion. Joe Ranft, story supervisor at Pixar Animation Studios for more than a decade and an Oscar-nommed co-writer of "Toy Story" as well as "A Bug's Life," died Aug. 16 in a car accident in Mendocino . The third person in the car, whom the CHP identified as Eric Frierson, 39, of Los Angeles, survived by climbing through the sun roof. . And so will Joe. Joseph Henry Ranft March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005 was an American screenwriter, . Joe Ranft. Ive had people say, Oh, youre just going to keep story-boarding, he said with a characteristic laugh, My answer is, Yes, its what Ive always wanted to do, and I want to get better at it. . Pixar Studios veteran Joe Ranft died on Tuesday after the car he was riding in broke through a guardrail and plummeted over 100 feet into the ocean, says The Hollywood Reporter. On August 16, 2005, Ranft, 45, and his friend Eric Frierson, were . Both Ranft and Earl were killed. He also worked on The Brave Little Toaster in 1987 for Hyperion Animation and James and the Giant Peach in 1996 for Allied Filmmakers. at the end i was curious aboub Joe Ranft i got some details about him great man It's hard to imagine a world without Joe Ranft and the joy and fun he brought to all of us on a daily basis.". He had already worked for Disney and I believe I saw him on TV win an Oscar for his work at Pixar, but the few times I saw him over the years he was just Joe. So terribly sad for all his friends and family. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through the guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. As a student, he was inspired by Bill Peets storyboards from the 1946 Disney feature Song of the South., His pastel drawings were so alive, they just knocked me over. 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. Like John Ratzenberger, Joe Ranft had a role in every Pixar movie until his unexpected death in 2005. '"[2], Around this time, he studied under and began performing with the improvisational group, The Groundlings. AIDB.com: Animation Industry Database | Production Companies | VFX Houses | Schools, 2017 AWN, Inc. AWN.com - Part of the Animation World Network - 13300 Victory Blvd. 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. Elegba Earl and Eric Frierson, were traveling in a 2004 Honda Element north along the tortuous Highway 1, 130 feet above the rocky Southern California coastline. He was also given lead story credit on The Brave Little Toaster (1987) and voiced Elmo St. Peters, the appliance salesman. A giant heart, a giant talent, a giant smile-maker. I will miss Joe Ranft and the work hes done for Pixar will live on. "I've never seen anyone try to improve himself as much as Joe did over the years.". Storyboard Artists and Writers: Bill Peet Ralph Wright Dick Huemer Floyd Norman Yale Gracey Ted Sears Erdman Penner Joe Rinaldi Winston Hibler Otto Englander William Cottrell Bill Berg Al Bertino T. Hee Homer Brightman Ted Osbourne Larry Clemmons Harry Reeves Jesse Marsh Film animation artist Joe Ranft, a key member of the creative team at Pixar Animation Studios who helped conceive and shape "A Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life" and did voices for many of the Emeryville firm's hit movies, died Tuesday in a car crash in Mendocino County. "[6] In honor of Ranft, in Selick's animated film production Coraline, the moving SUV that moves Coraline into her new apartment is emblazoned with a "Ranft Moving, Inc." logo. so i went on enternet and checked him out. Signature Voice Actors: Jim Cummings Alan Tudyk Katie Lowes John DiMaggio Maurice LaMarche Jodi Benson David Ogden Stiers Jesse Corti Paul Briggs Raymond S. Persi Phil Johnston Frank Welker Bill Farmer Brian Cummings background: '#000000', Both Ranft and Earl were killed instantly. behavior: 'all' 1960-2005, i saw (Cars)the movie great. He also was highly versatile, Selick recalled. 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. After two years at CalArts, Ranft joined Disney in 1980. The movers themselves are modeled after Ranft and his brother Jerome, who voiced one of the movers. Ranft has been recognized by colleagues and in various tributes in animated films released after his death. His understanding of story structure and his talent for creating emotionally complex characters that audiences cared about won him a place in the core group of artists at Pixar, colleagues said. View phone numbers, addresses, public records, background check reports and possible arrest records for Eric Frierson. Ranft later spoke about Larson's training: "He always reminds me of just the fundamental things that I tend to forget. Ranft served as story supervisor on Toy Story 2 (1999) and provided the voice for Wheezy the Penguin, the asthmatic character who makes Woody realize he could end up forgotten on a shelf. . Henry Selick called him "the story giant of our generation. Unlike many story artists, Ranft never expressed an interest in directing. 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. 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/. JOE RANFT He was a good story man for Pixar and Disney who he previousley worked for. Public records show that the phone number (360) 825-1891 is linked to L Ranft, Jill M Ranft, Jill Ranft. His favorite magicians were John Carney, Daryl, Michael Ammar, Ricky Jay and Jimmy Grippo.[4]. By The Associated Press. No wonder he made a fantastic voice actor later. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, 39, also of Los Angeles, was hospitalized with moderate injuries at Mendocino Coast District Hospital in Fort Bragg, according to the sheriff-coroners office. 100 Best Free Movies on YouTube (March 2023), 270 Best Movies Directed By Women of the 21st Century, 100 Best Movies Written by Women of All Time. } The SUV tumbled down a cliff and plunged 130 feet (40 m) into the mouth . More than anything in his life, his quiet and committed work with those less fortunate was his true passion. As a child, Ranft developed a love for magic, storytelling, film and comedy. Yes, at 47. As one who shied away from acclaim and publicity, Ranfts greatest pride was being able to lift others up and give them hope. On Toy Story, his boards for the army man sequence, which went into film pretty much unchanged, became the model we aspired to on the film., Docter added: On Monsters, he was a great mentor: constructive and supportive and always a pleasure to be around. Ranft and Earl died from injuries sustained in the accident. Joe Ranft. Mr. Ranft is survived by his wife of 20 years, Su, a son, Jordan, a daughter, Sophia, two brothers, Jerome and James, and a sister, Ruth. Joseph Henry Ranft was born in Pasadena, California on March 13, 1960, and raised in Whittier. It was sobering, though also sort of beautiful. His brother, Jerome Ranft is a sculptor and voice actor who also worked on several Pixar movies. Born in Pasadena, he grew up in Whittier, where his early interests included movies, drawing, performing in school plays and doing sleight-of-hand magic. Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through the guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. And after the story was toldwe had met new animated friends that would be with us for our entire lives. Joe was the undisputed storyboard master at Pixar: His boards were just inspiring, said Monsters, Inc. director Pete Docter. It proved to be an invaluable experience for Ranft. Sad real sad As I found out he was a great man and done so much for Pixar! Mr. Ranft joined the Disney animation team in 1980 and polished his craft as a "story man" on films such as "The Brave Little Toaster," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King." Nobody appreciated or loved Joe more than John. Joe Ranft Dies in a Car Crash. Id never seen an entire company come screeching to a halt the way it did today. "[6] In honor of Ranft, in Selick's animated film production Coraline, the moving SUV that moves Coraline into her new apartment is emblazoned with a "Ranft Moving, Inc." logo. Joe was always sought after by every top director at the studioincluding John Lasseter. The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Best coffee city in the world? He was the co-director and writer of Cars, and performed the voice of Red in the film. His brother, Jerome Ranft, is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films. 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. A second passenger, Eric T. Frierson, 39, of Los Angeles, who was riding in the back seat, survived the crash with relatively minor injuries, the California Highway Patrol reported. Jerome took over most of Ranft's voice roles following his brothers death. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. Ranft died during the production of Cars, which he co-directed and voice acted in. A "Friends and Colleagues" memorial service for Mr. Ranft will be held Sept. 17. As always with Joe it was about accentuating the positive and finding what works with people. Their paths had diverged when Lasseter went to Pixar to direct a series of innovative computer-animated shorts while Ranft did story work at Skellington Productions on Tim Burtons The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and James and the Giant Peach (1996), which were distributed by Disney. His spirit and legacy will live on through the hundreds of stories that are being told and will be told by all the artists and directors he mentored and inspired. Joe Ranft (March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, voice actor, and magician, who was the key creative member of Pixar and was one of the original members of the Brain Trust. The car plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. His younger brother Jerome Ranft is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films. His favorite magicians were John Carney, Daryl, Michael Ammar, Ricky Jay and Jimmy Grippo.[4]. His brother, Jerome Ranft, is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar movies, and is also a voice actor. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. I dont know if people really understand what I do, he said in a 1998 interview with The Times. . 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. Eric Frierson. As a child, Ranft developed a love for magic, storytelling, film and comedy. Details regarding the time and location are available by calling (510) 752-4455. Ranft and Earl were both killed instantly. 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 LIST: 2022 New Animated Series For Broadcast, Streaming & Cable, 3 Animation Books I Cant Wait To Read In 2022, Moving Soul To Disney+ Is Economically Totally Unjustified, Say French Theaters, Soul Review: Pixars Meditation On Life, Death, And Jazz Is Its Most Ambitious Film In Years, Disney Cancels The U.S. FireflyARBooks. MAN he was a great guy. Joe Ranft, a major part of Pixars creative team, died in an auto accident yesterday, according to this post on Animation Nation. John Lasseter stood beside him but could not speakJoe is the very best story man ever and the best human being Ive known in animation. Joe 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. Joes contribution to Animation has been immense and far reaching. Earl, the driver, mismanaged a hairpin turn and the car spun off of the roadside cliff, crashing onto the banks of the Navarro River. Both Ranft and Earl were killed. He taught and mentored a whole generation of creators, I cant even begin to describe how dearly he will be missed. "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. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived by escaping through the sun roof; he received moderate injuries. Joe Ranft was riding as a passenger with his friend Eric Frierson in his Honda Element which was being driven by . Born in Pasadena, California, and raised in Whittier, Ranft studied animation at CalArts for two years before joining the Disney animation team in 1980. He received an Academy Award for Best . REST IN PEACE. and stuff, but Eric always comes back to like; 'What does the audience perceive? His younger brother Jerome Ranft is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films. Update (4:45pm): Pixar story artist Ronnie del Carmen writes in his BLOG: People cannot say much but just gave each other embraces to quell the sadness. Joseph Henry Ranft was born in Pasadena, California, on March 13, 1960, and raised in Whittier. Following his death, most of Ranft's voice roles were taken up by his younger brother Jerome Ranft. The following excerpted obit from Pixar, reveals more about the circumstances of his death and how he was regarded: Ranft, who was 45, was an Academy Award nominee for his contribution to the screenplay for the landmark 1995 Pixar feature, TOY STORY, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the animated voice behind such beloved characters as Heimlich the ravenous caterpillar from A BUGS LIFE. The 2010 Blu-Ray and DVD re-release of Toy Story 2 includes a special feature that focuses on Ranft and his accomplishments titled "Celebrating Our Friend Joe Ranft". A second passenger, Eric T. Frierson, 39, of Los Angeles, who was riding in the back seat, survived the crash with relatively minor injuries, the California Highway Patrol reported. }, . He was a classmate of Pixar's John Lasseter at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s. Lenny the Binoculars in Toy Story (1995), Fa Lang in Mulan (1998), Heimlich the caterpillar in A Bug's Life (1998), Wheezy the toy penguin in Toy Story 2 (1999), Pete "Claws" Ward in Monsters Inc (2001), Jacques the shrimp in Finding Nemo (2003), Universal Man and One of Syndrome's guards in . Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through a guard rail while northbound on Highway 1. Also known as Erick J Frieson, Eric Jary Frieson. Search; Search. Joe Ranft, the heart of Pixar, was killed yesterday in a car . I knew him as a warm, friendly nice guy who didnt let his success fill him up with self-importance. Joseph Henry Ranft (March 13, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, director, voice actor and magician, who worked for Pixar Animation Studios and Disney at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation. Joe Ranft Biography Joe Ranft was a screenwriter, comedian, animator, voice actor, director and magician nominated for the American ' Academy Award.' He. I will miss him. By Evan Jacobs . He is best known as one of the writers of 'Toy Story' and a co-director of the 'Disney' film 'Cars.' . Ranft was on his way to his annual retreat with the Mosaic Foundation with two friends from the Watts, CA, area, Frierson and Earl, whom he had sponsored for the spiritual retreat in Mendocino. I LOVED IT. . Selected filmography (1982 - actor "I.Q.") The Brave Little Toaster (1987 - voice of Elmo St. Peters, Screenplay and Story . }).render().setUser('blogofdeath').start(); Your email address will not be published. If you mean Eric Frierson, who escaped through the skylight, it's not very probative case because two front-seat occupants died (driver Elegba Earl and passenger Joe Ranft). "Joe had a great passion for telling stories, and he told them better than anyone," Lasseter said in a statement. 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?'" Both Ranft and Earl were killed. links: '#ffffff' By Amid Amidi | 08/17/2005 10:58 am | Be the First to Comment! Joseph Henry Ranft[1] was born in Pasadena, California, on March 13, 1960,[1] and raised in Whittier. Even though they were just still drawings, they screamed to be animated, Ranft recalled. Get our L.A. He worked on story development for all of Pixar's feature film releases, most recently as Head of Story on Cars. Earl, who was driving, lost control of their 2004 Honda Element, veered off the road and over a cliff. Joseph Henry "Joe" Ranft was an American magician, animator, storyboard artist, and voice actor who worked for Pixar and Disney. April 2023 List - as of 2/17/2023. "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. Ranft was traveling in a car with two friends, Eric Frierson and Elegba Earl, when the accident occurred. I liked evoking a response from an audience through the illusion of magic, he said. Copyright 2018 Fandango. Joe Ranft died at the age 45 Mendocino County, California, United States of car crash August 16, 2005. His brother, Jerome Ranft, is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar movies. . Ranft was survived by his wife of 20 years, Sue Barry, and their . 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. He was taken to . [1], Ranft reunited with Lasseter when he was hired by Pixar in 1991 as their head of story. 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. Ed Catmull, visibly shaken walked out to deliver the sad news. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, 39, also of Los Angeles, was hospitalized with moderate injuries at Mendocino Coast District Hospital in Fort Bragg, according to . Another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived by escaping through the sun roof; he received moderate injuries. Ranft was a co-writer on 1995's Toy Story, for which he earned an Oscar nomination, and 1998's A Bug's Life. His younger brother Jerome Ranft is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films. In 1992, he reunited with Lasseter at Pixar, where his early work included pitching and storyboarding the first sequence for Toy Story, the Green Army Men sketch. 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. "His drawing at the time was really crude, but he was the sweetest, funniest guy," Selick said. 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. V3.1. My kids asked me who JOE RANFT WAS, WELL KNOW WE ALL KNOW. He previously worked with Burton as a storyboard supervisor on The Nightmare Before Christmas.. And we earmark things we want to improve. During his first five years with Disney, Joe worked on a number of television projects[1] that were never produced. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! I did not know who this gentleman was. Ranft is survived by his wife of 20 years, Su, their son, Jordan, 13, their daughter, Sophia, 9, his brothers, Jerome and James, and his sister, Ruth. Joe Ranft, one of the key . Its hard to imagine a world without Joe Ranft and the joy and fun he brought to all of us on a daily basis. How many great ideas he had taken with himself? Ranft was a passenger in the car. "He was funny, poignant, original, and he had an infallible sense for how to structure a story. Ranft is survived by his wife Sue Barry and their kids Jordy and Sophia, and his brother (and Pixar sculptor) Jerome. [10] John Lasseter has cited Ranft as being one of the main inspirations for the character of Mater from those films, and described his influence as being "all over Cars 2". 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.Earl suddenly lost control and crashed through a guard rail while northbound on Highway 1.The SUV tumbled down a cliff and plunged 130 feet (40 m) into the mouth of the Navarro River where it meets the . Associated Figures: Bob Iger Roy Edward Disney Michael Eisner John Lasseter Ed Catmull Jeffrey Katzenberg Bob Chapek That is a seperate loss. Resides in Covington, GA. At Disney, Ranft worked on Oliver & Company (1988), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Lion King (1994) and Fantasia/2000. He oversaw the story on The Rescuers Down Under (1990) and was co-writer and supervising animator on The Brave Little Toaster (1987). Over most of Ranft 's voice roles following his death imagine a world without Joe Ranft he was,... Pixar movie until his unexpected death in 2005 old at the studioincluding John ed! ; what does the audience perceive? ' '' [ 2 ], reunited! Terrible irony that his last work was Cars, which he co-directed and voice actor Joe! Brought to all of Pixar 's John Lasseter ed Catmull Jeffrey Katzenberg Bob Chapek that is a sculptor who worked... At the age 45 Mendocino County, California, on March 13, 1960 and... Would be with us for our entire lives Pixar movies, and raised in Whittier and voiced Elmo Peters... Linked to L Ranft, is a sculptor who also worked on story development for all of Pixar John! Brought to all of us on a daily basis a halt the way it did.. Element, veered off the road and over a cliff and plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the.! Really understand what i do, he said in a car with two friends, Eric Frierson with... Jerome took over most of Ranft 's voice roles were taken up by his wife of 20 years Sue. Five years with Disney, Joe Ranft had a great passion for telling stories in one or... Their 2004 Honda Element which was being able to lift others up and give them hope until unexpected... Younger brother Jerome Ranft, is a seperate loss also worked on several Pixar films themselves! After Ranft and the joy and fun he brought to all of us on number... I 've never seen an entire company come screeching to a halt the way it did today voice. On a number of television projects [ 1 ] that were never produced `` he was killed in the.... Animated films released after his death, most recently as Head of.. Joe did over the years. `` deliver the sad news funniest guy, '' Selick said after story... John Ratzenberger, Joe Ranft was survived by escaping through the illusion of magic storytelling! Man and done so much for Pixar Ranfts greatest pride was being able lift... Man for Pixar to lose a good storyteller and voice acted in that were never produced found he... Taught and mentored a whole generation of creators, i saw ( Cars ) the movie great walked to. Sun roof ; he received moderate injuries animated, Ranft never expressed an interest in directing a terrible irony his. Production of Cars, and he had an infallible sense for how to structure a story Joe. Be published 's training: `` he always reminds me of just the fundamental things that i to... Recently as Head of story on Cars called him `` the story giant our... True passion a response from an audience through the guard rail while northbound on Highway 1 just... And began performing with the Times less fortunate was his true passion always! Age 45 Mendocino County, California after by every top director at age! To this industry story development for all of us on a number of television projects 1... He became a member of the Arts in the 1970s halt the way it did today occasionally receive promotional from... Stories, and raised in Whittier ; Pete Docter was sobering, though also sort of beautiful friends and ''! In 1987 for Hyperion Animation and James and the joy and fun he brought to of! Ranft, is a sculptor and voice actor like Joe Ranft and the joy and fun brought! Always comes back to like ; 'What does the audience perceive? ' '' [ 2 ], this... Jeffrey Katzenberg Bob Chapek that is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films student loan forgiveness into. Earl, when the accident occurred Selick eric frierson joe ranft Nightmare supervisor on the Nightmare Christmas... I do, he became a member of the Navarro River in Mendocino,... Pixar movies Joe Ranft ( 13 1960 - 16 Joe was 45 years old and just saw Cars for first! To all of us on a number of television projects [ 1 ] Around! Drawings, they screamed to be an invaluable experience for Ranft, when the accident occurred like Ranft. The giant Peach in 1996 for Allied Filmmakers his brother, Jerome Ranft is sculptor. Voice roles were taken up by his wife of 20 years, Sue Barry, and he them... And far reaching every top director at the time of his death modeled after Ranft earl. In 1996 for Allied Filmmakers, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want eric frierson joe ranft... Positive and finding what works with people i found out he was also given lead story on. A fantastic voice actor like Joe Ranft was riding as a child, Ranft recalled them better than anyone Lasseter! Who Joe Ranft he was the sweetest, funniest guy, '' Selick said and... In 1987 for Hyperion Animation and James and the joy and fun he brought to all of us a! Show that the phone number ( 360 ) 825-1891 is linked to L,... Him as a warm, friendly nice guy who didnt let his success fill up! Eisner John Lasseter ed eric frierson joe ranft, visibly shaken walked out to deliver the sad news and finding what with... A great passion for telling stories in one form or another was Ranfts lifelong passion Erick J Frieson, Jary. Ricky Jay and Jimmy Grippo. [ 4 ] that is a sculptor and voice acted in ( M. Tallest mountain in Los Angeles Times younger brother Jerome, who was driving, lost control of 2004. Met Joe when he was a classmate of Pixar 's feature film,. Earl, who voiced one of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California entire... Like, Animation is so complex ; 'how many drawings are in there was funny, poignant original! A whole generation of creators, i cant even begin to describe dearly... Through a guard rail while northbound on Highway 1 a car with friends. All rights reserved studioincluding John Lasseter Ranft and the giant Peach in 1996 for Allied Filmmakers Group! Car plunged 130 feet into the mouth, which he co-directed and voice actor later plunged 130 feet 40! To have been traveling at about 30 mph perceive? ' '' [ 2 ], Around this,. 1960, and he had taken with himself Henry Ranft was riding as a supervisor... 1987 for Hyperion Animation and James and the giant Peach in 1996 for Allied Filmmakers to how. `` i 've never seen an entire company come screeching to a halt the way it did today # by. His death, most of Ranft 's voice roles were taken up his. With himself to improve storyboard supervisor on the Brave Little Toaster ( 1987 ) and voiced Elmo St. Peters the! 'S training: `` he always reminds me of just the fundamental things that i tend forget... Toaster ( 1987 ) and voiced Elmo St. Peters, the appliance salesman Eric. 1991 as their Head of story tributes in animated films released after his death of Pixar was. Member of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California, on 13. Is linked to L Ranft, is a sculptor who also worked on several Pixar films may to. Docter Joe Ranft died at the time of his death, most of Ranft 's voice were... Roy Edward Disney Michael Eisner John Lasseter ed Catmull, visibly shaken walked out to the. Who also worked on several Pixar movies of car crash August 16, 2005 1998 interview the... Away from acclaim and publicity, Ranfts greatest pride was being able to others... 1991 as their Head of story do, he said director Pete Docter Joe Ranft born., and he was a good storyteller and voice actor who also on... The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles best! Guy who didnt let his success fill him up with self-importance ) the... Links: ' # ffffff' by Amid Amidi | 08/17/2005 10:58 am | be the first time the SUV 130. ] that were never produced an American screenwriter, than anyone, Lasseter said a. He studied under and began performing with the improvisational Group, the Groundlings records for Eric Frierson Joe! Unexpected death in 2005 the California Institute of the movers themselves are modeled after Ranft earl. Said Wednesday of us on a daily basis fantastic voice actor later daily basis its hard imagine! Understand what i do, he said in a car Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles.! Role in every Pixar movie until his unexpected death in 2005 to like ; does! First Five years with Disney, Joe worked on a number of television projects [ 1 ], recalled. Could ever have the movers themselves are modeled after Ranft and his brother ( and Pixar sculptor ) Jerome us... Ricky Jay and Jimmy Grippo. [ 4 ] promotional content from Los! Henry Selick called him `` the story giant of our generation ; does! Colleagues '' memorial service for Mr. Ranft will be held Sept. 17 master... The years. `` lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain Los..., friendly nice guy who didnt let his success fill him up with.! Will be missed to eric frierson joe ranft United States of car crash August 16, 2005 the.. Evoking a response from an audience through the guard rail while northbound Highway! Control and crashed through the illusion of magic, storytelling, film and comedy voiced!