Disney’s in hot water again over purported mistreatment of workers in the Chinese factories that manufacture your favorite Disney crap souvenirs. According to the Orlando Sentinel Disney is hiring an outside firm to investigate the allegations. Disney is also looking to clean up the image of its Board of Directors. The NY Times reports that… Read More »Disney in hot water of factories in China
I just got word from Pixar’s Press and Publicity Department with details on the upcoming Memorials for Joe Ranft and the donation fund they are establishing in his honor. "Joe Ranft’s private Memorial Services, for close friends and family, will be held Sunday, August 21, 2005, in Mill Valley, California. "A ‘Friends and Colleagues’ Memorial… Read More »Joe Ranft: Memorial Details
The shockwaves from Pixar Animator and Story man Joe Ranft’s death continue to spread across the internet and the world. Searches on his name now rank number 3 on technorati and reflections on how Ranft’s work and life continue to be posted. Ranft’s death is immensely sad news for the creators and fans of animation… Read More »Joe Ranft: the legacy…
Reactions continue to role in and searches for "Joe Ranft" has risen to number 5 on the Technorati most popular search list. But still there is almost no mention of Ranft, his accomplishments, his career, and his affect on the Animation Industry in the larger media outlets. Chat at Pixar Animation Blog says exactly what… Read More »Joe Ranft: Reactions continue
In addition to the tributes I’ve already linked to here and here, people continue to mourn the loss of Joe Ranft. I’ll continue to list as many of these tributes here: First, CartoonBrew highlights exactly why Ranft was riding in a car along the coast that day. He was heading toward a retreat to help… Read More »Ranft: Story Man 1960-2005
For those who were born in the 80s and more recently, it’s hard to believe there was a time before the ubiquity of computers in our lives. Yep. Cash registers were all mechanical. Totals were often figured out on the fly in peoples heads. Tickets were torn or punched to indicate prior usage. Pneumatic tubes… Read More »Disneyland circa 1970
Tributes, remembrances, and eulogies for the late great Joe Ranft are pouring in. I’ll try and link to as many as I can here:
Pixar Animation Blog: "Joe Ranft is remembered as a jovial, encouraging mentor who made
working at Pixar a joy. He will be missed incredibly but his characters
and work will serve as a wonderful legacy."
Cartoon Brew: "Joe was the finest of the new generation of animation story tellers. I
was lucky enough to work with Joe at both Disney and Pixar, and he
always amazed me with his ability to tell a story. What a terrible loss
for all of us who love animation." – Floyd Norman
LaughingPlace.com: Rhett Wickham has a moving essay, "Not since the late Bill Peet has any one story artist made such consistent, significant contributions to animated film, and his presence leaves an immeasurable void in the industry, particularly at Pixar, where he enjoyed the undying respect, admiration and love of his peers.
Enrico’s PhotoJournal: "We are all hit hard by this sudden news and we’re all beyond sadness here
at the studio. Joe’s contribution to Animation has been immense and far reaching. He taught and mentored a whole generation of creators, I can’t even begin to describe how dearly he will be missed."
Tara’s livejournal: "I’d never seen an entire company come screeching to a halt the way it did today. It was sobering, though also sort of beautiful. I’m sure Joe would have been pleased to know how loved he was. He probably would have said something funny in his "Heimlich" voice.
Tirade: "Joe is the very best story man ever and the best human being I’ve known
in animation. He is mentor, friend and inspiration to all of us who do
this job."
James Baker: "Whereas many people that I have worked for elsewhere lead by making you feel that you are inadequate and have a long way to go, Joe had a way of making you feel smart and capable, and as a consequence his crew wanted very much to rise to the level of his confidence in them."
Maverix Studios: "He was the great story guru and heart of Pixar Animation Studios . It is truly impossible to summarize the influence Joe has had on all of us in the animation and film industry. Our hearts go out to all of his family and friends….we’ll miss you Joe."
Animated News: "In a statement released Wednesday, Pixar said ‘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’."
Hollywood Reporter: "Born in Southern California in 1960, Ranft was a classmate of director John Lasseter’s at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s. After two years at CalArts, he joined Disney in 1980. He joined Pixar in 1992."
Jim Hill Media:"here was a guy who was still operating at the top of his game. Who was rabidly pursued by virtually every major animation studio in the business. Not just because Joe was a top storyman. The type of guy who could wade into a truly troubled picture and quickly help to turn it around. But because Mr. Ranft was sweet & funny & kind & great to hang around with"
[ttags: pixar, disney, animation, joeranft, ranft, death, obituary, tribute, emeryville ]
You may have known him as the voice of Heimlich the caterpillar from Pixar’s hit film "A Bug’s Life", but to the folks at Pixar in Emeryville Joe Ranft was so much more. He was a story man, a voice artist, a humorist, a family man, and an artist. As a lead on nearly every… Read More »Pixar’s Joe Ranft killed in Auto Accident