Joe Ranft Remembered:

We just heard about the death of Joe Ranft. Joe died much too young, age 45, in a car crash in Montecito. Joe was one of the finest story artists in animation. He was one of the most important contributors to the great PIXAR films, as well as Disney hits like the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Tutored by the past Disney storyboard greats like Vance Gerry and Bill Peet, Joe passed on his inspiration and experience to dozens of new artists. He literally wrote the manual on how to do storyboards for feature animation. Here is what Ronnie Del Carmen had to say about Joe in his blog:

He was the very first Head of Story in PIXAR feature animation and I've had many talks with him about how that came about--but the likely reason that this position continues to be necessary is because he defined the role from the very beginning and is still the very best example of how to do it. To the benefit of all subsequent feature endeavors he had been part of and all future HOS's that have had to do the job anywhere. Mighty big shoes.

When I entered the building I saw Mari, Bill and Gaylyn at the stairwell, all visibly dealing with heavy emotions. It was only when Kevin Reher walked me into my office and told me I figure why. I got the wind knocked out of me. It is a massive surge of disbelief, I cannot process it still. I searched out the story people I've served with, Jason Katz, Jim Capobianco, Matt Luhn...People cannot say much but just gave each other embraces to quell the sadness. Eventually we all met at the atrium. It is the saddest day at Pixar. The population at work had never been this silent except for the sound of grief. Ed Catmull, visibly shaken walked out to deliver the sad news. John Lasseter stood beside him but could not speak.

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. The last meeting I had with Joe was a Story Lead meeting where we share the collective known knowlege of those of us who've done Head of story jobs. Great stories of how to and why. And we earmark things we want to improve. As always with Joe it was about accentuating the positive and finding what works with people. I will miss him.

Our heartfelt prayers to his family. RDC

I worked with Joe on a many a Disney story meeting like Roger Rabbitt and Lion King. He was one of the few people I knew who never had a bad word to say about anyone, and who no one could meet and not immediately like. What a terrible loss. I will miss him, the whole animation community will miss him.

-Tom Sito

Ronnie Del Carmen
Cartoon Brew
Hollywood Reporter
Animation Nation
Luxo  ¶ 8:31 AM