Joe Ranft Birthday Tribute

Special to The Blue Parrot/Upcoming Pixar

"It’s fun to draw for me and explore what’s there." To create a drawing and see it "come alive, (that) you’ve caught something, something unique."

"I love characters. I like people and I’m very curious about what makes people tick … what makes me tick." 

"You get these characters, they’re not real; it’s an illusion that they’re alive, that they’re got something inside of them that’s motivating them, driving them." 

"I like to FEEL things out when I’m going after something."

— Joseph Henry Ranft, a master storyteller and a magnificent human being.

Happy Birthday, Joe.

This year, in honor of Joe’s birthday, I want to talk a bit about inspiration — because the examples Joe Ranft set have inspired and influenced a whole lot of people: young children watching videos at home or listening as Joe spoke to their classes; troubled adults working to get their lives back on track with Joe as their mentor; people like myself who had very little interaction with him but recognized both his talent and gentle way; and, finally the many artists and colleagues he worked alongside at Disney and Pixar.

Inspiration never dies. It’s the spark that drives the engine of humanity. Joe’s life touched so many of us, in big and small ways, none of them insignificant. Many of us smile or laugh thinking about Joe, his life, his work; some of us are moved to tears by scenes he worked on and the sense of loss that followed his untimely death. Still, we must be grateful for the rich legacy he left us and future generations of filmgoers.

The world was blessed by Joe’s extraordinary life, his talent, his humanity, his selflessness. 

His work on such timeless classics like “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Brave Little Toaster," "The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” "Cars" and other films will entertain audiences for generations. Countless families will continue to mine the rich emotional nuggets in those films, those moments that make us smile, laugh — even shed a tear or two. 

Joe’s wife, Su, said that Ken Anderson, Bill Peet, Vance Gerry, Joe Rinaldi, Don Dagradi were among Joe’s heroes and teachers. Their work inspired him, just as his work inspired so many peers and colleagues at Pixar — from John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and Bob Pauley to those talented young storyboard artists like Ronnie Del Carmen, Jason Katz, Jim Capobianco, Jeff Pidgeon, Dan Scanlon and others. 

Joe’s peers and colleagues are keeping Joe’s spirit alive and legacy intact, continuing to create wonderful, emotionally moving pictures — honing skills he helped them develop. They learned to trust the trial-and-error process of creating wonderful characters and crafting masterful, timeless stories. 

I recently saw the first 45-minutes of "Up," which illustrates just how much he inspired his colleagues. "Up" is a story filled with humor and heart — arguably the most emotional and flat-out funny film Pixar to date. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry … you’ll take some very special feelings home with you when you leave the multiplex.

There’s a montage in "Up" that reminds me a great deal of the short film of story sketches Disney animator John Musker put together a couple of years ago for Pixar Animation Studios’ celebration of Joe’s life. Musker’s film, set to music, told me a great deal about Joe and why he was so beloved at home and work. It included highlights of a young Joe getting into trouble with the nuns at a parochial school; his stint at an ice cream parlor where he scared patrons with a strawberry "blood stained" uniform; his love affair with Su, riding together in a small boat; the proud father rolling on the bed and bonding with his kids; and finally as a beautiful butterfly heaven bound. 

"Up" does something quite similar with its lead character, Carl Fredricksen, following his life as a child and meeting the girl of his dreams, Ellie, through their lives together and her death in a fully-rendered animated film. If "Wall-e" was a great love story (and it was), then "Up," is a great tale of love and commitment. Just like Joe, Ellie is still very much "alive," even in death. The inspiration of her life on Carl is a constant and welcome presence.

For those of you who didn’t see Musker’s tribute, you’ll get a good sense of its emotional heft and the same feelings it stirred in me when you watch the Carl and Ellie montage in "Up." It is one of the most endearing gifts the artists at Pixar could have given all of us who love great stories. 

Finally, on this special day — the day Joseph Henry Ranft was born in 1960 — remember as he always said: “The journey is the reward.” 

Enjoy and celebrate your life in a daily basis, be giving, kind, charitable, humble, respectful. Be inspired by the example set by Joe Ranft through all his works and deeds — as a student, a teacher, an artist, a friend, a beloved husband, father and family man. 

"For every laugh there should be a tear" — Walt Disney. 

If you have any great stories or memories of Joe you’d like to share, please do so.

God bless and comfort us all.