o-meon reports that on Monday, October 9th, at 4:00 pm, 12 honorees were awarded the prestigious Disney Legends Award. Among these people, was the late Joe Ranft from Pixar who died in a tragic accident last year.
In case you are unaware of what the award is about, here is a history of it….
The Disney Legends program was established in 1987 to acknowledge and honor the many individuals whose imagination, talents and dreams have created the Disney magic. The awards are given annually during a ceremony at The Walt Disney Studios.
The Legends are chosen by a selection committee chosen by Roy E. Disney. Since it’s inception, the program has honored many gifted animators, Imagineers, songwriters, actors and business leaders as having made a significant impact on the Disney legacy.
The Disney Legends award has three distinct elements that characterize the contributions made by each talented recipient.
The Spiral … stands for imagination, the power of an idea.
The Hand … holds the gifts of skill, discipline and craftsmanship.
The Wand and the Star … represent magic: the spark that is ignited when imagination and skill combine to create a new dream.The Disney Legends award was created in 1987 by Andrea Favilli. The awards are cast in bronze and hand-crafted each year by the artist that characterize the contribution made by each talented recipient.
Su Ranft and her daughter, Sophia, were at the ceremony to recieve the award on behalf of Joe, as pictured below.
And this particular photo is very emotional…
John Lasseter and Su Ranft embrace after Joe was inducted as a Disney Legend.
You can read more about the award and Joe’s Legend Bio here.
Other inductees were…
* Renowned singer and songwriter Sir Elton John
* ABC News anchor Peter Jennings
* Actors Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran (Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, Mickey Mouse Club)
* Actors Tim Considine and David Stollery (The Adventures of Spin and Marty)
* Actress Ginny Tyler (Mickey Mouse Club)
* Voice actor Paul Frees (Haunted Mansion, Ludwig Von Drake)
* Disney Imagineer Don Edgren (Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain)
* Animation background artist Al Dempster
* Founder of Walt Disney Records, Jimmy Johnson
Congrats Joe.
(Images Courtesy of o-meon)
Last modified: October 12, 2006
Congratulations Joe, your work will live on.
Oh yes, Congradulations to PIXAR and the entire Ranft family. It is a shame that he didn’t get a chance to do someone for Ratatouille!!
Congratulations, Joe. We will all miss you….
Hooray.
I can think of anyone better. Congrats to his family.
andy
*can’t
/whoops
hehe
Still think of you from time to time. Godspeed buddy.