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Yesterday would have been the 50th birthday of Joseph Henry "Joe" Ranft.  Although the name might not immediately jump out at you, Joe Ranft was an influence and presence in most of our lives.  Ranft was one of the brilliant minds behind many of the Disney and Pixar films that have become staples in movie theaters and households all over the world. He worked on numerous classic films including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Toy Story. He was the vocal talent behind some of Pixar's most memorable characters such as Heimlich the Caterpillar in A Bug's Life, Wheezy the Penguin in Toy Story 2, and Jacques the Shrimp in Finding Nemo. Sadly, five years ago, Ranft passed away in a tragic car accident.

To honor his memory, his 50th birthday, and the amazing vision he brought to the world of animation, The Princess and the Frog director John Musker created an original, short animated film backed by the enchanting sounds of jazz singer, Madeleine Peyroux's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go".  Fittingly, it was done as a story reel:

And for more on Joe Ranft, here's a video where he talks about the characters he voiced, and here's one called moments with Joe.

(via Pixar Planet)

Joe Ranft and Tim Burton

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