Pixar Voice-Talents
In animated movies, the filmmakers usually cast A-List Hollywood actors to provide the voices of the main characters in their movies. Did you happen to know, however, that the filmmakers at Pixar Animation Studios every so often cast themselves as bit characters in each of their movies? You might be surprised to know that in addition to creating creative and heartwarming stories for the silver screen, the filmmakers of Pixar are also responsible for giving “small” characters their souls and egos just like the main actors.
John Lasseter who founded Pixar with Ed Catmull and Steve Jobs and is the current Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and DisneyToon Studios had a bit voice part in Toy Story (1995). He also voiced Bug Zapper Bug #1 in A Bug’s Life (1998), the Blue Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robot #1 in Toy Story 2 (1999), and provided additional voices in Cars 2 (2011). He is currently attached to co-write/co-direct and executive produce Toy Story 4 for Pixar which will be released in 2018.
The late, great Joe Ranft, who served as a Pixar screenwriter/animator/storyboard artist did a LOT of voice work: also provided the voices of Elmo St. Peters in The Brave Little Toaster (1987), Igor in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Lenny the Binoculars in Toy Story (1995), Heimlich the Caterpillar in A Bug’s Life (1998), the speaking voice of Wheezy the Penguin in Toy Story 2 (1999), various additional voices in Monsters, Inc. (2001), Jacques the Shrimp in Finding Nemo (2003), and Red in Cars (2006). Ranft unfortunately passed away in a tragic car accident at the age of 45, on August 16th, 2005, 10 months before the release of “Cars.” There is a dedication to him in the end titles of the film. (His brother, Jerome Ranft, who works as a character sculptor for Pixar, voiced Gamma in Up (2009) and succeeded his brother in the role of Jacuqes for Finding Dory (2016)).
Andrew Stanton won 2 Academy Awards for being the writer/director of Finding Nemo (2003) and Wall-E (2008). He voiced for Toy Story (1995), A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), and was a big hit as Crush the Sea Turtle in Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016). He was also Fred in Cars (2006), and Axiom Passenger #1 in Wall-E (2008). Stanton also wrote and directed Finding Dory (2016).
Pete Docter was the Academy-award winning writer/director of Up (2009) and Inside Out (2015), and also wrote and directed Monsters, Inc. (2001). He provided voices for Monsters, Inc. (2001), The Incredibles (2004), and Inside Out (2015). Docter also voiced the Lifeguard Bot in Wall-E (2008) and Campmaster Strauch in Up (2009).
Brad Bird got his awards as the writer/director of The Incredibles (2004) and Ratatouille (2007), but he also voiced Edna “E” Mode in The Incredibles (2004) and the Ambrister Minion in Ratatouille (2007). He is currently attached to direct The Incredibles 2 for Pixar which will be released in 2019.
The acting skills of each of these people can’t compare to those who have been the lead Disney/Pixar Cartoons, i.e. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Billy Crystal, etc. However, I’m sure you could agree that it is interesting how each of these individuals have been able to work their multiple creative talents into their creative talents into their projects!
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