Two Guys Named Joe: Master Animation Storytellers Joe Grant Joe Ranft

by John Canemaker

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One Joe was in his ninety-seventh year when he died in 2005; the other Joe died the same year at age forty-five. Both died before their time. This book explores the interplay between personal creativity and the craft of animation storytelling, as seen through the lives and art of two of its greatest practitioners: Joe Grant and Joe Ranft.

Grant and Ranft were unique influences on storytelling at two major studios during important periods in the history of animation. Joe Grant, in fact, straddled two eras. A gifted newspaper caricaturist, he contributed ideas for Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony shorts as well as classic masterworks like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Pinocchio; Fantasia; and Dumbo. As Walt Disney's confidant, Grant played a leading role in defining Disney's pioneering animation legacy. He returned to the studio at eighty-one after a fortyyear hiatus, his creative spirit and abilities undiminished, and made significant contributions to Beauty and the Beast; Aladdin; Mulan; and The Lion King, among others.

Joe Ranft built on the traditions of the past forged by Grant and others to become the top animation storyboard artist of his generation, working on Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas; The Brave Little Toaster; Who Framed Roger Rabbit; James and the Giant Peach; The Little Mermaid; and Beauty and the Beast, among other films. As one of Pixar's creative founders and a close friend of John Lasseter's, Ranft had a major influence on the studio's signature originality, warmth, and irreverent humor, through his contributions to Toy Story; Toy Story 2; A Bug's Life; Monsters, Inc.; and Cars.

Grant and Ranft were inventive and imaginative, with keen insight into characters, and they inspired colleagues and entertained audiences around the world. Although their combined careers spanned the Golden Age of traditional animation that began in the 1930s at The Walt Disney Company and became the present digital age at Pixar Animation Studios, their extraordinary contributions remain largely unknown to the public.


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Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Biography

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

John Canemaker (born 1943) is an Academy Award-winning independent animator, animation historian, teacher, lecturer, and author perhaps best known for his many books about the Disney studio, including Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation.In 1980, he began teaching and developing the animation program at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts', Kanbar Institute of Film and Television Department. Since 1988 he has directed the program and is currently a tenured full professor. From 2001-2002 he was Acting Chair of the NYU Undergraduate Film and Television Department. In 2006, his film The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation, a 28-minute animated piece about Canemaker's relationship with his father, won the Academy Award for best animated short. In 2007 the same piece picked up an Emmy award for its graphic and artistic design.


His first book, The Animated Raggedy Ann and Andy, detailing the making of an animated feature based on Johnny Gruelle’s storybook characters, was published in 1977. Eight more books followed: Treasures of Disney Animation Art (1982),Winsor McCay: His Life and Art (1987), Felix: The Twisted Tale of the World’s Most Famous Cat (1991), Tex Avery: The MGM Years (1996), Before the Animation Begins: The Art and Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists (1996), Paper Dreams: The Art and Artists of Disney Storyboards (1999), Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation (2001), The Art and Flair of Mary Blair (2003), and a revised and updated edition of Winsor McCay (2005).

Reviews

[♡Haphazardly-E♡ (Elm's Version)]

Dnf- was confusing and i got bored

[Gijs Grob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains two biographies in one: that of the two story men Joe Ranft and Joe Grant, both closely associated to the Disney studio, albeit neither the whole time nor always fullheartedly. By telling of the careers of these two talented men, Canemaker gives some insight in the Disney studio during several of its stages. In Ranft's case we get to know more about the studio's dire straights in the early 1980's, in Grant's case we learn more about the shifting atmosphere in the postwar period, and a little about what was going on during the Disney renaissance in the 1990's. Though published by Disney Editions itself, Canemaker's story is not hagiographic: the studio's troubles and at times clearly inspiration-less atmosphere are shown without restraint. Joe Ranft, however, remains likeable throughout, while Joe Grant's character was more controversial. We learn, for example, that he was much hated by no less than top animator Ward Kimball.

Richly illustrated and well-researched, 'Two Guys Named Joe' is not only interesting for readers interested in these two guys, but for everyone interested in the history of Disney and Pixar. Recommended.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good biography of two great animators.

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

This book's a nice tribute to two of the best animation storytellers. It's written by John Canemaker, very well researched, filled with stories and little anecdotes from even before these two storytellers started in animation. Now you can know all about the background stories, how they work, the influence and contribution they made, how friends and colleges felt about them and how much they were missed.

These two storytellers are very fascinating characters. It's interesting to see how they changed over the years, particularly with Joe Ranft from his turbulent childhood, or not when Joe Grant came back after a mysterious 40-year hiatus. I've seen their names mentioned many times in other books and videos but their background stories are nothing that I imagined.

The book also provides many references to the work they have done, particularly the story sequences in movies such as the early ones from Pixar where Joe Ranft was involved in much of the storytelling, and for Joe Grant the character designs for classic Disney films. You might remember the army men sequence in Toy Story, the witch from Snow White or the dancing broomsticks in Beauty and the Beast. There are some of their storyboards, caricatures, photos and drawings from other artists who share the same work with them.

It's an interesting read, recommended to those who are curious to know more about their style of storytelling. You might even pick up some storytelling or storyboarding tips.

[Matt]

Wow. Spectacular. I learned an unbelievable amount from this book. Not a given, when reading a Disney book. John Canemaker is a spectacular writer, who just gets things right. He's got the requisite knowledge not to screw things up. I mean between Joe Grant and Joe Ranft you have almost every animated film every released by Disney. I would recommend this book to anyone who even has a passing interest in animation.

[Christian Ziebarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may seem like an obscure book among obscure books but read it and you will find out these two guys named Joe are responsible for some of the most memorable elements of Disney and Pixar films from 1933 to 2005 and possibly beyond. For instance, Dumbo and Lady and the Tramp may not have even been made if it weren't for Joe Grant. And that's just for starters.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched behind the scene look of two men who were "behind the scene" But also very heartbreaking. I'll never watch Cars again without wanting to tear up. A must read for any fan of Disney animation.