Joe Ranft - Death

Death

On August 16, 2005, Ranft was a passenger in his 2004 Honda Element when the driver, named Elegba Earl, lost control and crashed through the guard rail while heading northbound on Highway 1. The car plunged 130 feet into the mouth of the Navarro River in Mendocino County, California. Both Ranft and Earl were killed instantly. Another passenger, Eric Frierson, survived by escaping through the sun roof; he received moderate injuries. Ranft, who was 45, died during the production of Cars, which he co-directed and voice acted in. The film was later dedicated to him. His remains were cremated. The film and tie-in game are dedicated to his memory, as is Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, on which Ranft was executive producer. Henry Selick called him "the story giant of our generation."

In honor of Ranft, in Selick's animated film production, Coraline, the moving SUV that moves Coraline into her new apartment is emblazoned with a "Ranft Moving, Inc." logo. The movers themselves are modeled after Joe and brother Jerome, and Jerome Ranft voices one of the movers.

In the 2010 DVD re-release of Toy Story 2, there is a special feature that talks about Ranft and his life and accomplishments at both Disney and Pixar, and how the Pixar staff greatly enjoyed his sense of humor.