He wrote for the films The Brave Little Toaster, Oliver& Company, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, and Cars. He also worked in the art department for movies such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and James and the Giant Peach. Ranft was nominated for an Academy Award for Toy Story and a Primetime Emmy Award for The Brave Little Toaster. Joe Ranft passed away on August 16, 2005 in a car crash at the age of 45.