Joshua Cooley(born May 23, 1979) is an American filmmaker and storyboard artist. He is best known for directing the animated filmsToy Story 4(2019) andTransformers One(2024), with the former winning theAcademy Award for Best Animated Feature.He also co-wrote the screenplay for the filmInside Out(2015), which was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Josh Cooley | |
|---|---|
 Cooley in 2024 | |
| Born | May 23, 1979[1] Berkeley, California,U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Employers |
|
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Toy Story 4(2019) |
Career
editCooley was recruited byJoe Ranftat Pixar, where he started his career as an intern,[2][3]mostly working as a storyboard artist on films includingThe Incredibles(2004), the first two films of theCarsfranchise(2006-2011),Ratatouille(2007), andUp(2009).[4]In 2009, Cooley wrote and directed a short filmGeorge & A.J.for Pixar andWalt Disney Pictures.[4]
In 2015, Cooley worked as a screenwriter and storyboard supervisor on the filmInside Out,which was released to critical acclaim. Cooley received an Academy Award nomination forBest Original Screenplayfor his work on the film, alongsidePete Docter(the film's director),Ronnie Del Carmen(co-director), andMeg LeFauve.[5]The same year, he wrote and directed another short film titledRiley's First Date?.[6][5]
Following the success ofInside Out,Cooley was tapped byJohn Lasseterand screenwriterAndrew Stantonto co-directToy Story 4.Lasseter ended up setting aside his directorial duties in 2016,[7]making Cooley the sole director.Toy Story 4was Cooley's directorial debut. Upon release, the film received critical acclaim, and Cooley took home his first Academy Award forBest Animated Feature.[8]Cooley left Pixar in March 2020.[9]
In 2024, Cooley directed an animatedTransformersfilm, titledTransformers One,forParamount Pictures.[10]The film is set on the Transformers home planet of Cybertron and focuses on the origins ofOptimus PrimeandMegatron.[10]
On May 19, 2020, it was reported that Cooley will write and direct a live-action adaptation of the children's bookMalamanderbyThomas TaylorforSony Pictures,[9]marking his first live-action film. In addition, on July 10, 2020, it was announced that Cooley would be the writer and director of the filmLittle Monsters,starringUniversal Monsterscharacters, forUniversal Pictures.[11]On June 23, 2021, Cooley was set to write a film based on theDisney ParksattractionTower of Terror,withScarlett Johanssonstarring and producing the project, after previously working together onTransformers One.[12]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Story Supervisor |
Story Artist |
Other | Voice Role |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Incredibles | No | No | No | Uncredited | No | [4] | |
| 2006 | Cars | No | No | No | Additional | No | ||
| 2007 | Ratatouille | No | No | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2009 | Up | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Omega | |
| 2011 | Cars 2 | No | No | Additional | No | No | ||
| 2015 | Inside Out | No | Screenplay | Yes | No | Yes | Jangles | |
| 2019 | Toy Story 4 | Yes | Original Story | No | No | Yes | Additional Screenplay Material Pixar Senior Creative Team | |
| 2020 | We Bare Bears: The Movie | No | No | No | No | Yes | Painting Elephant | Additional Voices |
| Soul | No | No | No | No | Yes | Additional Dialogue Contributions Pixar Senior Creative Team | ||
| 2024 | Transformers One | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Control Room Guys / PA System / Skywarp | [10] |
| TBA | Malamander | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | [9] | |
| Little Monsters | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | [11] | ||
| Tower of Terror | No | Yes | No | No | No | [13] |
Shorts
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Story Artist |
Editor | Other | Voice Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Mindwalk | No | No | No | Film | No | ||
| 2009 | Calendar Confloption | No | No | Yes | No | No | [14] | |
| George and A.J. | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | |||
| 2010 | Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales | No | No | No | No | Yes | Additional Voices | Episodes 8-9 |
| 2011 | Toy Story Toons: Small Fry | No | No | No | Story | Yes | Cashier / Lizard Wizard | |
| 2013 | Cars Toons: Tales from Radiator Springs | No | No | No | No | Yes | Bug / Additional Voices | Episodes 1-3 |
| Toy Story of Terror! | No | No | No | No | Yes | Officer Phillips | TV special | |
| 2015 | Riley's First Date? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Dad's Sadness | |
| 2021 | 22 vs. Earth | No | Yes | No | No | No | Disney+Original Short Film |
Other credits
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Tracy | Cameraman #2, Extras, Camera Operator, Artist |
| 2015 | The Good Dinosaur | Special Thanks |
| 2017 | Coco | Pixar Senior Creative Team |
| 2018 | Incredibles 2 | |
| 2019-20 | Forky Asks a Question | Special Thanks |
| 2020 | Lamp Life[15] | |
| Onward | Special Thanks, Pixar Senior Creative Team |
References
edit- ^Cooley, Josh [@CooleyUrFaceOff](May 23, 2019)."Frank, I never told you that I was turned by my vampire master 400 years ago. I am immortal, birthdays mean nothing to me. But I accept your human congratulatory message"(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on July 15, 2019.RetrievedJuly 15,2019– viaTwitter.
- ^"Twenty-Four Years and Beyond: Pixar Artists Who Worked on Every" Toy Story "Film".May 1, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on June 27, 2019.RetrievedMay 19,2019.
- ^Brown, Phil (June 17, 2015)."Inside Pixar And Out With Josh Cooley".cgmagonline.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2015.RetrievedDecember 10,2015.
- ^abcMurphy, Robert (October 6, 2010)."Josh Cooley gives an in-depth look at Pixar's creative process".siliconprairienews.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2015.RetrievedDecember 10,2015.
- ^abMcFarland, K.M. (October 16, 2015)."4 Things Riley's First Date? Reveals About Pixar".wired.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2015.RetrievedDecember 10,2015.
- ^"Riley's First Date? Is a Sublime Follow-Up to Inside Out".disney.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2015.RetrievedDecember 10,2015.
- ^Hazelton, John (December 19, 2019)."'Toy Story 4' filmmakers on why the franchise needed another instalment ".ScreenDaily.Archivedfrom the original on November 16, 2020.RetrievedNovember 12,2020.
- ^"D23 Expo: Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films".July 14, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on July 15, 2017.RetrievedApril 20,2018.
- ^abcKit, Borys (May 19, 2020)."'Toy Story 4' Director Josh Cooley to Tackle 'Malamander' for Sony Pictures (Exclusive) ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on June 17, 2020.RetrievedJune 16,2020.
- ^abcFleming, Mike Jr. (April 29, 2020)."Animated 'Transformers' Prequel Activated; 'Toy Story 4's Josh Cooley To Direct For Hasbro/eOne & Paramount".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2020.RetrievedApril 29,2020.
- ^abKit, Borys (July 10, 2020)."'Toy Story 4' Director Josh Cooley Tackling 'Little Monsters' for Universal (Exclusive) ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on July 15, 2020.RetrievedNovember 12,2020.
- ^Sneider, Jeff (June 23, 2021)."Exclusive: Scarlett Johansson to Produce and Star in 'Tower of Terror' Movie for Disney".Collider.RetrievedAugust 15,2024.
- ^Couch, Aaron (June 23, 2021)."Scarlett Johansson and Disney Team for 'Tower of Terror'".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedSeptember 17,2021.
- ^Lauer, Andy (March 11, 2009).""Answer Man," "Food Inc." Among 2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Selections ".IndieWire.Archivedfrom the original on March 24, 2021.RetrievedMarch 12,2021.
- ^Prudom, Laura (January 29, 2020)."Disney Plus' Lamp Life Sneak Peek: What Happened to Bo Peep Between Toy Story 2 and 4? - IGN".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on January 31, 2020.RetrievedMarch 14,2021.
External links
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