HEIMLEICH

About Him:

Heimlich gives a delicious
performance as a carefree caterpillar
clown with a thick German accent,
who is happiest when he's
chomping and munching on food.
Although many actors were hungry
for this juicy part, Ranft's scratch
track readings couldn't be improved
upon and he got the job. "Heimlich
is a big fat Bavarian caterpillar who loves to eat," says Ranft. "He wants to live in
Oktoberfest all the time. He's a really happy character, especially when there's
food around.

About The Actor That Does His Voice: (Joe Ranft)

A veteran Disney/Pixar storyman, Ranft is widely regarded as one of the top
storymen in the animation field. His contributions to a wide range of past Disney
animated features demonstrate his versatility and talent, and he continues to
shape and influence major projects through his ongoing association with Pixar.
Among his most recent credits as head of story are two innovative Disney
stop-motion projects (for director Henry Selick) -- "Tim Burton's The Nightmare
Before Christmas" (1993) and "James and the Giant Peach" (1996).

Born in Pasadena, CA, and raised in Whittier, CA Ranft studied animation at
CalArts for two years before joining the Disney animation team in 1980. He trained
under legendary animator Eric Larson and cut his teeth as a storyman on "Brave
Little Toaster" and an EPCOT Center TV special, plus early versions of "Who
Framed Roger Rabbit" and "The Great Mouse Detective." He went on to provide
storyboard work for "Oliver & Company" and "The Little Mermaid," before moving
up to head of story on "The Rescuers Down Under." He (and Mark Kausler) also
storyboarded the opening cartoon featured as part of Touchstone Pictures' 1988
blockbuster "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." In 1990, Ranft moved to Seattle for a
year to write a children's book, then relocated to the San Francisco area the
following year to work with Pixar and Henry Selick on their respective films.