Nik Ranieri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nik Ranieri
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Ranieri in 2015
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| Born | August 23, 1961 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Alma mater | Sheridan College |
| Occupation | Animator |
| Employer | Walt Disney Animation Studios (1987–2013) |
| Awards |
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Nik Ranieri (born August 23, 1961) is a talented Canadian animator. He is famous for his amazing work at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he helped bring many beloved characters to life. He was a supervising animator for a long time, meaning he led the animation for specific characters in Disney movies.
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Nik Ranieri's Animation Journey
After finishing his studies in animation at Sheridan College in Canada, Nik Ranieri started his career. He first worked at an animation studio called Atkinson Film-Arts.
Starting at Disney
In 1987, Nik began animating for Disney. His first big project was the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit, where he worked with director Richard Williams in London, England.
Soon after, he moved to Disney's main animation studio in California. There, he worked on The Little Mermaid. He helped animate the tricky sea witch, Ursula.
For his next film, The Rescuers Down Under, Nik became a supervising animator. This meant he was in charge of animating the character Wilbur, the funny albatross.
Award-Winning Work
Nik Ranieri is known for creating characters with lots of personality. In 1995, he won an Annie Award for his work on Meeko, the playful raccoon in Pocahontas. This award recognized his excellent character animation.
Two years later, in 1997, he won another Annie Award. This time, it was for animating Hades, the fast-talking villain in Hercules. He also received a NCS Division Award for Hades that same year.
From Hand-Drawn to Computer Animation
Nik is considered a master of traditional hand-drawn animation. He was especially good at showing subtle feelings and expressions on characters' faces.
However, he also successfully learned to animate using computers (CG animation). He worked on movies like Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, and Bolt using these new techniques.
In 2009, Nik returned to classic hand-drawn animation for Disney's The Princess and the Frog.
Later Career and Achievements
In 2013, Nik Ranieri, along with other animators, left The Walt Disney Company as the company made some changes.
He later worked on a video game called World War Toons at Studio Roqovan. The studio closed in 2019.
In 2021, Nik won an Emmy Award for his amazing work on The Simpsons episode "Wad Goals". He was recognized for his role as Lead Character Layout. He also won another Emmy in 2023 for The Simpsons episode "Lisa the Boy Scout".
Movies and TV Shows Nik Ranieri Worked On
Here is a list of some of the films and TV shows Nik Ranieri has contributed to:
| Year | Title | Credits | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The All-Night Show (TV Series) | Animator | |
| 1985 | The Body Electric (TV Movie) | ||
| The Raccoons (TV Series) | Animator - 7 Episodes | ||
| 1988 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | Animator | Roger Rabbit |
| 1989 | Cranium Command (Short) | ||
| The Little Mermaid | Character Animator | Ursula | |
| 1990 | The Rescuers Down Under | Supervising Animator | Wilbur |
| 1991 | Beauty and the Beast | Lumiere | |
| 1992 | Aladdin | Animator | Jafar |
| 1994 | Chariots of Fur (Short) | ||
| 1995 | Pocahontas | Supervising Animator / Additional Story Development Artist | Meeko |
| 1997 | Hercules | Supervising Animator | Hades |
| 2000 | Fantasia 2000 | Character Designer - Segment "Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102" | |
| The Emperor's New Groove | Supervising Animator | Kuzco/Kuzco Llama | |
| 2002 | Treasure Planet | Animator | Doctor Delbert Doppler |
| 2005 | Chicken Little | Supervising Animator | Buck "Ace" Cluck |
| 2007 | Meet the Robinsons | Lewis | |
| 2008 | Bolt | Animator | |
| 2009 | The Princess and the Frog | Supervising Animator | Charlotte "Lottie" La Bouff |
| 2010 | Tangled | Animator | Mother Gothel |
| 2011 | Winnie the Pooh | Additional Animator | |
| 2012 | Wreck-It Ralph | Animator | |
| 2014 | The Prophet | Hand-Drawn Animation Supervisor | |
| 2016 | World War Toons (Video Game) | Animation Director | |
| 2023 | Once Upon a Studio (Short) | Animator |
Awards and Recognition
Nik Ranieri has received several awards for his outstanding animation work:
- 1995 Annie Awards for Best Individual Achievement for Animation for animating 'Meeko' in Pocahontas
- 1997 Annie Awards for Best Individual Achievement: Character Animation for animating 'Hades' in Hercules
- 1997 'NCS Division Awards' in Feature Animation (for Hades)
- 2021 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement In Animation for "Wad Goals" from The Simpsons
- 2023 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement In Animation for "Lisa the Boy Scout" from The Simpsons
