Nik Ranieri

Birth : 1961-08-23, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

History

Former character animator for Walt Disney Animation Studios. He has been supervising animator of many characters, and remained so until his layoff in 2013. "After graduating from the Classical Animation Program at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, Ranieri went to work for Atkinson Film-Arts animation production studio (in Ottawa, Ontario)." He began animating for Disney in 1987 on the London, England-based animation crew of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, working with director Richard Williams. Soon after that he moved to Disney's feature animation studio in Glendale, CA where he animated on The Little Mermaid (working primarily on the character of Ursula the sea witch, under supervising animator Ruben Aquino). On his next film Ranieri was promoted to Supervising Animator on the character of "Wilbur" in The Rescuers Down Under. In 1997 he won an Annie Award in the category 'Individual Achievement in Character Animation' for his animation of Hades in Hercules. While Ranieri is regarded as one of the modern-day masters of hand-drawn character animation (especially excelling in subtle dialogue scenes and facial expressions) he also successfully made the switch to animating in CG on films such as Chicken Little and Meet the Robinsons. Ranieri returned to his roots in classic hand-drawn animation for the 2009 Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog. -Wikipedia

Movies

Once Upon a Studio
Animation
Created for Disney's 100th anniversary, the short sees Mickey Mouse corralling a gallery of legendary Disney characters for a group photo.
Beware The Groove: The Making Of A Cult Classic
Self
in this fan made documentary learn the story of how the animated classic "The Emperor's New Groove" went from a troubled production to a pop culture phenomenon.
Wreck-It Ralph
Animation
Wreck-It Ralph is the 9-foot-tall, 643-pound villain of an arcade video game named Fix-It Felix Jr., in which the game's titular hero fixes buildings that Ralph destroys. Wanting to prove he can be a good guy and not just a villain, Ralph escapes his game and lands in Hero's Duty, a first-person shooter where he helps the game's hero battle against alien invaders. He later enters Sugar Rush, a kart racing game set on tracks made of candies, cookies and other sweets. There, Ralph meets Vanellope von Schweetz who has learned that her game is faced with a dire threat that could affect the entire arcade, and one that Ralph may have inadvertently started.
Winnie the Pooh
Animation
During an ordinary day in Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh sets out to find some honey. Misinterpreting a note from Christopher Robin, Owl convinces Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, and Eeyore that their young friend has been captured by a creature named "Backson" and they set out to rescue him.
Tangled
Animation
When the kingdom's most wanted-and most charming-bandit Flynn Rider hides out in a mysterious tower, he's taken hostage by Rapunzel, a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn's curious captor, who's looking for her ticket out of the tower where she's been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs.
Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind the Making of Beauty and the Beast
An interactive, feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary teeming with worthwhile bonus content all its own.
The Princess and the Frog
Supervising Animator
A waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him.
Bolt
Animation
Bolt is the star of the biggest show in Hollywood. The only problem is, he thinks it's real. After he's accidentally shipped to New York City and separated from Penny, his beloved co-star and owner, Bolt must harness all his "super powers" to find a way home.
Pocahontas
Supervising Animator
Pocahontas, daughter of a Native American tribe chief, falls in love with an English soldier as colonists invade 17th century Virginia.
Beauty and the Beast
Animation Supervisor
Follow the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman who finds herself in the castle of a prince who's been turned into a mysterious beast. With the help of the castle's enchanted staff, Belle soon learns the most important lesson of all -- that true beauty comes from within.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Animation
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is an imaginative, feature-length animated film, faithfully adaptied from the classic book by L. Frank Baum. In this brand new version, the limitations of live action film are transcended by fanciful full animation and whimsical narration. This version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz contains scenes from the book not included in the MGM movie. The Lightyear Wizard of Oz series was featured exclusively on HBO. Now reacquaint your family with some of the best loved characters ever to dance the yellow brick road and into your heart in this colorful, timeless adventure.
The Marvelous Land of Oz
Animation
The Wizard of Oz legend continues with The Marvelous Land of Oz, based on the second book in the series by L. Frank Baum. This adventure features a brave young boy named Tip, the lovable Jack Pumpkinhead, the gruff wodden Sawhorse, and the evil witch Mombi, who is Tip's guardian. Tip and his amazing friends escape Mombi and head toward the Emerald City, now ruled by the Scarecrow. Joined by Dorothy, who has returned to Oz, they meet General Ginger and her all-female army who are planning to invade and take over their beloved Emerald City. Meanwhile, Glinda, the good Witch, has learned that the original King of Oz had an heir. While battling with the forces of General Ginger, Tip, Dorothy and their friends discover that the rightful ruler of Oz has been amazingly transformed.
Ozma of Oz
Animation
In Oz once again, Dorothy meets TikTok the mechanical man, servant of Princess Lulu.
The Emerald City of Oz
Animation
The enchantment of L. Frank Baum's classic "Wizard of Oz" books is captured in the exciting Emerald City of Oz, based on the sixth book in Baum's timeless series. The Nome King plots his revent against the Oz people, who narrowly defeated him in "Ozma of Oz." Working with the help of Guph, an invasion specialist, the Nome King and his troops tunnel under the Deadly Desert with the aim of enslaving the people of the Emerald City. Dorothy, the Tin Woodsman, the Scarecrow and their friends fear the worst, as Princess Ozma insists on finding a non-violent solution. Narrated by Margot Kidder, the Lightyear Wizard of Oz series was featured exclusively on HBO.
Common Problems
Animation
A Canadian Parliament, with many cameos, argues and fights over where to go for lunch.
Common Problems
Director
A Canadian Parliament, with many cameos, argues and fights over where to go for lunch.