Josh Cooley

Josh Cooley began his career in animation after studying computer animation at the Ringling College of Art and Design. He joined Pixar Animation Studios in the early 2000s and quickly established himself as a talented story artist, contributing his visual storytelling sensibilities to a string of beloved Pixar features. His early work included storyboarding and story supervision on beloved films like Up, Ratatouille, and Inside Out, where he helped shape some of the most emotionally resonant sequences in modern animated cinema.

Cooley made his feature directing debut with Toy Story 4 in 2019, taking over the directorial reins from Jonas Rivera after serving as a story supervisor on Inside Out. His work on the fourth installment of Pixar's flagship franchise was widely praised for deepening the philosophical undertones of the Toy Story saga while delivering the studio's signature balance of comedy and heart. The film earned Cooley his first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, cementing his reputation as a major directorial talent in the animation world.

Beyond feature directing, Cooley has contributed his voice and writing skills to several Pixar projects, including a memorable voice appearance in Up. He has also worked on shorts and side projects within the Pixar universe, continuing to explore the emotional and imaginative possibilities of animation as a storytelling medium. His collaborations with Pixar luminaries like Pete Docter and John Lasseter helped him refine a narrative voice that values vulnerability, nostalgia, and the inner lives of characters.

Following the success of Toy Story 4, Cooley has been attached to various upcoming Pixar ventures, and he is widely regarded as one of the studio's key directors for its next generation of storytelling. His approach to filmmaking, characterized by meticulous attention to character interiority and a willingness to take creative risks within family-friendly frameworks, has positioned him as a thoughtful successor to Pixar's founding creative leaders. As animation continues to evolve as a dominant cinematic art form, Cooley remains one of its most expressive and emotionally intelligent practitioners.