Josh Cooley

Josh Cooley’s got one heck of a Pixar pedigree. The guy started at the very bottom—literally, as an intern. That’s like Hollywood’s version of “Hey kid, go get me coffee.” But he didn’t just grab coffee; he hustled his way into some of the studio’s most iconic films. You’ve seen The Incredibles, right? Ratatouille? Up? Yeah, he was storyboarding on those. Not too shabby for a dude fresh outta the mailroom. Then, outta nowhere (well, not really, but you know), 2015 rolls around and Cooley drops Inside Out on us. That movie? Instant classic. Not only did it mess with everyone’s feelings (pun totally intended), but it also snagged the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Plus, Cooley himself got a BAFTA and Oscar nom for Best Original Screenplay. That’s a “mom, I made it” moment if I’ve ever seen one. Fast-forward a couple years and he’s not just writing stories, he’s steering the whole damn ship. Toy Story 4 comes out in 2019 with Cooley at the helm. And yeah, you better believe he’s directing legends like Tom Hanks, Keanu Reeves, Joan Cusack, and Tim Allen. No pressure, right? But of course, the movie crushes it. So, if you’re into animation and haven’t clocked Josh Cooley’s name yet, wake up. The guy’s basically a Pixar MVP at this point.