Josh Cooley
Joshua Cooley (born May 23) is an American filmmaker, storyboard artist, and voice actor. He is best known for directing the animated films Toy Story 4 (2019) and Transformers One (2024), with the former winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the film Inside Out (2015), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Also recorded as Joshua Cooley · J.P. Cooley
Josh Cooley

Festival Annecy/K. Pauli · This image has been extracted from another file · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Josh Cooley
- Born
- May 23
- Birthplace
- Berkeley, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Film director
- Awards
- Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Full name
- Joshua Patrick Cooley.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Fields
- film production and dubbing.
- Education
- Granada High School.
- Known for
- Inside Out.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Joshua Cooley (born May 23) is an American filmmaker, storyboard artist, and voice actor. He is best known for directing the animated films Toy Story 4 (2019) and Transformers One (2024), with the former winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the film Inside Out (2015), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
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Note VALÉORINE
Josh Cooley (born 1979) is an actor, animator and director, among other activities, of American nationality. The actor was born Joshua Patrick Cooley in Berkeley.
Josh Cooley was educated at Granada High School. The actor worked for Paramount Animation and Pixar. Activity centred on dubbing and film production.
Among the works is Inside Out. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 29 September 2026
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q22073999 · wikipedia · Josh Cooley
In this article
Biography
Biography
Josh Cooley studied at Granada High School. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is film production and dubbing. Employment is recorded with Pixar and Paramount Animation. Works named in the authority record are Inside Out.

Josh Cooley speaking at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.
Gage Skidmore
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Josh Cooley • Born — May 23 • Birthplace — Berkeley, California, U.S. • Occupation — * Film director • screenwriter • storyboard artist • voice actor • Years Active — 2003–present • Employer — * Pixar Animation Studios (2003–2020) • Paramount Animation (2020–present) • Awards — Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Toy Story 4 (2019)
Career
Career
Cooley was recruited by Joe Ranft at Pixar, where he started his career as an intern, mostly working as a storyboard artist on films including The Incredibles (2004), Cars (2006), Ratatouille (2007), Up (2009), and Cars 2 (2011). In 2009, Cooley wrote and directed a short film George & A.J. for Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures. Cooley worked as a screenwriter and storyboard supervisor on the film Inside Out (2015), which was released to financial success with audiences. Cooley received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for his work on the film, alongside Pete Docter (the film's director), Ronnie Del Carmen (co-director), and Meg LeFauve. The same year, he wrote and directed another short film titled Riley's First Date? Following completion of Cooley's work on Inside Out in 2015, he was tapped by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton to co-direct Toy Story 4. In 2016, Cooley replaced Lasseter as the film's director. Toy Story 4 was Cooley's directorial debut. Upon release, the film received critical acclaim, and Cooley took home his first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Cooley left Pixar in March 2020. In 2024, Cooley directed the animated Transformers film, titled Transformers One, for Paramount Pictures. The film is set on the Transformers home planet of Cybertron and focuses on the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron. On May 19, 2020, it was reported that Cooley will write and direct a live-action adaptation of the children's book Malamander by Thomas Taylor for Sony Pictures, marking his first live-action film. In addition, on July 10, 2020, it was announced that Cooley would be the writer and director of the film Little Monsters, starring Universal Monsters characters, for Universal Pictures. On June 23, 2021, Cooley was set to write a film based on the Disney Parks attraction Tower of Terror, with Scarlett Johansson starring and producing the project, after previously working together on Transformers One. In June 2025, Cooley entered talks to direct a film adaptation of the children's book I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story for Paramount Animation and Maximum Effort. In October 2025, it was announced that Cooley was attached to direct a film titled London Ghost Tour for Miramax. Described as ""Night at the Museum meets An American Werewolf in London", Terry Rossio will write the screenplay. London Ghost Tour is intended to be the first film of a trilogy. In 2026, it was announced that Cooley would direct a live-action animation hybrid film based on the Lego brand with Keanu Reeves set to star.
Shorts
Shorts
• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Story Artist — Editor — Other — Voice Role — Notes • 2005 — Mindwalk — Film • 2009 — Calendar Confloption • George and A.J. • 2010 — Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales — Additional Voices — Episodes 8-9 • 2011 — Toy Story Toons: Small Fry — Story — Cashier / Lizard Wizard • 2013 — Cars Toons: Tales from Radiator Springs — Bug / Additional Voices — Episodes 1-3 • Toy Story of Terror! — Officer Phillips — TV special • 2015 — Riley's First Date? — Dad's Sadness • 2021 — 22 vs. Earth — Disney+ Original Short Film
Other credits
Other credits
• Year — Title — Role • 2009 — Tracy — Cameraman #2, Extras, Camera Operator, Artist • 2015 — The Good Dinosaur — Special Thanks • 2017 — Coco — Pixar Senior Creative Team • 2018 — Incredibles 2 • 2019-20 — Forky Asks a Question — Special Thanks • 2020 — Lamp Life • Onward — Special Thanks, Pixar Senior Creative Team
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Josh Cooley was recorded at birth as Joshua Patrick Cooley. The authorities additionally record the headings Joshua Cooley and J.P. His recorded language was English.
Identity
Identity
Josh Cooley is recorded as animator, screenwriter, actor, storyboard artist and director.
Films
• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Story Supervisor — Story Artist — Other — Voice Role — Notes • 2004 — The Incredibles — Uncredited • 2006 — Cars — Additional • 2007 — Ratatouille • 2009 — Up — Omega • 2011 — Cars 2 — Additional • 2015 — Inside Out — Screenplay — Jangles • 2019 — Toy Story 4 — Original Story — Additional Screenplay Material Pixar Senior Creative Team • 2020 — We Bare Bears: The Movie — Painting Elephant — Additional Voices • Soul — Additional Dialogue Contributions Pixar Senior Creative Team • 2024 — Transformers One — Control Room Guys / PA System / Skywarp • 2026 — Hoppers — Additional Voices
Literature
Literature
Literature
Inside Out (Pixar/Disney, June 2015, directed by Pete Docter, screenplay by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauvre, Josh Cooley), Australasian Psychiatry, 2015.
Scholarly footprint
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Cooley, Josh. Frank, I never told you that I was turned by my vampire master 400 years ago. I am immortal, birthdays mean nothing to me. But I accept your human congratulatory message. 1131680379906142208. May 23, 2019.
- 2.Twenty-Four Years and Beyond: Pixar Artists Who Worked on Every "Toy Story" Film. May 1, 2019.
- 3.Brown, Phil. Inside Pixar And Out With Josh Cooley. cgmagonline.com. June 17, 2015.
- 4.Murphy, Robert. Josh Cooley gives an in-depth look at Pixar's creative process. siliconprairienews.com. October 6, 2010.
- 5.Coggan, Devan. Box office report: Inside Out scores biggest original debut ever with $91 million. Entertainment Weekly. June 21, 2015.
- 6.McFarland, K.M. 4 Things Riley's First Date? Reveals About Pixar. wired.com. October 16, 2015.
- 7.Riley's First Date? Is a Sublime Follow-Up to Inside Out. disney.com.
- 8.Grobar, Matt. Toy Story 4 Director Josh Cooley On Playing With Rules Of Beloved Franchise's World & Giving Woody The Perfect Send-Off. Deadline Hollywood. November 12, 2019.
- 9.D23 Expo: Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films. July 14, 2017.
- 10.Fleming, Mike Jr. Animated 'Transformers' Prequel Activated; 'Toy Story 4's Josh Cooley To Direct For Hasbro/eOne & Paramount. Deadline Hollywood. April 29, 2020.
- 11.Kit, Borys. 'Toy Story 4' Director Josh Cooley to Tackle 'Malamander' for Sony Pictures (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. May 19, 2020.
- 12.Kit, Borys. 'Toy Story 4' Director Josh Cooley Tackling 'Little Monsters' for Universal (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. July 10, 2020.
- 13.Sneider, Jeff. Exclusive: Scarlett Johansson to Produce and Star in 'Tower of Terror' Movie for Disney. Collider. 2021-06-23.
- 14.D'Alessandro, Anthony. Paramount Animation & Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort Making 'I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story'; Josh Cooley In Talks To Direct. Deadline. June 13, 2025.
- 15.Fleming Jr., Mike. Miramax Makes 7-Figure Preempt On Terry Rossio Pitch ‘London Ghost Tour’; Josh Cooley Helms. Deadline. October 15, 2025.
- 16.Kroll, Justin. Keanu Reeves Eyes Reunion With ‘Toy Story 4’ Director Josh Cooley On Live-Action ‘Lego’ Hybrid Movie At Universal. Deadline. June 22, 2026.
- 17.Lauer, Andy. "Answer Man," "Food Inc." Among 2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Selections. IndieWire. March 11, 2009.
- 18.Prudom, Laura. Disney Plus' Lamp Life Sneak Peek: What Happened to Bo Peep Between Toy Story 2 and 4? - IGN. IGN. January 29, 2020.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,408 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Josh AppignanesiPerson
- Josh BeckerPerson
- Josh BoonePerson
- Josh BowmanPerson
- Josh DallasPerson
- Josh DuhamelPerson
- Josh EvansPerson
- Josh FoxPerson
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