from 2008
JOHN RATZENBERGER
talks about his work with Pixar

by Scott Wolf

When I met John Ratzenberger and asked him to do an interview, he gladly agreed but requested that I do some research on his organization at www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org. While we did discuss his worthy cause, he was kind enough to also discuss his career, including his role in the 1980s top rated television show "Cheers" and being the only person to voice a character in every Pixar feature film. I hope you enjoy this interview with John Ratzenberger!

SW: You're the one person who has performed in every Pixar film. How did that start?

JR: It was a phone call.

SW: Did they call you for "Toy Story"?

JR: Yeah. "Toy Story" 1. It was a simple phone call and they explained what the project was and I said, "Sure." They just told me where to be and what time and what day and I showed up and I liked them immediately. I enjoyed who they were.

There's just something fun about the whole gang there, John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton and Darla Anderson. They just were fun people. They were nice to be around. I always enjoy my time with them. I wish I could spend more time.

SW: Did they show you models of your characters and describe them?

JR: Oh yeah, all the time. They still do. They gave me some of the models. I've got a couple of them.

SW: Had you done voice work before that?

JR: Sure, in England I did that a lot.

SW: But, they knew you from your work in America?

JR: Yeah, they knew me from "Cheers".

SW: So how did it end up that you are in every one of their feature films?

JR: That's a question for them.

SW: What's it like when you record? Are you with the other actors or do you do the lines individually?

JR: I usually do it individually and I started the process years ago of doing the same line five times in a row, but giving different readings. It's more efficient and it gives the actor time to get into a groove. Prior to that the usual process was to read one line and then everybody in the booth would discuss that one line and then ask you to make the adjustments. What that did for me was to slow down the process, so while you're waiting for them to discuss it, it's just too much space there and it's better for me, the way I work is to just give you one line five different ways. Usually one of those five is what they're looking for, or one of those five is very close to what they're looking for, then they make the adjustments. It's just much more efficient, but it's also more creative for the actor because you get to play a little bit more and they encourage that. That's the beauty of Pixar is they encourage the actors to play.

SW: They seem really unique in how they do things compared to other animation studios. Do you think they're all having as much fun as when they were doing "Toy Story" or do you think it's all becoming more routine?

JR: No, that's the nice thing. Don't forget, they don't live in Los Angeles. They live closer to their audience. The product in Los Angeles, the studios, after work when you go to the dry cleaner, the dry cleaner's got pictures of actors on the wall or he's trying to show you a script. Even when you go to a restaurant, the discussions are about show business and agents and whatever, but where they live, they live in America where they'll go to the dry cleaner and pick up the dry cleaning and go out and go to a restaurant and be talking about other things. They seem to have a wider understanding of real life and they never got locked into the hip, edgy adolescent scatological comedy that all the other animation studios seem to enjoy. That's easy humor. Whenever you see something that's below the belt humor, the writers are just lazy. That's the easiest way to get a laugh.

If you aim higher, and that's what Pixar does, you're going to get a product that will become a classic, that won't just disappear overnight.

SW: Who's involved when you're recording?

JR: Sound engineers, the executive producer and the director, the associate director, there's probably about five or six people all total.

SW: Do you have a part in "Up"?

JR: Yeah.

SW: Are you allowed to talk about that yet?

JR: I don't know, so I'll let their publicity department do the talking.

SW: They call you their good luck charm.

JR: And I hope to remain still. I'm a very lucky boy.

SW: Well, they've all been successes and you're in them all.

JR: When you see how they work and their process and how in love they are with their art, it's not a surprise.

SW: Do they ever sketch you or videotape you or anything when you're recording?

JR: They videotape, yeah.

SW: Do you know if they use the videos for reference in the animation?

JR: I believe they do, but that's a question for them.

SW: Are you involved in the park attractions like "Toy Story Mania"?

JR: Yeah, I do them.

SW: Of course when they called you to do the first "Toy Story," you had no idea what it would lead to.

JR: No idea. I'm really enjoying my association with Disney and Pixar. Before they signed the deal joining Pixar & Disney, I was asked to do "Toy Story 3" with Disney, without Pixar but I turned it down.

What I told them was dance with the one that brought you.

SW: You didn't want to betray Pixar.

JR: I don't know whether they would have minded or not, but I didn't hesitate a second, I think it was a ten second conversation, I said, "No, I want to dance with the one who brought me."

SW: Now Pixar is planning to do "Toy Story 3," right?

JR: Yeah, we're already recording it.

SW: Do you think it's as good as the first two?

JR: Yes, I think they will continue their habit of outdoing themselves.

SW: Hearing your voice is fun. It doesn't take away from the movie, but it's like a game. Where's John's voice? The waiter in "Ratatouille" was harder to recognize for me. Did you change your voice much for that?

JR: Yeah, Brad (Bird) asked me to use an accent so I did. I'm full of surprises.

SW: Do you have a favorite character you've done?

JR: P.T. Flea (from "A Bug's Life") and I love the ending of "Cars."

SW: Where Mac is watching parodies of all the Pixar films and talks about the voice actor?

JR: Yeah, he says, "What a cheap outfit, they're using the same actor over and over again."

More from John:
His career and his Nuts and Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation

See other interviews

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in the interviews are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mouse Clubhouse. Mouse Clubhouse accepts no legal liability or responsibility for any claims made or opinions expressed within.