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.
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 June 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.
In September 2026, it was announced that Cooley would write a film adaptation of 99 Nights in the Forest with Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert producing.
Filmography Films Year Title Director Writer StorySupervisor StoryArtist Other VoiceRole Notes2004The Incredibles 2006Cars 2007Ratatouille 2009Up Omega2011Cars 2 2015Inside Out Jangles 2019Toy Story 4 Additional Screenplay MaterialPixar Senior Creative Team 2020We Bare Bears: The Movie Painting Elephant Additional VoicesSoul Additional Dialogue ContributionsPixar Senior Creative Team2024Transformers One Control Room Guys / PA System / Skywarp2026Hoppers Additional Voices
Shorts Year Title Director Writer StoryArtist Editor Other Voice Role Notes 2005Mindwalk 2009Calendar Confloption George and A.J. 2010Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales Additional Voices Episodes 8-9 2011Toy Story Toons: Small Fry Cashier / Lizard Wizard 2013Cars Toons: Tales from Radiator Springs Bug / Additional Voices Episodes 1-3Toy Story of Terror! Officer Phillips TV special 2015Riley's First Date? Dad's Sadness202122 vs. Earth Disney+ Original Short Film
Other credits Year Title Role2009Tracy Cameraman #2, Extras, Camera Operator, Artist 2015The Good Dinosaur Special Thanks 2017Coco Pixar Senior Creative Team 2018Incredibles 2 2019-20Forky Asks a Question Special Thanks 2020Lamp LifeOnward Special Thanks, Pixar Senior Creative Team
References
External links