Josh Mancell

Josh Mancell (born November 13, 1969) is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist who writes music for film, television, and video games. He is best known for his work on the Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series of video games.

Josh Mancell
Mancell in 2015
Background information
Born (1969-11-13) November 13, 1969
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Composer
  • music programmer
  • musician
Instruments
  • Piano
  • drums
  • guitar
  • timpani
  • vibraphone
  • percussion
Years active1992–present
Associated acts
Websitejoshmancell.com

Mancell has received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations for his work on the children's television series, Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Early life and education

Mancell was born on November 13, 1969 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He attended Sarah Lawrence College.[1]

As a child, Mancell learned to play the piano, drums, and guitar and was a "rabid record geek". The exposure of playing music in different types of bands (such as punk rock, jazz, marching bands, and orchestras), combined with fandom in many genres, led Mancell to pursue a composing career. He was encouraged by his college professors to move to Los Angeles to write music for film and television.[2]

Career

Mancell has developed a successful career writing musical scores for film and television. In film, he has scored a range of films such as Bongwater (starring Luke Wilson, Alicia Witt and Jack Black) and Love Comes to the Executioner (starring Jonathan Tucker, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jeremy Renner) as well as contributing music to the cult indie Chuck & Buck (Independent Spirit Award winner).[3]

Mancell's music has been used for the animated television shows Gary the Rat (starring Kelsey Grammer), Shorty McShorts' Shorts (starring Wilmer Valderrama), and Clifford the Big Red Dog (starring John Ritter), which has earned him two Emmy nominations.[4]

Mancell is known for his music in video games including Sony's Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series, and other titles such as Johnny Mnemonic: The Interactive Action Movie and Interstate '82. This work was done with the assistance of Mutato Muzika, the music production company which Mark Mothersbaugh formed with several other former members of Devo including his brother, Bob Mothersbaugh.[5]

Musical groups

Mancell has been a member of the following bands and musical groups outside of his solo composing career:

  • The Millionaires – punk rock/garage band (1995–1996)
  • Uluteka – acid jazz/lounge band (1996)[6]
  • Mutato Muzika – music production company (1992–2007)[7][8]
  • The Dining Room Set – power pop/mod/soul (1999)[9]
  • The Wipeouters – surf/electronic (2001)[10]
  • The Moon Upstairs – psychedelic rock (2006–2010)
  • Exploding Flowers – pop/post-punk/power pop (2010–present)

Musical style and influences

Mancell's influences include electronic artists such as Mouse on Mars, A Guy Called Gerald, Aphex Twin, Juan Atkins, Richard H. Kirk and Kraftwerk, as well as progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He has cited their "interesting rhythmic elements" and said that "melodically they're simple but kind of leftfield too".[2]

Works

Video games
Year Title Notes
1995 Johnny Mnemonic: The Interactive Action Movie N/A
1996 Crash Bandicoot N/A
1997 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back N/A
1998 Crash Bandicoot: Warped N/A
1999 Crash Team Racing N/A
1999 Interstate '82 N/A
2001 Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy N/A
2003 Jak II with Larry Hopkins
2004 Jak 3 with Larry Hopkins
2015 Totome N/A
2016 Vairon's Wrath Two tracks[11]

Film
Year Title Director(s) Notes
1997BongwaterRichard Searswith Mark Mothersbaugh
1999This is Harry LehmanBrian KingShort film
2000Chuck & BuckMiguel Arteta"Nwo Tew"
2006Love Comes to the ExecutionerKyle BergersenN/A
2008MilkshakeRenji PhilipShort film
StanleyRenji PhilipShort film
2009The LightsJohn SjogrenN/A
2010Love & Other Unstable States of MatterDavid MarmorShort film
2011Eat the SunPeter SorcherDocumentary
The DudeJeff FeuerzeigShort documentary
2012Cheesecake CasseroleRenji PhilipN/A
2013A Star for RoseDaniel YostN/A
2015Dirty LaundryRenji PhilipShort film

Television

Award nominations
Daytime Emmy Awards
Year Award Work Result
2002 Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition Clifford the Big Red Dog Nominated
2003 Outstanding Sound Editing – Live Action and Animation Nominated

References
  1. "Noted Alumnae/i". sarahlawrence.edu. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015.
  2. Keiji (April 3, 2008). "Interview with Josh Mancell". Crash Mania. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  3. "Music by Josh Mancell" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2015.
  4. Josh Mancell – Awards – IMDb
  5. Are you not Devo? You are Mutato, retrieved August 4, 2015
  6. "Band Info". The Unofficial ULUTEKA Home Lounge. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  7. "Mutato Muzika Staff Info". MutatoMuzika. Archived from the original on January 5, 2004. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  8. "Mutato Muzika Staff Info". MutatoMuzika. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  9. "The Dining Room Set". AllMusic. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  10. Anderson, Richard J. "The Wipeouters – P'Twaaang!". Forgotten Records. Kittysneezes. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  11. "Vairon's Wrath on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
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