Richard Rich (filmmaker)


Richard James Rich is an American director, producer, and screenwriter.

Biography

Rich is the founder and owner of Crest Animation Productions.
Rich started his career in the mailroom of the Walt Disney Studios in 1972 and would give piano lessons during lunch breaks. He was chosen by John Lounsbery to be an assistant director for Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too based on his musical expertise. He made his directorial debut on The Fox and the Hound.
After leaving Disney in 1986, Rich established Rich Animation Studios, later renamed RichCrest. He directed The Swan Princess in 1994 and its eleven sequels.
Besides feature films, Rich has produced direct-to-video series such as Animated Stories from the New Testament, Animated Stories from the Bible, Animated Stories from the Book of Mormon, Animated Hero Classics, and K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments.
His more recent credits include acting as producer on the animated film Alpha and Omega and as the director/producer of its sequels.

Filmography

YearFilmDirectorProducerWriterOtherNotes
1974Winnie the Pooh and Tigger TooAssistant Director
1977The Many Adventures of Winnie the PoohAssistant Director
1977The RescuersAssistant Director
1977Pete's DragonAssistant Animation Director
1978The Small OneAssistant Director
Songwriter: "A Friendly Face"
Short film
1981The Fox and the HoundSongwriter: "Goodbye May Seem Forever"
1985The Black Cauldron
1994The Swan Princess
1997The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle MountainLimited theatrical release
1998The Swan Princess III: The Mystery of the Enchanted TreasureDirect-to-video
1999The King and I
2000The ScarecrowDirect-to-video
2001The Trumpet of the Swan
2002Muhammad: The Last ProphetLimited Theatrical Release
2006Arthur's Missing PalLimited Theatrical Release
2009Happily N'Ever After 2Direct-to-video
2010Alpha and Omega
2011The Little Engine That CouldDirect-to-video
2012The Swan Princess: ChristmasDirect-to-video
2013Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday AdventureStory Direct-to-video
2014The Swan Princess: A Royal Family TaleStoryDirect-to-video
2014Alpha and Omega 3: The Great Wolf GamesDirect-to-video
2014Alpha and Omega 4: The Legend of the Saw Tooth CaveLimited Theatrical Release
2015Alpha and Omega: Family VacationDirect-to-video
2016The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today!Direct-to-video
2017The Swan Princess: Royally UndercoverDirect-to-video
2018The Swan Princess: A Royal MyzteryDirect-to-video
2019The Swan Princess: Kingdom of MusicDirect-to-video
2020The Swan Princess: A Royal WeddingDirect-to-video
2023The Swan Princess: A Fairy Tale is BornStoryDirect-to-video
2023The Swan Princess: Far Longer than ForeverStoryDirect-to-video