He is one of the few animation directors who has never participated as an animator. Rich joined Disney in 1972 in an entry level position in the mail room. He garnered attention at the studio by making presentations to the music department and by giving piano lessons during his lunch hour.
2
Some time after directing "The Black Cauldron," he left Disney and helped found his own studio, Rich Animation Studios. He directed literally dozens of 30-minute animated videos marketed to families. All of these were intended to teach positive ethical and spiritual values. Stories were taken from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the lives of historical figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln.
3
He never had an opportunity to work with company founder Walt Disney, who had died in 1966, but he did work with the animation legend who would become the heir to Walt's artistic mantle: Don Bluth.
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today!
2016
Alpha and Omega: Family Vacation
2015
Alpha and Omega 4: The Legend of the Saw Toothed Cave
2014
Video
Alpha and Omega 3: The Great Wolf Games
2014
Video
The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale
2014
Video
Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure
2013
Video
The Swan Princess Christmas
2012
Animated Stories from the New Testament
1987-2005
TV Series 21 episodes
Animated Hero Classics
1991-2005
TV Series 20 episodes
Parables of Jesus
2003
Video short
Kids' Ten Commandments: A Life and Seth Situation
2003
Video short
Kids' Ten Commandments: Stolen Jewels, Stolen Hearts
2003
Video short
Kids' Ten Commandments: The Not So Golden Calf
2003
Video short
Kids' Ten Commandments: The Rest Is Yet to Come
2003
Video short
Kids' Ten Commandments: Toying with the Truth
2003
Video short
Muhammad: The Last Prophet
2002
The Trumpet of the Swan
2001
The Scarecrow
2000
Video
The Lost Is Found
1999
Video short
The King and I
1999
The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure
1998
The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain
1997
The Greatest Is the Least
1997
Video short
Animated Stories from the Bible
1992-1995
TV Series 12 episodes
The Swan Princess
1994
The Animated Book of Mormon
1987-1992
TV Series 12 episodes
The Joseph Smith Story
1988
Video short
The Black Cauldron
1985
The Fox and the Hound
1981
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today!
2016
producer
Alpha and Omega 4: The Legend of the Saw Toothed Cave
2014
Video producer
Alpha and Omega 3: The Great Wolf Games
2014
Video producer
The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale
2014
Video producer
Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure
2013
Video producer
The Swan Princess Christmas
2012
producer
The Little Engine That Could
2011
producer
Alpha and Omega
2010
producer
Happily N'Ever After 2
2009
executive producer
The Trumpet of the Swan
2001
co-producer
The Scarecrow
2000
Video producer
Animated Stories from the New Testament
1987-2000
TV Series producer - 15 episodes
The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure
1998
producer
The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain
1997
producer
Animated Hero Classics
1991-1996
TV Series producer - 15 episodes
Animated Stories from the Bible
1992-1995
TV Series producer - 12 episodes
The Swan Princess
1994
producer
The Animated Book of Mormon
1987-1992
TV Series producer - 12 episodes
The Joseph Smith Story
1988
Video short producer
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today!
2016
story by
Alpha and Omega: Family Vacation
2015
story - uncredited
The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale
2014
Video characters / story
Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure
2013
Video story
The Scarecrow
2000
Video story
The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure
1998
writer
The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain
1997
story
The Swan Princess
1994
story
The Animated Book of Mormon
1989
TV Series screenplay - 2 episodes
The Black Cauldron
1985
story
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Small One
1978
Short assistant director
Pete's Dragon
1977
assistant director - uncredited
The Rescuers
1977
assistant director
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
1977
assistant director
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too
1974
Short assistant director
Robin Hood
1973
assistant director - uncredited
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Fox and the Hound
1981
music: "Goodbye May Seem Forever" 1981
The Small One
1978
Short writer: "A Friendly Face"
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Animated Stories from the New Testament
2005
TV Series
Servant #1
Editorial Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Broadway Boxing
2012
TV Series evs - 1 episode
Known for movies
The Fox and the Hound (1981) as Director
The Swan Princess (1994) as Director
The Black Cauldron (1985) as Director
The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain (1997) as Director
$16 Million
