Richard Rich

Richard Rich (born June 15, 1951) is an American animated film director, producer, and assistant director.

He started at the mailroom at the Walt Disney Studio in the late 1970s after founder Walt Disney had died, working with his successor as chief animator, Don Bluth. The only two films he directed at Disney were The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron.

After 1985, he left Disney to found his own studio, Rich Animation Studios (later known as RichCrest Animation Studios), and directed a series of upbeat, inspiring Bible stories. It should be noted that he doesn't have as much successful films compared to Don Bluth.

He is youngest animation director in the history of The Walt Disney Company but did not start out as an animator.

He taught piano lessons during his lunchhour which got the attention from Disney executives.

Disney filmography

Assistant Director

• Robin Hood (1973)
• Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! (1974)
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
• The Rescuers (1977)
• Pete's Dragon (1977)
• The Small One (1978)

Director

• The Fox and the Hound (1981)
• The Black Cauldron (1985)

Songwriter

• The Small One (Writer & Lyrics: A Friendly Face)
• The Fox and the Hound (Music: Goodbye May Seem Forever)

Writer

• The Black Cauldron (Story)

Outside Filmography

Director

• The Swan Princess
• The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
• The Swan Princess III: Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure
• The King and I
• Trumpet of the Swan
• Muhammad: The Last Prophet

Producer

• The Swan Princess
• The Swan Princess II: Escape from Castle Mountain
• The Swan Princess III: Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure
• Trumpet of the Swan (co-producer)
• Alpha and Omega
• The Little Engine That Could

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In the Past Disney's Nine Old Men: Milt Kahl • Frank Thomas • Ollie Johnston • Les Clark • John Lounsbery • Marc Davis • Ward Kimball • Eric Larson • Wolfgang Reitherman Animators: Bill Tytla • Art Babbitt • Preston Blair • Fred Moore • Shamus Culhane • Cy Young • Don Lusk • Norman Ferguson • Hal King • Jack Hannah • Jack Kinney • Hal Ambro • Ken O'Brien • Judge Whitaker • Eric Cleworth • Harvey Toombs • Bill Justice • Don Bluth • Gary Goldman • Don Towsley • Charles A. Nichols • Blaine Gibson • John Kennedy • John Ewing • Walt Stanchfield • Fred Hellmich • Andy Paliwoda Visual Development, Layout, Background Artists and Character Designers: Gustaf Tenggren • Mary Blair • Joe Grant • Mel Shaw • Claude Coats • Don DaGradi • John Hench • Eyvind Earle • Ken O'Connor • Thor Putnam • Albert Hurter • John Hubley Storyboard Artists and Writers: Bill Peet • Ralph Wright • Winston Hibler • Dick Huemer • Floyd Norman Directors: Clyde Geronimi • Hamilton Luske • Wilfred Jackson • Bill Roberts • Jack Kinney • Art Stevens • Ted Berman • Richard Rich • Leo Matsuda • Nathan Greno Producers: Walt Disney • Winston Hibler • Ron Miller • Joe Hale • Ken Anderson In the Renaissance, the Present and the Revival Renaissance Directors: Rob Minkoff • Roger Allers • Gary Trousdale • Kirk Wise • Chris Sanders • Mark Dindal • John Musker Story Trust Directors: Ron Clements • Chris Buck • Byron Howard • Don Hall • Chris Williams • Rich Moore • Stephen J. Anderson Producers: Peter Del Vecho • Clark Spencer • Roy Conli • Dorothy McKim • Don Hahn Chief Creative Officer: Jennifer Lee Associated Figures: Bob Iger • Roy Edward Disney • Michael Eisner • John Lasseter • Ed Catmull • Jeffrey Katzenberg Signature Voice Actors: Jim Cummings • Alan Tudyk • Katie Lowes • John DiMaggio • Maurice LaMarche • David Ogden Stiers • Jesse Corti • Paul Briggs • Raymond S. Persi • Phil Johnston • Frank Welker • Bill Farmer Signature Musicians: Sherman Brothers • Robert B. Sherman • Richard Sherman • Alan Menken • Kristen Anderson-Lopez • Robert Lopez • Lin-Manuel Miranda • Howard Ashman • Tim Rice • Stephen Schwartz • Marc Shaiman • Scott Whittman Supervising Animators: Glen Keane • Andreas Deja • Alex Kupershmidt • Anthony DeRosa • Eric Goldberg • Mark Henn • John Pomeroy • T. Daniel Hofstedt • Tony Bancroft • Tom Bancroft • Tony Fucile • Russ Edmonds • Duncan Marjoribanks • Ruben Aquino • Nik Ranieri • Ron Husband • Rick Farmiloe • Tom Sito • Tony Anselmo Visual Development & Storyboard Artists: Dean DeBlois • Lisa Keene • Claire Keane • Brittney Lee • Jin Kim • Shiyoon Kim • Cory Loftis