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Crest Animation Productions
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The studio was founded by film director <a href="/facts/Richard_Rich_(director)/UzybelsL">Richard Rich</a> in 1986, who previously worked at <a href="/facts/Walt_Disney_Animation_Studios/TwNCw6nf">Walt Disney Productions</a>. He initially had 26 employees, most of them coming from Disney such as former marketing chief Matt Mazer.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> Around that time, Rich was contacted by Jared F. Brown to produce half-hour animated videos based on audio cassettes of the <a href="/facts/Book_of_Mormon/jUlLhHE3">Book of Mormon</a> for his Living Scriptures firm.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> They subsequently expanded to educational animated <a href="/facts/Christianity/nKyJHlqq">Christian</a> and <a href="/facts/Historical/bSKgXaCA">historical</a> videos for children through a sister company Family Entertainment Network. </p><p>In 1993, Rich Animation Studios was fully acquired by Nest Entertainment,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> a holding company that also combined Family Entertainment Network and Cassette Duplicators Inc., a <a href="/facts/Loop_bin_duplicator/FEkUpCJC">cassette-duplicator</a> in <a href="/facts/West_Valley_City%2c_Utah/IbG6VVV1">West Valley City</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> On the heels of the videos' success, the two studios produced <i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess/dDvrFWpE">The Swan Princess</a></i> in 1994, based on the classic ballet <a href="/facts/Swan_Lake/x3QUaT0c">Swan Lake</a>. Despite being a <a href="/facts/Box_office_bomb/30YnUj8p">box-office disappointment</a>, it sold well on video and spawned two sequels, <i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess%3a_Escape_from_Castle_Mountain/8EJaqdWK">The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess%3a_The_Mystery_of_the_Enchanted_Kingdom/UpUVLF9x">The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Kingdom</a></i>. </p><p>In 1999, the two studios teamed up with <a href="/facts/Morgan_Creek_Productions/Gs3bYTWs">Morgan Creek Productions</a> and <a href="/facts/Rankin%2fBass_Productions/6TWrIALz">Rankin/Bass Productions</a> to produce an <a href="/facts/The_King_and_I_(1999_film)/SesypS9Q">animated adaptation</a> of <a href="/facts/Rodgers_and_Hammerstein/GUyozRLU">Rodgers and Hammerstein</a>'s <i><a href="/facts/The_King_and_I/HbDxyKLl">The King and I</a></i> for <a href="/facts/Warner_Bros./JRF3lhQ6">Warner Bros.</a> However, the film bombed at the box office and received very negative reviews, which forced <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a> to sell off the studio to <a href="/facts/Crest_Animation_Studios/NqYQCUHn">Crest Animation Studios</a> on New Year's Day 2000. The studio was renamed to RichCrest Animation Studios, and they continued to produce Bible videos for Nest until 2005. </p><p>In February 2007, RichCrest was renamed to Crest Animation Productions and announced that it was "expanding its business to become a full-service animation studio specializing in the development and production of CGI-animated properties for theatrical, television, home entertainment and interactive distribution".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>The studio was finally shut down in 2013, after failing to make a profit.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> Many of its productions contracts were handed over to other studios for completion. <i><a href="/facts/Norm_of_the_North/JM3y7Sg7">Norm of the North</a></i>, a film that was in production at Crest before closing, along with future <i>Alpha and Omega</i> sequels were handed over to <a href="/facts/Splash_Entertainment/sBDAkjF8">Splash Entertainment</a> while future <i>Swan Princess</i> installments were handled by Streetlight Animation, which Rich also formed. </p> <h2 id="filmography">Filmography</h2> <h3>Theatrical Features</h3> <p>Rich era </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess/dDvrFWpE">The Swan Princess</a></i></td><td>November 18, 1994 (1994-11-18)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_King_and_I_(1999_film)/SesypS9Q">The King and I</a></i></td><td>March 19, 1999 (1999-03-19)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Morgan_Creek_Productions/Gs3bYTWs">Morgan Creek Productions</a>, <a href="/facts/Rankin%2fBass_Productions/6TWrIALz">Rankin/Bass Productions</a> and <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>RichCrest era </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Trumpet_of_the_Swan_(film)/6kNmdSh6">The Trumpet of the Swan</a></i></td><td>May 11, 2001 (2001-05-11)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/TriStar_Pictures/E8xBMNW1">TriStar Pictures</a> and <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Muhammad%3a_The_Last_Prophet/IypxCfPd">Muhammad: The Last Prophet</a></i></td><td>November 8, 2002 (2002-11-08)</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Crest era </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film)/horpWANQ">Alpha and Omega</a></i></td><td>September 17, 2010 (2010-09-17)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Lionsgate_Films/w69hYAud">Lionsgate Films</a>; and produced in CGI.</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Direct-to-Video</h3> <p>Rich era </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><i>Animated Stories from the Book of Mormon</i></td><td>1987-1992</td><td>Co-production with Living Scriptures</td></tr><tr><td><i>Animated Stories from the New Testament</i></td><td>1987-2004</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i>Animated Hero Classics</i></td><td>1991–1997, 2004</td><td>Co-production with Living History Productions, <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a> and Warner-Nest Animation</td></tr><tr><td><i>Animated Stories from the Bible</i></td><td>1992–1995</td><td>Co-Production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess%3a_Escape_from_Castle_Mountain/8EJaqdWK">The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain</a></i></td><td>July 18, 1997 (1997-07-18)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_III%3a_The_Mystery_of_the_Enchanted_Treasure/UpUVLF9x">The Swan Princess III: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure</a></i></td><td>August 4, 1998 (1998-08-04)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Scarecrow_(2000_film)/CgJGNy7h">The Scarecrow</a></i></td><td>August 22, 2000 (2000-08-22)</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>RichCrest era </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><i>K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments</i></td><td>2003</td><td>Co-production with TLC Entertainment and SMEC Media</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Arthur%2527s_Missing_Pal/cRUBIpwj">Arthur's Missing Pal</a></i> (CGI)</td><td>August 22, 2006 (2006-08-22)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/WGBH-TV/lNkVeCCy">WGBH-TV</a>, <a href="/facts/Mainframe_Entertainment/tx3pPraU">Mainframe Entertainment</a> and <a href="/facts/Marc_Brown_Studios/geVdBX6L">Marc Brown Studios</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Crest era Note: All films CGI. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Little_Engine_That_Could_(2011_film)/Yxw762J0">The Little Engine That Could</a></i></td><td>March 22, 2011 (2011-03-22)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Universal_Animation_Studios/zxVlY0xK">Universal Animation Studios</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess%3a_Christmas/212rzkLK">The Swan Princess: Christmas</a></i></td><td>November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film_series)/cBz5alGl">Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure</a></i></td><td>October 8, 2013 (2013-10-08)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess%3a_A_Royal_Family_Tale/pGI7A2aN">The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale</a></i></td><td>February 25, 2014 (2014-02-25)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film_series)/cBz5alGl">Alpha and Omega 3: The Great Wolf Games</a></i></td><td>March 25, 2014 (2014-03-25)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film_series)/cBz5alGl">Alpha and Omega 4: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave</a></i></td><td>October 7, 2014 (2014-10-07)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film_series)/cBz5alGl">Alpha and Omega: Family Vacation</a></i></td><td>August 4, 2015 (2015-08-04)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Films originally slated for production at Crest </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Norm_of_the_North/JM3y7Sg7">Norm of the North</a></i></td><td>January 15, 2016 (2016-01-15)</td><td>Co-produced by <a href="/facts/Splash_Entertainment/sBDAkjF8">Splash Entertainment</a> and Assemblage Entrainment</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film_series)/cBz5alGl">Alpha and Omega: Dino Digs</a></i></td><td>May 10, 2016 (2016-05-10)</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)/onfBHn6l">The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today</a></i></td><td>September 6, 2016 (2016-09-06)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film_series)/cBz5alGl">Alpha and Omega: The Big Fureeze</a></i></td><td>December 8, 2016 (2016-12-08)</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)/onfBHn6l">The Swan Princess: Royally Undercover</a></i></td><td>March 28, 2017 (2017-03-28)</td><td>Co-production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Alpha_and_Omega_(film_series)/cBz5alGl">Alpha and Omega: Journey to Bear Kingdom</a></i></td><td>May 9, 2017 (2017-05-09)</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)/onfBHn6l">The Swan Princess: A Royal Myztery</a></i></td><td>March 27, 2018 (2018-03-27)</td><td rowspan="6">Co-production with <a href="/facts/Nest_Family_Entertainment/1PJGbdYq">Nest Family Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)/onfBHn6l">The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music</a></i></td><td>August 6, 2019 (2019-08-06)</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)/onfBHn6l">The Swan Princess: A Royal Wedding</a></i></td><td>August 4, 2020 (2020-08-04)</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)/onfBHn6l">The Swan Princess: A Fairytale is Born</a></i></td><td>May 23, 2023 (2023-05-23)</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/The_Swan_Princess_(film_series)/onfBHn6l">The Swan Princess: Far Longer than Forever</a></i></td><td>September 19, 2023 (2023-09-19)</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Citron, Rich (December 21, 1993). "Rich Hopes to Strike It in Animation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 6, 2018. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-21-fi-4238-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-21-fi-4238-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Porter, Donald (November 19, 1994). "Richard Rich". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved February 6, 2018 – via Blogger. <a href="http://theoccasionalcritic.blogspot.com/2012/11/richard-rich-nov-19-1994.html" target="_blank">http://theoccasionalcritic.blogspot.com/2012/11/richard-rich-nov-19-1994.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Haring, Bruce (May 11, 1993). "Nest not empty with new units". Variety. Retrieved 11 April 2022. <a href="https://variety.com/1993/digital/features/nest-not-empty-with-new-units-106726/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/1993/digital/features/nest-not-empty-with-new-units-106726/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Porter, Donald (November 19, 1994). "Richard Rich". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved February 6, 2018 – via Blogger. <a href="http://theoccasionalcritic.blogspot.com/2012/11/richard-rich-nov-19-1994.html" target="_blank">http://theoccasionalcritic.blogspot.com/2012/11/richard-rich-nov-19-1994.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Baisley, Sarah (February 13, 2007). "RichCrest Animation Now Crest Animation Prods. with Fogelson at Helm". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2013. <a href="http://www.awn.com/news/business/richcrest-animation-now-crest-animation-prods-fogelson-helm" target="_blank">http://www.awn.com/news/business/richcrest-animation-now-crest-animation-prods-fogelson-helm</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Sadhwani, Yogesh. "WEEKEND DEATH FOR INDIA'S LARGEST ANIMATION FIRM". <a href="http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Weekend-death-for-Indias-largest-animation-firm/articleshow/21236107.cms" target="_blank">http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Weekend-death-for-Indias-largest-animation-firm/articleshow/21236107.cms</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave". Lionsgate Publicity. Retrieved August 26, 2014. <a href="http://www.awn.com/news/business/richcrest-animation-now-crest-animation-prods-fogelson-helm" target="_blank">http://www.awn.com/news/business/richcrest-animation-now-crest-animation-prods-fogelson-helm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"PGS Secures rights to Alpha and Omega TV movie". Rapid TV News. Pascale Paoli-Lebailly. Retrieved January 22, 2014. <a href="http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2014012131883/pgs-secures-rights-to-alpha-and-omega-tv-movie.html" target="_blank">http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2014012131883/pgs-secures-rights-to-alpha-and-omega-tv-movie.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>