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| Rich Moore | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rich Moore |
| Birth date | 1963 |
| Birth place | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Occupation | Animation director, voice actor, producer |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Notable works | The Simpsons, Futurama, Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph |
Rich Moore Rich Moore is an American animation director, producer, and voice actor known for his work in television animation and feature films. He rose to prominence directing episodes of The Simpsons and Futurama before moving to feature animation at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, where he directed commercially successful and critically acclaimed films. Moore's career intersects major figures and institutions in contemporary animation, including collaborations with John Lasseter, Byron Howard, Chris Williams, and studios such as Pixar Animation Studios, DisneyToon Studios, and Disney Animation Research Library.
Moore was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and raised in the Midwestern United States during the 1960s and 1970s amid the rise of television animation and the influence of studios like Hanna-Barbera Productions and Walt Disney Productions. He attended Indiana University Bloomington where he studied art and film, participating in campus media connected to Student Media and regional film festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival precursor circuits. Moore later expanded his technical skills through coursework and workshops connected to institutions including CalArts and industry training programs associated with Industrial Light & Magic and independent animation collectives that fed talent into Nickelodeon Animation Studio and Warner Bros. Animation.
Moore began his professional career in the 1980s working on animated television series and short films, joining creative teams that produced content for networks like Fox Broadcasting Company and The Walt Disney Company television divisions. In the 1990s he became a director for The Simpsons, collaborating with producers and showrunners such as James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Sam Simon, and later worked on Futurama with David X. Cohen and Groening. His television work led to opportunities in feature animation at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he transitioned to directing and producing animated features. Moore co-directed Wreck-It Ralph for Walt Disney Animation Studios and later co-directed Zootopia with Byron Howard and Jared Bush, partnering with producer Clark Spencer and other Disney creatives. He collaborated with Chris Williams on story development and production workflows that involved cross-departmental teams from Disneytoon Studios and effects groups influenced by techniques from Pixar Animation Studios and Industrial Light & Magic. Moore has also contributed to industry panels at events like Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Comic-Con International, and The Animation Guild symposiums, engaging with professionals from Nick Park's circles and voice talents represented by agencies such as Creative Artists Agency.
Moore's television directing credits include multiple episodes of The Simpsons and Futurama, where he honed timing, character staging, and visual gags in collaboration with animators from Klasky Csupo and writers associated with Saturday Night Live alumni. His transition to features produced notable titles: he co-directed Wreck-It Ralph (2012), a film that blended video game culture references tied to franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man and employed motion-capture-adjacent animation techniques influenced by contemporary practices at Pixar Animation Studios and Blue Sky Studios. Moore co-directed Zootopia (2016), a film that combined social satire with world-building influenced by urban design research and narrative strategies practiced at Walt Disney Animation Studios. He later joined the directing team for Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and contributed to story development, character arcs, and comedic beats that leveraged partnerships with legacy IP holders such as Disney Consumer Products and digital-platform collaborators like YouTube talent. Moore's films advanced production pipelines integrating storyboarding, previs, and virtual cinematography tools akin to those used at Industrial Light & Magic and Weta Digital, and his leadership helped mentor emerging directors who later worked at studios including Laika and Sony Pictures Animation.
Moore's work has earned nominations and awards from major institutions in film and animation. He received recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with nominations for Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for projects associated with Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph, and his films have won honors from the Annie Awards presented by ASIFA-Hollywood. Moore's television episodes garnered praise from organizations such as the Writers Guild of America and the Emmy Awards circuit, reflecting peer recognition for writing and directing in animated television. Festivals and critic circles including the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association included his feature work in annual honors, and industry groups like The Animation Guild have acknowledged his mentoring and contributions to production practices.
Moore resides in the Southern California region near industry hubs such as Burbank, California and Los Angeles, maintaining professional relationships with colleagues across Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, and freelance animators who contribute to independent projects showcased at events like Tribeca Film Festival. He participates in panels, guest lectures, and workshops at institutions including California Institute of the Arts and Indiana University Bloomington, supporting animation education and community initiatives. Moore's collaborations extend to voice actors represented by unions such as SAG-AFTRA and to producers and creatives across major studios, reflecting a career integrated with the broader animation ecosystem.
Category:American animated film directors Category:People from Indianapolis