His name is Rick
Written by: Cory Morrison
I want to tell you a story about a man who touched many hearts, whose smile would light up a room and whose laughter could be heard for miles. His name is Rick. He was a dad, a partner, a brother, and a friend to many, and he is missed beyond words. His contribution to the Canadian animation scene was enormous, and his passing on February 17 th , 2025, will forever be etched in memory. It was devastating.
Rick Morrison began his career in the early ’80s, working on the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, as well as the first Raccoons Christmas special. He entered the animation industry during a time of limited opportunities, yet he always found a way. He directed a special called “The Nightingale,” a co-production with Shanghai Animation Studios and Atkinson Film Arts in ’87. He contributed to the original Care Bears produced by Nelvana and numerous other Canadian and American productions over a career that spanned 45 years. He championed Canadian animation, founded two studios, and developed, financed, and produced hundreds of hours of original content.
Rick was a partner at Funbag Animation studios, a company that helped put Ottawa, Canada on the world map for animation production. He helped lead a wave of animation production through those doors with a motley crew of talented personalities for 15 years until the transition to digital, creating opportunities for countless individuals in the industry. When the doors to Funbag closed in the early 2000s, his little brother continued to pester him to open another studio with a close friend, Rod Amador, and Big Jump Entertainment was born in 2008. Nothing like opening a studio during a recession. But we were scrappy and continue to be so to this day. In 2023, Rod decided to move on, and A.J. Cote came aboard, and we continue to build on the company’s success.
Rick’s passing gutted us all, but as a champion, he would want us to continue to press forward and build upon his legacy for what we hope to be many years to come. I love you Rick, I know you are looking down on us with a wry smile and tapping your watch saying, “Hey …you on bankers’ hours?” then laughing at your joke. I will miss your sense of humor, impatience at an airport, incredible wit, and capacity to close impossible deals. Your incredible ability to add up numbers on the spot, your love for your family, your love of golf, your capacity to engage and meet new people. But most importantly I will miss you….my brother. Love you bro.
Till we see each other again …as you would say, “Onwards and Upwards”!
