Robert Swarthe
Directing
Known For

After an encounter with UFOs, an electricity linesman feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

When an unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain James T. Kirk returns to the newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture

In a dazzling, dreamlike Las Vegas, longtime couple Hank and Frannie break up on their fifth anniversary and each pursue the fantasy of new love over one neon-soaked night—he with a free-spirited acrobat, she with a seductive musician. But as illusion and reality blur, both must decide whether passion or devotion truly defines the heart.
One from the Heart

A documentary film on the making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

A satirical look at the world of Walt Disney: Mickey and Minnie run afoul of racially-insensitive cannibals and arabs, a tour through the seedy underbelly of Disneyland, and the final destination: Mickey Mouse in Snow White's glass casket.
Uncle Walt
An Oscar Nominated short film about the adventures of a red pair of legs. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010.
Kick Me

Short directed by Robert Mitchell and Robert Swarthe.
K-9000: A Space Oddity

This short educational film introduces viewers to the vibrant world of camera-less animation. In just 10 minutes, it showcases three creative examples of animation made entirely by drawing, painting, and scratching directly onto film stock. Designed as an instructional resource, the film emphasizes how simple classroom materials can be used to produce expressive and visually striking animated works. With its energetic tone and hands-on demonstrations, it's both a fun watch and an effective teaching tool—perfect for budding animators or educators exploring experimental film techniques.
Ink, Paint, Scratch
A delightful spoof on industry-sponsored documentary films, this is a tongue-in-cheek documentary tribute to the oil refining industry as a symbol of American pride. The parody concepts of this film are so true to the banality of their subject of derision that many audiences may be unaware that this is a spoof, and react with patriotic pride to the tribute itself. In this way, the reaction of each audience to the film is potentially as whimsical as the film itself!
The Oil Refinery
An animated film drawn in india ink directly on 65 mm film. It was reduced optically to 35mm film with colour added. The story of the film concerns a rivalry between two simple stick figures characters for the championship in a unicycle race. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2011.
The Unicycle Race

Animation Workshop Color UCLA Student Film, Preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. A hand-drawn animation made during the start of the anti-Vietnam War and anti-Cold War movement in the United States.
Don't Panic
An abstract film, featuring various colors and shapes.