1981 in animation

Events in 1981 in animation.

Events

February

February 13: Ralph Bakshi's American Pop is first released.

March

March 31: 53rd Academy Awards: Ferenc Rofusz' The Fly wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.

April

April 3: The first episode of Willo the Wisp is broadcast.April 8: The first episode of Dr. Slump - Arale-chan, an adaptation of the Dr. Slump manga by Akira Toriyama, is broadcast.April 28: The Peanuts TV special It's Magic, Charlie Brown premieres on CBS.

July

July 10: Ted Berman, Richard Rich and Art Stevens' The Fox and the Hound, produced by the Walt Disney Company, is first released.

August

August 7: Gerald Potterton's Heavy Metal premieres and becomes a cult classic.

September

September 12: The first episode of The Smurfs, produced by Hanna-Barbera, based on Belgian comics artist Peyo's eponymous comic series, is broadcast. This Saturday morning adaptation becomes a cult favorite years later.September 16: The first episode of Postman Pat is broadcast.September 28: The first episode of Danger Mouse is broadcast.

October

October 14: The first episode of Urusei Yatsura is broadcast.October 30: The Peanuts TV special Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown premieres on CBS, which was not well-favored for having a new character substituting the Little Red-Haired Girl, who's been a long-time crush for Charlie Brown. This is Grant Wehr's only voicing credit as he failed to reprise his role for the subsequent Peanuts cartoons due to his voice was reportedly too coarse for Charlie Brown.

December

December 25: Stig Lasseby and Jan Gissberg's Peter-No-Tail is first released.

Specific date unknown

The first Disney on Ice shows are organized.

Films released

January 1 - The Mystery of the Third Planet
January 3:
* The Call of the Wild: Howl, Buck
* Kaitei Daisensō: Ai no 20,000 Miles
January 5 - 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother
February 7 - Run Melos!
February 13 - American Pop
March 14:
* Doraemon: The Record of Nobita, Spaceblazer
* The Fantastic Adventures of Unico
* Kaibutsu-kun: Kaibutsu Land e no Shoutai
* Mobile Suit Gundam I
* Swan Lake
March 20 - Natsu e no Tobira
April 11:
* Chie the Brat
* Furiten-kun
April 26 - The Donbee Story
May 5:
* Helen Keller Monogatari: Ai to Hikari no Tenshi
* Lupin tai Holmes
June 8 - Sugata Sanshiro
June 23 - Around the World with Dot
July 4 - Tomorrow's Joe 2
July 9:
* Blizkata Dalechina
* Grendel Grendel Grendel
July 10 - The Fox and the Hound
July 11 - Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow
July 16 - Old Master Q
July 18:
* Captain
* Sonyeon 007 Jihajeguk
* The Sea Prince and the Fire Child
July 21 - Enchanted Journey
July 22 - Gugugui taeyang seongung isunsin
July 27 - Frankenstein
August 1:
* 21 Emon: Uchū e Irasshai!
* Adieu Galaxy Express 999
August 7:
* Gongnyong Baengmannyeon Ttori
* Heavy Metal
August 9:
* Robot King
* Yuki
August 16 - Anime-ban Toukaidou Yotsuya Kaidan
August 23:
* Bremen 4: Angels in Hell
* Kabo-Encho no Dobutsuen Nikki
October 3 - Bokura Mangaka: Tokiwa-sou Monogatari
October 7 - Rennyo and His Mother
October 22 - Son of the White Mare
November 20 - The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
November 28:
* Manga Hana no Kakarichō
* Manzai Taikouki
December 10 - The Little Fox
December 20 - Minoïe
December 21 - Maria, Mirabela
December 22 - Chiisana Love Letter: Mariko to Nemunoki no Kodomo-tachi
December 25 - Peter-No-Tail
December 26 - Shunmao Monogatari Taotao
December 29 - Space Warrior Baldios
Specific date unknown - ''Renshenguo''

Television series

January 4 - The Swiss Family Robinson: Flone of the Mysterious Island debuts on Fuji TV.
January 31 - Saikyo Robo Daiohja debuts in syndication.
February 7 - Yattodetaman debuts on Fuji TV.
February 10 - Pigeon Street debuts on BBC.
March 1 - Golden Warrior Gold Lightan debuts on Tokyo 12 TV.
March 4 - Beast King GoLion debuts on Tokyo Channel 12.
March 6 - Hello! Sandybell debuts on TV Asahi.
March 7 - Ohayo Spank debuts in syndication.
April 3 - Ai no Gakko Cuore Monogatari debuts on Mainichi Broadcasting System.
April 7:
* Belle and Sebastian debuts on NHK.
* Little Women debuts on Tokyo Channel 12.
April 8 - Dr. Slump & Arale-chan debuts on Fuji TV.
April 16 - Queen Millennia debuts on Fuji TV.
April 20 - Tiger Mask II debuts on TV Asahi.
July 3 - GoShogun debuts on Tokyo Channel 12.
September 3 - Manga Mito Komo debuts on TV Tokyo.
September 12:
* Goldie Gold and Action Jack debuts on ABC.
* Astro and the Space Mutts, Space Stars, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Teen Force, The Smurfs, and The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! debut on NBC.
* Blackstar, The Kwicky Koala Show, The New Adventures of Zorro, and Trollkins debut on CBS.
* Marmaduke and Spider-Man debut in syndication.
September 14 - Willow the Wisp debuts on BBC1.
September 16 - Postman Pat debuts on BBC1.
September 28:
* Danger Mouse debuts on ITV.
* Ninja Hattori-kun debuts on TV Asahi.
October 1 - Superbook debuts on TV Tokyo, CBN, and Australian Christian Channel.
October 2 - Six God Combination Godmars debuts on NNS.
October 3:
* Chie the Brat debuts on MBS.
* Hero High debuts on NBC.
October 4 - Dash Kappei debuts on Fuji TV.
October 6 - Braiger debuts on TV Tokyo.
October 7 - Honey Honey debuts on Fuji TV.
October 8 - Miss Machiko debuts on TV Tokyo.
October 9 - Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds debuts on MBS and TVE.
October 10:
* Laverne & Shirley in the Army debuts on ABC.
* Ulysses 31 debuts on FR3 and Nagoya Broadcasting Network.
October 14 - Urusei Yatsura debuts on Fuji TV.
October 23 - Fang of the Sun Dougram debuts on TV Tokyo.

Births

January

January 1: Eden Riegel, American actress, and voice director.January 15: Pitbull, American musician and businessman.January 24: Carrie Coon, American actress.January 25: Alicia Keys, American singer, songwriter and actress.January 28: Elijah Wood, American actor.January 30: Ron Holsey, American television writer.January 31: Justin Timberlake, American musician and actor.

February

February 1:

* John Gemberling, American actor and comedian.
* Alison Viktorin, American retired voice actress.February 3: Alisa Reyes, American actress.February 5: Adassa, American urban reggaeton singer and songwriter.February 8: Dawn Olivieri, American actress.February 9: Tom Hiddleston, English actor.February 10:
* Stephanie Beatriz, American actress.
* Uzo Aduba, American actress.February 12: Lisa Hannigan, Irish musician.February 17: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor and filmmaker.February 23: Josh Gad, American actor.February 27: Josh Groban, American singer, songwriter, and actor.

March

March 2: Danielle Moné Truitt, American actress.March 8: Justin Wright, American animator,.March 29: Megan Hilty, American actress.

April

April 11: Matt Ryan, Welsh actor.April 24: Nicole Bouma, Canadian actress.

May

May 11: J. P. Karliak, American actor and comedian.May 12: Rami Malek, American actor.May 19: Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Danish filmmaker.May 23: Tim Robinson, American comedian, actor, writer, and producer.May 28: Laura Bailey, American voice actress.

June

June 1:

* Johnny Pemberton, American actor.
* Amy Schumer, American actress and comedian.June 4: T.J. Miller, American actor and comedian.June 8: Ai Nonaka, Japanese actress.June 9: Natalie Portman, Israeli-born American actress.June 13: Chris Evans, American actor.June 19: Robin McLeavy, Australian actress.June 22:
* Monty Oum, American animator, animation director and actor,.
* Porsha Williams, American television personality, actress, and author.June 30: Matt Danner, American animator, storyboard artist, character designer, background artist, sheet timer, director, producer and voice actor.

July

July 13: Clé Bennett, Canadian actor.July 24: Summer Glau, American actress.

August

August 1: Ashley Parker Angel, American musician, actor and member of O-Town.August 3: Travis Willingham, American actor.August 27: Sugar Lyn Beard, Canadian actress.

September

September 4: Beyoncé Knowles, American musician and actress.September 7: Athena Karkanis, Canadian actress.September 8: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, American actor and director.September 15: Ben Schwartz, American actor.September 22: Ashley Eckstein, American actress.September 26:

* Yao Beina, Chinese actress, comedian, singer, and songwriter,.
* Serena Williams, American former professional tennis player.September 29:
*Kelly McCreary, American actress.
*Scott McAfee, American actor.

October

October 9: Eddie White, Australian writer and director.October 17: Cameron Esposito, American actress and comedian.October 31: Ali Kazmi, Pakistani-Canadian actor, director and producer.

November

November 1: Matt Jones, American actor.November 8: Azura Skye, American actress.November 16: Caitlin Glass, American actress.November 18: Nasim Pedrad, American actress and comedian.November 23: John Lavelle, American actor and playwright.November 29: Bun Hay Mean, French comedian and actor,.

December

December 1:

* Annemarie Brown, American animator and storyboard artist.
* Kathryn Drysdale, English actress.December 2:
* Britney Spears, American singer, songwriter and dancer.
* Lesley-Ann Brandt, South African actress.December 3: Liza Lapira, American actress.December 14: Matthew A. Cherry, American film director, writer and producer.December 16: Krysten Ritter, American actress and model.December 25: Ant Blades, English cartoonist and animator.

Specific date unknown

Angel Oquendo, American actor.
Jan Rogowski, British technical director and producer,.
Hyun Min Lee, Korean-American animator.
Michał Socha, Polish animator and filmmaker.

Deaths

January

January 18: Manuel Perez, Mexican-American animator and director, dies at age 66.

February

February 12: Lev Atamanov, Armenian-Russian animator and film director, dies at age 75.February 20: Bernard B. Brown, American film composer and sound engineer, dies at age 82.February 22: Michael Maltese, American screenwriter and comics writer, dies at age 73 from cancer.

March

March 16: Bill Baucom, American actor, dies at age 70.March 26: Hal Adelquist, American animator, animation producer and storyboard writer, dies at age 66.Specific date unknown: Richard Loederer, American comics writer, comics artist and animation art director, dies at age 86 or 87.

April

April 8: Eric Rogers, English composer, conductor and arranger, dies at age 59.April 16: Bernice Hansen, American voice actress, dies at age 83.April 23: Vivie Risto, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 78.April 24: Howard Purcell, American comics artist, writer and animator, dies at age 62.

June

June 4: Ray Abrams, American animator and director, dies at age 75.June 19: Lotte Reiniger, German film director and animator, pioneer of silhouette animation, dies at age 82.June 21: Don Figlozzi, American animator and cartoonist, pioneer in television animation, dies at age 72.

July

July 3: Ross Martin, American actor, dies at age 61.July 4: Stephen Bosustow, Canadian-American animator and film producer, dies at age 69.

October

October 3: Claire Parker, American engineer and animator, dies at age 75.October 15: Frank de Kova, American actor, dies at age 71.October 22: Little Ann Little, American singer and actress, dies at age 71.

November

November 12: Ralph Heimdahl, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 72.November 25: Jack Albertson, American actor, comedian and singer, dies at age 74.

December

December 27: Hoagy Carmichael, American musician, composer, songwriter, actor and lawyer, dies at age 82.

Specific date unknown

William Sturm, American animator, dies at age 74 or 75.