1994 in animation

1994 in animation is an overview of notable events, including notable awards, list of films released, television show debuts and endings, and notable deaths.

Events

January

January 3: The first episode of Once Upon a Time... The Discoverers, produced by Albert Barillé, airs.January 18: The Peanuts TV special You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown premieres on NBC. This was the last Peanuts special to air on television until the premiere of A Charlie Brown Valentine 8 years later. This is also the only Peanuts special to receive limited marketing on VHS as several trademarks are owned by NFL.January 26: The first episode of The Critic airs. It will gain a cult following.

February

February 6: The first episode of Aladdin is broadcast.

March

March 5: The first episode of Duckman airs. The show will gain a cult following.March 9: The first episode of The Busy World of Richard Scarry airs.March 21: 66th Academy Awards:

* The Wallace and Gromit short film The Wrong Trousers by Nick Park wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
March 27: The stand-alone Tiny Toon Adventures TV special "Tiny Toon Spring Break" premieres on Fox. Yakko, Wakko, Dot, Pinky, & the Brain from Animaniacs all make cameos in this special.March 30: Don Bluth and Gary Goldman's Thumbelina premieres. One of the five lesser Bluth films as this led to a bankruptcy against Sullivan Bluth Studios in Ireland. Warner Bros. gave up distribution of this film to 20th Century Fox in 2002.

April

April 15: The first episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast airs, Cartoon Network's first adult oriented program.April 28: The 100th episode of The Simpsons, "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song", first airs.

May

May 19: The Simpsons concludes its fifth season on Fox with the episode "Secrets of a Successful Marriage".May 20: The Return of Jafar is released, being the first direct-to-video film by the Walt Disney Company.

June

June 13: The first episode of Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop airs.June 15: The Lion King, produced by the Walt Disney Company, is first released.

July

July 11: PBS repackaged their existing children's educational programming as a new block called "PTV Park".July 16: Isao Takahata's Pom Poko premieres.

September

September 4: Season 6 of The Simpsons begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Bart of Darkness".September 10:

* The first episodes of ReBoot and The Magic School Bus premiere on YTV ' & PBS '.
* Jan Švankmajer's Faust premieres.
September 17: The 7th & final season of Garfield and Friends begins on CBS with the premiere of the following episodes:
*"The Legend of Johnny Ragweedseed/Grape Expectations /Catch As Cats Can't"
*"A Matter of Conscience/Grape Expectations /Top Ten"September 22: The first episode of The Britt Allcroft Company's Magic Adventures of Mumfie airs. Season 1 became the most sought-after season, as the full versions of the episodes became a lost media after they were reformatted into a movie in 1996.September 24: The first episodes of Fantastic Four and Iron Man air.September 29: Asterix Conquers America, the sixth Astérix film, premieres.

October

October 7: Don Bluth's A Troll in Central Park premieres, which became Bluth's worst film. Warner Bros. gave its distribution up to 20th Century Fox in 2002 as a result of not having any confidence in the film at all.October 7: The first episode of The Itsy Bitsy Spider airs.October 12: DreamWorks Animation is founded along with DreamWorks Pictures.October 21: Cartoon Network Studios is founded.October 24: The first episode of Gargoyles airs.October 29: The first episode of Aaahh!! Real Monsters airs.October 30: The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror V" premieres on Fox.

November

November 3: The German animated feature Felidae is first released. It will gain cult status later.November 6: The compilation film In Search of Dr. Seuss premieres on TNT.November 15: Pinocchio and the 1933 Betty Boop cartoon Snow-White are added to the National Film Registry.November 18: The film The Swan Princess premieres.November 19:

* The first episode of Spider-Man airs.
* Phil Hartman hosts a featurette for How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: Special Edition on TNT during the Seuss-a-bration marathon.November 21: The Flintstones’ TV movie A Flintstones Christmas Carol premieres, which reverts to the status quo of the characters before their depiction in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.November 23: The mix between live-action and animation, The Pagemaster, starring Macaulay Culkin premieres. It was a box office bomb during its original theatrical release as 20th Century Fox suspends theatrical animated films until 1997 when its sister company Fox Animation Studios releases the film Anastasia.

December

December 4: The film Sailor Moon S: The Movie premieres. December 10: The final episode of Garfield and Friends airs on CBS. December 13: The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure, the direct-to-video sequel of The Land Before Time, was released. It was the first Bluth-less sequel released as a direct-to-video as more would continue up to 14 films.December 21: Chuck Jones' Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoon Chariots of Fur premieres in theaters alongside Richie Rich, produced by Warner Bros. Animation. This was Jones' final short starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner before the animator's death nearly 8 years later.

Specific date unknown

The first episode of Katie and Orbie airs.
Janie Geiser's The Red Book is first released.

Films released

January 1 - Goldilocks and the Three Bears
January 22 - Kattobase! Dreamers —Carp Tanjō Monogatari―
February 21 - Urotsukidōji III: Return of the Overfiend Director's Edition
March 12:
* Doraemon: Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen
* Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming
March 19 - Happy, the Littlest Bunny
March 21 - Plastic Little
March 30 - Thumbelina
April 3 - Yogi the Easter Bear
April 9:
* Sangokushi : Harukanaru Taichi
* Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report
April 15 - Cinderella
April 23 - Crayon Shin-chan: The Secret Treasure of Buri Buri Kingdom
April 30 - The Magic Flute
May 20 - The Return of Jafar
May 24 - Dengeki Oshioki Musume Gōtaman: Gōtaman Tanjō-hen
June 11 - J League o 100-bai Tanoshiku Miru Hōhō!!
June 15 - The Lion King
June 19 - Dot in Space
June 21 - The Jungle King
July 9:
* Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly
* Slam Dunk: Conquer the Nation, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
July 16:
* Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture
* The Life of Guskou Budori
* Pom Poko
* Soreike! Anpanman Ririkaru Majikaru Mahō no Gakkō
July 20 - Leo the Lion: King of the Jungle
July 23 - Super Kid
July 29 - Lupin III: Dragon of Doom
August 6 - Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
August 19 - Once Upon a Time
August 20 - Ghost Sweeper Mikami: The Great Paradise Battle!!
August 21:
* Baki the Grappler
* Captain Tsubasa: The Most Powerful Opponent! Holland Youth
August 25 - Cosmic Fantasy: Galaxy Cougar's Trap
September 3 - Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights
September 8 - Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture
September 29 - Asterix Conquers America
October 4:
* The Night Before Christmas
* Taxandria
October 7 - A Troll in Central Park
October 8 - Darkside Blues
October 19:
* Pocahontas
* The Story of Christmas
October 24 - Dengeki Oshioki Musume Gōtaman R: Ai to Kanashimi no Final Battle
October 25 - The Gate to the Mind's Eye
November 3 - Felidae
November 5:
* Blue Seagull
* A Christmas Carol
* The Secret Garden
November 18 - The Swan Princess
November 21 - A Flintstones Christmas Carol
November 23 - The Pagemaster
December 4 - Sailor Moon S: The Movie
December 13 - The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure
December 23 - The Hero of Two Worlds
Specific date unknown:
* The Land Surveyor
* ''The Return of the North Wind''

Television series debuts

Date	Title	Channel	Year
January 26	The Critic	ABC, Fox	1994–2001
February 5	Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?	Fox Kids	1994–1999
February 6	Aladdin	Disney Channel	1994–1995
March 5	Conan and the Young Warriors	CBS	1994
March 5	Duckman	USA Network	1994–1997
March 9	The Busy World of Richard Scarry	Showtime, Nick Jr.	1994–1997
April 15	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	Cartoon Network	1994–1999
July 2	Mutant League	Syndication	1994–1996
August 15	The Brothers Grunt	MTV	1994–1995
September 1	The Head	MTV	1994–1996
September 10	Bump in the Night	ABC	1994–1995
September 10	ReBoot	ABC, Syndication	1994–1999
September 10	The Magic School Bus	PBS Kids	1994–1997
September 10	Beethoven	CBS	1994
September 10	The Tick	Fox Kids	1994–1996
September 10	BattleTech: The Animated Series	Fox	1994
September 11	Mega Man	Syndication	1994–1996
September 11	Street Sharks	Syndication	1994–1997
September 17	The Baby Huey Show	Syndication	1994–1995
September 18	Highlander: The Animated Series	USA Network	1994–1996
September 18	Phantom 2040	Syndication	1994–1996
September 24	Free Willy	ABC	1994–1995
September 24	Hurry Hurry, Tom and Jerry	TBS	1994–1996
September 24	Iron Man	Syndication	1994–1996
September 24	Fantastic Four	Syndication	1994–1996
October 1	Wild C.A.T.s	CBS	1994–1995
October 4	Creepy Crawlers	Syndication	1994–1996
October 7	The Itsy Bitsy Spider	USA Network	1994–1996
October 24	Gargoyles	Syndication, ABC	1994–1997
October 29	Aaahh!!! Real Monsters	Nickelodeon	1994–1997
November 19	Spider-Man	Fox Kids	1994–1998
December 18	Life with Louie	Fox, Fox Kids	1994–1998

Births

January

January 21: Booboo Stewart, American actor.January 28: Maluma, Colombian singer.January 29: Ayane Sakura, Japanese actress.

February

February 11: Dominic Janes, American former child actor.February 23: Dakota Fanning, American actress.February 27: Rie Takahashi, Japanese voice actress and singer.

March

March 1: Justin Bieber, Canadian singer.March 10: Alan Ituriel, Mexican cartoonist and voice actor.March 26: AJ Bridel, Canadian actress and singer.March 29: Jack Bandeira, English actor.

April

April 2: Sofie Zamchick, American actress and musician. April 8: Johnny LaZebnik, American production assistant, television writer and son of Rob LaZebnik.April 13: Gints Zilbalodis, Latvian filmmaker, animator and composer.April 15: Arif Zahir, American actor, musician, and internet personality.April 16: Liliana Mumy, American actress.April 18: Moisés Arias, American actor.April 24: Jordan Fisher, American actor and musician.

May

May 4: Alexander Gould, American actor.

June

June 16: Caitlyn Taylor Love, American actress and musician.June 29: Camila Mendes, American actress.

July

July 24: Jaboukie Young-White, American actor and comedian.

August

August 17: Taissa Farmiga, American actress.August 18: Michaela Jill Murphy, American actress.August 23: Francesca Reale, American actress.August 29: Eduardo Franco, American actor and comedian.

September

September 25: Jansen Panettiere, American actor,.September 29: Halsey, American singer.

November

November 15: Alejandro Saab, American voice actor.November 16: India Ennenga, American actress.

December

December 3: Jake T. Austin, American actor.December 10: Kayli Mills, American actress.December 17: Nat Wolff, American actor.

Deaths

January

January 5: Joop Du Buy, Dutch animator, textile salesman, and comics artist, dies at age 59.January 8: Pat Buttram, American actor, dies at age 78.January 28: Hal Smith, American actor, dies at age 77.

February

February 1: Olan Soule, American actor, dies at age 84.February 6: Jack Kirby, American comics artist and animator, dies at age 76.February 8: Raymond Scott, American composer, dies at age 85.February 11:

*William Conrad, American actor, dies at age 73.
*Sorrell Booke, American actor, dies at age 64.February 17: Lou Bunin, American puppeteer and animator, dies from a stroke at age 89.February 24: Dinah Shore, American singer and actress, dies at age 77.

March

March 4: John Candy, Canadian comedian and actor, dies from a heart attack at age 43. March 10: Reuben Timmins, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 84.March 22: Walter Lantz, American animator, cartoonist, film director, and film producer, dies at age 94.March 29: Paul Grimault, French animator and film director, dies at age 89.March 31: José Escobar Saliente, Spanish animator, comics writer and artist, dies at age 85.

April

April 3: Frank Wells, American businessman, dies at age 62 in a helicopter crash.

May

May 25: Sonny Sharrock, American jazz guitarist and composer, dies from a heart attack at age 53.

June

June 10: Jack Hannah, American animator, film director, screenwriter, and comic writer and artist, dies at age 81.June 12: Christopher Collins, American actor, dies at age 44.June 14: Henry Mancini, American composer and conductor, dies at age 70.June 23: Piet van Elk, Dutch comics artist and animator, dies at age 74.June 28: Richard Bickenbach, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 86.

July

July 23: Owen Fitzgerald, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 77.July 26: Terry Scott, English actor, dies from cancer at age 67.

August

August 1: Augstí Ascensio Saurí, Spanish animator and comics artist, dies in a car accident at age 45.August 4: Stanislav Látal, Czech puppeteer, animator and film director, dies at age 75.August 24: Rickie Sorensen, American actor, dies at age 47.August 26: Werner Klemke, German animator, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 77.

September

September 1: Thomas Chastain, American author, dies from lung cancer at age 73.

October

October 3: Dub Taylor, American actor, dies at age 87.October 5: Doug Wildey, American comics artist and animator, dies at age 72.

November

November 2: Martin Taras, American comics artist and animator and character designer, dies at age 80.November 5: Nikolay Fyodorov, Russian animator, film director and cartoonist, dies at age 80.November 18: Cab Calloway, American jazz singer and dancer, dies at age 86.November 23: Irwin Kostal, American musical arranger, dies at age 83.November 30: Lionel Stander, American actor, dies at age 86.

Specific date unknown

Izzy Ellis, American animator, dies at age 83 or 84.