1997 in animation
1997 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 7: The U.S. animation studio Frederator Studios is founded.January 12: The first episode of King of the Hill is broadcast.February
February 8: The final episode of the Sailor Moon, anime airs.February 9: The Simpsons episode "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" is first broadcast, with the series breaking the record of The Flintstones as the longest-running U.S. primetime animated TV series.March
March 3: Daria, a spin-off series of Beavis and Butt-Head airs its first episode. March 15: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth premieres, the first film in the Neon Genesis Evangelion series.March 24: 69th Academy Awards: Quest by Tyron Montgomery and Thomas Stellmach wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.March 26: Mark Dindal's Cats Don't Dance premieres.April
April 1:- * As an April Fools' Day joke, Cartoon Network reruns Tex Avery's Screwy Squirrel cartoon Happy-Go-Nutty for 12 hours straight.
- * The Pokémon anime first airs in Japan. April 2: The first episode of Hikarian is broadcast.April 7: The first episode of The Kindaichi Case Files airs.April 17: The first episode of Blake and Mortimer, based on the eponymous comics series Blake and Mortimer by Edgar P. Jacobs, is broadcast.April 19: The first episode of The Angry Beavers airs.April 21: Matt Groening founded the animation production company The Curiosity Company, which would later produce Futurama.
May
May 11: King of the Hill concludes its first season on Fox with the episode "Plastic White Female". The season's finale reeled in a total of over 13.2 million viewers that night.May 16: Todd McFarlane's Spawn, based on the comic series Spawn, is first broadcast.May 18: The Simpsons concludes its eighth season on Fox with the episode "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson".June
June 5: The Japanese animation studio Bee Train is founded.June 14: The first episode of The Adventures of Paddington Bear is broadcast, based on the eponymous children's book series.June 15: The Walt Disney Company releases Hercules, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker.July
July 12: Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke premieres. Now-former Miramax chairman Harvey Weinstein responded with the infamous "no-cuts" policy by Toshio Suzuki as Weinstein nearly gave up wanting to distribute the film for the United States release. He instead hired Neil Gaiman to work on the English dub for the film. July 14: The first episode of Johnny Bravo airs. Because of its infamy for frequent suggestive humor, it became an adult interest.July 15: The first episode of Cow and Chicken is broadcast. One of Cartoon Network's earliest queer coded animated programs.July 19: Hideaki Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki's The End of Evangelion premieres.July 22: The first episode of I Am Weasel is broadcast.July 26: A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation premieres.August
August 5: The Peanuts special It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown released exclusively for VHS & VCD.August 13: The first episode of South Park premieres on Comedy Central. It marks the debut of Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, his baby brother Ike, Eric Cartman, Kenny McCormick, Mr. Garrison, Wendy Testaburger, Butters Stotch, Bebe Stevens, Token Black, Liane Cartman, Officer Barbrady and Chef.August 24: The first episode of Franklin airs.August 31: The first episode of Space Goofs is broadcast.September
September 1: The first episode of 101 Dalmatians: The Series, produced by the Walt Disney Company, is broadcast. September 3: DIC Entertainment's The Wacky World of Tex Avery airs. It was brutally panned by critics, who declared it an "insult" to Tex Avery's legacy.September 5: The first episode of Kipper airs.September 8: Bill Plympton's I Married a Strange Person! premieres.September 13:- * The first episode of Pepper Ann is broadcast.
- * The first episode of Recess, produced by the Walt Disney Company, is broadcast.
- * The first episode of Science Court is broadcast. September 15: The first episode of Caillou is broadcast in Canada. It was televised in the United States three years later. This cartoon received intense criticism for the titular character's negative behavior. It was described as "the world's most universally reviled children's program."September 21:
- * Season 9 of The Simpsons begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson". This episode was pulled off from syndication & streaming services years later due to it featuring the World Trade Center, which would end up being destroyed 4 years later.
- * Season 2 of King of the Hill begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "How to Fire a Rifle Without Really Trying".September 28: The Simpsons episode "The Principal and the Pauper" is first broadcast, where Principal Skinner is revealed to be an impostor, an episode which will prove to be controversial among long-time fans. Many fans believed that this episode is when the show jumped the shark.September 29: The first episode of Noah's Island airs.
October
October 13: The first episode of Fennec is broadcast.October 17:- * Teletoon is launched in Canada.
- * The first episode of Ned's Newt is broadcast on Teletoon. The show would eventually air on Fox Kids in 1998. October 23: Milan Blažeković' Lapitch the Little Shoemaker premieres. This is Blažeković's third film produced from Croatia Film and the second to perceive the United States release.October 24: The first episode of Freaky Stories airs.October 26: The Simpsons
' "Treehouse of Horror VIII" premieres on Fox.
November
November 14: Don Bluth and Gary Goldman's Anastasia premieres. This marks Bluth's first well-regarded film since All Dogs Go to Heaven in 1989 and the only film to be at its best from Fox Animation Studios overall.November 18: Motion Painting No. 1 and Tulips Shall Grow are added to the National Film Registry.November 19: The final episode of Dragon Ball GT, airs ending an 11-year run of shows based on the Dragon Ball franchise until the premiere of Dragon Ball Super in 2015.November 22: Rugrats concludes its fourth season on Nickelodeon with the premiere of the episodes "Angelica Nose Best/The Pirate Light".November 28: The final episode of Beavis and Butt-Head is broadcast on MTV.December
December 2: Anime producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki is arrested for drug possession with 50g of stimulants, 7g of morphine, 9g of marijuana. While on bail he goes to the Philippines on his English-registered cruiser the Ocean Nine; returning to smuggle in an M16 with M203 grenade launcher, a Glock 17, and a large amount of ammunition.December 6: The final episode of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters airs. December 16: The airing of the Pokémon episode "Dennō Senshi Porygon" causes photosensitive epileptic seizures among more than 600 viewers in Japan, prompting the series to have a four-month hiatus.December 17: The South Park episode "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" first airs, in which Mr. Hankey, Mr. Mackey and Father Maxi make their debut.December 25: Adarna: The Mythical Bird premieres in the Philippines, becoming the first feature-length animated Filipino film.Specific date unknown
- Hanna-Barbera closed its studio doors in Hollywood, California, one year after Time Warner purchased Turner Broadcasting System.
- Ray Nowland's Go to Hell!! premieres, an animated feature animated completely by one person.
Awards
- Mainichi Film Award for Best Film: Princess Mononoke
- Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year: ''Princess Mononoke''
Films released
- January 10 - Deep Sea Fleet: Submarine 707
- January 24:
- * Alien from the Darkness
- * The Quest for the Key to Heaven
- February 4 - VeggieTales: Very Silly Songs!
- February 11:
- * Droids: The Pirates and the Prince
- * Ewoks: The Haunted Village
- * Hercules
- February 18 - Underground Adventure
- March 6 - The Little Bastard
- March 8:
- * Doraemon: Nobita and the Spiral City
- * Jigoku Sensei Nūbē: Gozen 0 toki Nūbē Shisu
- March 11 - Journey Beneath the Sea
- March 15:
- * The Dog of Flanders: The Movie
- * Evangelion: Death and Rebirth
- March 26:
- * Cats Don't Dance
- * Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy
- March 28:
- * Mondo Plympton
- * Spy of Darkness
- March 29 - Kikansha Sensei
- April 8 - Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off
- April 12 - Hermes – Winds of Love
- April 19:
- * Case Closed: The Time-Bombed Skyscraper
- * Crayon Shin-chan: Pursuit of the Balls of Darkness
- * Tiny Heroes
- April 22 - VeggieTales: Larry-Boy! and the Fib from Outer Space!
- April 25 - City Hunter: The Motion Picture
- May - Tom and Fluffy
- May 11 - Jiang de Kailaban jue
- May 15 - The Count of Monte Cristo
- May 20:
- * Anastasia
- * The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue
- May 21 - Psycho Diver: Soul Siren
- June 23 - Lapitch the Little Shoemaker
- June 27 - Hercules
- July 5 - Elmer's Adventure: My Father's Dragon
- July 10 - Dibu: The Movie
- July 12 - Princess Mononoke
- July 13 - Beauty and the Beast
- July 18 - The Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain
- July 19 - The End of Evangelion
- July 22:
- * The Day the Earth Moved
- * Fujimi Orchestra
- July 26 - A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation
- July 28 - Soreike! Anpanman Niji no Piramiddo
- August 1:
- * Jungle Emperor Leo
- * Lupin III: Island of Assassins
- August 2:
- * Slayers Great
- * Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness
- August 5:
- * Perfect Blue
- * Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin
- August 22 - Pippi Longstocking
- September 8 - I Married a Strange Person!
- September 12 - Licca-chan to Yamaneko Hoshi no Tabi
- September 13:
- * Spur to Glory: The Igaya Chiharu Story
- * The Ugly Duckling
- September 20 - Spacibo at the End of the Edo Period
- October 2 - The Fearless Four
- October 4 - The Batman/Superman Movie: World's Finest
- October 11 - A Christmas Carol
- October 14 - Babes in Toyland
- October 21 - Annabelle's Wish
- October 25 - Kigyō Senshi Yamazaki: Long Distance Call
- November 11:
- * Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
- * Twilight of the Dark Master
- November 18 - VeggieTales: Josh and the Big Wall!
- November 21 - Anastasia
- December 4 - Benjamin Bluemchen
- December 9 - The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island
- December 25:
- * Adarna: The Mythical Bird
- * The Secret of Anastasia
- Specific date unknown:
- * Go to Hell!!
- * Home of Acorns
- * Hua Mulan
- * Katharina & Witt, Fiction and Reality
- * Megasónicos
- * Merry Christmas Little Moonky!
- * Neznayka on the Moon
- * The Perfume of the Invisible One
- * ''Pocahontas and the Spider Woman''
Television series debuts
| Date | Title | Channel | Year |
| January 12 | King of the Hill | Fox | 1997–2010 |
| March 3 | Daria | MTV | 1997–2002 |
| April 19 | Nightmare Ned | ABC | 1997 |
| April 19 | The Angry Beavers | Nickelodeon | 1997–2001 |
| May 16 | Todd McFarlane's Spawn | HBO | 1997–1999 |
| July 11 | Spicy City | HBO | 1997 |
| July 14 | Johnny Bravo | Cartoon Network | 1997–2004 |
| July 15 | Cow and Chicken | Cartoon Network | 1997–1999 |
| July 15 | I Am Weasel | Cartoon Network | 1997–2000 |
| August 13 | South Park | Comedy Central | 1997–present |
| August 31 | Recess | ABC | 1997–2001 |
| September 1 | 101 Dalmatians: The Series | ABC, Syndication | 1997–1998 |
| September 1 | Extreme Dinosaurs | Syndication | 1997 |
| September 1 | Extreme Ghostbusters | Syndication | 1997 |
| September 3 | The Wacky World of Tex Avery | Syndication | 1997 |
| September 6 | Space Goofs | France 3 | 1997–2006 |
| September 13 | Pepper Ann | ABC, UPN | 1997–2000 |
| September 13 | Science Court | ABC | 1997–2000 |
| September 13 | The Legend of Calamity Jane | Kids' WB | 1997 |
| September 13 | The New Batman Adventures | Kids' WB | 1997–1999 |
| September 13 | The New Batman/Superman Adventures | Kids' WB | 1997–2000 |
| September 15 | Mummies Alive! | Syndication | 1997 |
| September 20 | The New Adventures of Zorro | Syndication | 1997–1998 |
| September 20 | Van-Pires | Syndication | 1997–1998 |
| October 4 | The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police | Fox Kids | 1997–1998 |
| October 11 | Men in Black: The Series | Kids' WB | 1997–2001 |
| October 20 | Channel Umptee-3 | Kids' WB | 1997–1998 |
| November 4 | Cartoon Sushi | MTV | 1997–1998 |
Births
January
January 7: Kyle Stanger, British actor.January 21: Jeremy Shada, American actor, musician and singer.January 24: Jonah Bobo, American actor.February
February 10: Chloë Grace Moretz, American actress and model.February 11: Jenny Yokobori, American voice actress.March
March 3: Nissae Isen, Canadian voice actress.March 18: Ciara Bravo, American actress, singer, and comedian.March 30: Gideon Adlon, American actress.April
April 15: Maisie Williams, English actress.April 24: Marisa Davila, American actress.May
May 11: Lana Condor, American actress, producer, and singer.May 12: Odeya Rush, Israeli actress and model.July
July 30: Finneas O'Connell, American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.August
August 5: Olivia Holt, American actress.August 16: Piper Curda, American actress.August 22: Jacob Dudman, English actor, writer and filmmaker.August 23: Lil Yachty, American rapper.August 25: Bryana Salaz, American actress and singer.October
October 6: Michael J. Woodard, American singer and actor.October 7: Kira Kosarin, American actress and singer.October 10: Grace Rolek, American actress.October 23: Zach Callison, American actor.October 26: Rhenzy Feliz, American actor.November
November 1: Max Burkholder, American actor.December
December 15: Maude Apatow, American actress.December 16: Spence Moore II, American actor.Deaths
January
January 1: Al Eugster, American animator, dies at age 87.January 8: Normand Hudon, Canadian animator and comics artist, dies at age 67.January 10: Sheldon Leonard, American actor, dies at age 89.January 11: Ed DeMattia, American animator, dies at an unknown age.January 18: Adriana Caselotti, American actress and singer, dies at age 80.February
February 6: Ernie Anderson, American radio and television personality, horror host, and announcer, dies at age 73.February 8: Robert Ridgely, American voice actor, dies at 65.February 26:- * David Doyle, American actor, dies at age 67.
- *Andy Houts, American actor, animator, and writer, dies at 31. February 27: Harry Love, American animator and production coordinator, dies at age 85.
March
March 22: Les Kline, American animator, dies at age 90.March 31: Jon Stone, American writer, producer, and director, dies at age 65.April
April 16: Roland Topor, French novelist, illustrator, cartoonist, comics artist, film script writer, TV script writer, animator and playwright, dies at age 59.April 20: Stamatis L. Polenakis, Greek comic artist and animated film director, dies at age 88 or 89.May
May 4: Alvy Moore, American actor, dies at age 75.May 18: Phyllis Craig, American animator and ink and paint supervisor, dies at age 68.May 25: Peter Rangmar, Swedish comedian and actor, dies at age 40.May 29: George Fenneman, American announcer, dies from emphysema at age 77.June
June 24: Brian Keith, American actor, commits suicide at age 75.June 29: William Hickey, American actor, dies at age 69.July
July 2: James Stewart, American actor, dies at age 89.August
August 27: Dick N. Lucas, American animator, dies at age 77.September
September 6: Bianca Majolie, Italian-American story artist, animator, concept artist and writer, dies at age 96.September 9: Burgess Meredith, American actor, dies at age 89.October
October 7: Wan Laiming, Chinese animator and film director, dies at age 97.October 18: Milt Neil, American comics artist and animator, dies at age 83.October 22:- * Per Lygum, Danish animator and comics artist, dies at age 64.
- * Leonid Amalrik, Russian animator, dies at age 92.October 24: Don Messick, American voice actor, dies at age 71.October 25: Tina Lattanzi, Italian voice actress, dies at age 99.
November
November 12: Chang Yu-sheng, Taiwanese musician, actor, and comedian, dies at age 31.December
December 6: Eliot Daniel, American songwriter, dies at age 89.December 16: Lillian Disney, American ink artist, and widow of Walt Disney, dies at age 98.Specific date unknown
- Frank Little, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 90.