1999 in animation


1999 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 4: The first episode of the Cartoon Network series, Ed, Edd n Eddy first airs.January 18: Season 6 of Rugrats begins on Nickelodeon with the premiere of the episodes "Chuckie's Duckling/A Dog's Life".January 20: South Park concludes its second season on Comedy Central with the episode "Prehistoric Ice Man". It was watched by over three million viewers that night.January 21: Anime producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki is sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for a drug possession case of two years ago.January 22: In Sweden the first episode of De tre vännerna och Jerry premieres. January 25: The first episode of Zoboomafoo airs.January 29: The Japanese animation studio TNK is founded.January 31: The first episode of Family Guy airs.

February

February 1: Anime producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki is arrested after a handgun, 131 bullets and 20 grams of stimulant drugs were seized from his house in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. Nishizaki, voluntarily submitted two automatic rifles, 1,800 bullets, and 30 howitzer shells kept in a station wagon in his garage, police said. Police say that Nishizaki had hidden an Austrian handgun loaded with three bullets under a zaisu chair in a study. Nishizaki told them that he had bought the handgun in Hong Kong 10 years earlier.February 2: Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop launches Noggin, a commercial-free brand aimed at children aged 6–12.

March

March 26: 71st Academy Awards:

April

April 1: Michael Schoemann's Millionaire Dogs premieres in Germany. The film became popular at its home country as it aired on Cartoon Network four years later.April 7: Season 3 of South Park begins on Comedy Central with the premiere of the episode "Rainforest Shmainforest".Specific date unknown: The first Animation Masters Summit is organized in India.

May

May 1: The first episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants air on Nickelodeon as a sneak peek after the 12th annual Kids Choice Awards. It is the longest-running Nicktoon series and becomes a global phenomenon.May 2: The Family Guy episode "A Hero Sits Next Door" premieres on Fox, this episode marks the debut of iconic character Joe Swanson. It was seen by just over 12.6 million viewers that night.May 8: The first episode of The New Woody Woodpecker Show airs.May 16:The Simpsons concludes its tenth season on Fox with the episode "Thirty Minutes over Tokyo", which was watched by just over 12.5 million viewers that night.Family Guy concludes its first season on Fox with the episode "Brian: Portrait of a Dog", which was watched by over 10 million viewers that night.May 18: King of the Hill concludes its third season on Fox with the episode "As Old as the Hills...", leaving the show on a cliffhanger. It was seen by over 7.1 million viewers that night.May 19: 20th Television Animation is founded.May 22: Aleksandr Petrov's The Old Man and the Sea premieres.Specific date unknown: Gene Fowler founds animation studio Fatkat, which will last until May 2009.

June

June 10: I Am Weasel gets its own spinoff series after separating from Cow and Chicken. This spinoff completely changes aspects from the previous seasons as I. R. Baboon receives his "hero" status over I. M. Weasel.June 11:

July

July 14: The South Park episode "Cat Orgy" premieres on Comedy Central, this is the first part in the Meteor Shower event.July 17: SpongeBob SquarePants makes it official premiere on Nickelodeon with the episodes "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants". The show's official premiere was seen by just over 2.5 million viewers that morning.July 21: The South Park episode "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" premieres on Comedy Central, this is the second part in the Meteor Shower event and the first episode where the character Butters Stotch has a major supporting role in the show.July 28:
  • * André Franquin's heirs and copyright holders win the trial against the Walt Disney Animation Studios over their animated TV series version of Franquin's comics character Marsupilami, citing breaches of its license contract: Disney had failed to produce thirteen half-hour episodes or use its "best efforts" to secure a commitment from a network to air the show, and it launched its marketing campaign during a time when the show was not being broadcast. Marsu also accused Disney of fraudulent concealment; the judge noted that Disney had decided to not devote sufficient resources to the Marsupilami project, and had concealed this fact from Marsu. Disney pays back the damage and hands the rights to the series back to Franquin's company Marsu Productions.
  • * The South Park episode "Jewbilee" premieres on Comedy Central, this is the third and final part in the Meteor Shower event.July 31: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Jellyfishing/Plankton!" premiere on Nickelodeon, the latter episode marks the debut of the show's main antagonist, Sheldon J. Plankton (and his computer wife Karen). The episodes were seen by nearly 2.9 million viewers that morning.

August

August 6: The Iron Giant premieres, but doesn't do well at the box office. It will only become a cult classic later.August 7: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Naughty Nautical Neighbors/Boating School" premiere on Nickelodeon, the latter episode marks the debut of SpongeBob's driving teacher Mrs. Puff. The episodes were seen by over 2.8 million viewers that morning.August 16: The first episode of Rocket Power airs on Nickelodeon.August 21: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy/Pickles" premiere on Nickelodeon, the former episode marks the debut of the titular episode characters, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. The episodes were seen by over 2.9 million viewers that morning.August 30: Sonic Underground airs. Unlike the proclaimed two series that aired in 1993, this incarnation of Sonic the Hedgehog became a disappointment to the fans of the video game series, ending it after 40 episodes.

September

September 6: The first episode of Dragon Tales airs and PBS Kids launches.September 17: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Sandy's Rocket/Squeaky Boots" premiere on Nickelodeon, the latter episode marks the debut of Mr. Krabs' teenage whale daughter Pearl. The episodes were watched by exactly 2.4 million viewers that night.September 23: Season 2 of Family Guy begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater", which was watched by over 7 million viewers that night.September 24: John Kricfalusi's Boo Boo Runs Wild, a parody of Yogi Bear, first airs.September 26:
  • Season 4 of King of the Hill begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "...Peggy Hill: The Decline and Fall", which follows up from the events of Season 3's finale "As Old as the Hills...". It was seen by over 9.7 million viewers that night.
  • Season 11 of The Simpsons begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Beyond Blunderdome", which was watched by over 12.9 million viewers that night.

October

October 4: The infamous Arthur episode "Arthur's Big Hit" premieres. October 5: Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost is released. It was deemed controversial during the time of release due to the religious groups claiming the film as "Satanic". This direct-to-video movie was not a marketing success as it suffered production woes over the generally acclaimed Zombie Island.October 8: The famous Arthur episode "The Contest" premieres as art styles parodied from independent programs, such as South Park and Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. This episode was an actual contest won by Holly Holland, a young girl that lived in Canadian, Oklahoma.October 31: The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror X" premieres on Fox.

November

November 12: The first episodes of Mike, Lu & Og and Courage the Cowardly Dog air on Cartoon Network.November 13: Toy Story 2 premieres in theaters.November 16: Duck Amuck was added to the National Film Registry.November 26: Season 2 of Ed, Edd n Eddy begins on Cartoon Network with the premiere of the episodes "Know It All Ed/Dear Ed".

December

December 10: Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip airs on Cartoon Network. Unlike the then-popular television series, it doesn't do well in the full-length format.December 17: The Walt Disney Company releases Fantasia 2000, a sequel to the 1940 film Fantasia.December 26: The Family Guy episode "Da Boom" premieres on Fox, this episode marks the debut of Peter Griffin's recurring arch-nemesis, Ernie the Giant Chicken. It was seen by over 9.3 million viewers that night.December 29: The South Park episode "Are You There God? It's Me, Jesus" premieres on Comedy Central, this was the final episode to premiere in the 90s. It was seen by over 2.1 million viewers that night.

Specific date unknown

Films released

Television series debuts

DateTitleChannelYear
January 4Ed, Edd n EddyCartoon Network1999–2009
January 5Mega BabiesFox Family1999–2000
January 10Batman BeyondKids' WB1999–2001
January 10The PJsFox1999–2001
January 17The Brothers FlubNickelodeon1999–2000
January 25ZoboomafooPBS1999–2001
January 25DilbertUPN1999–2000
January 31Family GuyFox1999–2003; 2005–present
February 1A Little CuriousHBO1999–2000
February 1Anthony AntHBO1999
February 11MaisyNickelodeon1999–2000
March 8Station ZeroMTV1999
March 28FuturamaFox1999–2003
April 1George and MarthaHBO1999–2000
April 26Home MoviesUPN1999–2004
May 1Mickey Mouse WorksABC1999–2000
May 1SpongeBob SquarePantsNickelodeon1999–2004; 2005–present
May 8The New Woody Woodpecker ShowFox Kids1999–2002
June 6Phred on Your Head ShowNoggin1999–2001
July 20The Dick and Paula Celebrity SpecialFX1999
August 3DowntownMTV1999
August 14Digimon: Digital MonstersFox Kids1999–2001
August 16Rocket PowerNickelodeon1999–2004
August 30Sonic UndergroundSyndication1999
September 6Dragon TalesPBS Kids1999–2005
September 6Sabrina: The Animated SeriesABC, UPN1999–2000
September 11DetentionKids' WB1999–2000
September 18Beast Machines: TransformersFox Kids1999–2000
September 18Big Guy and Rusty the Boy RobotFox Kids1999–2001
September 18Monster RancherFox Kids1999–2001
September 18Rescue HeroesCBS1999–2000
September 24Mission HillThe WB1999–2002
September 25Xyber 9: New DawnFox Kids1999
October 4Angela AnacondaFox Family1999–2001
November 12Mike, Lu & OgCartoon Network1999–2001
November 12Courage the Cowardly DogCartoon Network1999–2002
November 28Little BillNickelodeon1999–2004
December 4Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange IslandsKids' WB1999–2000
December 4Totally Tooned InSyndication1999–2000

Births

January

January 1: Diamond White, American singer and actress.January 4: Gage Munroe, Canadian actor.January 18: Karan Brar, American actor.January 28: Preston Strother, American actor.

February

February 7: Bea Miller, American singer and actress.February 10: Tiffany Espensen, American actress.February 19: Quinn Lord, Canadian actor.

March

March 25: Mikey Madison, American actress.

April

April 6: Kwesi Boakye, American actor.

May

May 11: Sabrina Carpenter, American actress.May 25: Brec Bassinger, American actress.May 28: Cameron Boyce, American actor,.May 30: Sean Giambrone, American actor.

June

June 3: Alicia Vélez, Mexican voice actor and daughter of Humberto Vélez.June 27: Chandler Riggs, American actor and DJ.

July

July 9: Claire Corlett, Canadian actress.July 30: Joey King, American actress.

August

August 22:

September

September 7: Michelle Creber, Canadian actress and singer.

November

November 10:

Deaths

January

January 2: Shepard Menken, American actor, dies at age 77.January 11: John McGrew, American animator, painter and musician, dies at age 88 or 89.January 12: Betty Lou Gerson, American actress, dies at age 84.

February

March

March 2: Hawley Pratt, American film director, lay-out artist, illustrator and animator, dies at age 87.

April

April 1: Tadahito Mochinaga, Japanese animator and animation director, dies at age 80.April 3:
  • * Evelyn Lambart, Canadian animator and film director, dies at age 84.
  • * Kay Wright, American animator, television producer and comics artist, dies at age 79.April 10:
  • * Cliff Roberts, American photographer, cartoonist, animator and comics artist, dies at age 69.
  • * Jean Vander Pyl, American actress, dies at age 79 from lung cancer.April 14: Vic Herman, American illustrator, designer, cartoonist, puppeteer, television producer, and comics artist, dies at age 79.April 16:
  • *Regis Cordic, American actor, dies at age 72.
  • *Charles McKimson, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 84.

May

May 8: Ed Gilbert, American actor, dies at age 67.
  • May 19: Candy Candido, American singer, musician, and actor, dies at age 85.

June

June 11: DeForest Kelley, American actor, dies at age 79.June 13: Douglas Seale, English actor, film producer, and director, dies at age 85.June 21: Tobin Wolf, American writer, dies at age 76.

August

August 7: Brion James, American actor, dies at age 54.August 9: Lou Lilly, American animator and film director, dies at age 90.August 16: David W. Allen, American animator, dies at age 54.August 20: Margaret Wright, American actress, dies from heart failure at age 82.August 27: Ponsonby Britt, American fictional television producer, was retired at age 40.

September

September 22: George C. Scott, American actor, dies at age 71.

October

October 12: Wilt Chamberlain, American former professional basketball player, dies at age 63.October 15: Terry Gilkyson, American lyricist, dies at age 83.October 18:
  • *Dallas Bower, English film and television director and producer, dies at age 92.
  • *Paddi Edwards, English actress, dies at age 67.October 29: Greg, Belgian comics artist, writer and screenplay writer, dies at age 68.

November

November 12: Mary Kay Bergman, American actress, dies at age 38.'November 14''': Giorgio Bordini, Italian comics artist, animator and illustrator, dies at age 72.

December

December 3: Madeline Kahn, American actress, comedian and singer, dies at age 57.December 10: Al Stahl, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 83.December 17: Rex Allen, American actor, dies at age 79.December 31:

Specific date unknown

  • Reg Hill, English model-maker, animator, director and producer, dies at age 85.