1980 in animation

• February 1: The
  Russian invasion of Afghanistan.^[3]

• March 15: Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur, the first animated feature based on the Doraemon franchise, premieres.^[4]
• March 19: Paul Grimault's Le Roi et l'Oiseau (The King and the Mockingbird) premieres after more than 30 years of production. It becomes a critically acclaimed classic.^[5]

April

• April 14:
  Academy Award for Best Animated Short.^[6]

• May 15:
  The Sex Pistols which occasionally features animated sequences, produced by Animation City.^[7]
• May 21: Picha's film The Missing Link premieres.^[8]
• May 30: The Peanuts film Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) premieres.^[9]

August

• August 2: The film Be Forever Yamato premieres.^[10]

September

• September 6: The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, the second cartoon based on Tom and Jerry, airs on CBS.^[11] It was since classified as one of the worst made-for-TV Tom and Jerry series and the only to be produced by Filmation.^[12]

October

• October 1: The animated TV series King Rollo, based on David McKee's children's novels, is first broadcast.^[13]
• October 4:
  • The first episode of Heathcliff airs.^[14]
  • The first episode of Thundarr the Barbarian airs.

November

• November 1: Karel Zeman's The Tale of John and Mary is first released.^[15]
• November 3: Czech animation director Karel Zeman is awarded with the Order of the Republic by president Gustáv Husák.^[16]
• November 8:
  • The first episode of The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang airs.^[17]
  • The first episode of Richie Rich airs.^[18]
• November 22: The Flintstones spin-off series, The Flintstone Comedy Show, airs on NBC.^[19] Several episodes on this unique spin-off appeared on children’s entertainment programs in the early 1990s.^[20]

Specific date unknown

• Warner Bros. Animation was rebranded.^[21]
• Hurray for Betty Boop, a compilation film of the Betty Boop franchise, was given a limited theatrical release.^[22] Resulting its commercial failure, it remains abandoned after the 1984 VHS release until it was uploaded on social media in 2016.^{[citation needed]}

Films released

• January 12 - Time Machine 001 (South Korea)
• January 16 - The Tale of the Three Kingdoms – Oath of the Peach Garden (South Korea)
• January 17 - Colargol and the Wonderful Suitcase (Poland)
• February 1 - Animalympics (United States)
• February 3 - Back to the Forest (Japan)
• February 16–23 The Trouble with Miss Switch (United States)
• March 8 - Tomorrow's Joe (Japan)
• March 15:
  • Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur (Japan)
  • Nobody's Boy: Remi (Japan)
  • Phoenix 2772 (Japan)
  • Twelve Months (Japan and Soviet Union)
• March 19 - The King and the Mockingbird (France)
• April - Tajemnica szyfru Marabuta (Poland)
• April 2 - Captain (Japan)
• April 3 - Galaxy Express 999: Emeraldas the Eternal Traveller (Japan)
• April 6 - Foam Bath (Hungary)
• April 26 - Toward the Terra (Japan)
• May 3:
  • Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! 2nd Gekitō Pennant Race (Japan)
  • Wakakusa Monogatari (Japan)
• May 11 - The Return of the King (United States and Japan)
• May 21 - The Missing Link (France and Belgium)
• May 30 - Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (United States)
• June 13 - Botchan (Japan)
• July 19:
  • 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (Japan)
  • Eleven Hungry Cats (Japan)
• July 25 - Ujudaejang aekkunun (South Korea)
• July 26:
  • Doksuri 5 Hyeongje (South Korea)
  • The Little Train (Italy)
  • Makoto-chan (Japan)
• July 27 - 15 Sonyeon Uju Pyoryugi (South Korea)
• July 28 - The Tale of the Three Kingdoms – Breaking Through the Five Gulfs (South Korea)
• August 1 -
  Pogo for President: 'I Go Pogo'
  (United States)
• August 2 - Be Forever Yamato (Japan)
• August 12 - The Legend of Marine Snow (Japan)
• August 19 - Dracula: Sovereign of the Damned (Japan)
• August 25 - Ikkyū-san: Ōabare no Yancha-hime (Japan)
• August 31 - Fumoon (Japan)
• October 2 - Galaxy Express 999: Can You Love Like a Mother!! (Japan)
• October 4–18 - Scruffy (United States)
• October 10 - Twenty-Four Eyes (Japan)
• October 14 - The Thralls' Kids (Denmark)
• November 1 - The Tale of John and Mary (Czechoslovakia)
• November 11 - Gnomes (United States)
• November 21 - Betty Boop for President (United States)
• November 22 - Yogi's First Christmas (United States)
• December 3 - Pinocchio's Christmas (United States and Japan)
• December 11 - Kkomaeosa Ttori (South Korea)
• December 13:
  • Ganbare!! Tabuchi-kun!! Hatsu Warai 3rd Aa Tsuppari Jinsei (Japan)
  • Sonyeon 007 Eunhateukgongdae (South Korea)
• December 19 - A Snow White Christmas (United States)
• December 20 -
  Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Galaxy
  (Japan)
• December 25 - Gaegujangi Cheonsadeul (South Korea)
• Specific date unknown - Bloody Lady (Czechoslovakia)

Television series

• January 6 -
  Fuji TV
  .
• January 7 - The Littl' Bits debuts on TV Tokyo.
• January 8 -
  The Wonderful Adventures of Nils debuts on NHK
  .
• January 9 -
  Fuji TV
  .
• February 2:
  • Fuji TV
    .
  • Trider G7 debuts on Nagoya TV
    .
• February 4 - Monchhichi debuts on TV Tokyo.
• February 15 -
  Lalabel, The Magical Girl debuts on TV Asahi
  ..
• March 19 -
  JAITS^[a] (Tokyo Channel 12
  ).
• April 4 - Mu No Hakugei debuts on
  Yomiuri TV
  .
• April 6 -
  Fuji TV
  .
• April 7 -
  Fuji TV
  .
• April 15 -
  Zukkoke Knight Don De La Mancha debuts on Tokyo Channel 12
  .
• May 6 - Cockleshell Bay debuts on ITV.
• May 8 - Space Runaway Ideon debuts on Tokyo Channel 12.
• June 30 - Space Warrior Baldios debuts on Tokyo Channel 12.
• July 16 -
  Fuji TV
  .
• September 2 -
  Kaibutsu-kun 2 debuts on TV Asahi
  .
• September 6: Drak Pack and The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show debut on CBS.
• September 7 -
  Fuji TV.^[23]
• September 8 - Force Five debuts in syndication.
• September 13:
  • Super Friends debuts on ABC.
  • The Lone Ranger and The Tarzan/Lone Ranger Adventure Hour debut on CBS
    .
• September 16 - Sport Billy debuts in syndication.
• September 18 -
  Magyar népmesék debuts on Magyar Televízió
  .
• September 20 - Hanna-Barbera's World of Super Adventure debuts in syndication.
• September 28 -
  Fuji TV
  .
• October 1:
  • Astro Boy debuts on Nippon TV.
  • BBC1
    .
• October 3 -
  Shin Tetsujin 28-Go debuts on Nippon TV.^[24]
• October 4:
  • Dingbat and the Creeps and Thundarr the Barbarian debut on ABC.
  • Fuji TV
    .
• October 11 -
  Yomiuri TV
  .
• October 13:
  • CBBC
    .
  • Ashita no Joe 2 debuts on Nippon TV
    .
• November 8: Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show, and The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang debut on ABC.
• November 22 -
  The Flintstone Comedy Show debuts on NBC
  .
• Specific date unknown:
  • Archibald le Magi-chien debuts on TF1.
  • Aubrey debuts on ITV.

• June 9:
  Dreamworks Animation, Transformers: Prime, Alice's Wonderland Bakery, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
  ).
• June 10:
  Loonatics Unleased, Malina in The Emperor's New School, Flame Princess in Adventure Time, Tambry and Giffany in Gravity Falls, Lynn and Lucy Loud in The Loud House, Hanazuki in Hanazuki: Full of Treasures, Summer Penguin in Muppet Babies, April, May, and June in Legend of the Three Caballeros, Gwen in The Mighty B!, Grotta in Sofia the First, Bug in Future-Worm!, Hissy in Puppy Dog Pals, Annie Bramley in It's Pony, Candice in Close Enough, Frightwig in Ben 10
  ).
• June 12: Kawa Ada, Afghan-Canadian actor, writer and producer (voice of Razaq in The Breadwinner).
• June 13: Abbey McBride, American actress (voice of Ling-Ling in Drawn Together, Mackenzie B in Golan the Insatiable, Temperance Brennan, Lindsey and Candy Cane Eater in American Dad!, Loud Carol in Santa Inc.).
• June 23: Melissa Rauch, American actress (voice of Harley Quinn in Batman and Harley Quinn, Tizzy in Sofia the First, Beth Bayani in Firebuds, Marie Antoinette in the Animaniacs episode "France France Revolution", Mollie in the Jake and the Never Land Pirates episode "Smee-erella", the title character in the Star vs. the Forces of Evil episode "Baby").
• June 26: Jason Schwartzman, American actor and musician (voice of Ash in Fantastic Mr. Fox, Jesper in Klaus, Arcangelo Corelli in Neo Yokio, Uncle Sam in Duncanville, Jonathan Ohnn/Spot in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse).
• June 27: Ben Bocquelet, French-British animator (The Little Short-Sighted Snake), writer (The Hell's Kitchen), producer and director (creator of The Amazing World of Gumball).

July

• July 1: Fortune Feimster, American actress and comedian (voice of Brenda in Bless the Harts, Ava in Summer Camp Island, Brohilda in the Niko and the Sword of Light episode "The Thorn of Contention", Evelyn in The Simpsons episode "Livin La Pura Vida").
• July 3: Olivia Munn, American actress (voice of Koko in The Lego Ninjago Movie, Captain Callisto in Miles from Tomorrowland, Lady Bullseye in Hit-Monkey, Thomas Edison in America: The Motion Picture, Liz Wilson in the Robot Chicken episode "Kramer vs. Showgirls").
• July 7: Michelle Kwan, American retired figure skater (voice of Shopkeeper in Mulan II, Michelle Kwanzleberry in the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! episode "Run for Fun", herself in the Family Guy episode "A Hero Sits Next Door", the Arthur episode "The Good Sport", and The Simpsons episode "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass").
• July 10: James Rolfe, American filmmaker, actor, producer and internet personality (voice of Bimmy in the Smiling Friends episode "Charlie Dies and Doesn't Come Back").
• July 17: Brett Goldstein, British actor, comedian and writer (voice of Tony Stark in the Robot Chicken episode "May Cause Light Cannibalism", himself in the Harley Quinn episode "A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special").
• July 18:
  • Kristen Bell, American actress (voice of Anna in the Frozen franchise and Ralph Breaks the Internet, Hiromi in The Cat Returns, Cora in Astro Boy, Harper Jambowski and the singing voice of Marge Simpson in The Simpsons, Priscilla in Zootopia, Jade Wilson in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, Molly Tillerman in season 1 of Central Park, Ruthie in the BoJack Horseman episode "Ruthie").
  • Mike Yank, American television producer and writer (Animation Collective, Out of Jimmy's Head, The Drinky Crow Show, Disney Television Animation, The Problem Solverz, Johnny Test, Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot, Breadwinners, Dawn of the Croods, Harvey Girls Forever!).
• July 19: Adam Muto, American writer, storyboard artist, animator, and producer (Cartoon Network Studios).

August

• August 4: Daniel Ross, American actor, voice actor and producer (voice of Donald Duck in Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures).
• August 7: Andrew Morgado, American actor, ADR mixer and sound editor (Family Guy, The Casagrandes, Cleopatra in Space).
• August 19: Aaron Horvath, American animator, television writer, producer, and director (Teen Titans Go!, The Super Mario Bros. Movie).
• August 26:
  • Entergalactic
    ).
  • Chris Pine, American actor (voice of Jack Frost in Rise of the Guardians, Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, King Magnifico in Wish, Dr. Deviso in SuperMansion, Alistair Covax in the American Dad! episode "Rabbit Ears", second voice of Dave in Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey).

September

• September 29: Zachary Levi, American actor (voice of Flynn Rider in the Tangled franchise, Joseph in The Star).

October

• October 1: Sarah Drew, American actress (voice of Stacy Rowe in Daria).^[26]
• October 3: Nick Cannon, American actor, comedian, rapper, and television host (voice of Louis in Garfield: The Movie, Officer Lester in Monster House).
• October 17: Justin Shenkarow, American actor (voice of Harold Berman in Hey Arnold!, Patch in 101 Dalmatians: The Series, Eddie Horton in Lloyd in Space, Gelman in Recess, Rhino in Spidey and His Amazing Friends).
• October 18:
  • Natasha Rothwell, American writer, actress, and comedian (voice of Sakina in Wish, Zan Owlson in DuckTales, Mommy Shark in Baby Shark's Big Show!, Kaya in Archer, Brunzetta in Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Candice Green in The Ghost and Molly McGee, Japonaloid in Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm, Terry Toucan in Tuca & Bertie, Clemelia Bloodsworth in the BoJack Horseman episode "Time's Arrow", Erin in The Simpsons episode "Uncut Femmes").
  • Pinar Toprak, Turkish-American composer, conductor and musician (PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Us Again).

November

• November 2: Brittany Ishibashi, Japanese-American actress (voice of Akemi and Jorōgumo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kihu in Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures, Amaten in Oni: Thunder God's Tale).
• November 17: Stuart Stone, Canadian actor (voice of Ralphie Tennelli in The Magic School Bus, Peter Walker in Care Bears Nutcracker Suite, Hip Koopa in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, Bentley Raccoon in The Raccoons, Charles / Brainchild in The Tick episode "Coach Fussell's Lament").
• November 29:
  Tales of the Jedi
  episode "Life and Death").

December

• December 3: Anna Chlumsky, American actress (voice of Charlotte Pickles in Rugrats).
• December 18:
  • Christina Aguilera, American singer and songwriter (voice of Akiko Glitter in The Emoji Movie, Rastafarian Jellyfish in Shark Tale).
  • Baron Vaughn, American actor and comedian (voice of Donatello in Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Moon in Right Now Kapow, Captain Maier in Star Trek: Lower Decks).^[27]
• December 19: Jake Gyllenhaal, American actor (voice of Searcher Clade in Strange World, Jim Prescott in Spirit Untamed).
• December 30: Eliza Dushku, American actress (voice of She-Hulk in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Catwoman in Batman: Year One, Shockzana in the Robotomy episode "From Wretchneya with Love", herself in The Cleveland Show episode "Hot Cocoa Bang Bang").

Specific date unknown

• Charles Demers, Canadian actor (voice of Dirk in The Last Kids on Earth, Night Light in the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "Once Upon a Zeppelin").
• Matthew J. Munn, American animator and voice actor (Blue Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks Animation).

Deaths

January

• January 29: Jimmy Durante, American actor and singer (voiced himself in Frosty the Snowman), dies at age 86.^[28]

February

• February 17:
  Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Cartoons), dies at age 71.^[29]

• March 18: Jessica Dragonette, American singer and actress (voice of Persephone in The Goddess of Spring, Princess Glory in Gulliver's Travels), dies at age 80.^[30]

May

• May 2: George Pal, Hungarian-American animator, film director, special effects maker and film producer (Puppetoons, Tulips Shall Grow, John Henry and the Inky-Poo, Tubby the Tuba), dies at age 72.^{[31][32][33][34][35]}
• May 15: Len Lye, New Zealand film director, sculptor, animator and film director (The Peanut Vendor, A Colour Box, Rainbow Dance, Free Radicals), dies at age 78.^[36]
• May 16:
  Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Cartoons), dies at age 74.^[37][38][39]
• May 31: Sonny Burke, American composer (Lady and the Tramp), dies at age 66.^[40]

June

• June 16: Bob Nolan, American country singer and actor (sang in the Pecos Bill segment in Melody Time), dies at age 72.^[41]

August

• August 26: Tex Avery, American animator, cartoonist, film director, and voice actor (Warner Bros. Cartoons, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio), creator or further developer of (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Droopy, Screwy Squirrel, The big Bad Wolf, Red Hot Riding Hood, and George and Junior), dies at age 72.^[42][43]

September

• September 12: Lillian Randolph, American actress and singer (voice of Mammy Two Shoes in Tom and Jerry), dies from cancer at age 81.^[44][45]
• September 21: Lee Millar, American actor (voice of Jim Dear and the Dog Catcher in Lady and the Tramp), dies at age 56.

November

• November 15: Bill Lee, American playback singer (Walt Disney Animation Studios), dies at age 64.^[46]
• November 17: Paul Smith, American animator and film director (Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walter Lantz Productions, Warner Bros. Cartoons), dies at age 74.^[47]
• November 20:
  Walt Disney Company
  ), dies at age 85.

December

• December 29: Alexandra Snezhko-Blotskaya, Russian animator and film director (The Enchanted Boy), dies at age 71.

See also

• 1980 in anime

Notes

References