Events in 1989 in animation.
Events
January January 15: The Simpsons short "The Krusty the Clown Show" first airs where Krusty the Clown makes his debut.
February February 3: L'Oréal closes down Filmation after 27 years.
March March 4: The first episode of Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers is broadcast. March 28: The first episode of Babar is broadcast. March 29: 61st Academy Awards: Tin Toy by John Lasseter and William Reeves wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Richard Williams receives a Special Achievement Academy Award for Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The same film also wins the Academy Awards for Sound Editing, Film Editing, and Best Visual Effects.
April April 3: The first episode of Alfred J. Kwak is broadcast. The first episode of Ciné si is broadcast. April 26: The first episode of Dragon Ball Z is broadcast.
May May 14: The Simpsons shorts ends with the episode "TV Simpsons", seven months before it becomes a full-time animated series. May 23: Garfield's Babes and Bullets premieres on CBS. It is based on one of the stories featured in the book Garfield: His 9 Lives.
June June 4: The first episode of McGee and Me! is released to video. June 23: The Roger Rabbit short Tummy Trouble is released in theaters.
July July 15: Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is first released. July 29: Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service is first released. The film became generally acclaimed in its Japanese home country. Streamline Pictures released the English-dub the following year, but legal limitations by Tokuma Shoten prevented the film from being released internationally, including its lack of a theatrical release in the United States. Disney later retained the international rights of the film in 1998. The English dub was redone to make it more fitting for the United States.Kiki's Delivery Service on DVD from Criterion: A Pipe Dream? by Steve Brandon. Retrieved on May 23, 2024. In 2017, GKIDS would later retain the rights of the film. Its English dialogue translates closer to the Japanese version.
September September 4: The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, the first cartoon based on Super Mario Bros. by DIC Entertainment, airs on weekdays. Its sister show, The Legend of Zelda, the only cartoon based on the video game of the same name by said company, airs on Fridays. While the Mario cartoon received mixed reviews, the Zelda cartoon is regarded to be one of the worst animated series based on video games. September 9: The first episode of Beetlejuice is broadcast, based on the film of the same name. The first episode of Camp Candy is broadcast. The first episode of Captain N: The Game Master is broadcast. The first episode of The Karate Kid is broadcast. It gained a cult following in later years. September 14: The first episode of Penny Crayon is broadcast. September 16: Season 2 of Garfield and Friends begins on CBS with the premiere of the following episodes: "Pest of a Guest/The Impractical Joker/Fat and Furry" "Rip Van Kitty/Grabbity/The Big Catnap" The Captain N: The Game Master episode "How's Bayou" airs. It is one of the known cartoon episodes that were broadcast incomplete. There was a finished version broadcast, which was put in obscurity in the 21st century. September 22: Mike Jittlov's The Wizard of Speed and Time premieres. September 24: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is added to the National Film Registry.
October October 4: The fourth Astérix film, Asterix and the Big Fight is released.
November November 4: Nick Park's A Grand Day Out premieres, which marks the debut of Wallace and Gromit. November 14: The Little Mermaid, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and produced by the Walt Disney Company, premieres. November 16: The Hungarian film Willy the Sparrow premieres. November 17: Don Bluth's All Dogs Go to Heaven premieres. It became a sleeper hit since its home video debut in 1990 in spite of the criticism during its original theatrical release. It also became a coveted film in later yearsAsk Us Questions at [donbluth.com] and would be Bluth's last successful film until Anastasia in 1997. It was dedicated to child actress Judith Barsi, who was killed in 1988. November 22: Garfield's Thanksgiving premieres on CBS.
December December 16: Garfield and Friends concludes its second season on CBS with the following episodes: "Lemon Aid/Hog Noon/Video Airlines" "The Mail Animal/Peanut-Brained Rooster/Mummy Dearest" December 17: The first episode of The Simpsons, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", premieres on Fox, scripted by Mimi Pond. It marks the debuts of Seymour Skinner, Moe Szyslak, Mr. Burns, Barney Gumble, Patty and Selma, Ned Flanders, Todd Flanders, Santa's Little Helper, and Snowball II, with early appearances of Dewey Largo, Sherri and Terri, and Lewis. They would officially debut in later episodes of season 1. December 25: The film The BFG is first released. It is Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall's only animated feature film. December 29: The animation studio Spümcø is established.Sinclair, Carla (1999 October 25). "That's Not All Folks". The Industry Standard. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
Specific date unknown Creative Capers Entertainment is founded. The first episode of Los Trotamúsicos (The Four Musicians of Bremen) is broadcast. The first episode of Purno de Purno is broadcast. Jan Švankmajer's Meat Love is first released.
Films released
January 27 - Goku Midnight Eye: Part One (Japan) February 22 - Riding Bean (Japan) March 11: Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (Japan) The Five Star Stories (Japan) Soreike! Anpanman: Kirakira Boshi no Namida (Japan) The Three Musketeers Anime: Aramis' Adventure (Japan) Venus Wars (Japan) March 18: Saint Seiya: Warriors of the Final Holy Battle (Japan) Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Overfiend (Japan) March 21 - Rhea Gall Force (Japan) April 1 - Lupin III: Bye Bye, Lady Liberty (Japan) April 8 - Hengen Taima Yakou Karura Mau! Nara Onryou Emaki (Japan) April 10 - Maria, Mirabela in Tranzistoria (Soviet Union and Romania) April 20 - El Escudo del cóndor (Argentina) May 6 - Molly and the Skywalkerz: Two Daddies? (United States) May 27 - Wrath of the Ninja (Japan) June 17 - City Hunter: .357 Magnum (Japan) June 25 - Riki-Oh: The Walls of Hell (Japan) June 26 - The Four Musicians of Bremen (Spain) July 7 - The Corsican Brothers (Australia) July 15: Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (Japan) Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (Japan and United States) Patlabor: The Movie (Japan) July 28 - Babar: The Movie (Canada and France) July 29 - Kiki's Delivery Service (Japan) August 16 - Cinderella Express (Japan) August 25 - Legend of Lemnear (Japan) August 27 - The Tezuka Osamu Story: I Am Son-goku (Japan) September 1 - Sonic Soldier Borgman: Last Battle (Japan) September 28 - Megazone 23 Part III (Japan) October 4 - Asterix and the Big Fight (France and West Germany) October 7 - Project A-ko 4: FINAL (Japan) October 8 - Dog Soldier: Shadows of the Past (Japan) October 14 - Time Patrol Bon (Japan) October 21 - Hyper Psychic Geo Garaga (Japan) November 1: Baoh (Japan) Cybernetics Guardian (Japan) November 4 - The Isewan Typhoon Story (Japan) November 17: All Dogs Go to Heaven (United States, Ireland, and United Kingdom) The Little Mermaid (United States) November 18 - Willy the Sparrow (Hungary) November 24 - Blue Flames (Japan) December 15 - The Journey to Melonia: Fantasies of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' (Sweden and Norway) December 16 - Ogami Matsugoro (Japan) December 22: Goku Midnight Eye: Part Two (Japan) Megazone 23 – Final Part (Japan) December 25 - The BFG (United Kingdom) December 29 - A Tale of Two Toads (United Kingdom) Specific date unknown - Reynard the Fox (West Germany, China, and United Kingdom)
Television series debuts
Date Title Channel Year January 31 The Further Adventures of SuperTed Syndication 1989 March 4 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers The Disney Channel, Syndication 1989–1990 June 4 McGee and Me! Syndication 1989–1995 September 2 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1989) 1989–1992 September 4 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! 1989 September 8 The Legend of Zelda September 9 Captain N: The Game Master NBC 1989–1991 The Karate Kid 1989 Beetlejuice ABC 1989–1991 September 16 The California Raisin Show CBS 1989 Dink, the Little Dinosaur 1989–1990 Rude Dog and the Dweebs 1989 Ring Raiders Syndication Camp Candy NBC, Syndication 1989–1992 December 2 Paddington Bear Syndication 1989–1990 December 17 The Simpsons Fox 1989–present
Television series endings
Date Title Channel Year Notes January 7 ALF: The Animated Series NBC 1987–1989 Cancelled January 14 Snorks NBC, Syndication 1984–1989 Ended April 25 The Further Adventures of SuperTed Syndication 1989 Cancelled September 29 ThunderCats 1985–1989 October 14 Ring Raiders 1989 November 30 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Ended December 1 The Legend of Zelda Cancelled December 2 The Smurfs NBC 1981–1989 December 9 The California Raisin Show CBS 1989 December 16 The Karate Kid NBC Rude Dog and the Dweebs CBS
Births
January January 3: Alex D. Linz, American former child actor (voice of Franklin in The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald, young Tarzan in Tarzan, young Cale Tucker in Titan A.E.). January 8: Karan Soni, Indian-American actor and comedian (voice of Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Caspian in Strange World, Riff in Trolls World Tour, Rishi Singal in Karma's World, Manjeet in Mira, Royal Detective, Gavin in The Great North episode "Woodfellas Adventure"). January 17: Kelly Marie Tran, American actress (voice of Dawn Betterman in The Croods franchise, Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon, and Once Upon a Studio, Rose Tico in the Star Wars Forces of Destiny episode "Shuttle Shock").
February February 13: Carly McKillip, Canadian actress and musician (voice of the title character in Cardcaptor Sakura). February 19: Griffin Newman, American actor and comedian (voice of Pip in Disenchanted, Jared Kushner in Our Cartoon President, Orko in Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Mad Hatter in the Harley Quinn episode "Another Sharkley Adventure"). February 24: Daniel Kaluuya, English actor (voice of Bluebell in Watership Down, Spider-Punk in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse). February 25: Kana Hanazawa, Japanese actress and singer (voice of Nadeko Sengoku in Monogatari, Anri Sonohara in Durarara!!, Angel/Kanade Tachibana in Angel Beats!, Kuroneko/Ruri Gokō in Oreimo, Mayuri Shiina in Steins;Gate, Akane Tsunemori in Psycho-Pass, Kosaki Ondera in Nisekoi, Chiaki Nanami in Danganronpa, Kobato Hanato in Kobato, Rize Kamishiro in Tokyo Ghoul, Hinata Kawamoto in March Comes in Like a Lion, Ichika Nakano in The Quintessential Quintuplets, Mitsuri Kanroji in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba).
March March 9: Jason Marnocha, American voice actor (voice of Jor-El in My Adventures with Superman, Megatron in Transformers: Titans Return, Victor Vasko in Lackadaisy). March 11: Anton Yelchin, American actor (voice of Jim Lake in Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, Shun Kazama in From Up on Poppy Hill, Albino Pirate in The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!), (d. 2016). March 18: Lily Collins, English-American actress (voice of Baby Ape in Tarzan, Princess Dawn in Here Comes the Grump). March 20: Corey Padnos, American actor (voice of Cooper in Ben 10: Alien Force, Porkchop in Batman: Gotham Knight, Linus in the Peanuts franchise from 2000 to 2003). March 30: Cole Howard, Canadian actor (voice of Bert Wily in Mega Man: Fully Charged, Wakiya Murasaki in Beyblade Burst, Shion Kiba in Cardfight!! Vanguard, Terramar in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic).
April April 5: Freddie Fox, English actor (voice of Dennis in Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!, Captain Holly in Watership Down). April 12: Alice Lee, American actress and singer (voice of Lois Lane in My Adventures with Superman).