Events in 1969 in animation.
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Events
March March 18: Kimio Yabuki's The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots premieres, which marks the debut of Pero, who serves as Toei Animation's mascot.
April April 13: Marv Newland's student project Bambi Meets Godzilla is released. It gained a cult status in later years as it garnered fan sequels and remakes. April 14: 41st Academy Awards: The Walt Disney Company production Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day by Wolfgang Reitherman wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.
May May 24: Sugar, Sugar, a song from The Archies, is released as a single and becomes a surprise number one-hit in many countries.
June June 1: The Woody Woodpecker cartoon Tumble Weed Greed by Paul J. Smith is first released. June 14: In the Soviet Union, the first episode of "Nu, Pogodi!" (Well, Just You Wait!) has been released. It became the most popular Soviet cartoon series later on.
July July 26: The last Looney Tunes theatrical animated short, Bugged by a Bee by Bob McKimson, is first released.
September September 6: The first episode of The Pink Panther Show is broadcast. September 13: The first episodes of Hanna-Barbera's Wacky Races spinoffs The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, and Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines are broadcast. The first episode of Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! premieres on CBS. The Scooby-Doo franchise will go on to become a major pop-cultural icon, with numerous spin-offs, direct-to-video films, and two live-action films. September 20: The last Merrie Melodies animated short, Injun Trouble, is released before Warner Bros. Cartoons closes down. This particular cartoon was rarely seen after its theatrical release following the controversy regarding the potentially offensive racist content and became the most obscure cartoon by Warner Bros. to date.The Most Obscure Warner Bros. Cartoons of All Time , accessed February 15, 2024 September 27: The Peanuts TV special It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown premieres on CBS.
October October 5: The first episode of Moomin, an anime adaptation of Tove Jansson's novel series Moomins is broadcast in Japan. The first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus is broadcast which features surreal animated intermezzos, created by Terry Gilliam. The first episode of Sazae-San is broadcast. It is the longest-running animated TV series in the world, still being on the air as of 2023.
November November 10: The first episode of Sesame Street is broadcast on television. It is primarily live-action but also has animated segments. November 12: Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert, an animated special based on the standup routines of Bill Cosby is broadcast on NBC. It would later inspire the animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. November 16: Fyodor Khitruk's Winnie-the-Pooh is first released.
December December 4: Bill Melendez's A Boy Named Charlie Brown is first released, the first animated feature based on Peanuts. December 7: The Rankin/Bass Productions Christmas special Frosty the Snowman first airs. December 10: The Walt Disney Company releases It's Tough to Be a Bird, directed by Ward Kimball. December 13: Belvision releases Tintin and the Temple of the Sun by Eddie Lateste, an animated feature based on The Adventures of Tintin comics.
Specific date unknown David Cherkasskiy releases the animated film Mystery-Bouffe which is banned by the Russian government outside of the Ukrainian SSR.Collection of Russian articles about the 1969 film, translated to English. Accessed on: Jan. 30, 2009. In the Soviet Union, the most popular Soviet cartoon, Nu, pogodi! was released with its first episode. The first episode of "Porwanie Baltazara Gabki" has been released on Polish Television. Whitney Lee Savage's underground animated short Mickey Mouse in Vietnam is released. Jan Švankmajer's Don Juan and A Quiet Week in the House are released. Valentin Karavaev's Ded Moroz and Summer is released. Roman Davydov releases Adventures of Mowgli.
Films released
January 1 - Treasure Island (South Korea) February 2 - Till a City Beneath the Sea is Built (Japan) March 18 - The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots (Japan) June 14 - A Thousand and One Nights (Japan) July 20 - Flying Phantom Ship (Japan) July 21 - General Hong Gil-dong (South Korea) July 26 - Star of the Giants: The Bloody Finals (Japan) October 29 - Maruhi Gekiga, Ukiyoe Senichiya (Japan) November 20 - A Christmas Carol (Australia and United States) December 4 - A Boy Named Charlie Brown (United States) December 13 - Tintin and the Temple of the Sun (France) December 18 - The Animals' Conference (West Germany) December 20 - Star of the Giants: Go Go Hyūma (Japan) December 30 - The Nonexistent Knight (Italy) Specific date unknown: Mort & Phil's First Festival (Spain) Mystery-Bouffe (Soviet Union)
Television series debuts
January 6 - Himitsu no Akko-chan debuts on TV Asahi. January 13 - Marine Boy debuts on Fuji TV and NTV. March 31 - Sobakasu Pucchî debuts on Fuji TV. April 1 - Umeboshi Denka debuts in syndication. April 2 - Judo Boy debuts on Fuji TV. April 4 - Mōretsu Atarō debuts on NET. April 6 - Dororo and Kamui the Ninja debut on Fuji TV. April 28 - Roppô Yabure Kun debuts on Nagoya TV. June 14 - Well, Just You Wait! debuts on Soviet Central Television, Channel 1 Ostankino, and Channel One Russia. September 6: Cattanooga Cats, Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, The Hardy Boys, and The Smokey Bear Show debut on ABC. Here Comes The Grump debuts on NBC. The Pink Panther Show debuts on NBC and ABC. September 12 - Sabrina, The Teenage Witch debuts on CBS and in syndication. September 13 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, and The Perils of Penelope Pitstop debut on CBS. September 29 - Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daishô and Pinch to Punch debut in syndication. October 2 - Tiger Mask debuts on TV Asahi and Yomiuri TV. October 5 - Moomin, Sazae-san, and The Genie Family debut on Fuji TV. October 6 - Chigley debuts on BBC 1. October 7 - Mary, Mungo and Midge debuts on BBC 1. October 20 - Zen-chan Tsū-chan debuts in syndication. November 10 - Sesame Street debuts on NET (now known as PBS). November 16 - Clangers debuts on BBC1. December 7 - Attack No. 1 debuts on Fuji TV. Specific date unknown: Hattytown Tales debuts on ITV. Happy Merry-Go-Round debuts on Soviet Central Television, Russia-1, and Carousel. Taro, Giant Of The Jungle debuts in syndication.
Television series endings
Births
January January 1: Mr. Lawrence, American animator, writer, producer, director, storyboard artist, designer, layout artist, voice actor and comedian (voice of Filburt Shellbach and Peter Wolfe in Rocko's Modern Life, Sheldon J. Plankton and Larry the Lobster in SpongeBob SquarePants, Edward Platypus, Dave, and Ping-Pong in Camp Lazlo, creator of The Fatheads). January 4: Jenn Forgie, Canadian actress and singer (voice of young Kaede and Jakotsu in Inuyasha, continued voice of May Kanker and Nazz in Ed, Edd n Eddy). January 5: Marilyn Manson, American singer, songwriter, actor, painter and writer (voiced himself in the Clone High episode "Episode Two: Election Blu-Galoo"). Shea Whigham, American actor (voice of George Stacy in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse). January 6: Norman Reedus, American actor (voice of Daryl Dixon in the Robot Chicken episode "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking", Wild Pete in the Turbo Fast episode "The Good, The Bad, and the Bugly", Rolo in the Voltron: Legendary Defender episode "Taking Flight", Tim in the American Dad! episode "Hayley Smith, Seal Team Six", Striker in the Helluva Boss episode "The Harvest Moon Festival"). January 14: Jason Bateman, American actor, director and producer (voice of Darkos in Arthur and the Invisibles, Larry Littlejunk in Sit Down, Shut Up, Nick Wilde in the Zootopia franchise and Once Upon a Studio, Dr. Leslie in the King of the Hill episode "The Petriot Act", Tommy Turner in The Fairly OddParents episode "Oh, Brother!", Hermes in the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Balance", Max Davis and himself in The Simpsons episodes "The Road to Cincinnati" and "Home Away from Homer"). Kyōko Hikami, Japanese voice actress (voice of Momoko Hanasaki in Wedding Peach, Hikaru Usada/Rabi~en~Rose in Di Gi Charat, Hebi no Yuki in Angel Tales, Tsubaki Takamura in Sakura Wars, Urara Kasuga in Sakura Diaries, Sakagami-sensei in Love Lab, Yuki Sakurakōji in Code:Breaker). January 18: Dave Bautista, American actor and former professional wrestler (voice of Parakeet King in The Boy and the Heron, Baka in the Little Demon, episode "Night of the Leeches", Delivery Guy in the TripTank episode "Short Change", Tagah in Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender). January 22: Olivia d'Abo, British actress (voice of Jane Porter in The Legend of Tarzan, Melanie Walker / Ten in Batman Beyond, Star Sapphire and Morgaine le Fey in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, Tak in Invader Zim, Luminara Unduli in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Black Widow in Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2, Five in Generator Rex, Elasti-Girl in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "The Last Patrol!"). January 27: Patton Oswalt, American comedian, writer, and actor (voice of Remy in Ratatouille, Quibble Pants in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Tobey McCallister in WordGirl, Atom in Teen Titans Go!, Professor Dementor in Kim Possible, Space Cabbie in Justice League Action, Uncle Ben and Chameleon in Spider-Man, Max in The Secret Life of Pets 2, the title character in M.O.D.O.K., Thrasher in Robotomy, Specs in Static Shock). January 29: Bob Kushell, American television producer and writer (Yo Yogi!, Goof Troop, The Simpsons).
February February 4: Jill Anthony Thomas, American casting director (King of the Hill, Futurama, Olive, the Other Reindeer, The Goode Family). February 5: Derek Stephen Prince, American actor (voice of Shino Aburame in Naruto, Ranjiro Kiyama in Beyblade Burst, Uryū Ishida in Bleach, Naoki Konishi in Persona 4: The Animation, Nunchuck Nick in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Lin and Shin in Cowboy Bebop, various characters in the Digimon franchise). February 8: Karl Wiedergott, German-born American actor (voice of various characters in The Simpsons). February 9: Tom Scharpling, American comedian, television writer (Tom Goes to the Mayor), producer, actor (voice of Greg Universe in the Steven Universe franchise, Jermaine in Adventure Time, Willie Nelson in the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode "The Shaving", Paul in The Simpsons episode "The Marge-ian Chronicles"), and radio host. February 11: Lee Tockar, Canadian actor and visual artist (voice of John Bolton/Ripster in Street Sharks, the title character in Yakkity Yak, Bling-Bling Boy in Johnny Test, Stretch-o-Mutt in Krypto the Superdog, George in George of the Jungle, MODOK in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Doktor Frogg in League of Super Evil, Snips, Steven Magnet and Spot in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Inky in Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, Mim-Mim in Kate & Mim-Mim, Theodore "The Roach" Roachmont in Supernoobs). Jennifer Aniston, American actress (voice of Annie Hughes in The Iron Giant, Sarah Gardner in Storks, Galatea in the Hercules episode "Hercules and the Dream Date", Mrs. Stevens in the South Park episode "Rainforest Shmainforest"). February 14: Rosto, Dutch animator and film director (The Monster of Nix, No Place Like Home, Lonely Bones, Splintertime), (d. 2019). February 22: Thomas Jane, American actor (voice of Jonah Hex in DC Showcase: Jonah Hex, Punisher in the Robot Chicken episode "Spike Fraser in: Should I Happen to Back Into a Horse"). February 26: Christine Auten, American voice actress (voice of Sakaki in Azumanga Daioh, Izumi Curtis in Fullmetal Alchemist, Fuyumi Otori in Ouran High School Host Club, Kuroha Shiratori in Eden of the East).