Events in 1983 in animation.
Events
February February 3: The first Dutch animated feature film Als Je Begrijpt Wat Ik Bedoel (The Dragon That Wasn't (Or Was He?)) is first released. It is based on Marten Toonder's comics series Tom Poes and produced by Rob Houwer and Topcraft. February 21: The Peanuts TV special Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? premieres on CBS."Peanuts - Aired Order - All Seasons - TheTVDB.com". thetvdb.com. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
March March 11: Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore premieres, produced by the Walt Disney Company. March 19: Tomoharu Katsumata's Final Yamato, the longest animated feature film ever at 163 minutes, is first released. March 31: Monty Python's Meaning of Life premieres which has animated opening credits and intermezzos by Terry Gilliam.
April April 4: The first episode of Mrs. Pepperpot is broadcast, based on the Norwegian children's book series of the same name by Alf Prøysen. April 11: 55th Academy Awards: Tango by Zbigniew Rybczyński wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. April 15: Clive A. Smith's Rock & Rule is first released, the first film produced by the Canadian animation company Nelvana. MGM/UA picked up the film, reducing the mature content and changing the script for Omar to make it more fitting for the United States release. The release for its Canadian home country premieres uncut four months later. April 18: Disney Channel is launched.
May
May 16: The Peanuts TV special It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown premieres on CBS. May 30: The Peanuts TV special What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? premieres on CBS. The special takes after the events of the 1980 Peanuts film Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!).
July July 21: Mori Masaki's Barefoot Gen, based on the manga series by Keiji Nakazawa, is first released.
August August 5: Friz Freleng and Phil Monroe's anthological Looney Tunes film Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island premieres in theaters. Despite it being directed by Freleng, it also contained shorts directed by Robert McKimson & Chuck Jones. The film Twice Upon a Time premieres. There's been production battles between John Korty’s family-friendly version and Marshall Efron's edgy version, as Korty urged distributors to release his version instead of Efron's. August 26: Ralph Bakshi and Tom Tataranowicz's Fire and Ice premieres.
September September 1: The first episode of Donald Duck Presents is broadcast. September 5: The first episode of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is broadcast. September 10: The first episode of Rubik, the Amazing Cube, an animated series based on the popularity of the Rubik's Cube is broadcast but will be cancelled after only one season. The first episode of The Littles is broadcast. September 12: The first episode of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is broadcast. The first episode of Henry's Cat is broadcast. The first episode of Inspector Gadget is broadcast. September 17: The first episode of Alvin and the Chipmunks is broadcast. The first episode of Mr. T, an animated series based on and starring Mr. T, is broadcast. It became a cult classic years later. The first episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show is broadcast. The series was a promotional failure. Its second season was only limited to five episodes, after its two-year hiatus in 1985. The first episode of Saturday Supercade airs. This marks the animated debut of Mario and Donkey Kong. The series also features animated versions of the characters from arcade games. The first episode of Dungeons & Dragons is broadcast. This marks one of the first animated series to depict high-level violence after a long-term period of television censorship. The innovation was controversial at the time.
October October 3: The first episode of Bananaman is broadcast, based on Steve Bright, Dave Donald and John Geering's eponymous comic strip. October 28: Garfield's second TV special Garfield on the Town premieres on CBS.
December December 16: The first Mickey Mouse short in 30 years, Mickey's Christmas Carol is first released in theaters.
Specific date unknown Jan Švankmajer releases Dimensions of Dialogue. The first episode of Hanna-Barbera's Lucky Luke, based on the eponymous Belgian comic strip by Morris, is broadcast.
Films released
January 1 - Legend of Sealed Book (China) January 3 - Eunhajeonseol Tera (South Korea) January 13 - Sherlock Holmes and the Sign of Four (Australia) January 14 - Sherlock Holmes and the Valley of Fear (Australia) January 15 - Sherlock Holmes and a Study in Scarlet (Australia) January 16 - Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse (Australia) January 21 - Miraesonyeon Kunta Beomyuda 5000 Nyeon (South Korea) January 26 - Revenge of the Humanoids (France) February 3 - The Dragon That Wasn't (Or Was He?) (Netherlands) February 9 - I am a Dog: The Life of Don Matsugoro (Japan) February 13 - Urusei Yatsura: Only You (Japan) February 19 - Haejeotamheomdae Marin X (South Korea) February 24 - Chohabgeum roboteu SOLAR I.II.III (South Korea) March 12: Crusher Joe (Japan) Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil (Japan) Harmagedon: Genma Wars (Japan) March 13: Aesop's Fables (Japan) Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Great Race Around the World (Japan) March 19 - Final Yamato (Japan) April 3 - Dot and the Bunny (Australia) April 29: Noel's Fantastic Trip (Japan) Pro Yakyū o 10-bai Tanoshiku Miru Hōhō (Japan) May 4 - Nine (Japan) May 9 - John the Boaster (Hungary) May 16 - It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown (United States) May 28 - Golgo 13: The Professional (Japan) July - Abra Cadabra (Australia) July 9: Document: Taiyō no Kiba Daguramu (Japan) Xabungle Graffiti (Japan) July 10 - Patalliro! Stardust Project (Japan) July 16: Hwanggeum-ui pal (South Korea) Unico in the Island of Magic (Japan) July 21: Barefoot Gen (Japan) Space Gundam V (South Korea) July 30 - Protectors of Universe (South Korea) August - The Knight of the Red Heart (Poland) August 4 - Old Master Q and San T (Hong Kong) August 5: Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island (United States) Twice Upon a Time (United States) August 12: Computer Haekjeonham Pokpadaejakjeon (South Korea) Rock & Rule (Canada) August 13 - Hwanggeumnyeonpilgwa Gaegujangi Oegyesonyeon (South Korea) August 21 - A Time Slip of 10000 Years: Prime Rose (Japan) August 26 - Fire and Ice (United States) September 3 - Water Spider-Wonder Spider (Hungary) September 12 - Doctor Mambo & the Phantom Thief Jibako: With Love from Space (Japan) September 16: Miyuki (Japan) Nine: The Original (Japan) September 30 - The Daltons on the Loose (France) October 1 - A Disney Halloween (United States) November 24 - The Legend of Hiawatha (United States and Canada) December 3 - A Disney Channel Christmas!!!! (United States) December 13 - The Raccoons and the Lost Star (Canada) December 17: Cheol-in samchongsa (South Korea) Space Champion Hong Gil-dong (South Korea) The Voyages of Gulliver (Spain) December 18 - Nine 2: Sweetheart Declaration (Japan) December 21 - David & Goliath (South Korea) December 23 - The Princess and the Robot (Brazil) December 27 - The Wind in the Willows (United Kingdom) Specific date unknown: Boi Aruá (Brazil) Dokgotak – Throw It Towards the Sun (South Korea) Elpidio Valdés Against Dollar and Cannon (Cuba) The Boulugres (France) Straszydła (Poland) Syupeo Taitan 15 (South Korea) UFO Reul Tagoon Oegyein Wangja (South Korea)
Television series
January 9: Future Police Urashiman and Story of the Alps: My Annette debut on Fuji TV. January 10 - Captain debuts on Nippon TV. January 21 - Aku Dai Sakusen Srungle debuts on TV Asahi. February 5: Aura Battler Dunbine debuts on Nagoya TV. The Dukes debuts on CBS. February 17 - Gran debuts on BBC. March 1 - Ai Shite Knight debuts on TV Asahi. March 30 - Albegas debuts on MegaTON (TV Tokyo). March 31 - Miyuki debuts on Fuji TV. April 1 - Armored Trooper Votoms debuts on MegaTON (TV Tokyo). April 2 - Nanako SOS debuts on Fuji TV. April 3: Kinnikuman debuts on Nippon TV. Mîmu Iro Iro Yume No Tabi debuts on TBS. April 4: Mrs. Pepper Pot debuts on NHK General TV. Superbook II debuts on TV Tokyo. April 5 - Sasuraiger debuts on TV Tokyo. April 7 - Eagle Sam debuts on Tokyo Broadcasting System Television. April 9: Itadakiman debuts on Fuji TV. Lady Georgie debuts on TV Asahi. April 18 - Good Morning, Mickey! debuts on The Disney Channel. May 26 - Bemubemu Hunter Kotengu Tenmaru debuts in syndication. June 5 - Plawres Sanshiro debuts on TBS. July 1: Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel debuts on Nippon TV. Serendipity the Pink Dragon debuts on NTV. July 3 - The Super Dimension Century Orguss debuts on MBS. July 5 - Moschops debuts on ITV. July 6 - Psycho Armor Govarian debuts on TV Tokyo. July 11 - Cat's Eye debuts on Nippon TV. August 1 - Around the World with Willy Fog debuts on ANTENNE 2 and TVE1. September 1 - Donald Duck Presents debuts on Disney Channel. September 10: The Monchhichis debuts on ABC. The Littles debuts on ABC, Canal+, and TF1. The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show debuts on ABC. September 12: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero debuts in syndication. Henry's Cat debuts on BBC1. Inspector Gadget debuts in syndication (United States) and on FR3 (France). September 17: Alvin and the Chipmunks, Dungeons & Dragons, Saturday Supercade, The Biskitts, The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, and Mr. T debut on NBC. Rubik, the Amazing Cube debuts on ABC. September 26 - He-Man and the Masters of the Universe debuts in syndication. October 2 - Genesis Climber MOSPEADA debuts on Fuji TV. October 3: Bananaman debuts on BBC. Taotao debuts in syndication. Terrahawks debuts on ITV. October 4 - The Adventures of Portland Bill debuts on ITV Network. October 7 - Special Armored Battalion Dorvack debuts on Fuji TV. October 10: Fushigi no Kuni no Alice and Manga Aesop Monogatari debut on TV Tokyo. October 13 - Captain Tsubasa debuts on TV Tokyo. October 20 - Igano Kabamaru debuts on Nippon Television. October 21 - Ginga Hyōryū Vifam debuts on JNN (MBS TV). November 8 - Koshika Monogatari debuts on NHK. Specific date unknown - Victor & Maria debuts on CITV.
Births January January 2: Anthony Carrigan, American actor (voice of Vladimir Putin in Animaniacs, Mr. Tyrant in Captain Fall). January 7: Brett Dalton, American actor (voice of Brick in Milo Murphy's Law, Parasite in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Bat Lash in Justice League: Warworld, Talon in the Jake and the Never Land Pirates episode "Flight of the Feathers"). January 14: Anne Walker Farrell, American animator (Re-Animated, Slacker Cats, Christmas Is Here Again, Monster High: New Ghoul at School, Good Vibes, Greatest Party Story Ever), storyboard artist (Random! Cartoons, The Mr. Men Show, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, The Ricky Gervais Show, BoJack Horseman, Mighty Magiswords, HouseBroken), writer (The Mr. Men Show) and director (BoJack Horseman, Final Space, Duncanville). January 17: Rickey D'Shon Collins, American voice actor (voice of Vince LaSalle in Recess, Tucker Foley in Danny Phantom, Bosworth in Once Upon a Forest, Byron / Boom in the Static Shock episode "Brother-Sister Act").
February February 4: Hannibal Buress, American comedian, actor, writer, and producer (voice of Matt Attack, DJ Don Jose and Street Troll in China, IL, Crisco in Chozen, Mom and Momma Lucas in Lucas Bros. Moving Co., the Nerd King in Nerdland, Edward the Birthday Dad in The Angry Birds Movie, Buddy in The Secret Life of Pets and The Secret Life of Pets 2, Mister Terrific in Justice League Action, Hefty Jeff in the Bob's Burgers episode "My Big Fat Greek Bob", Flame Prince in the Adventure Time episode "Five Short Tables", Miles in the BoJack Horseman episode "The Judge", Finch in The Simpsons episode "The Road to Cincinnati").