Events in 1981 in animation.
Events February February 13: Ralph Bakshi's American Pop is first released.
March March 31: 53rd Academy Awards: Ferenc Rófusz' The Fly wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.
April April 3: The first episode of Willo the Wisp is broadcast. April 8: The first episode of Dr. Slump - Arale-chan, an adaptation of the Dr. Slump manga by Akira Toriyama, is broadcast. April 28: The Peanuts TV special It's Magic, Charlie Brown premieres on CBS.
July July 10: Ted Berman, Richard Rich and Art Stevens' The Fox and the Hound, produced by the Walt Disney Company, is first released.
August August 7: Gerald Potterton's Heavy Metal premieres and becomes a cult classic.
September September 12: The first episode of The Smurfs, produced by Hanna-Barbera, based on Belgian comics artist Peyo's eponymous comic series, is broadcast. This Saturday morning adaptation becomes a cult favorite years later. September 16: The first episode of Postman Pat is broadcast. September 28: The first episode of Danger Mouse is broadcast.
October October 14: The first episode of Urusei Yatsura is broadcast. October 30: The Peanuts TV special Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown premieres on CBS, which was not well-favored for having a new character substituting the Little Red-Haired Girl, who's been a long-time crush for Charlie Brown. This is Grant Wehr's only voicing credit as he failed to reprise his role for the subsequent Peanuts cartoons due to his voice was reportedly too coarse for Charlie Brown.
November
November 20: Friz Freleng's anthological Looney Tunes film The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie premiered in theaters.
December December 25: Stig Lasseby and Jan Gissberg's Peter-No-Tail is first released.
Specific date unknown The first Disney on Ice shows are organized.
Films released
January 1 - The Mystery of the Third Planet (Soviet Union) January 3: The Call of the Wild: Howl, Buck (Japan) Kaitei Daisensō: Ai no 20,000 Miles (Japan) January 5 - 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (South Korea) February 7 - Run Melos! (Japan) February 13 - American Pop (United States) March 14: Doraemon: The Record of Nobita, Spaceblazer (Japan) The Fantastic Adventures of Unico (Japan) Kaibutsu-kun: Kaibutsu Land e no Shoutai (Japan) Mobile Suit Gundam I (Japan) Swan Lake (Japan) March 20 - Natsu e no Tobira (Japan) April 11: Chie the Brat (Japan) Furiten-kun (Japan) April 26 - The Donbee Story (Japan) May 5: Helen Keller Monogatari: Ai to Hikari no Tenshi (Japan) Lupin tai Holmes (Japan) June 8 - Sugata Sanshiro (Japan) June 23 - Around the World with Dot (Australia) July 4 - Tomorrow's Joe 2 (Japan) July 9: Blizkata Dalechina (Bulgaria) Grendel Grendel Grendel (Australia) July 10 - The Fox and the Hound (United States) July 11 - Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow (Japan) July 16 - Old Master Q (Hong Kong) July 18: Captain (Japan) Sonyeon 007 Jihajeguk (South Korea) The Sea Prince and the Fire Child (Japan) July 21 - Enchanted Journey (Japan) July 22 - Gugugui taeyang seongung isunsin (South Korea) July 27 - Frankenstein (Japan) August 1: 21 Emon: Uchū e Irasshai! (Japan) Adieu Galaxy Express 999 (Japan) August 7: Gongnyong Baengmannyeon Ttori (South Korea) Heavy Metal (Canada) August 9: Robot King (South Korea) Yuki (Japan) August 16 - Anime-ban Toukaidou Yotsuya Kaidan (Japan) August 23: Bremen 4: Angels in Hell (Japan) Kabo-Encho no Dobutsuen Nikki (Japan) October 3 - Bokura Mangaka: Tokiwa-sou Monogatari (Japan) October 7 - Rennyo and His Mother (Japan) October 22 - Son of the White Mare (Hungary) November 20 - The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (United States) November 28: Manga Hana no Kakarichō (Japan) Manzai Taikouki (Japan) December 10 - The Little Fox (Hungary) December 20 - Minoïe (France) December 21 - Maria, Mirabela (Romania and Soviet Union) December 22 - Chiisana Love Letter: Mariko to Nemunoki no Kodomo-tachi (Japan) December 25 - Peter-No-Tail (Sweden) December 26 - Shunmao Monogatari Taotao (Japan) December 29 - Space Warrior Baldios (Japan) Specific date unknown - Renshenguo (China)
Television series
January 4 - The Swiss Family Robinson: Flone of the Mysterious Island debuts on Fuji TV. January 31 - Saikyo Robo Daiohja debuts in syndication. February 7 - Yattodetaman debuts on Fuji TV. February 10 - Pigeon Street debuts on BBC. March 1 - Golden Warrior Gold Lightan debuts on Tokyo 12 TV. March 4 - Beast King GoLion debuts on Tokyo Channel 12. March 6 - Hello! Sandybell debuts on TV Asahi. March 7 - Ohayo Spank debuts in syndication. April 3 - Ai no Gakko Cuore Monogatari debuts on Mainichi Broadcasting System. April 7: Belle and Sebastian debuts on NHK. Little Women debuts on Tokyo Channel 12. April 8 - Dr. Slump & Arale-chan debuts on Fuji TV. April 16 - Queen Millennia debuts on Fuji TV. April 20 - Tiger Mask II debuts on TV Asahi. July 3 - GoShogun debuts on Tokyo Channel 12. September 3 - Manga Mito Komo debuts on TV Tokyo. September 12: Goldie Gold and Action Jack debuts on ABC. Astro and the Space Mutts, Space Stars, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Teen Force, The Smurfs, and The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! debut on NBC. Blackstar, The Kwicky Koala Show, The New Adventures of Zorro, and Trollkins debut on CBS. Marmaduke and Spider-Man debut in syndication. September 14 - Willow the Wisp debuts on BBC1. September 16 - Postman Pat debuts on BBC1. September 28: Danger Mouse debuts on ITV. Ninja Hattori-kun debuts on TV Asahi. October 1 - Superbook debuts on TV Tokyo, CBN, and Australian Christian Channel. October 2 - Six God Combination Godmars debuts on NNS (Nippon TV). October 3: Chie the Brat debuts on MBS. Hero High debuts on NBC. October 4 - Dash Kappei debuts on Fuji TV. October 6 - Braiger debuts on TV Tokyo. October 7 - Honey Honey debuts on Fuji TV. October 8 - Miss Machiko debuts on TV Tokyo. October 9 - Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds debuts on MBS and TVE. October 10: Laverne & Shirley in the Army debuts on ABC. Ulysses 31 debuts on FR3 and Nagoya Broadcasting Network. October 14 - Urusei Yatsura debuts on Fuji TV. October 23 - Fang of the Sun Dougram debuts on TV Tokyo.
Births January January 1: Eden Riegel, American actress (voice of Yuna in Stitch!, Kiara in The Lion Guard, Boscha in The Owl House, Gwen in Knights of Guinevere, young Miriam in The Prince of Egypt, Kōan in the Viz Media dub of Sailor Moon, Rurichiyō Kasumiōji in Bleach), and voice director (Disney Television Animation). January 15: Pitbull, American musician and businessman (voice of Bufo in Epic, Ugly Dog in UglyDolls). January 24: Carrie Coon, American actress (voice of Michelle's Mother in the Teenage Euthanasia episode "Viva La Flappanista", Proxima Midnight in the What If...? episode "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?"). January 25: Alicia Keys, American singer, songwriter and actress (voice of Boinga's Mom in The Backyardigans episode "Mission to Mars", herself in The Proud Family episode "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"). January 28: Elijah Wood, American actor (voice of Tom Thumb in The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina, Mumble in Happy Feet and Happy Feet Two, 9 in 9, Sone in The Wind Rises, Beck in Tron: Uprising, Wirt in Over the Garden Wall, Jace Rucklin in Star Wars Resistance, himself in the Family Guy episode "Brian Griffin's House of Payne"). January 30: Ron Holsey, American television writer (Johnny Test, Curious George, Martha Speaks, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Arthur, Winx Club, Miles from Tomorrowland, Hanazuki: Full of Treasures, Elena of Avalor, Rusty Rivets, Nina's World, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, The Stinky & Dirty Show, T.O.T.S., Nella the Princess Knight, Sesame Street). January 31: Justin Timberlake, American musician and actor (voice of Arthur Pendragon in Shrek the Third, Boo-Boo Bear in Yogi Bear, Branch in the Trolls franchise, himself in The Simpsons episode "New Kids on the Blecch").
February February 1: John Gemberling, American actor and comedian (voice of Doofus Drake in DuckTales, Blastus in Robotomy, Tyler in Big Mouth, Russell in The Great North). Alison Viktorin, American retired voice actress (voice of Conan Edogawa in Case Closed). February 3: Alisa Reyes, American actress (voice of LaCienega Boulevardez in The Proud Family franchise). February 5: Adassa, American urban reggaeton singer and songwriter (voice of Dolores Madrigal in Encanto). February 8: Dawn Olivieri, American actress (voice of Pepper Potts in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes). February 9: Tom Hiddleston, English actor (voice of Captain Hook in The Pirate Fairy, Lord Nooth in Early Man, Loki in What If...? and The Simpsons shorts "The Good, the Bart, and the Loki" and "Welcome to the Club", Seuss Narrator and Killer Robot #1 in the Robot Chicken episode "Butchered in Burbank", Statue Griffin in the Family Guy episode "No Country Club for Old Men", Kanjigar in the Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia episode "Becoming"). February 10: Stephanie Beatriz, American actress (voice of Mirabel Madrigal in Encanto, Gosalyn Waddlemeyer in DuckTales, General Sweet Mayhem in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Kate Kane in Catwoman: Hunted, Gertie in Ice Age: Collision Course, Vaggi in Hazbin Hotel). Uzo Aduba, American actress (voice of Bismuth in Steven Universe, Queen Novo in My Little Pony: The Movie, Alicia Hawthorne in Lightyear, Colonel Kubritz in 3Below: Tales of Arcadia). February 12: Lisa Hannigan, Irish musician (voice of Blue Diamond in the Steven Universe franchise, Bronagh in Song of the Sea). February 17: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor and filmmaker (voice of Jim Hawkins in Treasure Planet, Jiro Horikoshi in The Wind Rises, Professor Luxcraft in Wolfboy and the Everything Factory, Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio). February 23: Josh Gad, American actor (voice of Olaf in the Frozen franchise the Sofia the First episode "The Secret Library: Olaf and the Tale of Miss Nettle" ans Once Upon a Studio, Chuck in The Angry Birds Movie and The Angry Birds Movie 2, Louis in Ice Age: Continental Drift, Mondo in Good Vibes, Birdie in Central Park, Art in the American Dad! episode "Pulling Double Booty", LT-319 in the Star Wars Rebels episode "Double Agent Droid"). February 27: Josh Groban, American singer, songwriter, and actor (performed "Believe" in The Polar Express, voice of Bill in the Robot Chicken episode "Catch Me If You Kangaroo Jack", Olivier Scenechuer in the Niko and the Sword of Light episode "The Thorn of Contention", Professor Frink's singing voice in The Simpsons episode "I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh", himself in the American Dad! episode "News Glance with Genevieve Vavance").
March March 2: Danielle Moné Truitt, American actress (voice of Georgia in The Princess and the Frog). Amos Crawley, Canadian voice actor (voice of Owl in Little Bear, Simon in Girlstuff/Boystuff, Moose in Franklin, Alexander in Babar, Petey and Eddie in Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Arnold in The Magic School Bus (season 1), Russell in Stickin' Around, Martin the Warrior in Redwall). March 8: Justin Wright, American animator (Pixar), (d. 2008). March 29: Megan Hilty, American actress (voice of Rosetta in the Disney Fairies franchise, Wammawink in Centaurworld, JD in Robot and Monster, Frances Alberta in The Penguins of Madagascar episode "The Hokoben Surprise"). March 30: Katy Mixon, American actress and model (voice of Barb in Big Hero 6: The Series, Tina Nelson in Minions, Seraphina in the Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure episode "There's Something About Hook Foot", Petunia Pig in The Looney Tunes Show episode "Mr. Weiner", Mary Jane Watson in the Robot Chicken episode "Major League of Extraordinary Gentlemen").
April