Events in 1941 in animation.
Events
January
February
March
April
May
June
- June 7: Friz Freleng's first Bugs Bunny cartoon Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt premieres, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions. This short was nominated for an Academy Award.
- June 20:
- The Reluctant Dragon, a live-action film with animated scenes by Jack Cutting, Ub Iwerks, Hamilton Luske and Jack Kinney, produced by Walt Disney Animation, premieres. It features three shorts within the feature film, Baby Weems, How To Ride a Horse starring Goofy, and The Reluctant Dragon.
- Riley Thomson's The Nifty Nineties premieres, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, starring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
July
August
September
October
- October 3: Lend a Paw, starring Pluto, directed by Clyde Geronimi, produced by the Walt Disney Studios, is first released.
- October 23: Ben Sharpsteen, Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney and Samuel Armstrong's Dumbo, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, is first released. It becomes a surprise box office hit, helping Disney win back some of their financial losses caused by World War II cutting off their European market.
- October 24: Dick Lundy's Donald Duck cartoon Donald's Camera premieres, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
November
December
- December 5:
- Jack King's Donald Duck cartoon Chef Donald premieres, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
- The Fleischer Studios release their second animated feature film Mr. Bug Goes to Town which becomes such a colossal flop that the studio goes bankrupt.
- The Color Rhapsody The Fox and the Grapes, produced by Screen Gems and directed by Frank Tashlin, is first released and marks the debut of the Fox and the Crow.
- December 6:
- Friz Freleng's Rhapsody in Rivets premieres, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions.
- William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's Tom and Jerry cartoon The Night Before Christmas premieres, produced by MGM's Cartoon Studio. This was the first short in the series to end with the titular Cat and Mouse being on good terms with each other.
- December 12: The National Film Board of Canada releases Richard Lyford's 7 Wise Dwarfs, produced by the Walt Disney Animation studios, to educate audiences on war bonds.
- December 20: Tex Avery's Wabbit Twouble, starring Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions, premieres. Avery directed the short, but after he left the studio Bob Clampett finished the picture. The scene where Bugs inflates himself and imitates Elmer became a popular internet meme over 75 years later titled "Big Chungus".
- December 26: Jack Kinney's Goofy cartoon The Art of Self Defense, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, premieres.
Specific date unknown
- Roberto Sgrilli creates the animated short Il Barone di Münchhausen.
Films released
Births
January
- January 1: Asrani, Indian actor (Hindi dub voice of Zazu in The Lion King), (d. 2025).
- January 5: Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author and manga artist (co-founder of Studio Ghibli).
- January 8:
- Graham Chapman, English actor and comedian (occasional voices in Terry Gilliam's animated shorts in Monty Python's Flying Circus and the film spin-offs), (d. 1989).
- Star Wirth, American xerographer (Hanna-Barbera, The Pagemaster, Warner Bros. Animation), (d. 2012).
- January 11: Motosuke Takahashi, Japanese film director, animator, character designer and storyboard artist (Tatsunoko Productions, Studio Pierrot), (d. 2007).
- January 12: Long John Baldry, English-Canadian singer and voice actor (voice of Dr. Robotnik in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Mistle Toad in Toad Patrol, Komplex in Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars), (d. 2005).
- January 21: Victoria Carroll, American actress (voice of Amelia Chronos in ', Fortius in Izzy's Quest for Olympic Gold, Grace in the TaleSpin episode "Waiders of the Lost Treasure", Pomona in the ' episode "Dirty Rotten Diapers", Boom Boom Beagle in the DuckTales episode "The Good Muddahs", She-Hulk in The Incredible Hulk episode "Enter: She-Hulk", Kangaroo Waitress in The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo episode "Scooby in Kwackyland").
- January 22: Rintaro, Japanese director (Galaxy Express 999, Metropolis).
- January 24: Gary K. Wolf, American author (Who Framed Roger Rabbit).
- January 31:
- Gerald McDermott, American film director, children's book writer and illustrator, (d. 2012).
- Ron Thompson, American actor (voice of Tony and Pete in American Pop, Cops in Last Days of Coney Island), (d. 2024).
- Jessica Walter, American actress (voice of Ashley Walker-Club-Dupree in The Magic School Bus, Demoness in The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, Old One in The Land Before Time, Malory Archer in Archer, Mrs. Wyatt in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Tabitha in ', Miss Heinous in Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Granny Goodness in Harley Quinn, Athena in the Justice League Action episode "The Trouble With Truth"), (d. 2021).
February
- February 11: Sergio Mendes, Brazilian musician (voice of Samba School Director in Rio, Street Vendor in Rio 2, composed songs for both films), (d. 2024).
March
- March 5: Errol Le Cain, English children's book illustrator and animator (worked for Richard Williams), (d. 1989).
- March 9: Tsutomu Shibayama, Japanese anime director (Doraemon, Ranma ý), animator (God Mazinger) and storyboard artist (Doraemon, Ranma ý), (d. 2026).
- March 16: Chuck Woolery, American game show host and musician (voiced himself in The Cleveland Show episode "Love Rollercoaster"), (d. 2024).
- March 23: Zsolt Richly, Hungarian animator (Pannonia Film Studio, A KockásfülÃ
± nyúl), (d. 2020).
- March 24: David Fox, Canadian actor (voice of Captain Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin, Sentinels and Master Mold in '), (d. 2021).
- March 28:
- Charles Swenson, American animator (Down and Dirty Duck, Twice Upon a Time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rugrats, Mike, Lu & Og).
- Alf Clausen, American composer (The Simpsons, The Critic, Space Cats) (d. 2025).
- March 29: John W. Hyde, American producer (', Film Roman, Harriet the Spy).
- March 30: Graeme Edge, English musician, songwriter and poet (voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Viva Ned Flanders"), (d. 2021).
April
- April 2: Dr. Demento, American radio broadcaster and record collector (voiced himself in the Bobby's World episode "Bobby's Big Boo-Boo", and The Simpsons episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts").
- April 7: Danny Wells, Canadian actor (voice of Bush and Raul in Heathcliff, Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, King Hugo III in Potatoes and Dragons, Gus in Willa's Wild Life), (d. 2013).
- April 13: Arvo Nuut, Estonian film operator and film producer (Tallinnfilm, Nukufilm), (d. 2021).
- April 18: Phillip Young, American animator (Walt Disney Animation Studios, ', '), (d. 2021).
- April 28:
- Ann-Margret, Swedish-American actress, singer, and dancer (portrayed Bebe DeBarge in Happy!, voice of Ann-Margrock in The Flintstones episode "Ann-Margrock Presents").
- Mike Renzi, American composer, music director, pianist and jazz musician (Sesame Street), (d. 2021).
May
- May 4:
- Jannik Hastrup, Danish writer, director, producer, illustrator and animator (Benny's Bathtub, Samson & Sally, War of the Birds).
- John Kimball, American animator (', A Special Valentine with the Family Circus, Ruby-Spears Enterprises, Heidi's Song, directed the main titles for Teacher's Pet), storyboard artist (Darkwing Duck, Gargoyles), sheet timer (Disney Television Animation) and director (Ruby-Spears Enterprises, Hanna-Barbera, Disney Television Animation, ChalkZone).
- May 6: William Moritz, American animation film historian, (d. 2004).
- May 13: Dwi Koendoro, Indonesian comics artist, animator (made an animated series based on his comics series Legenda Sawung Kampret) and film producer (head of Indonesian Animation Association), (d. 2019).
- May 18: Miriam Margolyes, English-Australian actress (portrayed Grandma Rosy in Balto, and Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach, voice of the Matchmaker in Mulan, Mrs. Plithiver in ', Queen Oofeefa in Early Man, Shirley Finster in Rugrats, Giraffe and Squirrel in Tinga Tinga Tales, Nana in Nina Needs to Go!, Bessie in the 101 Dalmatian Street episode "A Summer to Remember", Astrid in Hilda).
- May 23: Nicole Jaffe, Canadian actress (original voice of Velma Dinkley in Scooby-Doo).
- May 24: Larry Leichliter, American animator (Bill Melendez Productions, Rock-A-Doodle, A Troll in Central Park), storyboard artist (Hey Arnold!), character designer (Aladdin), sheet timer (Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Cartoon Network Studios, Baby Looney Tunes, Danger Rangers, Gravity Falls, Bee and PuppyCat, Go! Cartoons), animatic editor (Party Wagon), overseas supervisor (You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown, CatDog), producer (ChalkZone) and director (Spider-Man, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Cartoon Network Studios, Peanuts specials, Sofia the First, Bee and PuppyCat).
- May 31: Nicole Van Goethem, Belgian cartoonist, animator and film director (A Greek Tragedy), (d. 2000).
June
- June 2:
- Jeff Winkless, American voice actor (d. 2006).
- Stacy Keach, American actor (voice of the Phantasm and Carl Beaumont in ', Robert Vance in the Batman Beyond episode "Lost Soul", Roland De Fleures in The Zeta Project episode "The Next Gen").
- June 4: Jackie Banks, American animation checker and scene planner (Hanna-Barbera, This Is America, Charlie Brown, The Simpsons, '), (d. 1995).
- June 15: Neal Adams, American comic book artist (DC Comics) and writer (Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars), (d. 2022).
- June 19:
- Masao Maruyama, Japanese anime producer and entrepreneur (Madhouse, MAPPA, Studio M2).
- Linda Dangcil, American actress (voice of Carmen Alonso / Raya in Jem, Homeless Woman in the Static Shock episode "Frozen Out", additional voices in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo), (d. 2009).
- June 21: Joe Flaherty, American actor, comedian (portrayed Count Floyd in The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley, voice of Lawyer and General in Heavy Metal, Big Dracula in Little Dracula, Hooft in The Legend of Tarzan, Snorkel in The Santa Claus Brothers, Cloaked Skull in Teamo Supremo, Jeb in Home on the Range, Western Union Manager, Don Knotts' Assistant and Vatican Messenger in Family Guy, Abe's Foster Dad in Clone High, Car Door Owner in the American Dad! episode "Delorean Story-An"), and television writer (wrote the Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated episode "Theater of Doom"), (d. 2024).
- June 22: Michael Lerner, American actor (voice of Mayor Ebert in ', Producer in '), (d. 2023).
July
- July 5: Terry Cashman, American record producer and singer-songwriter (performed the song "Talkin' Softball" in The Simpsons episode "Homer at the Bat").
- July 9: Hisayuki Toriumi, Japanese animator (Tatsunoko Production, Sunrise, Studio Pierrot), film director and producer (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman), screenwriter and novelist, (d. 2009).
- July 10:
- Ian Whitcomb, English entertainer, singer-songwriter, composer ('), record producer, writer, broadcaster and actor (voice of the Narrator in A Christmas Carol), (d. 2020).
- Robert Pine, American actor (voice of Octavio in Elena of Avalor, Bishop in Frozen, Santa Peterson in the Rocket Power episode "A Rocket X-Mas", Fisherman in the ' episode "The Storm").
- July 13: Robert Forster, American actor (voice of Major Forsberg in Todd McFarlane's Spawn, The President in Justice League Unlimited, Jack J. Kurtzman in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jack Chapman and Police Officer in the ' episode "Wedding Bells Blew", Lucky Jim in The Simpsons episode "Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes", General Bryce in the ' episode "Grill"), (d. 2019).
- July 17: Paula Shaw, American actress (voice of Bubbie in The Guava Juice Show), (d. 2025).
- July 21:
- George Clinton, American singer, songwriter, record producer and bandleader (voice of King Quincy in Trolls World Tour.)
- July 24: Marc Strange, Canadian actor (voice of Forge in ', Lord Glenn in Silver Surfer), (d. 2012).
- July 28:
- Dianne Jackson, English film director (The Snowman), (d. 1992).
- Peter Cullen, Canadian voice actor (voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise, Murky Dismal in Rainbow Brite, Venger in Dungeons & Dragons, Hulk, Red Skull, and Mysterio in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Mario in the Donkey Kong segment of Saturday Supercade, Captain Slaughter in Pound Puppies, Bankjob Beagle and Admiral Grimitz in DuckTales, Coran and Narrator in ', announcer for Toonami, original voice of Monterey Jack in ').
- July 29: David Warner, English actor (voice of Ra's al Ghul in the DC Animated Universe, the Lobe in Freakazoid! and the Teen Titans Go! episode "Huggbees", the Master Control Program in Tron, Rob/Dr. Wrecker in The Amazing World of Gumball, Alpha in ', Victor Frankenstein in Toonsylvania, Lord Angstrom in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Nergal in Grim & Evil, Duke Richard of Lionsgate, Krasus, Sir Morgan and Maldon's Commander in The Legend of Prince Valiant, Herbert Landon and Red Skull in Spider-Man, Archmage in Gargoyles, Old Man and Oldsy in What's New, Scooby-Doo?, Talon in the Mighty Max episode "Souls of Talon", Zarm in the Captain Planet and the Planeteers episode "The Dream Machine", Ice Breaker in the Biker Mice from Mars episode "Below the Horizon", the Glyph in the Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys episode "Rhesus Pieces", Arthur Dearborn in the Iron Man episode "Cell of Iron", narrator in ' and A Valentine for You), (d. 2022).
- July 30: Paul Anka, Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actor (voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror VI").
August
- August 4:
- Martin Jarvis, English actor and producer (voice of Saitine in Wreck-It Ralph, Alfred Pennyworth in ', continued voice of Nergal in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy).
- Richard Trueblood, American animator (Hanna-Barbera, The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat, The Mouse and His Child, A Family Circus Christmas, Filmation), storyboard artist (Maxie's World, Goof Troop, Sonic the Hedgehog, Bonkers), sheet timer (', Disney Television Animation, ', Animaniacs, DIC Entertainment, The Incredible Hulk, Adelaide Productions, ', Histeria!, ', The Wild Thornberrys, The New Woody Woodpecker Show, The Oblongs, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Clifford's Really Big Movie), producer (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Space Cats, Bonkers, Fantastic Four) and director (Filmation, Garbage Pail Kids, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney Television Animation, Biker Mice from Mars, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Dexter's Laboratory), (d. 2019).
- August 8: Earl Boen, American actor (voice of Red Skull and the Beyonder in Spider-Man, Santa Claus in A Pinky and the Brain Christmas and A Johnny Bravo Christmas, Leonard Kanifky in Bonkers, Rhino in ', Horace Bleakman in Clifford the Big Red Dog, Captain Montecero in The New Adventures of Zorro, Doctor, Monster, Mr. Hobson and TV Narrator in Grim & Evil and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Mr. Gordon and The Ghost of Chef Pierre Goulash in the A Pup Named Scooby-Doo episode "Robopup", Vice President Obsequious in The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries episode "Spooker of the House", Simon Stagg in the Justice League episode "Metamorphosis", William Howard Taft in the Time Squad episode "White House Weirdness", Nick in the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command episode "Holiday Time", continued voice of Senor Senior Sr. in Kim Possible, additional voices in Bruno the Kid, The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, What-a-Mess, Capitol Critters, Problem Child and The Addams Family), (d. 2023).
- August 14: David Crosby, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter (voiced himself in The Simpsons episodes "Marge in Chains" and "Homer's Barbershop Quartet"), (d. 2023)..
- August 16: Paul Hecht, English-born Canadian actor (voice of the title character in Johnny Cypher in Dimension Zero, Army Veterinarian in My Dog Tulip, additional voices in Courage the Cowardly Dog).
- August 29: Robin Leach, English entertainment reporter and writer (voice of TV Host in the Garfield and Friends episode "Fat and Furry", Chamberlain in the ' episode "The Empress' Nightingale", himself in the Family Guy episode "Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater"), (d. 2018).
September
- September 10: Stephen Jay Gould, American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and science historian (voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Lisa the Skeptic"), (d. 2002).
- September 14: Yuri Norstein, Soviet and Russian animator (Hedgehog in the Fog, Tale of Tales, The Overcoat).
- September 16: David Hemblen, English-born Canadian actor (voice of Magneto in ', Vault-Keeper in Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Asmodeus in Redwall, The Night Master in Yin Yang Yo!), (d. 2020).
- September 24: Linda McCartney, American photographer and activist (voiced herself in The Simpsons episode "Lisa the Vegetarian", Welhelmina in Tropic Island Hum), (d. 1998).
October
- October 8: Jesse Jackson, American civil rights activist and politician (voice of Cocky Locky in the ' episode "Henny Penny"), (d. 2026).
- October 9: Warren Luening, American musician and trumpeter (Walt Disney Animation Studios, The Nightmare Before Christmas, A Goofy Movie, Casper, Pixar, Space Jam, Anastasia, Family Guy, Stuart Little 2, ', The Polar Express, ', The Ant Bully, ', The Simpsons Movie, Horton Hears a Who!, Shrek Forever After, ', Despicable Me 2), (d. 2012).
- October 21: Marcell Jankovics, Hungarian graphic artist, film director and author (Sisyphus, The Struggle), (d. 2021).
- October 23: Mel Winkler, American actor (voice of Lucius Fox in The New Batman Adventures, Johnny the snowman in Oswald, Commissioner Henderson in the ' episode "Feeding Time"), (d. 2020).
- October 25:
- Helen Reddy, Australian-American pop singer and actress (portrayed Nora in Pete's Dragon, voiced herself in Family Guy), (d. 2020).
- Gordon Tootoosis, Saskatchewan actor (voice of Kekata in Pocahontas, Mushom in Wapos Bay, Gordy in Open Season), (d. 2011).
- October 31: Sally Kirkland, American actress (voice of Older Woman in Nerdland), (d. 2025).
November
- November 1: Robert Foxworth, American actor (voice of Professor Hamilton in Justice League Unlimited, Race Bannon in season 2 of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest).
- November 5: Yoshiyuki Tomino, Japanese anime creator, animator, director, screenwriter, songwriter and novelist (creator of the Gundam franchise).
- November 8: Julian Antonisz, Polish film director (Sun: A Non-Camera Film 1977, aka SÃ
ÂoÃ
Âce - film bez kamery), (d. 1987).
- November 11: Russell Horton, American actor (voice of Kat's Father in Kenny the Shark, continued voice of the Trix Rabbit).
- November 12: Dave Brain, American animator (Hanna-Barbera, Marvel Productions), storyboard artist (Darkwing Duck, Space Cats, Garfield and Friends, Cow and Chicken, Family Guy), director (Film Roman, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, Grim & Evil, ChalkZone, Johnny Bravo) and sheet timer (Disney Television Animation, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Mask, Life with Louie, King of the Hill, Warner Bros. Animation, ', Jackie Chan Adventures).
- November 20: Dr. John, American singer and songwriter (voice of The Sun in Whoopi's Littleburg, performed the theme songs of Whoopi's Littleburg and Curious George, and "Down in New Orleans" in The Princess and the Frog), (d. 2019).
- November 22: Cilia van Dijk, Dutch film producer (Anna & Bella), (d. 2023).
- November 23:
- Eduard Nazarov, Russian animator, children's book illustrator and voice actor (Once Upon a Dog), (d. 2016).
- Franco Nero, Italian actor, producer, and director (voice of Uncle Topolino in Cars 2).
- November 24: Simon Singer, American actor (voice of Slightly in Peter Pan).
- November 28: Shannon Farnon, Canadian actress (voice of Kim Butler in Valley of the Dinosaurs, Wonder Woman in Super Friends).
December
- December 9: Beau Bridges, American actor (voice of Sheriff Scaly Briggs in ', Yoshio Onodera in From Up on Poppy Hill, Prince Kuramochi in The Tale of the Princess Kaguya).
- December 10:
- Chad Stuart, English singer and actor (voice of Flaps the vulture in The Jungle Book), (d. 2020).
- Fionnula Flanagan, Irish actress (voice of Granny and Macha in Song of the Sea).
- December 25: John Capodice, American actor (voice of Cab Driver in ', Cabbie and Johnny in the Aaahh!!! Real Monsters episode "A Room With No Viewfinder/Krumm Rises to the Top", Caesar Carlini in the ' episode "World's Finest"), (d. 2024).
- December 29: Ray Thomas, English multi-instrumentalist, flautist, singer and member of The Moody Blues (voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Viva Ned Flanders"), (d. 2018).
Specific date unknown
Deaths
April
July
- July 15: Walter Ruttmann, German film director and cinematographer (pioneer of abstract animation, directed the animated short film Lichtspiel: Opus I, the "oldest fully abstract motion picture known to survive, using only animated geometric forms, arranged and shown without reference to any representational imagery"; served as a special effects artist in the animated feature film The Adventures of Prince Achmed, making the film's moving backgrounds and magic scenes), dies at age 53.
August
October
- October 8: Win Smith, Canadian-American animator and comics artist (Penguin Pete, Looney Luke, Mickey Mouse, Looney Tunes), dies at age 53.
Specific date unknown
See also
References
External links