1991 in animation is an overview of notable events, including notable awards, a list of films released, television show debuts and endings, and notable deaths.
Events
January
February
March
April
May
July
August
- August 2:
- Don Bluth's film Rock-a-Doodle premieres in the United Kingdom. This became one of the five lesser Bluth's works and his first lesser film overall. It had some release difficulties after its completion in 1990. It was delayed in the US until April 1992 to avoid competition with Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the first Bluth-less sequel '.
- The film Rover Dangerfield, which features a dog modeled after and voiced by comedian Rodney Dangerfield, premieres.
- August 11
- Nickelodeon introduces its new original cartoon brand titled Nicktoons, with the premiere of its first 3 shows: Doug, Rugrats, & The Ren & Stimpy Show.
- Rugrats ended up becoming the first longest-running Nicktoon series. The program gained generally positive attention and popularity, as well as becoming an adult interest.
- August 23: After the three-year delay, ' makes a public marketing, but only as a direct-to-video movie due to financial issues. Following the negative reception in North America, the movie is only available through European markets as of 2011.
September
- September 3:
- The first episode of The Legend of Prince Valiant airs, based on the comics series Prince Valiant.
- The first episode of Little Dracula airs.
- September 7:
- Hammerman, an animated TV series based on popular rapper M.C. Hammer, premieres, but is cancelled after only one season.
- The first episode of Rupert airs, an animated TV series based on the British comics character Rupert Bear.
- The first episode of Taz-Mania airs, starring the Looney Tunes character Tasmanian Devil.
- September 14:
- Premiere of Back to the Future: The Animated Series, the television adaptation of the 1985 film. It introduces a darker and slightly mature tone for a Saturday-morning cartoon of its time. CBS ended the series after the second season, as it was not as successful as the films of the Back to the Future franchise.
- Season 4 of Garfield and Friends begins on CBS with the premiere of the following episodes:
- "Moo Cow Mutt/Big Bad Buddy Bird/Angel Puss"
- "Trial and Error/An Egg-Citing Story/Supermarket Mania"
- The first episode of ProStars airs and features the animated versions of real-life sports players, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, and Wayne Gretzky.
- The first episode of Super Mario World airs. This third installment of Super Mario Bros. by DIC Entertainment was made under regulations of the Children's Television Act by inserting moral and educational values while eliminating instances that are closer to the 16bit game due to promotional restrictions for children. This attempt was not successful. The third season of ', which paired with the Mario episodes, have suffered some limits as well, but was cancelled after 7 episodes.
- September 16: Season 2 of Tiny Toon Adventures begins in Syndication with the premiere of the episode "Pledge Day".
- September 19: Season 3 of The Simpsons begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Stark Raving Dad", guest starring Michael Jackson, who is credited as John Jay Smith.
- September 26:
- The first episode of Spider! airs.
- The Simpsons episode "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" first airs.
- September 28: The first episode of Mr. Bogus airs, an adaptation of a series of French-Belgian claymation shorts, here done in traditional animation.
October
November
December
Specific date unknown
Films released
- January 1 - ' (Soviet Union)
- January 18 - The Sensualist (Japan)
- January 25 - Vampire Wars (Japan)
- February 21 - Wizardry (Japan)
- February 22 - Psychic Wars (Japan)
- March 1 - To Want to Fly (Italy)
- March 9:
- ' (Japan)
- ' (Japan)
- Magical Taruruto (Japan)
- ' (Japan)
- March 12 - Okama Hakusho (Japan)
- March 16 - Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (Japan)
- March 21 - Burn Up! (Japan)
- April 5 - ' (Japan)
- May 5 - ' (South Korea)
- May 22 - Free! Whale Peek (Japan)
- May 25 - Robinson and Company (France)
- June 7 - Il Giornalino di Gian Burrasca (Italy)
- June 16 - ' (Japan)
- June 21 - The Seventh Brother (Hungary, Germany, and United States)
- June 29 - Nadia of the Mysterious Seas (Japan)
- July 20:
- ' (Japan)
- ' (Japan)
- Magical Taruruto: Burn! Magic War of Friendship (Japan)
- Only Yesterday (Japan)
- Soreike! Anpanman Tobe! Tobe! Chibigon (Japan)
- July 21 - UrotsukidÃ
Âji II: Legend of the Demon Womb (Japan)
- August 2 - Rover Dangerfield (United States)
- August 9 - Lupin III: Napoleon's Dictionary (Japan)
- August 16 - ' (Japan)
- August 17 - Silent Möbius: The Motion Picture (Japan)
- August 18 - ' (Japan)
- September 6:
- Darkwing Duck: Darkly Dawns the Duck (United States)
- ' (Japan)
- September 11 - The Christmas Tree (United States and Brazil)
- September 14 - Roujin Z (Japan)
- September 19 - The Magic Riddle (Australia)
- October 11 - ' (Netherlands)
- November 2 - Ranma ý: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China (Japan)
- November 21 - ' (Japan)
- November 22:
- ' (United States and United Kingdom)
- Beauty and the Beast (United States)
- Ninja RyÃ
«kenden (Japan)
- December 10 - ' (South Korea)
- December 14:
- Charlie Strapp and Froggy Ball Flying High (Sweden)
- ' (Japan)
- December 19 - The Pirates of Dark Water: The Saga Begins (United States and Philippines)
- December 20 - The Princess and the Goblin (United States, United Kingdom, Hungary, and Japan)
- December 28 - ' (Japan)
- December 29 - The White Camel (Belgium, France, and Luxembourg)
- Specific date unknown:
- Ali Baba (Australia)
- The Count of Monte-Cristo (Australia)
- The Emperor's New Clothes (Australia)
- ' (Soviet Union and Ukraine)
- ' (Poland)
- Frank Enstein (Australia)
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Australia)
- Hans and the Silver Skates (Australia)
- The Holiday of the New Year Tree (Soviet Union)
- The Legend of Zorro (Italy, Japan, and Switzerland)
- ' (Latvia)
- Robin Hood (Italy, Japan, and United Kingdom)
- ' (Soviet Union)
- White Fang (Australia)
Television series debuts
Television series endings
Births
January
- January 14: Jeanine Mason, American actress and dancer (voice of Christina Christo in the Megamind franchise, Eva in WondLa, Minuet Sonata in ').
- January 18: Britt McKillip, Canadian actress and singer (voice of Princess Cadance in ', Lola Bunny in Baby Looney Tunes, Bingo Cherry in Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island, Goldilocks in Dragon Tales, Stella in ToddWorld, Harumi in Ninjago).
- January 25:
- Ariana DeBose, American actress, dancer, and singer (voice of Asha in Wish, and Once Upon a Studio, Danielle in the Human Resources episode "Rutgers is for Lovers").
- Rupert Simonian, British actor (voice of Best in Best & Bester).
- January 28: Calum Worthy, Canadian actor, writer, and producer (voice of Taylor Travis in ', Teen Leader in the Wander Over Yonder episode "The Black Cube").
February
March
April
May
June
- June 1: Zazie Beetz, German-American actress (voice of Diane Foxington in The Bad Guys franchise, Amber Bennett in Invincible).
- June 9: Abe Groening, American television writer and production assistant (Disenchantment).
- June 26: Natsuki Hanae, Japanese voice actor and YouTuber (voice of Tanjiro Kamado in ', Ken Kaneki in Tokyo Ghoul, Inaho Kaizuka in Aldnoah.Zero, Takumi Aldini in ', KÃ
Âsei Arima in Your Lie in April, Sieg in Fate/Apocrypha, Korai Hoshiumi in Haikyu!!, Vanitas in The Case Study of Vanitas, Haruichi Kominato in Ace of Diamond, Maki Katsuragi in Stars Align, The Duke of Death in The Duke of Death and His Maid).
- June 29:
- Tajja Isen, Canadian writer, editor and voice actress (voice of Sister Bear in The Berenstain Bears, Jazzi in The Save-Ums!, the title character in Atomic Betty, Samantha in Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure, Jane in Jane and the Dragon, Jodie in Time Warp Trio, Princess Pea/Presto in Super Why!, Nessa in My Big Big Friend, singing voice of Franny in Franny's Feet).
- Danielle Weisberg, American television writer and production assistant (The Simpsons).
July
August
- August 13: Nikita Hopkins, American actor (voice of Roo in the Winnie the Pooh franchise, young Rudy Buenaventura in The Zeta Project episode "Kid Genius").
- August 14: Charlotte Nicdao, Australian actress (voice of Baby in Kuu Kuu Harajuku, Nurse and Checkout Lady in Bluey, Que in The Strange Chores, See-Thru Princess and Ancient Glass Princess in the ' episode "Obsidian", Meredith in the ' episode "Room for Growth", Sam in the Zootopia+ episode "Dinner Rush", Princess Abigail in the Animaniacs episode "Royal Flush").
- August 28: Kyle Massey, American actor and rapper (voice of Huntsboy #88 in ', Milo in Fish Hooks, Mr. Spoony in Mighty Magiswords, Jeremy in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Chad 3000 in the Yin Yang Yo! episode "Skirting the Issue").
September
- September 7: Jennifer Veal, English actress and internet personality (voice of Zhan Tiri in Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, Ally in ', Princess Magma in the ' episode "Rockullan, Papyron, Scissorian").
- September 9: Adam Paloian, American animator ('), character designer (Smiling Friends, The Cuphead Show!), storyboard artist (Pig Goat Banana Cricket, SpongeBob SquarePants, Tig n' Seek), writer and director (SpongeBob SquarePants, The Cuphead Show!).
October
- October 2: Antony Del Rio, American actor (voice of Reptil in The Super Hero Squad Show, Inferno in Avengers Assemble, Kel in Star Wars Resistance, Kyle in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Todd in Twelve Forever, Man-At-Arms in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe).
- October 7: Kody Kavitha, Indian-American actress (voice of Sunita in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Samosa in Apple & Onion, Norma Khan in ', Saanvi Patel in the We Bare Bears episode "Money Man").
- October 10: Vico Ortiz, Puerto Rican actor, drag king and activist, (voice of Tefe Holland in Harley Quinn, Hunter, Skater Y and Fern in ', Serena in Craig Before the Creek).
- October 18:
- Ely Henry, Canadian-American actor (voice of Bamm-Bamm Rubble in Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs, Calculator in Justice League Action, Fleem in Smallfoot, Goodman in ', Edmund in Where's Waldo?, Bouncing Boy in Legion of Super-Heroes, Aristotle in ').
- Tyler Posey, American actor (voice of Alonso in Elena of Avalor, Inferno in Marvel Rising, Tony Toretto in ', Jose in the Shorty McShorts' Shorts episode "SheZow").
November
December
- December 17: Daniel Tay, American actor (voice of the title character in Doogal).
- December 19:
- Libe Barer, American actress (voice of Violet Sabrewing in DuckTales, Casey Calderon in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur).
- Sumire Uesaka, Japanese voice actress and singer (voice of Hayase Nagatoro in Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro).
- December 20:
- Jason Szwimer, Canadian voice actor (voice of James in Arthur's Perfect Christmas, D.W. Read in seasons 7-10 of Arthur and Postcards from Buster, Elf in Caillou's Holiday Movie, Phil in The Tofus).
- Jillian Rose Reed, American actress (voice of Naomi Turner in Elena of Avalor).
- Sarah-Nicole Robles, American actress (voice of Judy in Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer, Luz Noceda in The Owl House, Zuma in ', Flytrap in Carmen Sandiego).
- December 26: Eden Sher, American actress (voice of Star Butterfly in Star vs. the Forces of Evil).
- December 31: ND Stevenson, American cartoonist and animation producer (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Nimona, Bravest Warriors, Disney Television Animation).
Deaths
January
February
- February 1: Jimmy MacDonald, Scottish-American animator, actor, musician and sound effects maker (Walt Disney Company, voice of Mickey Mouse from 1948 to 1977, original voice of Chip, Gus and Jaq in Cinderella, and Humphrey the Bear, the unlucky wolf in The Sword in the Stone), dies at age 84.
- February 2: Franco Latini, Italian voice actor (dub voice of Donald Duck and Tom Cat), dies at age 63.
- February 3: Nancy Kulp, American actress (voice of Frou-Frou in The Aristocats), dies at age 69.
March
April
- April 10: Natalie Schafer, American actress (voice of Lovey Howell in The New Adventures of Gilligan and Gilligan's Planet), dies at age 90.
- April 19: Frederik Bramming, Danish animator and comics artist (made advertising animated shorts for Bergenholz), dies at age 79.
- April 25: Carl Brandt, American musician (The Dick Tracy Show, The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo, Tom & Jerry), dies at age 76.
- April 28: Ken Curtis, American singer and actor (voice of Nutsy the vulture in Robin Hood), dies at age 74.
- April 30: Roy Seawright, American special effects maker and animator (Babes in Toyland, One Million B.C.), dies at age 85.
May
August
September
- September 3: Frank Capra, Italian-born American director, producer and writer (creator of Private Snafu, directed Our Mr. Sun and Hemo the Magnificent), dies at age 94.
- September 14: Lisa Michelson, American voice actress (English dub voice of Satsuki Kusakabe in My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki in Kiki's Delivery Service), dies in a car accident at age 33.
- September 24: Dr. Seuss, American children's novelist, illustrator, animator and comics artist (Warner Bros. Cartoons, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!), dies at age 87.
- September 27: Floyd Huddleston, American songwriter (The Aristocats, Robin Hood), dies at age 73.
- September 29: Ed Barge, American animator (Harman-Ising, MGM, Hanna-Barbera, Ralph Bakshi), dies at age 81.
October
November
- November 11: Morton Stevens, American composer (Tiny Toon Adventures), dies from pancreatic cancer at age 62.
- November 18: Reg Parlett, English cartoonist and comic book artist, (writer and artist for J. Arthur Rank's Animaland cartoons, one of the artists working on the animated film Animal Farm), dies at age 87.
- November 25: Eleanor Audley, American actress (voice of Lady Tremaine in Cinderella and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty), dies at age 86.
- November 27: Harry Everett Smith, American experimental filmmaker (Early Abstractions, Heaven and Earth Magic), dies at age 68.
December
Specific date unknown
See also
Sources
External links