1999 in animation is an overview of notable events, including notable awards, list of films released, television show debuts and endings, and notable deaths.
Events
January
February
- February 1: Anime producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki is arrested after a handgun, 131 bullets and 20 grams of stimulant drugs were seized from his house in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. Nishizaki, voluntarily submitted two automatic rifles, 1,800 bullets, and 30 howitzer shells kept in a station wagon in his garage, police said. Police say that Nishizaki had hidden an Austrian handgun loaded with three bullets under a zaisu chair in a study. Nishizaki told them that he had bought the handgun in Hong Kong 10 years earlier.
- February 2: Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) launches Noggin, a commercial-free brand aimed at children aged 6âÂÂ12.
March
April
May
June
July
- July 14: The South Park episode "Cat Orgy" premieres on Comedy Central, this is the first part in the Meteor Shower event.
- July 17: SpongeBob SquarePants makes it official premiere on Nickelodeon with the episodes "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants". The show's official premiere was seen by just over 2.5 million viewers that morning (with it only being viewed by 1.9 million children from ages 2âÂÂ11).
- July 21: The South Park episode "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" premieres on Comedy Central, this is the second part in the Meteor Shower event and the first episode where the character Butters Stotch has a major supporting role in the show.
- July 28:
- André Franquin's heirs and copyright holders win the trial against the Walt Disney Animation Studios over their animated TV series version of Franquin's comics character Marsupilami, citing breaches of its license contract: Disney had failed to produce thirteen half-hour episodes (instead producing six to eight minute shorts) or use its "best efforts" to secure a commitment from a network to air the show, and it launched its marketing campaign during a time when the show was not being broadcast. Marsu also accused Disney of fraudulent concealment; the judge noted that Disney had decided to not devote sufficient resources to the Marsupilami project, and had concealed this fact from Marsu. Disney pays back the damage and hands the rights to the series back to Franquin's company Marsu Productions.
- The South Park episode "Jewbilee" premieres on Comedy Central, this is the third and final part in the Meteor Shower event.
- July 31: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Jellyfishing/Plankton!" premiere on Nickelodeon, the latter episode marks the debut of the show's main antagonist, Sheldon J. Plankton (and his computer wife Karen). The episodes were seen by nearly 2.9 million viewers that morning.
August
- August 6: The Iron Giant premieres, but doesn't do well at the box office. It will only become a cult classic later.
- August 7: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Naughty Nautical Neighbors/Boating School" premiere on Nickelodeon, the latter episode marks the debut of SpongeBob's driving teacher Mrs. Puff. The episodes were seen by over 2.8 million viewers that morning.
- August 16: The first episode of Rocket Power airs on Nickelodeon.
- August 21: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy/Pickles" premiere on Nickelodeon, the former episode marks the debut of the titular episode characters, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. The episodes were seen by over 2.9 million viewers that morning.
- August 30: Sonic Underground airs. Unlike the proclaimed two series that aired in 1993, this incarnation of Sonic the Hedgehog became a disappointment to the fans of the video game series, ending it after 40 episodes.
September
- September 6: The first episode of Dragon Tales airs and PBS Kids launches.
- September 17: The SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "Sandy's Rocket/Squeaky Boots" premiere on Nickelodeon, the latter episode marks the debut of Mr. Krabs' teenage whale daughter Pearl. The episodes were watched by exactly 2.4 million viewers that night.
- September 23: Season 2 of Family Guy begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater", which was watched by over 7 million viewers that night.
- September 24: John Kricfalusi's Boo Boo Runs Wild, a parody of Yogi Bear, first airs.
- September 26:
- Season 4 of King of the Hill begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "...Peggy Hill: The Decline and Fall", which follows up from the events of Season 3's finale "As Old as the Hills...". It was seen by over 9.7 million viewers that night.
- Season 11 of The Simpsons begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Beyond Blunderdome", which was watched by over 12.9 million viewers that night.
October
November
December
Specific date unknown
Films released
- January 10 â ' (United States)
- January 12 â Our Friend, Martin (United States)
- February 26 â ' (Canada, France, and Germany)
- March 6 â ' (Japan)
- March 9 â Tarzan of the Apes (United States)
- March 19 â The King and I (United States)
- March 20 â ' (Japan)
- March 26 â Doug's 1st Movie (United States)
- April 1 â ' (Germany)
- April 2 â Marco: 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (Japan)
- April 17:
- ' (Japan)
- ' (Japan)
- The Legend of the Titanic (Italy)
- April 23 â City Hunter: Death of the Vicious Criminal Ryo Saeba (Japan)
- April 24:
- Tenchi Forever! The Movie (Japan)
- You're Under Arrest: The Movie (Japan)
- June 2 â A Monkey's Tale (France, United Kingdom, Germany, and Hungary)
- June 16 â Tarzan (United States)
- June 23 â Faeries (United Kingdom)
- June 30 â ' (United States)
- July 6 â Puss in Boots (United States)
- July 8 â Manuelita (Argentina)
- July 9 â Goomer (Spain)
- July 10 â Carnivale (France and Ireland)
- July 17:
- My Neighbors the Yamadas (Japan)
- ' (Japan)
- July 24 â Soreike! Anpanman YÃ
«ki no Hana ga Hiraku Toki (Japan)
- July 27:
- ' (Japan)
- VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed (United States)
- July 30:
- Lotus Lantern (China)
- Lupin III: The Columbus Files (Japan)
- July 31 â The Emperor's Treasure (United States)
- August 3 â ' (United States)
- August 6 â The Iron Giant (United States)
- August 14:
- ' (Japan)
- Revolutionary Girl Utena: Adolescence of Utena (Japan)
- August 21:
- ' (Japan)
- The File of Young Kindaichi 2: Murderous Deep Blue (Japan)
- September 4 â ' (Sweden)
- September 16 â ' (Germany)
- September 25 â ' (Japan)
- September 28 â Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (United States)
- September 30 â Tobias Totz and His Lion (Germany)
- October 5 â Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost (United States)
- October 11:
- Jack and the Beanstalk (United Kingdom)
- ShÃ
Âta no Sushi: Kokoro ni Hibiku Shari no Aji (Japan)
- October 19 â The Nuttiest Nutcracker (United States)
- October 22 â Anne Frank's Diary (United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)
- November 9:
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (United States)
- ' (United States)
- November 16 â Bartok the Magnificent (United States)
- November 17 â ' (Japan)
- November 24 â Toy Story 2 (United States)
- December 3 â Cartoon Noir (United States)
- December 9 â ' (United States)
- December 10 â ' (United States)
- December 16:
- ' (Germany)
- ' (Hungary)
- December 17:
- Fantasia 2000 (United States)
- Olive, the Other Reindeer (United States)
- December 21 â Wakko's Wish (United States)
- December 23 â ' (Japan)
- December 24 â ' (Japan)
- December 25 â Pettson & Findus â The Cat and the Old Man Years (Sweden)
- December 27 â ' (China and Germany)
- Specific date unknown:
- D4: The Trojan Dog (Australia)
- Donkey Kong Country: The Legend of the Crystal Coconut (United States and Canada)
- ' (China)
- The Three Little Pigs (Australia)
- ' (Japan)
Television series debuts
Television series endings
Television season premieres
Television season finales
Births
January
- January 1: Diamond White, American singer and actress (voice of Frankee Greene in ', Fuli in The Lion Guard, Ruby in Sofia the First, Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur).
- January 4: Gage Munroe, Canadian actor (voice of George Ridgemount in Stoked, Matt in My Big Big Friend, the title character in Mr Moon, Jake in Babar and the Adventures of Badou, the title character in Justin Time, Marshall in season 1 of PAW Patrol, Danny Chase in Lucky Duck, Jim Hawkins in Pirate's Passage, Prince Ferg in Little Charmers, Hank in ', Dragon in the Super Why! episode "The Big Game", Steve in the Doodlebops Rockin' Road Show episode "Stand Up Funny", Mick Mallory in the Grojband episode "Super Zeroes", Mikey in the Ella the Elephant episode "Ella's Special Delivery", Wayne Whale in the Little People episode "Potty Ahoy!").
- January 18: Karan Brar, American actor (voice of Veer in Mira, Royal Detective, Zandar in Sofia the First, Ravi Ross in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Halloween Night at the Museum").
- January 28: Preston Strother, American actor (voice of Fox in Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, Arthur Jr. in ').
February
- February 7: Bea Miller, American singer and actress (voice of Molly in Toy Story 3, Virginia in Yes, Virginia).
- February 10: Tiffany Espensen, American actress (voice of Ginger Hirano in Phineas and Ferb, Rama in The Lion Guard, Ming Long-Dou in The Boondocks episode "The Red Ball").
- February 19: Quinn Lord, Canadian actor (voice of young Leo in Edison and Leo, Jason in 3-2-1 Penguins!, Linus Van Pelt in Peanuts Motion Comics, Hardy the Hippo in the ToddWorld episode "Whatever Sways Your Swing").
March
April
May
- May 11: Sabrina Carpenter, American actress (voice of Melissa Chase in Milo Murphy's Law, Vivian in Sofia the First, Melodie in the Wander Over Yonder episode "The Legend", Nina Glitter in the Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures episode "Super-Charged: Pop Star Helpers").
- May 25: Brec Bassinger, American actress (voice of Margo Roberts in The Loud House, Willow Jasmine in Dew Drop Diaries).
- May 28: Cameron Boyce, American actor (voice of Jake in seasons 2âÂÂ3 of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Carlos in ', Luke Ross in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Halloween Night at the Museum", Shocker in the Spider-Man episode "Osborn Academy"), (d. 2019).
- May 30: Sean Giambrone, American actor (voice of Jeff Randell in Clarence, Ant-Man in Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Richardson Mole in ', Travis in The Emoji Movie, Shermy in the Adventure Time episode "Come Along With Me", eBoy in Ralph Breaks the Internet, Yumyulack Opposites Jr. in Solar Opposites, Ben Pincus in Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, Jimmy McGill in Slippin' Jimmy, Riley in The Chicken Squad).
June
- June 3: Alicia Vélez, Mexican voice actor and daughter of Humberto Vélez (dub voice of Boo in Monsters, Inc., Daisy in Spirit Riding Free, Lena De Spell in DuckTales, Karmi in ', Pippa Powers in Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Shiera Sanders in DC Super Hero Girls, Martin Prince and Sherri and Terri in season 32-present of The Simpsons, Doctor Octopus in Spidey and His Amazing Friends).
- June 27: Chandler Riggs, American actor and DJ (voice of Carl Grimes in the Robot Chicken episode "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking").
July
August
September
- September 7: Michelle Creber, Canadian actress and singer (voice of Apple Bloom in ').
November
Deaths
January
- January 2: Shepard Menken, American actor (voice of Clyde Crashcup in The Alvin Show, Tonto in The Lone Ranger, the Spelling Bee and Chroma the Great in The Phantom Tollbooth, the title character in Riki Tiki Tavi, Doctor Doom in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Old Storyteller in '), dies at age 77.
- January 11: John McGrew, American animator, painter and musician (Warner Bros. Cartoons), dies at age 88 or 89.
- January 12: Betty Lou Gerson, American actress (narrator in Cinderella, voice of Cruella de Vil in One Hundred and One Dalmatians), dies at age 84.
February
March
April
- April 1: Tadahito Mochinaga, Japanese animator and animation director (Manchukuo Film Association, Rankin/Bass), dies at age 80.
- April 3:
- Evelyn Lambart, Canadian animator and film director (Begone Dull Care, A Chairy Tale), dies at age 84.
- Kay Wright, American animator, television producer and comics artist (Walt Disney Company, Cambria Productions, Filmation, Hanna-Barbera), dies at age 79.
- April 10:
- Cliff Roberts, American photographer, cartoonist, animator and comics artist (Hanna-Barbera, DePatie-Freleng), dies at age 69.
- Jean Vander Pyl, American actress (voice of Wilma Flintstone and Pebbles Flintstone in The Flintstones, Rosie the Robot Maid in The Jetsons, Goldie, Lola Glamour, Nurse LaRue in Top Cat, Winsome Witch in The Secret Squirrel Show, Ogee in Magilla Gorilla), dies at age 79 from lung cancer.
- April 14: Vic Herman, American illustrator, designer, cartoonist, puppeteer, television producer, and comics artist (designed title cards for Merrie Melodies), dies at age 79.
- April 16:
- Regis Cordic, American actor (voice of Diablo in Fantastic Four, Apache Chief and Black Manta in The All-New Super Friends Hour, Bald Doctor in Puff the Magic Dragon, The Clock in The Mouse and His Child, Quintessons and Menasor in The Transformers), dies at age 72.
- Charles McKimson, American animator and comics artist (Warner Bros. Cartoons), dies at age 84.
May
- May 8: Ed Gilbert, American actor (voice of Baloo in TaleSpin, Thrust and Blitzwing in The Transformers, Pugsy and Daddy Sterling in ', Mr. Smee in Peter Pan and the Pirates, Looten Plunder in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Professor Heiny in Freakazoid!, Dormammu in Spider-Man, the Mandarin in season 1 of Iron Man), dies at age 67.
- May 19: Candy Candido, American singer, musician, and actor (voice of the Native American chief in Peter Pan, Awful Dynn in The Phantom Tollbooth, crocodile captain in Robin Hood, Mafia messenger in Heavy Traffic, Sal in Hey Good Lookin<nowiki/>', Fidget in The Great Mouse Detective), dies at age 85.
June
- June 11: DeForest Kelley, American actor (voice of Dr. Leonard McCoy in ', Viking 1 in The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars), dies at age 79.
- June 13: Douglas Seale, English actor, film producer, and director (voice of Krebbs in The Rescuers Down Under, the Sultan in Aladdin), dies at age 85.
- June 21: Tobin Wolf, American writer (creator of ThunderCats), dies at age 76.
August
- August 7: Brion James, American actor (voice of Rudy Jones / Parasite in '), dies at age 54.
- August 9: Lou Lilly, American animator and film director (Warner Bros. Cartoons), dies at age 90.
- August 16: David W. Allen, American animator (When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Laserblast, The Howling, ', Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Puppet Master), dies at age 54.
- August 20: Margaret Wright, American actress (voice of Casey Junior in Dumbo), dies from heart failure at age 82.
- August 27: Ponsonby Britt, American fictional television producer (Jay Ward Productions, The Phox, the Box, and the Lox), was retired at age 40.
September
October
- October 12: Wilt Chamberlain, American former professional basketball player (voiced himself in the Goober and the Ghost Chasers episode "The Galloping Ghost"), dies at age 63.
- October 15: Terry Gilkyson, American lyricist (wrote "The Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book), dies at age 83.
- October 18:
- Dallas Bower, English film and television director and producer (Alice in Wonderland), dies at age 92.
- Paddi Edwards, English actress (voice of Flotsam and Jetsam in The Little Mermaid, Twinkle the Bag Lady in Edith Ann: Homeless Go Home, Gloria in Phantom 2040, Lab Computer in The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue, Satellite 1 in The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars, Atrophos in Hercules, Lucy in ', Vera in Pepper Ann, Maggie Pie in the ' episode "Eternal Youth"), dies at age 67.
- October 29: Greg, Belgian comics artist, writer and screenplay writer (Tintin and the Temple of the Sun, Tintin and the Lake of Sharks), dies at age 68.
November
- November 12: Mary Kay Bergman, American actress (voice of the Bimbettes in Beauty and the Beast, Quasimodo's mother in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Liane Cartman, Sheila Broflovski, Shelly Marsh, Sharon Marsh, Mrs. McCormick and Wendy Testaburger in South Park, Banshee in Extreme Ghostbusters, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in ', Timmy Turner in Oh Yeah! Cartoons, Gwen Stacy in the Spider-Man episode "Farewell Spider-Man", continued voice of Dr. Blight in Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Daphne Blake in Scooby-Doo), dies at age 38.'
- November 14: Giorgio Bordini, Italian comics artist, animator and illustrator (La Piccola Fiammiferaia), dies at age 72.
December
- December 3: Madeline Kahn, American actress, comedian and singer (voice of Draggle in ', Gussie Mausheimer in An American Tail, Gypsy in A Bug's Life, Mrs. Shapiro in the Little Bill episode "The Campout"), dies at age 57.
- December 10: Al Stahl, American animator and comics artist (Terrytoons, Fleischer Brothers, Stahl's Animated Productions), dies at age 83.
- December 17: Rex Allen, American actor (narrator and voice of the title character in The Saga of Windwagon Smith, the narrator in Charlotte's Web), dies at age 79.
- December 31:
- Arthur Humberstone, English animator and film director (Halas & Batchelor, Animal Farm, Yellow Submarine, Watership Down, The Plague Dogs, The BFG), dies at age 87.
- Dean Elliott, American composer (Chuck Jones, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Ruby-Spears Enterprises), dies at age 82.
Specific date unknown
See also
Sources
External links