Films released
Events
January
* January 28: Tex Avery's ''Hamateur Night'' premieres, produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Leon Schlesinger Productions.February
* February 18: Hamilton Luske's Mickey Mouse cartoon ''Mickey's Surprise Party'' premieres, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. * February 23: 11th Academy Awards: The Walt Disney Company's ''Ferdinand the Bull (film), Ferdinand the Bull'', directed by Dick Rickard, wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short. *February 25: Milt Gross' Count Screwloose cartoon ''Jitterbug Follies'' premieres, produced by MGM.March
* March 11: Tex Avery's ''A Day at the Zoo'' premieres, produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Leon Schlesinger Productions . * March 17: The Walt Disney Company releases ''Goofy and Wilbur'', the first solo Goofy cartoon, directed by Dick Huemer. * March 25: Chuck Jones' ''Prest-O Change-O'' premieres.April
* April 7: ''The Ugly Duckling (1939 film), The Ugly Duckling'', directed by Jack Cutting (animator), Jack Cutting and Clyde Geronimi, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, premieres.The Ugly DucklingMay
* May 20: Chuck Jones' ''Naughty but Mice'' premieres, produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Leon Schlesinger Productions, which marks the debut of Sniffles (Merrie Melodies), Sniffles the Mouse.June
* June 10: Harman & Ising's ''The Bear That Couldn't Sleep'' is first released, produced by MGM which marks the debut of Barney Bear.July
* July 1: Chuck Jones' ''Porky Pig'' cartoon ''Old Glory (1939 film), Old Glory'' premieres, produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Leon Schlesinger Productions which stands out for being a serious and educational propaganda cartoon about the Pledge of Allegiance. * July 7: The final ''Betty Boop'' cartoon ''Rhythm on the Reservation'', produced by the Fleischer Brothers, premieres. * July 21: Clyde Geronimi's ''Mickey Mouse'' cartoon ''The Pointer'' premieres, produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios. In the cartoon Mickey and Pluto (Disney), Pluto go hunting and encounter a bear.September
* September 1: ** Jack King (animator), Jack King's ''Donald Duck'' cartoon ''The Autograph Hound'' premieres, produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios. ** BBC Television Service broadcasts the Mickey Mouse cartoon ''Mickey's Gala Premier'', produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios. Afterwards it ceases all broadcasting because of the outbreak of World War II. An urban legend about this final broadcast claims that due to the sudden outbreak of the war the BBC cut the cartoon short and when BBC-TV resumed after the conflict, it was picked up at the very point it had been interrupted. Despite this widespread belief, the cartoon was shown in its entirety and then followed by tuning signals. On 7 June 1946, the day BBC television broadcasts resumed after the war, ''Mickey's Gala Premier'' was shown again.October
* October 7: Chuck Jones' ''The Little Lion Hunter'' premieres in which Inki and the Mynah Bird make their debuts. * October 9: Walter Lantz's ''Life Begins for Andy Panda'' premieres, which marks the debut of Andy Panda.December
* December 9: Hugh Harman's ''Peace on Earth (film), Peace on Earth'' premieres, produced by MGM which will become a classic. * December 22: The Fleischer Studios release ''Gulliver's Travels (1939 film), Gulliver's Travels'', the second American feature-length animated film.Specific date unknown
* In Antwerp Ray Goossens, Henri Winkeler, Jules Luyckx and Edmond Roex establish their own animation studio, AFIM (Antwerpse Filmmaatschappij). It will exist until 1944. * Kenzō Masaoka's ''Benkei tai Ushiwaka'' premieres.Films released
* July 1 - ''The Golden Key (1939 film), The Golden Key'' (Soviet Union) * December 22 - ''Gulliver's Travels (1939 film), Gulliver's Travels'' (United States)Births
January
* January 10: Harrie Geelen, Dutch illustrator, film director and animator (Toonder Studios). * January 25: Angela Thorne, British actress (voice of the Queen of England in ''The BFG (1989 film), The BFG''), (d. 2023).February
* February 2: Jackie Burroughs, English-born Canadian actress (voice of the Spirit in ''The Care Bears Movie'', Katherine in ''Heavy Metal (film), Heavy Metal'', Morag in ''Star Wars: Ewoks'', Frau Rottenmeier in ''Heidi (2005 animated film), Heidi''), (d. 2010). * February 6: Mike Farrell, American actor (voice of Jonathan and Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent in the DC Animated Universe and ''Superman: Brainiac Attacks''). * February 7: Vladimir Tarasov, Russian animator and animation director (Soyuzmultfilm). * February 12: Michele Kalamera, Italian actor (Italian dub voice of Razoul in ''Aladdin (1992 Disney film), Aladdin'', The King in ''Cars (film), Cars'', Commander Bristle in ''Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars'', Rourke in ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'', Baloo in ''TaleSpin''), (d. 2023). * February 15: Taichirō Hirokawa, Japanese voice actor, (d. 2008). * February 27: David Mitton, English television and film director and producer, model maker and special effects technician (''Thomas & Friends''), (d. 2008).March
* March 5: ** Camillo Teti, Italian production manager, film producer and director (''Titanic: The Legend Goes On'', ''Yo-Rhad, un amico dallo spazio''). ** Samantha Eggar, English-American actress (voice of Hera in the ''Hercules (franchise), Hercules'' franchise, Queen Guinevere in ''The Legend of Prince Valiant'', Whale in ''Metalocalypse'').April
* April 10: Shinji Mizushima, Japanese manga artist (''Dokaben''), (d. 2022). * April 13: Paul Sorvino, American actor (voice of Alphonse Perrier du von Scheck in ''Hey Arnold!: The Movie'', Variecom CEO in the ''Duckman'' episode "How to Suck in Business Without Really Trying"), (d. 2022). * April 23: ** Lee Majors, American actor (voice of General Abernathy in ''G.I. Joe: Renegades'', Jeff Tracy in ''Thunderbirds Are Go (TV series), Thunderbirds Are Go'', Steve from Ausin in the ''Wapos Bay'' episode "Guardians", Babar the Elephant, Babar and David Faustino's Agent in the ''Robot Chicken'' episode "Love, Maurice", himself in the ''Family Guy'' episode "Running Mates (Family Guy episode), Running Mates"). ** Patrick Williams (composer), Patrick Williams, American composer, arranger and conductor (''The Simpsons''), (d. 2018). * April 28: Michiyo Yasuda, Japanese animator (Toei Animation, A Production, Nippon Animation, Topcraft, Studio Ghibli), (d. 2016).May
* May 22: Paul Winfield, American actor (voice of Mr. Smith in ''The Wish That Changed Christmas'', Jeffrey Robbins in ''Gargoyles (TV series), Gargoyles'', Mr. Ruhle in ''The Magic School Bus (TV series), The Magic School Bus'', Black Marvel, Omar Mosley/Black Marvel in ''Spider-Man (1994 TV series), Spider-Man'', Sam Young in ''Batman Beyond'', Lucious Sweet in ''The Simpsons'', Earl Cooper in the ''Batman: The Animated Series'' episode "The Mechanic", Father in the ''Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child'' episode "Beauty and the Beast"), (d. 2004). * May 25: Ian McKellen, English actor (voice of Horatio Huntington in ''Animal Crackers (2017 film), Animal Crackers'', Toad in ''Flushed Away'', Cecil Pritchfield in the ''Family Guy'' episode "Send In Stewie, Please", himself in ''The Simpsons'' episode "The Regina Monologues"). * May 28: Beth Howland, American actress (voice of Singer in the ''Batman Beyond'' episode "Out of the Past", Dr. Leventhal in the ''As Told by Ginger'' episode "And She Was Gone"), (d. 2015).June
* June 13: Siegfried Fischbacher, German-American magician, entertainer and producer (''Father of the Pride''), (d. 2021). * June 26: Stu Rosen, American voice director and actor (''Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling'', ''The Legend of Prince Valiant'', ''Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series''), (d. 2019).July
* July 19: Stanisław Lenartowicz, Polish animator, (d. 2023). * July 26: Bob Baker (scriptwriter), Bob Baker, English screenwriter (''Wallace & Gromit''), (d. 2021). * July 30: Peter Bogdanovich, American director, writer, actor, producer, critic and film historian (voice of Psychologist in ''The Simpsons'' episode "Yokel Chords"), (d. 2022).August
* August 16: Carole Shelley, English actress (voice of Amelia Gabble in ''The Aristocats'', Lady Kluck in ''Robin Hood (1973 film), Robin Hood''), (d. 2018). * August 22: Valerie Harper, American actress (voice of various characters in ''The Simpsons'', Townspeople in the ''Sorcerous Stabber Orphen'' episode "The Sword of Baltanders", Maryellen and Librarian in the ''As Told by Ginger'' episode "The Wedding Frame", IHOP Diner in the ''American Dad!'' episode "Cock of the Sleepwalk", additional voices in ''Generator Gawl''), (d. 2019). * August 30: John Peel, English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist (voice of Announcer in the ''Space Ghost Coast to Coast'' episode "Explode"), (d. 2004).September
* September 1: Lily Tomlin, American actress (voice of Ms. Frizzle in ''The Magic School Bus (TV series), The Magic School Bus'', Edith Ann in ''Edith Ann: A Few Pieces of the Puzzle'', ''Edith Ann: Homeless Go Home'' and ''Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noel)'', Mommo in ''The Ant Bully (film), The Ant Bully'', Toki in ''Ponyo'', Aunt May, May Parker in ''Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'', Tammy in ''The Simpsons'' episode "The Last of the Red Hat Mamas"). * September 5: ** Stephen J. Lawrence, American composer (''Sesame Street'', ''The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss''), (d. 2021). ** George Lazenby, Australian actor (voice of Royal Flush Gang, King in ''Batman Beyond''). * September 13: Richard Kiel, American actor (voice of Vladimir in ''Tangled''), (d. 2014). * September 17: Shelby Flint, American singer-songwriter (''Snoopy Come Home'', ''The Rescuers''), and actress (voice of Belle in ''The Stingiest Man in Town'', Lilly Lorraine in ''Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July'').October
* October 2: Yoshisada Sakaguchi, Japanese voice actor (voice of Philip II of Macedon in ''Reign (anime), Reign'', Muijika in ''Mushishi'', Hachiroh Tohbe in ''Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade'', Tonpetty in ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood (film), JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood''), (d. 2020). * October 24: F. Murray Abraham, American actor (voice of Grimmel in ''How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World'', Jupiter in ''Isle of Dogs (film), Isle of Dogs''). * October 27: John Cleese, English actor, comedian, (voice of Cat R. Waul in ''An American Tail: Fievel Goes West'', Albert in ''The Magic Pudding (film), The Magic Pudding'', King Harold in the ''Shrek (franchise), Shrek'' franchise, Quincy Endicott/Adelaide in ''Over the Garden Wall'', narrator in ''Winnie the Pooh (2011 film), Winnie the Pooh'' and ''House of Mouse'', King Gristle Sr. in ''Trolls (film), Trolls'', Bulldog in ''Planes (film), Planes''), and screenwriter (''The Croods''). * October 30: Danny Goldman, American actor and casting director (voice of Brainy Smurf in ''The Smurfs (1981 TV series), The Smurfs'', ''Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue'' and ''Robot Chicken''), (d. 2020).November
* November 10: Russell Means, American activist and actor (voice of Powhatan (Native American leader), Chief Powhatan in ''Pocahontas (1995 film), Pocahontas'' and ''Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World'', Shaman and Chief Sentry in ''Turok: Son of Stone (film), Turok: Son of Stone'', Thomas in the ''Duckman'' episode "Role With It"), (d. 2012). * November 18: Brenda Vaccaro, American actress (voice of Tilly in ''Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey'', Scruple and Architect Smurf in ''The Smurfs (1981 TV series), The Smurfs'', Didi in ''The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones'', Ardeth in ''The Critic'', Marge and Chi in ''Captain Planet and the Planeteers'', Bunny Bravo and other various characters in ''Johnny Bravo'', Mrs. Hirsch in ''Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure'', Kameyo in ''Kubo and the Two Strings'', Slim in the ''Darkwing Duck'' episode "You Sweat Your Life", Gilda in the ''Goof Troop'' episode "Date with Destiny", Strip Club Manager in the ''American Dad!'' episode "Stan Knows Best", Godmonster in the ''Summer Camp Island'' episode "Monster Visit"). * November 26: Tina Turner, Swiss-American singer and actress (performed the song "Great Spirits" in ''Brother Bear''), (d. 2023).December
* December 4: Robert Glass (sound engineer), Robert Glass, American sound engineer (''The Simpsons''), (d. 1993). * December 26: Ron Campbell (animator), Ron Campbell, Australian film director, producer (Ron Campbell Films, Inc.) and animator (Hanna-Barbera, Disney Television Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, ''The Beatles (TV series), The Beatles'', ''Yellow Submarine (film), Yellow Submarine'', ''Sesame Street'', ''Duckman''), (d. 2021).Specific date unknown
* Suzanne Baker, Australian film producer (''Leisure (film), Leisure''). * Nelson Shin, Korean animator (DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Marvel Productions, ''Star Wars (film), Star Wars''), director (''The Transformers: The Movie'', ''Toad Patrol'') and producer (''The Transformers (TV series), The Transformers'', ''Spiral Zone'', founder and president of AKOM). * David Brown, American businessman (co-founder of Blue Sky Studios), (d. 2003). * Sam Cornell, American animator (''George of the Jungle'', ''The Hugga Bunch'', ''Jetsons: The Movie'', directed the main titles for ''The Wuzzles'' and ''The New Woody Woodpecker Show''), background artist (''Shinbone Alley (film), Shinbone Alley''), storyboard artist (''George of the Jungle'', ''The Rugrats Movie''), writer and director (''The New 3 Stooges''), (d. 2021). * David Grant (producer), David Hamilton Grant, English pornographic producer and convicted criminal (''Snow White and the Seven Perverts''), (d. 1991).Deaths
January
* January 20: Victor Bergdahl, Swedish animator and comics artist (''Kapten Grogg''), dies at age 60.October
* October 10: Benjamin Rabier, French comics artist, illustrator, animator and advertising artist (''Gédéon'', ''Tintin-Lutin'', designed ''The Laughing Cow, La Vache Qui Rit''), dies at age 74.December
* December 30: Charles Mintz, American film producer (Winkler Pictures, ''Oswald the Lucky Rabbit''), dies at age 50.''Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014''. Social Security Administration.See also
*List of anime by release date (1939–1945)Notes
References
*External links