1939 in animation explained

Events in 1939 in animation.

Events

January

• January 28: Tex Avery's Hamateur Night premieres, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions.^[1]

February

• February 18: Hamilton Luske's Mickey Mouse cartoon Mickey's Surprise Party premieres, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.^[2]
• February 23: 11th Academy Awards: The Walt Disney Company's Ferdinand the Bull, directed by Dick Rickard, wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.^[3]
• February 25: Milt Gross' Count Screwloose cartoon Jitterbug Follies premieres, produced by MGM.^[4]

March

• March 11: Tex Avery's A Day at the Zoo premieres, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions .^[5]
• March 17: The Walt Disney Company releases Goofy and Wilbur, the first solo Goofy cartoon, directed by Dick Huemer.^[6]
• March 25: Chuck Jones' Prest-O Change-O premieres.^[7]

April

• April 7: The Ugly Duckling, directed by Jack Cutting and Clyde Geronimi, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, premieres.^[8]
• April 22: Chuck Jones' Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur premieres, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions, starring Daffy Duck.^[9]

May

• May 20: Chuck Jones' Naughty but Mice premieres, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions, which marks the debut of Sniffles the Mouse.^[10]

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.^[11]

July

• July 1: Chuck Jones' Porky Pig cartoon Old Glory premieres, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions which stands out for being a serious and educational propaganda cartoon about the Pledge of Allegiance.^[12]
• July 7: The final Betty Boop cartoon Rhythm on the Reservation, produced by the Fleischer Brothers, premieres.^[13]
• July 21: Clyde Geronimi's Mickey Mouse cartoon The Pointer premieres, produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios. In the cartoon Mickey and Pluto go hunting and encounter a bear.^[14]

September

• September 1:
  • Jack King's Donald Duck cartoon The Autograph Hound premieres, produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios.^[15]
  • 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.^[16] 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.^[17]

October

• October 7: Chuck Jones' The Little Lion Hunter premieres in which Inki and the Mynah Bird make their debuts.^[18]
• October 9: Walter Lantz's Life Begins for Andy Panda premieres, which marks the debut of Andy Panda.^{[19] [20] [21]}

December

• December 9: Hugh Harman's Peace on Earth premieres, produced by MGM which will become a classic.^[22]
• December 22: The Fleischer Studios release Gulliver's Travels, the second American feature-length animated film.^[23]

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.^[24]
• Kenzō Masaoka's Benkei tai Ushiwaka premieres.^[25]

Films released

• July 1 - The Golden Key (Soviet Union)
• December 22 - 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), (d. 2023).^[26]

February

• February 2: Jackie Burroughs, English-born Canadian actress (voice of the Spirit in The Care Bears Movie, Katherine in Heavy Metal, Morag in , Frau Rottenmeier in Heidi), (d. 2010).^[27]
• February 6: Mike Farrell, American actor (voice of Jonathan Kent in the DC Animated Universe and ).
• February 7: Vladimir Tarasov, Russian animator and animation director (Soyuzmultfilm).
• February 12: Michele Kalamera, Italian actor (Italian dub voice of Razoul in Aladdin, The King in Cars, Commander Bristle in , Rourke in , Baloo in TaleSpin), (d. 2023).^[28]
• 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).^[29]

March

• March 5:
  • Camillo Teti, Italian production manager, film producer and director (, Yo-Rhad, un amico dallo spazio).
  • Samantha Eggar, English-American actress (voice of Hera in the Hercules franchise, Queen Guinevere in The Legend of Prince Valiant, Whale in Metalocalypse).

April

• April 10: Shinji Mizushima, Japanese manga artist (Dokaben), (d. 2022).^[30]
• April 13: Paul Sorvino, American actor (voice of Alphonse Perrier du von Scheck in , Variecom CEO in the Duckman episode "How to Suck in Business Without Really Trying"), (d. 2022).^[31]
• April 23:
  • Lee Majors, American actor (voice of General Abernathy in , Jeff Tracy in Thunderbirds Are Go, Steve from Ausin in the Wapos Bay episode "Guardians", Babar and David Faustino's Agent in the Robot Chicken episode "Love, Maurice", himself in the Family Guy episode "Running Mates").
  • Patrick Williams, American composer, arranger and conductor (The Simpsons), (d. 2018).^[32]
• April 28: Michiyo Yasuda, Japanese animator (Toei Animation, A Production, Nippon Animation, Topcraft, Studio Ghibli), (d. 2016).^[33]

May

• May 22: Paul Winfield, American actor (voice of Mr. Smith in The Wish That Changed Christmas, Jeffrey Robbins in Gargoyles, Mr. Ruhle in The Magic School Bus, Omar Mosley/Black Marvel in Spider-Man, Sam Young in Batman Beyond, Lucious Sweet in The Simpsons, Earl Cooper in the episode "The Mechanic", Father in the episode "Beauty and the Beast"), (d. 2004).^[34]
• May 25: Ian McKellen, English actor (voice of Horatio Huntington in 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).^[35]

June

• June 13: Siegfried Fischbacher, German-American magician, entertainer and producer (Father of the Pride), (d. 2021).^[36]
• June 26: Stu Rosen, American voice director and actor (Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling, The Legend of Prince Valiant, ), (d. 2019).^[37]

July

• July 19: Stanisław Lenartowicz, Polish animator, (d. 2023).^[38]
• July 26: Bob Baker, English screenwriter (Wallace & Gromit), (d. 2021).^[39]
• July 30: Peter Bogdanovich, American director, writer, actor, producer, critic and film historian (voice of Psychologist in The Simpsons episode "Yokel Chords"), (d. 2022).^[40]

August

• August 16: Carole Shelley, English actress (voice of Amelia Gabble in The Aristocats, Lady Kluck in Robin Hood), (d. 2018).^[41]
• 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).^[42]
• 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).^[43]

September

• September 1: Lily Tomlin, American actress (voice of Ms. Frizzle in The Magic School Bus, Edith Ann in , Edith Ann: Homeless Go Home and Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noel), Mommo in The Ant Bully, Toki in Ponyo, May Parker in , 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).^{[44] [45]}
  • George Lazenby, Australian actor (voice of King in Batman Beyond).
• September 13: Richard Kiel, American actor (voice of Vladimir in Tangled), (d. 2014).^{[46] [47] [48] [49]}
• 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, Muijika in Mushishi, Hachiroh Tohbe in , Tonpetty in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood), (d. 2020).^[50]
• October 24: F. Murray Abraham, American actor (voice of Grimmel in , Jupiter in Isle of Dogs).
• October 27: John Cleese, English actor, comedian, (voice of Cat R. Waul in , Albert in The Magic Pudding, King Harold in the Shrek franchise, Quincy Endicott/Adelaide in Over the Garden Wall, narrator in Winnie the Pooh and House of Mouse, King Gristle Sr. in Trolls, Bulldog in Planes), and screenwriter (The Croods).
• October 30: Danny Goldman, American actor and casting director (voice of Brainy Smurf in The Smurfs, Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue and Robot Chicken), (d. 2020).^[51]

November

• November 10: Russell Means, American activist and actor (voice of Chief Powhatan in Pocahontas and , Shaman and Chief Sentry in Turok: Son of Stone, Thomas in the Duckman episode "Role With It"), (d. 2012).^{[52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62]}
• November 18: Brenda Vaccaro, American actress (voice of Tilly in Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Scruple and Architect Smurf in 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 , 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).
• November 30: Andrei Khrzhanovsky, Russian animator (There Lived Kozyavin, The Glass Harmonica, The Nose or the Conspiracy of Mavericks).

December

• December 4: Robert Glass, American sound engineer (The Simpsons), (d. 1993).^[63]
• December 26: Ron Campbell, Australian film director, producer (Ron Campbell Films, Inc.) and animator (Hanna-Barbera, Disney Television Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, The Beatles, Yellow Submarine, Sesame Street, Duckman), (d. 2021).^[64]

Specific date unknown

• Suzanne Baker, Australian film producer (Leisure).
• Nelson Shin, Korean animator (DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, Marvel Productions, Star Wars), director (, Toad Patrol) and producer (The Transformers, Spiral Zone, founder and president of AKOM).
• David Brown, American businessman (co-founder of Blue Sky Studios), (d. 2003).^[65]
• Sam Cornell, American animator (George of the Jungle, The Hugga Bunch, , directed the main titles for The Wuzzles and The New Woody Woodpecker Show), background artist (Shinbone Alley), storyboard artist (George of the Jungle, The Rugrats Movie), writer and director (The New 3 Stooges), (d. 2021).
• David Hamilton Grant, English pornographic producer and convicted criminal (Snow White and the Seven Perverts), (d. 1991).^[66]

Deaths

January

• January 20: Victor Bergdahl, Swedish animator and comics artist (Kapten Grogg), dies at age 60.^{[67] [68]}

October

• October 10: Benjamin Rabier, French comics artist, illustrator, animator and advertising artist (Gédéon, Tintin-Lutin, designed La Vache Qui Rit), dies at age 74.^[69]

November

• November 22: Walter Hoban, American cartoonist (created the comic strip Jerry on the Job, which received several animated adaptations by the animation studio Bray Productions), dies at age 38.^{[70] [71]}

December

• December 30: Charles Mintz, American film producer and distributor (Winkler Pictures, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit), dies at age 50.^{[72] [73] [74] [75] [76]}

See also

• List of anime by release date (1939–1945)

References

• Book: Bendazzi, Giannalberto . Cartoons: One hundred years of cinema animation . registration . . 1994 . 0-253-20937-4 . Anna Taraboletti-Segre .

External links

• Animated works of the year, listed in the IMDb

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hamateur Night. IMDb. 28 January 1939.
2. Web site: Mickey's Surprise Party. IMDb. 18 February 1939.
3. Web site: The 11th Academy Awards (1939) Nominees and Winners . 2011-08-10 . Oscars.org (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093716/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/11th-winners.html . 6 July 2011 . dead .
4. Web site: Jitterbug Follies (MGM). 2021-04-14. Big Cartoon DataBase (BCDB). en.
5. Web site: A Day at the Zoo. IMDb. 11 March 1939.
6. Web site: Cartoons of 1939: 035 Goofy and Wilber. 15 March 2010. The Cartoons of Project: 1939. 22 May 2016.
7. Web site: Prest-O Change-O. IMDb. 25 March 1939.
8. "The Ugly Duckling". www.bcdb.com
9. Web site: Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur. IMDb. 22 April 1939.
10. Web site: Naughty but Mice (Warner Bros.).
11. Web site: Barney Bear. Toonopedia.
12. Web site: Old Glory. IMDb. July 1939.
13. Web site: Rhythm on the Reservation. IMDb. 7 July 1939.
14. Web site: The Pointer. IMDb. 21 July 1939.
15. Web site: The Autograph Hound. IMDb. September 1939.
16. Web site: Au Revoir, Television. Thomson. Ernest C. 1 September 2016. Transdiffusion. 27 May 2017.
17. https://thetvroom.com/ark/listings/listing-343.html The TV Room Plus: TV Listings
18. Web site: The Little Lion Hunter (Leon Schlesinger Studios).
19. Book: Motion picture herald . 1931 . [New York, N.Y. : Quigley Pub. Co.] . 81 . 18 July 2022.
20. News: Walter Lantz, 93, the Creator Of Woody Woodpecker, Is Dead . . March 23, 1994 . November 22, 2011 . Glenn . Collins . 2.
21. Book: Solomon, Charles . Enchanted drawings: the history of animation . limited . Knopf . 1989 . 90 . 0-394-54684-9.
22. News: Hugh Harman, 79, Creator Of 'Looney Tunes' Cartoons . New York Times . November 30, 1982.
23. Bendazzi, p. 91
24. Web site: Ray Goossens.
25. Web site: Benkei tai Ushiwaka. IMDb.
26. https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/manor-born-star-anglea-thorne-152714754.html To The Manor Born star Angela Thorne dies aged 84
27. News: Jackie Burroughs of Road to Avonlea dies. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-09-22. 22 September 2010.
28. https://www.republica.it/spettacoli/cinema/2023/07/26/news/michele_kalamera_morto_doppiatore_clint_eastwood-409062316/Morto Michele Kalamera, il grande "orecchiante" doppiatore di Clint Eastwood
29. Web site: David Mitton . . June 7, 2008 . December 27, 2012.
30. Web site: Dokaben Baseball Manga Creator Shinji Mizushima Passes Away at 82. Anime News Network. July 14, 2022. January 16, 2022.
31. News: 'Goodfellas,' 'Law & Order' actor Paul Sorvino dies at 83. Bahr. Lindsey. July 25, 2022. Associated Press.
32. Web site: Burlingame. Jon. 2018-07-25. Patrick Williams, Emmy-Winning TV Composer, Dies at 79. 2022-02-04. Variety. en-US.
33. News: Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle artist dies. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/michiyo-yasuda-dead-studio-ghibli-animator-spirited-away-a7358791.html . 2022-05-01 . subscription . live. 2016-10-13. The Independent. en-GB. 2016-10-13 . mdy-all.
34. News: Oscar-nominated actor Paul Winfield dies. King. Susan. March 9, 2004. Chicago Tribune.
35. News: Beth Howland, accident prone waitress from the sitcom Alice dies at 74. The New York Times. Grimes. William. May 24, 2016. July 16, 2022.
36. News: Sandomir. Richard. Hauser. Christine. January 14, 2021. Siegfried Fischbacher, Magician of Siegfried & Roy, Dies at 81. The New York Times.
37. Web site: Stu Rosen Dies: Emmy Winning 'Dusty's Treehouse' Creator, 'Fraggle Rock' Voice Actor Was 80. Dino-Ray. Ramos. August 4, 2019. May 5, 2020.
38. Web site: FilmPolski.pl .
39. Web site: Doctor Who writer and K9 co-creator Bob Baker dies, aged 82. radiotimes.com. November 5, 2021. November 5, 2021.
40. News: Peter Bogdanovich, Oscar-Nominated Director and Champion of Hollywood's Golden Age, Dies at 82. The Hollywood Reporter. Kilday. Gregg. Byrge. Duane. January 6, 2022. January 6, 2022.
41. News: Slotnik. Daniel E.. Carole Shelley, a Tony Winner and a Pigeon Sister, Dies at 79. The New York Times. 4 September 2018. 5 September 2018.
42. News: Valerie Harper, Who Played Beloved TV Sidekick Rhoda, Dies At 80. NPR. Blair. Elizabeth. August 30, 2019.
43. News: John Peel 'relieved' to be diabetic . BBC News . 1 October 2001 . 9 February 2013.
44. Web site: Stephen J. Lawrence, 'Sesame Street' Composer and 'Free to Be… You and Me' Musical Director, Dies at 82. J. Kim. Murphy. Variety. January 2, 2022. January 2, 2022.
45. Web site: Perez . Lexy . 2022-01-02 . Stephen J. Lawrence, 'Sesame Street' Composer, Dies at 82 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220102233829/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/stephen-j-lawrence-dead-sesame-street-composer-1235069027/ . 2022-01-02 . 2022-01-04 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US. Stephen J. Lawrence, ‘Sesame Street’ Composer, Dies at 82
46. News: Richard Kiel Dies at 74; Played Jaws in Bond Films. Bruce. Weber. The New York Times. September 11, 2014.
47. Web site: Maggie . Holland . The Den of Geek interview: Richard Kiel . . January 6, 2009 . April 3, 2022.
48. Web site: Richard Kiel's Testimony . Kiel . Richard . Official Richard Kiel Fan Club . August 16, 2010 . October 28, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141028172837/http://www.richardkiel.com/testimony.html . dead.
49. News: Bond Villain Died Of Heart Disease . . October 9, 2014 . November 20, 2014.
50. Web site: Yoshisada SAKAGUCHI. Anime News Network. May 5, 2020.
51. Web site: Danny Goldman, Voice of Brainy Smurf and 'Young Frankenstein' Star, Dies at 80. J. Kim. Murphy. April 13, 2020.
52. Web site: Russell Means: I'll come back as lightning. UPI.com. August 18, 2011. October 12, 2011.
53. News: Russell Means, Who Clashed With Law as He Fought for Indians, Is Dead at 72. McFadden, Robert D.. New York Times. 22 October 2012.
54. News: Lammers, Dirk. Associated Press. Tribal spokeswoman says former American Indian Movement activist Russell Means dies at 72. https://web.archive.org/web/20160810153558/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/tribal-spokeswoman-says-former-american-indian-movement-activist-russell-means-dies-at-72/2012/10/22/7136c6e8-1c4e-11e2-8817-41b9a7aaabc7_story.html. dead. August 10, 2016. October 22, 2012. The Washington Post. Tribune Company.
55. Web site: Russell Means Updates His Condition: Tumor Diminished Significantly. Native News Network. September 23, 2011. October 12, 2011. Rickert, Levi. December 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111210064354/http://www.nativenewsnetwork.com/russell-means-updates-his-condition-tumor-diminished-significantly.html. dead.
56. Russell Means. Infowars Nightly News. June 27, 2012. World News. October 22, 2012. 9:45.
57. News: Former AIM activist Russell Means says he's cancer-free. St. Paul Pioneer Press . Associated Press . 2011-12-14.
58. News: McLellan, Dennis. Russell Means dies at 72; American Indian rights activist, actor. October 23, 2012. The Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. October 24, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023033710/http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-russell-means-20121023,0,1631667,full.story. October 23, 2012. dead.
59. Web site: American Indian activist Russell Means dead at 72. Reuters. October 22, 2012. October 22, 2012. Coffman, Keith.
60. Web site: Longtime Indian Activist Russell Means Dies at 72. ABC News. October 22, 2012. October 22, 2012.
61. Remembering Russell Means. The Nation. October 23, 2012. October 23, 2012. Hayden, Tom.
62. News: Russell Means, Indian Activist And Actor, Dies. NPR. October 22, 2012. October 22, 2012. Peralta, Eyder.
63. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/24/obituaries/robert-glass-movie-sound-producer-53.html Robert Glass, Movie Sound Producer, 53
64. Web site: Cartoonist Ron Campbell dies at 81. WFSA 12 News. January 23, 2021. January 23, 2021.
65. Web site: Blue Sky Studios' Co-Founder Brown Passes Away. Sarah. Baisley. April 16, 2003. Animation World Network.
66. Web site: X appeal: Britain's oldest living sexploitation star tells all . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/x-appeal-britains-oldest-living-sexploitation-star-tells-all-6110509.html . May 1, 2022 . subscription . live . . 2006-01-29 . mdy-all.
67. Web site: Victor Bergdahl.
68. Bendazzi, p. 45
69. Web site: Benjamin Rabier.
70. http://www.toonopedia.com/jerryjob.htm Markstein, Don. Toonopedia.
71. http://lambiek.net/artists/h/hoban.htm Lambiek
72. News: In Memoriam: Charles Mintz. September 24, 2012. Scrappyland. May 21, 2018. en-US.
73. Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014. Social Security Administration.
74. Book: Gabler, Neal. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. 2006. Alfred A. Knopf. New York. 0-679-43822-X. registration.
75. Book: Lenburg . Jeff . The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons . 1999 . Checkmark Books . 0-8160-3831-7 . June 6, 2020 . 66–67.
76. Book: The a to Z of Animation and Cartoons. 978-1-4616-6402-4. Dobson. Nichola. April 2010.