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 January 4: The first episode of the Cartoon Network series, Ed, Edd n Eddy first airs. January 18: Season 6 of Rugrats begins on Nickelodeon with the premiere of the episodes "Chuckie's Duckling/A Dog's Life"."Rugrats: The Complete Series". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. August 11, 1991. Retrieved May 31, 2022. January 20: South Park concludes its second season on Comedy Central with the episode "Prehistoric Ice Man". It was watched by over three million viewers that night.Comedy Central Ratings Report (January 18–24, 1999). Nielsen Media Research (Report). January 21: Anime producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki is sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for a drug possession case of two years ago.「宇宙戦艦ヤマトプロデューサー 覚せい剤所持容疑で逮捕」『朝日新聞』1998年1月17日 January 22: In Sweden the first episode of De tre vännerna och Jerry (The Three Friends and Jerry) premieres. January 25: The first episode of an animated sitcom adaptation of Scott Adams' newspaper comic Dilbert premiers, Dilbert. The first episode of Zoboomafoo airs. January 29: The Japanese animation studio TNK is founded. January 31: The first episode of Family Guy airs.
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.「宇宙戦艦ヤマト 製作者が銃所持 覚せい剤も」『日本経済新聞』1999年2月2日 February 2: Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) launches Noggin, a commercial-free brand aimed at children aged 6–12.
March March 26: 71st Academy Awards: Bunny by Chris Wedge wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. When You Believe by Stephen Schwartz from The Prince of Egypt wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song. March 28: The first episode of Futurama airs. It marks the debut of characters Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Leela and Bender. The first episode also guest stars television personality Dick Clark and actor Leonard Nimoy.
April April 1: Michael Schoemann's Millionaire Dogs premieres in Germany. The film became popular at its home country as it aired on Cartoon Network four years later. April 7: Season 3 of South Park begins on Comedy Central with the premiere of the episode "Rainforest Shmainforest"."National Nielsen Viewership (April 5-11, 1999)". The Los Angeles Times. Newspapers.com. April 14, 1999. Retrieved January 27, 2023. Specific date unknown: The first Animation Masters Summit is organized in India.
May May 1: The first episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants air on Nickelodeon as a sneak peek after the 12th annual Kids Choice Awards. It is the longest-running Nicktoon series and becomes a global phenomenon. May 2: The Family Guy episode "A Hero Sits Next Door" premieres on Fox, this episode marks the debut of iconic character Joe Swanson (as well as his wife Bonnie and their son Kevin). It was seen by just over 12.6 million viewers that night. May 8: The first episode of The New Woody Woodpecker Show airs. May 16:"National Nielsen Viewership (May 10–16, 1999)". Los Angeles Times. May 19, 1999. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. The Simpsons concludes its tenth season on Fox with the episode "Thirty Minutes over Tokyo", which was watched by just over 12.5 million viewers that night. Family Guy concludes its first season on Fox with the episode "Brian: Portrait of a Dog", which was watched by over 10 million viewers that night. May 18: King of the Hill concludes its third season on Fox with the episode "As Old as the Hills...", leaving the show on a cliffhanger. It was seen by over 7.1 million viewers that night. May 19: 20th Television Animation is founded. May 22: Aleksandr Petrov's The Old Man and the Sea premieres. Specific date unknown: Gene Fowler founds animation studio Fatkat, which will last until May 2009.
June June 10: I Am Weasel gets its own spinoff series after separating from Cow and Chicken. This spinoff completely changes aspects from the previous seasons as I. R. Baboon receives his "hero" status over I. M. Weasel. June 11:Stanley, T. L. (November 8, 1999). "Marketers of the Next Generation; Unique On-Air Promos and Off-Air Partnerships Have Made Cartoon Network a Destination". Brandweek. Vol. 40, no. 42. Adweek. p. 28. ISSN 1064-4318. Cartoon Network launches its new programming block, Cartoon Cartoon Fridays. Ed, Edd n Eddy concludes its first season on Cartoon Network with the premiere of the episodes "Button Yer Ed/Avast Ye Eds". June 12: The Walt Disney Company releases Tarzan. This Disney input had suffered legal problems after its release as Disney limited the use of these characters while using them outside the Tarzan franchise were restricted since they were owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., ...Since 1923, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., has been sole owner and exploiter of Tarzan... June 30: A film adaptation of South Park, named South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut premieres. This theatrical adaptation was infamous for its sexually explicit content.
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 2–11).Cable TV Ratings: Nickelodeon (July 12–18, 1999) (Report). Nielsen Media Research."Nickelodeon.(rating of Nickelodeon's cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants)". Multichannel News. August 23, 1999. Archived from the original on February 28, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025 – via Gale. 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.Cable TV Ratings: Nickelodeon (July 25 – August 1, 1999) (Report). Nielsen Media Research.
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.Cable TV Ratings: Nickelodeon (August 2–8, 1999) (Report). Nielsen Media Research. 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.Cable TV Ratings: Nickelodeon (August 16–22, 1999) (Report). Nielsen Media Research. 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. The first episode of Oggy and the Cockroaches airs. 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.Cable TV Ratings: Nickelodeon (September 13–19, 1999) (Report). Nielsen Media Research. 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 October 4: Season 4 of Arthur begins on PBS Kids with the premiere of the episodes "D.W.‘s Library Card" and the infamous one "Arthur's Big Hit". October 5: Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost is released. It was deemed controversial during the time of release due to the religious groups claiming the film as "Satanic". This direct-to-video movie was not a marketing success as it suffered production woes over the generally acclaimed Zombie Island. October 8: The famous Arthur episode "The Contest" premieres as art styles parodied from independent programs, such as South Park and Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. This episode was an actual contest won by Holly Holland, a young girl that lived in Canadian, Oklahoma. October 31: The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror X" premieres on Fox.Groening, Matt (October 28, 2010). Richmond, Ray; Gimple, Scott M.; McCann, Jessie L.; Seghers, Christine; Bates, James W. (eds.). Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 (1st ed.). HarperCollins. .
November November 12: The first episodes of Mike, Lu & Og and Courage the Cowardly Dog air on Cartoon Network. November 13: Toy Story 2 premieres in theaters. November 16: Duck Amuck was added to the National Film Registry. November 26: Season 2 of Ed, Edd n Eddy begins on Cartoon Network with the premiere of the episodes "Know It All Ed/Dear Ed".
December December 10: Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip airs on Cartoon Network. Unlike the then-popular television series, it doesn't do well in the full-length format. December 17: The Walt Disney Company releases Fantasia 2000, a sequel to the 1940 film Fantasia.