Events in 1977 in animation.
Events
February February 9: Ralph Bakshi's Wizards is first released. It will later become a cult classic.
March March 11: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, produced by the Walt Disney Company, is first released. March 29: 49th Academy Awards: Leisure by Suzanne Baker wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.
April April 1: Richard Williams' debut film Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure premieres. Due to going well-over the budget near completion, Williams was withdrawn from the project as 20th Century-Fox took control over it. The reviews were mixed. April 20: Woody Allen's live-action comedy film Annie Hall premieres which has an animated segment directed by former Disney animator Chris Ishii.
June June 22: The Walt Disney Company releases The Rescuers, directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery and Art Stevens.
August August 24: The Peanuts film, Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown, premieres in theaters. August 26: The first episode of the Hungarian animated TV series A kockásfülű nyúl is broadcast.
September September 10: Hanna-Barbera first broadcasts Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels A celebrity animated TV show I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali, voiced by the boxing legend himself, is first broadcast, produced by Farmhouse Films. However, it will only run one season.
October October 24: The Peanuts TV special, It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown, premieres on CBS. It was deemed infamous for the revealed appearance of the Little Red-Haired Girl, who was attended to be unseen at the time, and the result of Peppermint Patty blaming and insulting Charlie Brown, which were subsequently made lower and backmasked following the protest.Lee Mendelson (1979), "Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown", page 29, Random House, New York, NY, This was also the first Peanuts special to not be composed by Vince Guaraldi (due to his passing from last year), instead being Ed Bogas. October 28: The Dr. Seuss special Halloween Is Grinch Night airs, marking the second animated appearance of The Grinch.
Specific date unknown Magic Bus is founded. Ruby-Spears is founded. Robert Grossman, James Picker and Craig Whitaker's Jimmy the C is first released, a clay animation film starring U.S. President Jimmy Carter singing Georgia On My Mind.
Films released
February 4 - The Lighthouse Island (East Germany) February 9 - Wizards (United States) March 1 - Krabat - The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Czechoslovakia and West Germany) March 11 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (United States) March 19 - The Wild Swans (Japan) April 1 - Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (United Kingdom and United States) April 6 - The Easter Bunny Is Comin' To Town (United States) April 7: Bugs Bunny's Easter Special (United States) Mattie the Goose-boy (Hungary) May 6 - Gulliver's Travels (United Kingdom and Belgium) May 18 - Love in Freedom (Belgium) May 27 - Fantastic Animation Festival (United States) June 22 - The Rescuers (United States) July 20 - Robot Taekwon V: Underwater Rangers (South Korea) July 23 - Donald Duck's Summer Magic (United States) July 27 - Taekwon dongja Maruchi Arachi (South Korea) August 4 - Mr. Rossi's Dreams (Italy) August 6 - Space Battleship Yamato (Japan) August 24 - Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (United States) September 16 - Around the World with Bolek and Lolek (Poland) November 3 - Pete's Dragon (United States) November 13 - A Journey to the Center of the Earth (United States) November 18 - The Mouse and His Child (United States and Japan) November 24 - 5 Weeks in a Balloon (United States) November 27 - The Hobbit (United States and Japan) December 1 - New Star of the Giants (Japan) December 7 - A Flintstone Christmas (United States) December 9 - Electronic Man 337 (South Korea) December 15 - Dot and the Kangaroo (Australia)
Television series
Debuts January 1 - Yatterman debuts on Fuji TV. January 2 - Araiguma Rascal debuts on Fuji TV. February 3 - Jetter Mars debuts on Fuji TV. February 12 - The New Adventures of Batman debuts on CBS. February 14 - The Flumps debuts on BBC1. March 3 - Mechander Robo debuts on Tokyo Channel 12. March 6 - Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace debuts on FNS (Fuji TV). April 4 - Attack on Tomorrow debuts on Fuji TV. April 9 - Ginguiser debuts on ANN (ABC). June 4 - Chōdenji Machine Voltes V debuts on TV Asahi. June 7 - Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac debuts on ABC. July 3 - Chojin Sentai Barattack debuts on ANN (ANB). August 26 - A kockásfülű nyúl debuts on Magyar Televízió. September 10: Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, Laff-A-Lympics, Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics, and The All-New Super Friends Hour debut on ABC. What's New, Mr. Magoo?, The Robonic Stooges, The Skatebirds, Wonder Wheels, and The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour debut on CBS. Baggy Pants and the Nitwits, CB Bears, Space Sentinels, The New Archie and Sabrina Hour, and I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali debut on NBC. September 12 - Ore wa Teppei debuts on Fuji TV. September 18 - Ippatsu Kanta-kun debuts on Fuji TV. September 22 - Arrow Emblem Hawk of the Grand Prix debuts on Fuji TV. October 1: Star of the Giants debuts on Yomiuri Television. Temple the Balloonist debuts on Fuji TV. October 2: Ie Naki Ko debuts on Nippon TV. Rittai Anime Ie Naki Ko debuts in syndication. October 3: Fred Flintstone and Friends debuts in syndication. Lupin III Part II debuts on Nippon TV. October 5: Manga Nippon Emaki debuts on TBS. Tobidase! Machine Hiryū debuts on TV Tokyo. October 8 - Invincible Super Man Zambot 3 debuts on NBN. October 17 - Dinosaur War Izenborg debuts on TV Tokyo. October 29 - Wakakusa no Charlotte debuts on ABC. November 11 - Manga Ijin Monogatari debuts in syndication. December 13 - Angie Girl debuts on ABC. December 23 - Yakyū-kyō no Uta debuts on Nippon TV. Specific date unknown - The Toothbrush Family debuts in syndication.
Births
January January 2: Anna Cummer, Canadian actress (voice of Pepper Potts in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Strawberry Shortcake in Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures). January 7: Dustin Diamond, American actor and comedian (voice of Chubby Kid in Yogi's Great Escape), (d. 2021). Tomm Moore, Irish filmmaker, animator, illustrator and comics artist (co-founder of Cartoon Saloon). January 13: Orlando Bloom, English actor (voice of Prince Harry in The Prince). January 16: Gabe Lopez, American composer (Dora, Trolls: TrollsTopia), (d. 2026).Emmy-nominated RuPaul's Drag Race crew member, songwriter Gabe Lopez dies as queens pay tribute: 'Devastating to hear' January 17: Leigh Whannell, Australian actor (voice of Jatt in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole). January 21: Jerry Trainor, American actor (voice of Dudley Puppy in T.U.F.F. Puppy, Will in Doc McStuffins, Commander Cone in Bunsen Is a Beast). January 23: Peter Sohn, American animator, director, voice actor, and storyboard artist (Pixar) (voice of Emile in Ratatouille, Scott 'Squishy' Squibbles in Monsters University, Sox in Lightyear). January 29: Justin Hartley, American actor (voice of Superman in Injustice). January 31: Bobby Moynihan, American voice actor and comedian (voice of Louie in DuckTales, Panda in We Bare Bears, Fantos in Kid Cosmic, the title character in Chozen). Kerry Washington, American actress, producer and director (voice of Shuri in Black Panther, Natalie Certain in Cars 3, Rayshelle Peyton in The Simpsons).
February February 2: Shakira, Columbian singer (voice of Gazelle in the Zootopia franchise and performed "Try Everything", and "Zoo", as well as "Todos Juntos" for Dora the Explorer). February 7: Susanne Pollatschek, Scottish-British actress (voice of Olivia Flaversham in The Great Mouse Detective) February 9: A. J. Buckley, Irish-Canadian actor (voice of Toad in Wolverine and the X-Men, Melter, Klaw and Batroc the Leaper in The Super Hero Squad Show, Pigeon Pete in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nash in The Good Dinosaur). February 17: Kara Edwards, American voice actress (voice of Goten and Videl in the Dragon Ball franchise). February 18: Ike Barinholtz, American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer (voice of Tiny in The Angry Birds Movie, Wayne Edwards in Bless the Harts, Muscleman in The Awesomes, Lex Luthor in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part).
March March 8: James Van Der Beek, American actor (voice of Boris in Vampirina, Jonathan "Mox" Moxon in the Robot Chicken episode "Message Chair", English dub voice of Pazu in Castle in the Sky), (d. 2026).James Van Der Beek, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star, Dies at 48 March 9: Lydia Mackay, American voice actress (voice of Trisha Elric and Sloth in Fullmetal Alchemist). March 15: Rebecca O'Mara, Irish actress (voice of Caitlin in Thomas & Friends). March 22: Manda Rin, Scottish singer, artist and songwriter (performed the closing theme song from The Powerpuff Girls). March 23: Sindy Boveda-Spackman, American television writer (Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Peter Rabbit, The 7D, Get Blake!, Rusty Rivets, Sunny Day, Mutt & Stuff, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, Love Monster, Vampirina, The Chicken Squad, Do, Re & Mi) and script coordinator (Nickelodeon Animation Studio). March 24: Jessica Chastain, American actress and producer (voice of Gia in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted) March 25: Rob Oliver, American animator and director (The Simpsons).
April April 2: Thomas Krajewski, American television writer (The Replacements, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Skunk Fu!, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, YooHoo & Friends, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Action Dad, Packages from Planet X, Monsuno, Max Steel, Buddy Thunderstruck, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese). April 3: Gavin Freitas, American animator (Brickleberry, Rick and Morty, Rainbow Brite, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water) and storyboard artist (Full English, Brickleberry, The Fairly OddParents, The Simpsons, Duncanville). April 8: Ana de la Reguera, Mexican actress (voice of Carmen Sánchez in The Book of Life, Ambassador Turais in Elio). April 9: Tim McKeon, American producer, director and screenwriter (Sitting Ducks, Cartoon Network Studios, Disney Television Animation, Top Cat: The Movie, Hilda, Kid Cosmic, co-creator of Out of Jimmy's Head). April 10: Stephanie Sheh, American voice actress, writer, and producer (voice of Mamimi Samejima in FLCL, Hinata Hyuga in Naruto, Eureka in Eureka Seven, Orihime Inoue in Bleach, Usagi Tsukino / Sailor Moon in the Viz Media dub of Sailor Moon, Mitsuha Miyamizu in Your Name, Lotte Yanson in Little Witch Academia, Mackenzie Mack / Glitter Spade in Glitter Force Doki Doki, Manon Chamack in Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Katana in DC Super Hero Girls). April 14: Sarah Michelle Gellar, American actress (voice of the Seventh Sister in Star Wars Rebels, April O'Neil in TMNT, Teela in Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Ella in Happily N'Ever After, Gina Vendetti in The Simpsons, Buffy Summers, Daphne Blake and other various characters in Robot Chicken). April 23: Eric Edelstein, American actor and comedian (voice of Chad in Clarence, Grizzly in We Bare Bears, B.O.B. in Monsters vs. Aliens, Coach Croach in The Fungies!, Daddy Shark in Baby Shark's Big Show!, Geoff in The Ghost and Molly McGee). John Cena, American professional wrestler and actor (voice of the title character in Ferdinand, Baron Draxum in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, J.C. in Surf's Up 2: WaveMania, himself in Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery and The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown!). John Oliver, English-American television host and actor (voice of Augustus Crumhorn in Central Park, Zazu in The Lion King, Vanity Smurf in The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2). Kal Penn, American actor (voice of Mikku in Mira, Royal Detective, Ravi Singh in Fancy Nancy).
May