2013 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 7: Cartoon Network announced the following: A fifth season renewal of Regular Show. A third season renewal of The Amazing World of Gumball. Additional episodes for The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange. January 11: The first episode of Sofia the First airs. January 28: Cartoon Network renews Adventure Time for sixth season."Cartoon Network Announces New and Returning Shows" (Press Release). TV Series Finales. January 28, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2026

February February 4: Japanese animation studio Science Saru is founded by director Masaaki Yuasa and producer Eunyoung Choi. February 10: Family Guy's 200th episode "Valentine's Day in Quahog" premieres on Fox. It was seen by just over 4.7 million viewers that night.Kondolojy, Amanda (February 12, 2013). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Family Guy' & 'The Cleveland Show' Adjusted Up; 'The Simpsons', '60 Minutes' & 'Revenge for Real' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013. February 24: The 85th Academy Awards premiere, hosted by Seth MacFarlane. Brave by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Paperman by John Kahrs wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. February 26: The Scooby-Doo direct-to-video film Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon releases on DVD, Blu-ray, and UltraViolet.Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (November 14, 2012). "PR: "Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon" DVD/Blu-ray/UltraViolet Combo Pack Coming February 26, 2013" (Press release). Toon Zone. Retrieved February 6, 2026. The movie is a crossover with Dynomutt, Dog Wonder.

March March 22: The Croods, a film by DreamWorks Animation is released. March 30: The second & final season of The Problem Solverz was released exclusively on Netflix.

April April 7: The first episode of Attack on Titan is broadcast. "MBS 4月6日より 毎週土曜25時58分～ ※4月13日は26時10分～" See rest of article for other broadcasting times. April 15: The first episode of Doki airs. April 23: The 6th & final season of Johnny Test begins on Cartoon Network with the premiere of the episode "Johnny on the Clock"."Shows A-Z - johnny Test on cartoon". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 29, 2026. The first episode of Teen Titans Go! aired on Cartoon Network.

May May 7: 40th Annie Awards May 12:"Sunday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'Once Upon a Time', 'The Simpsons' & 'Revenge' Adjusted Up - Ratings". Tvbythenumbers. December 15, 2012. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013. Bob's Burgers concludes its third season on Fox with the episode "The Unnatural". The season's finale was seen by over 3.3 million viewers that night. American Dad! concludes its ninth season on Fox with the episode "Da Flippity Flop", guest starring sport athletes Shaun White & Jonny Moseley. The season's finale was seen by just over 4 million viewers that night. May 19:"Sunday Final Ratings: 'The Simpsons' & 'The Cleveland Show' Adjusted Up, 'The Billboard Music Awards', 'America's Funniest Home Videos' & '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013. The Cleveland Show's final episodes, "Crazy Train" and "Wheel! Of! Family!", premiere on Fox. The series was cancelled due to the show's declining ratings over its run. Cleveland later returned to Family Guy in Season 12's "He's Bla-ack!", along with his new family. Episode viewership: "Crazy Train" (2.14 million), "Wheel! Of! Family!" (2.43 million) The Simpsons concludes its 24th season on Fox with the following episodes: "The Saga of Carl", guest starring Icelandic band Sigur Rós. (viewership: 4.01m) "Dangers on a Train", guest starring Seth MacFarlane & Lisa Lampanelli. (viewership: 4.52m) Family Guy concludes its 11th season on Fox with the following episodes: "Roads to Vegas" (viewership: 5.28m) "No Country Club for Old Men" (viewership: 5.16m)

June June 1: The Hub renamed to Hub Network. June 16: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls is released. June 21: Pixar's Monsters University is released.

July July 3: Illumination's Despicable Me 2 was released. July 17: Turbo, a comedy film about the Indianapolis 500, was released by DreamWorks. July 18: RWBY premieres on Rooster Teeth. July 21: The Animation Domination High-Def block launches in the Fox Broadcasting Company.

August August 2: The Gravity Falls Season one finale, "Gideon Rises" premiered on Disney Channel, it was seen by over 3 million viewers. August 12: The first episode of Paw Patrol is broadcast. Regular Show concluded its fourth season on Cartoon Network. August 16: The Phineas and Ferb and Marvel hour-long crossover event, "Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel" premiered on Disney Channel, just like the Gravity Falls season finale, it was seen by over 3 million viewers. A sneak peek of the other Disney Channel animated series, Wander Over Yonder airs right after. August 20: The Scooby-Doo direct-to-video film Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright releases on DVD, Blu-ray, & UltraViolet.Gencarelli, Mike (August 7, 2013). "Blu-ray Review "Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright"". mediamikes.com. Retrieved February 6, 2026.

September September 2: The first two episodes from Season 5 of Regular Show premiere on Cartoon Network. Uncle Grandpa airs its first two episodes on Cartoon Network. September 4: Futurama aired its final episode on Comedy Central after four seasons and 52 episodes. The show would be revived again in 2022, with Hulu ordering 20 episodes for 2023. September 13: Wander Over Yonder made its official premiere on Disney Channel, it was seen by over 3 million viewers. September 25: Season 17 of South Park begins on Comedy Central with the premiere of the episode "Let Go, Let Gov". It was seen by just nearly 2.9 million viewers that night.Kondolojy, Amanda (September 26, 2013). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'South Park' Wins Night + 'The Challenge: Rivals II', 'Key & Peele', 'The Daily Show', 'The Colbert Report' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2013. September 27: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is released by Sony Pictures Animation to positive reviews. September 29:Bibel, Sara (October 1, 2013). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'The Simpsons' & 'Bob's Burgers' Adjusted Up; 'Revenge' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013. Season 25 of The Simpsons begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Homerland", guest starring Kevin Michael Richardson and Kristen Wiig. The season's premiere was seen by over 6.3 million viewers that night. Season 4 of Bob's Burgers begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "A River Runs Through Bob". The season's premiere was seen by over 4.4 million viewers that night. Season 12 of Family Guy begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Finders Keepers", guest starring Yvette Nicole Brown & Lea Thompson. The season's premiere was seen by 5.2 million viewers that night. Season 10 of American Dad! begins on Fox with the premiere of the episode "Steve & Snot's Test-Tubular Adventure". The season's premiere was seen by over 4.3 million viewers that night.

October October 7: PBS Kids rebrands with new promos and bumpers, shutting down PBS Kids Preschool Block and PBS Kids Go!. The same day, Peg + Cat premieres to positive reviews.

November November 4: Steven Universe airs its first episodes on Cartoon Network. November 11: The SpongeBob SquarePants episode "SpongeBob, You're Fired" premieres on Nickelodeon, originally broadcast in Greece four months earlier. It was condemned for "slamming the benefits of Unemployment". November 13: PBS Kids Sprout renamed to Sprout. November 22: Walt Disney Pictures releases Frozen, which becomes a global phenomenon, also released in the Mickey Mouse cartoon Get a Horse!. November 24: The Family Guy episode "Life of Brian" premieres on Fox, in which Brian Griffin dies.

December December 2: Rick and Morty debuts on Adult Swim. December 3: The Amazing World of Gumball concludes its second season on Cartoon Network with the premiere of the episode "The Finale". December 11: South Park concludes its 17th season on Comedy Central with the episode "The Hobbit". It was seen by over 2.1 million viewers that night.Bibel, Sara (December 12, 2013). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Wins Night, 'American Horror Story', 'South Park', 'Rodeo Girls', 'Key & Peele' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013. December 15: Brian Griffin is revived in the Family Guy episode "Christmas Guy". December 18: The Hole is added to the National Film Registry.

Awards Academy Award for Best Animated Feature: Brave Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film: Paperman Animation Kobe Feature Film Award: The Garden of Words Annecy International Animated Film Festival Cristal du long métrage: Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury Annie Award for Best Animated Feature: Frozen Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature Film: Koo! Kin-Dza-Dza BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film: Frozen César Award for Best Animated Film: Loulou, l'incroyable secret European Film Award for Best Animated Film: The Congress Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen Goya Award for Best Animated Film: Underdogs Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year: The Wind Rises Japan Media Arts Festival Animation Grand Prize: Approved for Adoption Mainichi Film Awards - Animation Grand Award: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Films released

February 15 - Escape From Planet Earth (United States) March 22 - The Croods (United States) May 24 - Epic 2013 (United States) June 16 - My Little Pony Equestria Girls 2013 (United States) July 3 - Despicable Me 2 (United States) July 17 - Turbo 2013 (United States (United States) July 31 - The Smurfs 2 (United States) August 9 - Planes 2013 (United States) September 10 - The Smurfs The Legend of Smurfy Hollow (United States) September 27 - Cloudy With a Chance Of Meatballs 2 (United States) October 22 - Barbie and her Sisters in a Pony Tale (United States) November 1 - Free Birds 2013 (United States) November 27 - Frozen 2013 (United States)

Television series debuts