1989 in animation

Events in 1989 in animation.

Events

• February 3 – L'Oréal closes down Filmation after 27 years.
• Creative Capers Entertainment is founded.

Films released

• Asterix and the Big Fight (France, West Germany)
• July 15 – Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (Japan)
• July 22 – Kiki's Delivery Service (Japan)
• July 28 – Babar: The Movie (Canada, New Line Cinema)
• November 14 – The Little Mermaid (United States, Walt Disney Pictures)
• November 17 – All Dogs Go to Heaven (Ireland, United Kingdom, United States)
• December 25 – The BFG (United Kingdom)

Shorts

• June 23 – Tummy Trouble (United States)

Television series

Debuts

• March 4 – Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers premieres in syndication (United States, 1989-1990).
• March 14 – Transformers: Victory premieres on NTV (Japan, 1989).
• September 2 – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero premieres in syndication (United States, 1989-1992).
• September 8 – The Legend of Zelda, a television based on the video games series premieres in syndication.
• September 9 – Beetlejuice premieres on ABC (United States, 1989-1991).
• September 16:
  • X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men airs in syndication (United States, 1989).
  • Dink, the Little Dinosaur debuts on CBS (United States, 1989-1991).
• December 17 – The Simpsons premieres on Fox with a special Christmas episode (United States, 1989–present).

Specials

• July 17 – Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration, a television special airs on TNT to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hanna-Barbera.

Deaths

• February 9 – Osamu Tezuka, Japanese animator
• April 24 – Clyde Geronimi, Italian-American animation director (born 1901)
• July 10 – Mel Blanc, American voice actor best known for Bugs Bunny (born 1908)
• October 12 – Jay Ward, American animator and producer (born 1920)