(part 1 of 6) 1937 to 1980
Below is a checklist of every animated feature released theatrically in the United States, in order of release, from 1937 to 1980.
This is a list of every animated feature released theatrically (see definition below) in the United States since 1937 to date (the sound era). This list is a work-in-progress and does not include silent features, such as THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED (1926). Nor does it does not include made-for-tv animated features such as THE POINT (1971) or THE FLINTSTONES MEET THE JETSONS (1987).
This list does not include people-in-costume or puppet films like THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO (1967), PUFNSTUF (1970), THE DARK CRYSTAL (1983), “Muppet” movies, THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD (2000) and TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (2004). Also not listed are compilation features such as HOORAY FOR BETTY BOOP (1976), THE SPEED RACER SHOW (1993), various festivals of animation, nor does this list include numerous foreign animated features which have been dubbed in English and have appeared on U.S. TV or direct-to-video tape release, such as DOT AND THE KANGEROO (Australia), KATY CATERPILLAR (Spain), THE SINGING PRINCESS (Italy), JACK AND THE WITCH and KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (both Japan). Imax re-treads, such as the TV-special-turned-40-minute-featurette SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN (2002) are not listed.
Films that are primarily live action that have animation sequences, bits, titles or computer generated characters — such as TWO GUYS FROM TEXAS (1948), SO DEAR TO MY HEART (1949), THE PINK PANTHER (1964), CASPER (1995), MONKEY BONE (2001), STUART LITTLE 2 (2002), SCOOBY DOO (2002), GARFIELD: THE MOVIE (2004) and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS (2007) — are not included on this list.
MY THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM DEFINITION: Film must have played theatrical playdate in legitimate movie theatre (college campus, museum, and film festival showings do not count). Film must have had: Newspaper advertising, Movie Trailer, TV Spot advertising, pressbook, one-sheet movie poster (video poster does not count), a U.S. film distributor, local printed newspaper review (trade paper reviews do not count).
Any questions, comments, additions or corrections should be e-mailed to jbeck6540@aol.com
Special Thanks to the following for assistance in compiling this list: Rebecca Poole, Mark Kausler, Doug Ranney, Eric Lurio.
1. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (12/21/37) RKO – Walt Disney. 83 mins. Supervising Director: David Hand. Classic Grimm fairy tale of princess hiding from evil Queen, who finds shelter in cottage of seven distinctive little men.
 |
| Gulliver’s Travels |
2. GULLIVER’S TRAVELS (12/22/39) Paramount – Fleischer Studios. 74 mins. Director: Dave Fleischer. Jonathan Swift’s story of Gulliver in Lilliput, a land of miniature people, and how he brings peace to two warring nations.
3. PINOCCHIO (2/7/40) RKO – Disney. 88 mins. Supervising Directors: Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske. Classic story by Collodi (Carlo Lorenzini) about the adventures of a puppet who comes to life, his wood-carver father and his insect companion, Jiminy Cricket.
4. FANTASIA (11/13/40) RKO – Disney. 120 mins. Directors: Samuel Armstrong, James Algar, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, Ford Beebe, T. Hee, Norman Ferguson, Willfred Jackson. Seven animation sequences set to classical music, including “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, “The Rite Of Spring” and “Dance of The Hours”.
5. THE RELUCTANT DRAGON (6/20/41) RKO – Disney. 72 mins. Live action Director: Alfred L. Werker. Animation Directors: Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, Ford Beebe, Erwin Verity, Jasper Blystone. In live action sequences, Robert Benchley visits the Disney studio in hopes of interesting Mr. Disney in adapting the story of The Reluctant Dragon. Also contains: Baby Weems, and How To Ride A Horse (Goofy).
6. DUMBO (10/23/41) RKO – Disney. 64 mins. Supervising Director: Ben Sharpsteen. Baby elephant, ridiculed because of big ears, becomes a circus star.
7. MR. BUG GOES TO TOWN (12/4/41) Paramount – Fleischer. 77 mins. Director: Dave Fleischer. A community of insects, who inhabit the site of skyscraper under construction, must move. (also known as HOPPITY GOES TO TOWN)
8. BAMBI (8/13/42) RKO – Disney. 69 mins. Supervising Director: David Hand. The life of a deer, living in the forest, from childhood to adulthood.
9. SALUDOS AMIGOS(2/6/43) RKO – Disney. 43 mins. Supervising Directors: Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, Wilfred Jackson. Compilation of four stories with South American themes, bridged by live action footage of Walt Disney and artists visiting Latin America. Contains: Lake Titicaca, Pedro, El Gaucho Goofy, Aquarela do Brazil.
 |
| Victory Through Air Power |
10. VICTORY THROUGH AIR POWER (7/17/43) United Artists – Disney. 65 mins. Live Action Director: H.C. Potter. Supervising Animation Director: David Hand. Timely World War II propaganda about how the war can end sooner with strategic air power. Animated sequences include The History of Aviation.
11. THE THREE CABALLEROS (2/3/45) RKO -ÊDisney. 70 mins. Director: Norman Ferguson For his birthday, Donald Duck, and friends Jose Carioca and Panchito, tour South America. Contains: The Flying Gauchito and Pablo The Penguin.
12. MAKE MINE MUSIC (8/15/46) RKO – Disney. 74 mins. Production Supervisor: Joe Grant. Compilation of ten segments: Johnny Fedora and Alice Blue Bonnet, The Martin & the Coys, Blue Bayou, All The Cats Join In, A Ballad In Blue, Casey At The Bat, Two Silhouettes, Peter And The Wolf, After You’ve Gone, and The Whale Who Wanted To Sing At The Met.
13. SONG OF THE SOUTH (11/1/46) RKO – Disney – (partially live action) 94 mins. Cartoon Director: Wilfred Jackson. Troubled young boy escapes his cares through the stories of Uncle Remus. Three significant animated sequences star Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear.
14. FUN AND FANCY FREE (9/27/47) RKO – Disney. 73 mins. Production Supervisor: Ben Sharpsteen. Jiminy Cricket cheers up some dolls by presenting the story of Bongo, then crashes a party given by Edgar Bergan, as he recounts the tale of Mickey And The Beanstalk.
15. MELODY TIME (5/27/48) RKO – Disney. 75 mins. Production Supervisor: Ben Sharpsteen. Compilation of seven segments: Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, Blame It on The Samba, Little Toot, Bumble Boogie, Once Upon A Wintertime, and Trees.
16. THE MAGIC HORSE (4/18/49) Artkino (Russian) 60 mins. Director: Ivan Ivanov-Vano. A magical flying horse takes young Ivan to a castle where he saves a Princess. Released in 1949 dubbed. Re-Dubbed in 1977 and released to video as “The Magic Pony”. Also known as “Over The Rainbow”
17. THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (10/5/49) RKO – Disney. 68 mins. Production Supervisor: Ben Sharpsteen. Directors: Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar The stories of two fabulous characters: Basil Rathbone tells the story of Mr. Toad in The Wind In The Willows and Bing Crosby narrates The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.
18. CINDERELLA (2/15/50) RKO – Disney. 74 mins. Production Supervisor: Ben Sharpsteen. Directors: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi. Girl, abused by wicked step-sisters and step mother, is aided by fairy godmother, attends the palace ball and wins the heart of the Prince. Subplot with mice versus evil cat.
19. THE EMPEROR’S NIGHTINGALE (5/25/51) New Trends Associates. (Czech) 75 mins. Director: Jiri Trnka. A little boy (in live action) dreams of his toys come to life. His dream, told with stop-motion animated puppets, concerns an Chineses Emperor who enjoys the song, and friendship, of a nightingale. Narrated by Boris Karloff.
20. ALICE IN WONDERLAND (7/28/51) RKO – Disney. 75 mins. Production Supervisor: Ben Sharpsteen. Directors: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi. Day-dreaming girl chases rabbit, falls into underground wonderland where everything is reverse and strange characters, talking flowers, and mad tea parties defy logic.
21. PETER PAN (2/5/53) RKO – Disney. 77 mins. Directors: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi. A girl and her two younger brothers follow Peter Pan and pixie Tinkerbell to Never Never Land and aid his battle against evil Capatain Hook.
22. JOHNNY THE GIANT KILLER (6/5/53) Lippert Pictures. (French) 62 mins. Directors: Jean Image, Charles Frank. Group of boys explore a castle and are captured by giant. Johnny escapes, becomes allies with swarm of bees, help boys escape.
23. HANSEL AND GRETAL (12/24/54) RKO. 72 mins.(puppet animation) Directed by John Paul. Witch tricks two children into candy house and attempts to eat them. Kids push witch into oven.
24. ANIMAL FARM (1/5/55) DCA. 75 mins. (British) Directed by John Halas & Joy Batchelor. Animals treated unfairly revolt and take over farm. After a while, the pigs have created a dictatorship which life is worse than before.
25. LADY AND THE TRAMP (6/16/55) Buena Vista – Disney. 75 mins. Directed by Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson. Well groomed domestic dog, Lady, meets and falls in love with footloose street dog, Tramp.
26. THE ADVENTURES OF MR. WONDERBIRD (2/1/57) Fine Arts Films. (French) 63 mins. Director: Paul Grimault. A tyrannical king, who comes between two lovers, is foiled by a magical bird. Also known as Wonderbird, Mr. Wonderbird, The Curious Mr. Wonderbird, The King And Mr. Bird, and it’s original title La Bergere et Le Ramoneur.
27. SLEEPING BEAUTY (1/29/59) Buena Vista – Disney. 75 mins. Supervising Director: Clyde Geronimi. Princess, raised in the forest by three magical fairies, is cursed by evil queen to sleep until awaken by love’s first kiss.
28. THE SNOW QUEEN(11/20/59) Universal (Russian) 70 mins. Director: Lev Atamanov. Evil Snow Queen kidnaps boy. Sister sets out to find brother, encountering a series of witches, talking animals and a Princess who help her.
29. 1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS (12/1/59) Columbia – UPA. 76 mins. Director: Jack Kinney. Mr. Magoo plays nearsighted lamp dealer in ancient Baghdad, protecting his love-struck nephew Aladdin with his flying carpet and magic lamp.
 |
| Magic Boy |
30. ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS (1/25/61) Buena Vista – Disney. 79 mins. Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi. Evil Cruella DeVil kidnaps dalmatian puppies for fur, but dogs outsmart her and her henchmen.
31. MAGIC BOY (6/22/61) MGM (Japan) 82 mins. Directors: Taiji Yabushita, Akira Okuwara. Director of Animation: Sanae Yamamoto. A boy, plagued by an evil sorceress, studies magic and uses his powers to defeat her. aka The Adventures of The Little Samurai (Shonen Sarutobi Sasuke 1959).
32. PANDA AND THE MAGIC SERPENT (7/8/61) Globe (Japan) 78 mins. Director: Taiji Yabushita Boy falls in love with girl who is incarnation of white snake he had as a child. A wizard tries to break up their romance, but is thwarted by boy’s pet Panda and cat. aka The White Snake Enchantress (Hakuja Den 1958) – Data International Films (3/15/61 Variety article)
33. ALAKAZAM THE GREAT (7/26/61) American International (Japan) 84 mins. Directors: Osamu Tezuka, Taiji Yabushita, Daisaku Shirakawa. Arrogant monkey king, Alakazam, is sent on a mission of repentance. He battles a series of foes including a giant scorpion and a giant ogre. aka The Enchanted Monkey (Saiyu-Ki 1960).
34. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (12/18/61) Showcorporation (Czech) 74 mins. (puppet animation) Director: Jiri Trinka. Shakespere’s play enacted by stop-motion puppets. NY release date
35. SINBAD, THE SAILOR (1962) Signal International (Japan) 81 mins. Director: Taiji Yabushita. Sindbad and his young friend Ali join a pirate ship where he frees an imprisoned Princess and, after many adventures, discover a secret treasure. aka The Adventures of Sindbad (Shindbad No Baden 1962)
36. THE LITTLEST WARRIOR (1962) Signal International (Japan) 70 mins. Director: Taiji Yabushita. A boy becomes separated from his family by an evil Emperor. He grows up to become a samurai and, after many fantastic battles, avenges his family. aka The Orphan Brother (Anju To Zushio-Maru, 1961)
37. GAY PURR-EE (10/24/62) Warner Bros. – UPA 86 mins. Director: Abe Levitow. A French farm cat (voice of Judy Garland) runs away to Paris where she becomes to toast of the town, and inspiration to the great artists (Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, etc.).
 |
| Little Prince & The 8 Headed Dragon |
38. THE SWORD IN THE STONE (12/25/63) Disney. 75 mins. Director: Wolfgang Reitherman. Young Wart is tutored by Merlin the magician in the ways of the world. After many lessons and adventures, which include being transformed into various animals, and wizard’s duel with Mad Madame Mim, Wart pulls the sword from the stone — and becomes King Arthur.
39. THE LITTLE PRINCE AND THE EIGHT-HEADED DRAGON (1/1/64) Columbia (Japan) 85 mins. Director: Yugo Serikawa. Based of Japanese mythology, a little prince leaves home to find the spirit of his dead mother. Along the way he battles a giant fish, a fire monster and the eight-headed dragon.
40. THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET (3/28/64) Warner Bros. (partial live action) 102 mins. Live Action Director: Arthur Lubin. Animation Director: Bill Tytla. During World War II, meek 4-F Henry Limpet (Don Knotts) falls in ocean and is transformed into a fish. He aids the Allies war effort as a secret weapon below the waves.
41. OF STARS AND MEN (5/13/64) Brandon Films Inc. 53 mins. D: John Hubley. Adaptation of astronomer Harlow Shapley’s book (Shapley narrates the film) about man and his place in the universe. New York release date.
42. HEY THERE , IT’S YOGI BEAR (6/3/64) Columbia – Hanna Barbera. 89 mins. Directors: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera. The Ranger ships Yogi to the San Diego Zoo, but Yogi subsitutes another bear and remains at Jellystone. Cindy runs off to find Yogi, and they all wind up in the circus.
43. THE MAN FROM BUTTON WILLOW (2/1/65) United Screen Artists. 81 mins. Director:David Detiege. In this animated western, a government agent is sent out to track down a missing U.S. senator and battle a gang planning to blackmail the railroad company.
44. WILLY McBEAN AND HIS MAGIC MACHINE (6/23/65) Mangna Dist. Corp. 94 mins. Director: Arthur Rankin Jr.A young boy, and his monkey companion, foil a mad scientist’s scheme by traveling back in time to meet Buffalo Bill, Christopher Columbus, King Arthur, King Tut and the caveman who invented the wheel! (Stop-motion puppet animation)
45. PINOCCHIO IN OUTER SPACE (12/22/65) Universal (U.S.-Belgium) 90mins. Director: Ray Goossens.Pinocchio, once again a puppet, looks to do a good deed, in order to return to being a real boy. With the help of space age pal Nurtle The Twurtle, Pinocchio battles Astro a flying whale.
 |
| The Man Called Flintstone |
46. ALICE OF WONDERLAND IN PARIS (2/5/66) Childhood Productions. 52 mins. Director: Gene Deitch. Alice eats some magic cheese and shrinks to mouse size. Francois the mouse gives her a tour of Paris and they enter Storybook-land. Storybook sequences include: Anatole, The Frowning Prince, Many Moons and Madeline and the Bad Hat. This feature is also known as Alice In A New Wonderland.
47. THE MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE (8/3/66) Columbia – Hanna-Barbera. 87 mins. Directors: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera. Fred Flintstone, the exact double of secret agent Rock Slag, is asked to take his place in dangerous situations around the world.
48. GULLIVER’S TRAVELS BEYOND THE MOON (7/23/66) Continental (Japan) 78 mins. Director: Yoshio Kuroda. A homeless boy , Ricky, meets Dr. Gulliver who is about to blast off from Earth in a space ship. Ricky and his companions join him and help save a peaceful planet from evil robots.
49. THE DAYDREAMER (7/29/66) Embassy Pictures – Rankin-Bass (partial live action) 98 mins. Director: Jules Bass. A boy dreams himself into a fairy-tale world (of stop-motion animated puppets) where he meets many Hans Christian Anderson characters, such as Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling and the Little Mermaid.
50. THE JUNGLE BOOK (10/18/67) Buena Vista – Disney. 78 mins. Director: Wolfgang Reitherman. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s book, this is the story of a boy, raised in the jungle by wolves, being guided to human village by a panther and happy-go-lucky bear.
51. THE WACKY WORLD OF MOTHER GOOSE (12/2/67) Embassy Pictures. (Rankin-Bass) 77 mins. Director: Jules Bass. Mother Goose leaves Mother Goose Land, and it falls prey to evil Count Walktwist and his crooked Knights. Jack Horner, with Mary & her little lamb, restore the kingdom.
52. YELLOW SUBMARINE (11/13/68) United Artists. (British) 85 mins. Director: George Dunning. The Beatles travel to Pepperland to save it’s people from the horrific Blue Meanies.
53. MAD MONSTER PARTY? (3/8/69) Embassy Pictures – Rankin-Bass 94 mins. Director: Jules Bass. Baron Von Frankenstein invites all monsters to his castle for a party to announce his new discovery and his retirement. His nephew and heir, Felix Flankin, falls in love with Frankenstein’s sexy assistant. (stop-motion puppets) (Produced during 1966-67, date above is N.Y. release date)
54. A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN (12/4/69) National General – Melendez. 85 mins. Director: Bill Melendez. Charlie Brown wins the spelling bee and travels to New York for the national contest.
 |
| The Phantom Tollbooth |
55. SANTA AND THE THREE BEARS (11/7/70) Ellman Enterprises. 63 mins. Director: Tony Bendedict. New Orleans release date. Two bear cubs and their mother learn about Christmas & Santa Claus from park Ranger.
56. THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH (11/7/70) MGM 90 mins. (partial live action) Directors: Chuck Jones, Abe Levitow, David Monahan. San Francisco release date. A boy is led, via a magic car through a phantom tollbooth, to a strange world where letters and numbers are at war.
57. THE ARISTOCATS (12/11/70) Buena Vista – Disney. 78 mins. Director: Wolfgang Reitherman. Pampered city cats are stranded in French countryside by evil butler; Led back to Paris by rowdy alley cat.
58. THE WORLD OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN (3/1/71) United Artists (Japan) 80 mins. Directors: Chuck McCann, Al Kilgore. (Original Japanese Director: Kimio Yabuki) Young storyteller Hans Christain Andersen, thanks to his magical Uncle Olie, has a series of adventures that inspire his most famous tales.
 |
| Fritz The Cat |
59. SHIN-BONE ALLEY (6/18/71) Allied Artists. 86 mins. Director: John D. Wilson. A poet cockroach falls in love with an alley cat, and convinces her to leave the rough street life to become a house cat.
60. FRITZ THE CAT (4/12/72) Cinemation Industries. 78 mins. Director: Ralph Bakshi. Fritz, an NYU college student, explores sex, drugs and race relations in the late 1960s. In the course of his episodic adventures, Fritz makes love to three girls in a bathtub, is chased by two “pig” policemen, causes a riot in Harlem and joins a radical motocycle gang out west. Based on comics by R. Crumb. Rated X.
61. CLEOPATRA, QUEEN OF SEX (4/24/72) Xanadu (Japan) 100 mins. Director: Eiichi Yamamoto. The story of Cleopatra, told through a series of sexual romps with Julius Caeser and other Romans. Rated X Produced by Osamu Tezuka.
62. SNOOPY COME HOME (8/9/72) National General. 70 mins. Director: Bill Melendez. Snoopy leaves home to find Lila, his original owner, who writes from the hospital that she needs him.
63. CHARLOTTE’S WEB (3/1/73) Paramount. 94 mins. D: Charles A. Nichols and Iwao Takamoto. Wilbur the pig gains confidence from the words in Charlotte’s spider web. With the help of Templeton the rat, Wilbur protect’s Charlotte’s offspring.
64. MARCO POLO JR. (4/12/73) Premore. (Australia) 85 mins. Director: Eric Porter. Marco Polo Jr. sets sail for Xanadu to reunite two halves of a magical medallion, but is thwarted by evil ruler “Red Dragon” who has imprisoned the Princess, the rightful heir to Xanadu’s throne.
Also known as “Marco Polo”, “Marco Polo And The Red Dragon” and “The Red, Red Dragon”. This film was remade 28 years later as “MARCO POLO: RETURN TO XANADU” (2001)
65. HEAVY TRAFFIC (8/15/73) American International. 76 mins. D: Bakshi. Young cartoonist living in Brooklyn, tries to survive his battling parents, and assorted characters at the local bar.
65. ROBIN HOOD (11/ 8/73) Disney. 83 mins. D: Wolfgang Reitherman. Foxy Robin Hood infiltrates the King’s archery contest, romances Maid Marian, and frees the enslaved inhabitants of Sherwood Forrest.
 |
| Journey Back To Oz |
67. FANTASTIC PLANET (12/1/73) New World (French) 71 mins. D: Rene Laloux. On the planet Ygam, giant androids – the Draags – face resistance from the humanoid Oms.
68. JOURNEY BACK TO OZ (6/19/74) Seymour Borde & Associates (Filmation) 102 mins. D: Hal Sutherland. A cyclone brings Dorothy and Toto back to Oz, where her friend, the Scarecrow, now king of Emerald City, is warring with evil witch Mombi. Pumpkinhead and Woodenhead, a horse, join Dorothy in saving Oz.
69. NINE LIVES OF FRITZ THE CAT (6/26/74) American International. 76 mins. D: Robert Taylor. Hen-pecked and pot smoking Fritz dreams of eight other lives — including exploits at the White House, in depression-era breadlines, on a rocket to Mars, and as Hitler’s aide-de-camp.
70. TUBBY THE TUBA (4/1/75) Avco-Embassy. 81 mins. D: Alexander Schure. Tubby leaves the orchestra to find a melody of his own. His travels take him to the circus, the forest and the fabled Singing City.
71. COONSKIN (8/1/75) Paramount/Bryanston. 83 mins. D: Ralph Bakshi. Two escaped convicts, hiding from authorities, listen to Pappy (Scatman Crothers) tell stories of cartoon characters Brother Rabbit, Brother Bear and Brother Fox (told with animation) that resemble a violent, inner-city update of “Song Of The South”. Partial live-action.(a.k.a. STREET FIGHT)
71a. GUITAR PICKS AND ROACH CLIPS (11/26/75) Interplanetary Pictures. 90 mins. D: Anton Noel. Live action and Animation. No plot. The thread that holds this full-length feature together is an animated hippie character who sits in his living room listening to a Los Angeles radio station while smoking marijuana. His “high” allows him to dream up all the images on-screen in four-channel Quadrophonic sound. Thank you Scott Shaw! for proving to me this film had an actual theatrical release!
72. JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (2/13/76) Columbia (Japan) 82 mins. D:Gisaburo Sugii. (U.S. Director: Peter J. Solmo). Jack and his dog Crosby climb a magical beanstalk, defeat an evil witch and rescue Princess Margaret from a spell that has her convinced she’s in love with a dim-witted giant named Tulip.
73. ONCE UPON A GIRL (6/20/76) Producers Releasing Organization. 77 mins. D:Don Jurwich. Partial live action. Live action wraparound of Mother Goose (actor Hal Smith in drag) in court, on the witness stand, recounting an X-rated retelling of famous fairy tales: Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood told in XXX animation.
74. HUGO THE HIPPO (7/14/76) 20th Century Fox (Hungary) 90 mins. Loyal hippo’s are left to starve after saving the kingdom from shark attack. Little Hugo is arrested, but ultimately brings harmony between the spieces. Review
 |
| Wizards |
75. ONCE UPON A TIME (10/1/76) G.G. Communications (German-Italian) 83 mins. D: Rolf Kauka, Roberto Gavioli. Maria, a beautiful girl from a poor family, outwits her wicked stepmother and stepsister to reunite with a handsome prince.
76. WIZARDS (3/2/77) 20th Century Fox. 81 mins. D: Ralph Bakshi. Set millions of years after a nuclear holocaust, the world is divided between the Badlands, the kingdom of evil wizard Blackwolf, and the Goodlands, the realm of fairys and elves and the domain of his twin brother, the good wizard Avatar. Avatar is joined by Elinor (a sexy fairy), Weehawk (a elfin scout), and Peace (one of Blackwolf’s assassins converted to good) on a mission to destroy Blackwolf’s abuse of high technology.
77. THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH (3/11/77) Disney. 74 mins. D: Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery. Pooh tries to get honey from a beehive, has a blustery day and meets the irrepressible Tigger.Made up of three POOH featurettes with ten minutes of new animation.
78. RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY (4/1/77) 20th Century Fox. 84 mins. D:Richard Williams. Raggedy Ann and Andy set out to retrieve pretty French doll captured by toy pirate. Along the way they meet the Camel with the Wrinkled knees, and get caputred by the Greedy, a morphing muck of candy.
79. THE RESCUERS (6/22/77) Disney. 76 mins. D: Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbury, Art Stevens. Timid mouse Bernard and fearless Miss Bianca fly to the Louisiana swamps to find Penny, a liitle orphan held captive by power mad Madam Medusa, who needs the child to locate a lost diamond.
80. DIRTY DUCK (7/13/77) New World. 75 mins. D:Chuck Swenson. Uptight Willard Eisenbaum inherits a large lewd-talking duck, who convinces him that sex will straighten him out. R-rated.
81. ALLEGRO NON TROPPO (7/27/77) Specialty Films (Italy) 75 mins. D: Bruno Bozzetto. A humorous tribute to Fantasia, six sequences set to music by Debussy, Dvorak, Ravel, Vivaldi, Sibelius and Stravinsky. (partial live action)
82. RACE FOR YOUR LIFE CHARLIE BROWN (8/24/77) Paramount. 76 mins. D: Bill Melendez. Charlie Brown, Lucy and the Peanuts gang, away at summer camp, are challenged by bullies to a number of sporting activities, topped by a contest that takes them rafting on a wild river. Meanwhile, Snoopy and Woodstock get lost in the woods.
83. METAMORPHOSES (5/3/78) Sanrio (U.S.-Japan) 89 mins. D: Takashi. Five Greek myths are intergrated into one storyline, set to music, unified by a small character (Wondermaker). Released in Los Angeles May 1978, then withdrawn, recut to 82 minutes, with Norman Corwin writing and providing narration, and released as WINDS OF CHANGE in May, 1979.
84. THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD (5/24/78) Sanrio. 82 mins. D: Fred Wolf & Charles Swenson. A wind-up toy mouse and his child, cast from a elegant toy store into the street, try to become self-winding and self-reliant. They experience many adventures, make friends with a fortune-telling frog, a plush pink elephant and a tin seal, and an enemy in Manny Rat.
85. WATERSHIP DOWN (11/1/78) Avco-Embassy. 92 mins. D: Martin Rosen. A rabbit named Fiver has bizzarre visions of impending doom. The rabbits, led by Hazel, attempt to find a new place to burrow, but encounter danger in the forms of a farm dog, a killer cat and a dictatorial hare, General Woundwart.
86. THE LORD OF THE RINGS (11/21/78) United Artists. 133 mins. D: Ralph Bakshi. In the mythical realm of Middle Earth, a “hobbit” named Frodo undertakes a quest to protect a magical ring from the hands of Dark Lord Sauron. Accompanied by Wizard Gandalf and assorted warriors, elves and gnomes, the pair encounter and overcome many forces of evil.
87. RUDOLPH & FROSTYS CHRISTMAS IN JULY (7/1/79) Avco-Embassy. 97 mins. D: Arthur Rankin Jr., JulesBass. (stop-motion puppets) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer teams up with Frosty the snowman to save a circus and defeat evil King Winterbolt.
88. NUTCRACKER FANTASY(7/7/79) Sanrio. (Japan) 82 mins. D: Takeo Nakamura. Stop-motion puppets. Based on “The Nutcracker and The Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffman.
 |
| I Go Pogo |
89. SHAME OF THE JUNGLE (9/14/79) International Harmony (Belgium) 73 mins. D: Picha. An R-rated spoof of Tarzan – Tarzoon attempts to rescue June from bald-headed Queen Bazonga.
90. THE BUGS BUNNY ROAD RUNNER MOVIE (9/30/79) Warner Bros. 92 mins. D: Chuck Jones. Bugs Bunny gives us a tour of his mansion, discusses his origins, the topic of humor and great comic chases. Compilation of classic Warner Bros. cartoons.
91. BON VOYAGE CHARLIE BROWN (AND DON’T COME BACK) (5/30/80) Paramount. 75 mins. D: Bill Melendez. The Peanuts gang are sent to France as exchange students.
92. I GO POGO (8/1/80) 21st Century Distribution. D: Marc Paul Chinoy. (stop-motion clay animation)Pogo finds himself reluctantly recruited to run for the nation’s highest office, President of the United States! Also known as “POGO FOR PRESIDENT”
To continue this list, go to: ANIMATED MOVIE GUIDE Part 2 1981-1991.
Jerry Beck is a writer, animation producer, college professor and author of more than 15 books on animation history. He is a former studio exec with Nickelodeon Movies and Disney, and has written for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. He has curated cartoons for DVD and Blu-ray compilations and has lent his expertise to dozens of bonus documentaries and audio commentaries on such. Beck is currently on the faculty of CalArts in Valencia, UCLA in Westwood and Woodbury University in Burbank – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [
