Kazoku Robinson Hyouryuuki Fushigima Shima no Flone [家族ロビンソン漂流記ふしぎな島のフローネ] ("Robinson Family Lost at Sea: The Marvelous Island of Flone"; "Swiss Family Robinson") (tv), Nippon Animation.
(drawn animation)

Saikyo Robo Daioja [最強ロボ ダイオージャ] ("Ultimate Robot Daioja") (tv), Nippon Sunrise.
(drawn animation)

Yasei no Yobigoe Hoero Buck [荒野の叫び声 吠えろバック] ("The Call of the Forest: Bark, Buck!") (tvsp), Kozo Morishita /Toei.
(drawn animation)

Faeries (tvsp), Lee Mishkin and Fred Hellmich /MHV and Friends Production.
(drawn animation)

Pink Panther in "Pink at First Sight" (tvsp), Bob Richardson /DePatie-Freleng.
(drawn animation)

Michael Maltese (writer, storyboard artist) (February 6, 1908-February 22, 1981) dies of cancer in Los Angeles, California.

Lev Atamanov (Lev Konstantinovich Atamanov, Лев Атаманов) (February 21, 1905-February 12, 1981) (director, producer) dies. (Soviet Union [Russia])

Time Bokan Series--Yattodetaman ("The Time Machine Series: Yattodetaman") (tv), Tatsunoko.
(drawn animation)

Sanae Yamamoto (Yamamoto Sanae, Yamamoto Zenjiro) (director, producer, animator) dies.

Hakucho no Mizumi [白鳥の湖] ("Swan Lake") (f), Kimio Yabuki /Toei.
(drawn animation)

Hello! Sandybelle [ハロー！サンディベル] (tv), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Hyakuju Ou Golion [百獣王ゴライオン] ("King of Hundred Beasts Golion") (tv), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Kaibutsu-kun--Kaibutsu Land e no Shotai ("Little Kaibutsu--Invitation to the Island of the Monsters") (f), Shin'ei.
(drawn animation)

Kido Senshi Gundam ("Mobile Warrior Gundam") (f), Nippon Sunrise.
(drawn animation)

Ogon Senshi Gold Lightan [黄金戦士ゴールドライタン] ("Golden Warrior Gold Lightan") (tv), Tatsunoko.
(drawn animation)

Ohayo Spank! [おはよう! スパンク] ("Hello Spank!") (tv), TMS.
(drawn animation)

Ojamanga Yamada-kun ("Troublemaker of Cartoons, Little Yamada") (sf), Erald.
(drawn animation)

Time Bokan Series: Time Patrol Tai Otasukeman ("Time Machine Series: Time Patrol Team Rescueman") (f), Tatsunoko.
(drawn animation)

Unico [ユニコ] ("The Fantas(t)ic Adventures of Unico") (f), Toshio Hirata /Madhouse.
(drawn animation)

It's Magic, Charlie Brown (tvsp), Phil Roman /Mendelsohn-Melendez.
(drawn animation)

Misunderstood Monsters (tvsp), Sam Weiss and Seth Pinsker /Bosustow Entertainment.
(drawn animation, some live action)
contains Creole (tvss); The Reluctant Dragon (tvss), Sam Weiss; and Beauty and the Beast (tvss)

Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple City (tvsp), Hal Silvermintz /Perpetual Motion.
(drawn animation)

Dr. Slump Arale-chan [Dr. スランプ アラレちゃん] (tv), Toei.
(drawn animation)
(1981-1986)

Furiten-kun [フリテンくん] ("Little Furiten") (f), Taku Sugiyama and Kazuyuki Okaseko /Knack Productions.
(drawn animation)

Fusen no Dorataro [フーセンのドラ太郎] ("Dorataro the Hobo") (tv), Nippon Animation.
(drawn animation)

Jarinko Chie [じゃりン子チエ] ("Jarinko the Brat") (f), Isao Takahata /Knack Productions.
(drawn animation)

Mechakko Dotakon [めちゃっこドタコン] ("Mechanical Boy Dotakon") (tv), Kokusai Eigasha.
(drawn animation)

Meiken Jolie [名犬ジョリィ] ("Jolie the Great Dog"; "Belle and Sebastian") (tv), MK Productions.
(drawn animation)

Mister Giants--Eiko no Sebango 3 ("Mister Giants: The Glory of Number 3") (tvsp), Tsuchida.
(drawn animation)

Mitsugoro no Dobutsu Nikki--Donbe Monogatari ("The Diary of the Animals of Mitsugoro: Donbe's Story") (tvsp), Eiken.
(drawn animation)

Shin Taketori Monogatari Sennen Jouo [新竹取物語 1000 年女王] ("The New Story of Taketori: The Queen of a Thousand Years"; "Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years") (tv), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Tiger Mask Nisei [タイガーマスク二世] ("Tiger Mask II") (tv), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Toshi Shun (tvsp), Dax.
(drawn animation)

Wakakusa Monagatari Yori Wakakusa no Yon Shimai [若草の四姉妹] ("Young Grass Story: Four Sisters of Young Grass"; "Little Women") (tv), Kokusai Eigasha.
(drawn animation)

Lupin tai Holmes ("Lupin vs. Holmes") (tvsp), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Lotte Reiniger (Charlotte Reiniger) (animator, director) dies in Dettenhausen. (Federal Republic of Germany [Germany])

Stephen Bosustow (Stephen Reginold Bosustow) (November 6, 1911-July 4, 1981) (producer, writer) dies in Los Angeles, California.

Captain (f), Eiken.
(drawn animation)

Dr. Slump & Arale-chan Hello! Wonderland (ss), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Greek no Boken ("The Greek Adventures") (f), Shunmao.
(drawn animation)

Kido Senshi Gundam--Aisenshi ("Mobile Warrior Gundam--Warriors of Love" or "Mobile Suit Gundam II") (f), Nippon Sunrise.
(drawn animation)

Kyofu Densetsu--Kaiki! Frankenstein ("The Frightening Legend of Frankenstein") (tvsp), Yugo Serikawa /Toei.
(drawn animation)

Sengoku Majin Goshogun [戦国魔神ゴーショーグン] ("Demon God of the War Torn Land Goshogun"; "Macron 1") (tv), Ashi Productions.
(drawn animation)

Sirius no Densetsu ("The Legend of Sirius"; "The Sea Prince and the Fire Child") (f), Masami Hata /Sanrio.
(drawn animation)

Bremen 4--Jigoku no Naka no Tenshitachi ("Bremen 4: The Angels from Hell") (tvsp), Yasuhiro Imagawa /Tezuka.
(drawn animation)

Doraemon: Boku, Momotaro no Nanna no Sa!? [ドラえもん ぼく桃太郎のなんなのさ] ("Doraemon: What Am I For Momotaro?") (f), Shin'ei.
(drawn animation)

Nijuichiemon Uchu e Irashai ("Nijuichiemon Welcome to Space") (f), Shin'ei.
(drawn animation)

Natsu e no Tobira ("The Door to Summer") (f), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Sayonara Ginga Tetsudo 999: Andromeda Shuchakueki [さよなら銀河鉄道999 アンドロメダ終着駅] ("Adieu Galaxy Express 999: Andromeda Terminus") (f), Rintaro /Toei.
(drawn animation)

Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan ("Monster Tales of Yotsuya in Tokaido") (tvsp), Telecom.
(drawn animation)

Yuki ("Snow Fairy") (f), Tadashi Imai /Mushi.
(drawn animation)

Goldie Gold and Action Jack (tv), Ruby-Spears.
(drawn animation)

The Heathcliff and Marmaduke Show (tv), Ruby-Spears.
(drawn animation)
contains Heathcliff (tvss), Marmaduke (tvss), and Dingbat and the Creeps (tvss)

The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam (tv), Filmation.
(drawn animation)
contains Hero High (tvss) and Shazam (tv)

The Kwicky Koala Show (tv), Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)
contains Kwicky Koala (tvss), Dirty Dawg (tvss), Crazy Claws (tvss), and The Bungle Brothers (tvss)

The Popeye and Olive Show (tv), Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)
contains Popeye (tvss), Private Olive Oyl (tvss), and Prehistoric Popeye (tvss)

The Puppy Saves the Circus (tvsp), Rudy Larriva /Ruby-Spears.
(drawn animation)

The Smurfs (tv), Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)
(1981-1989)

Space Stars (tv), Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)
contains Teen Force (tvss), Astro and the Space Mutts (tvss), Herculoids (tvss), and Space Ghost (tvss)

Spiderman and His Amazing Friends (tv), Marvel.
(drawn animation)

The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour (tv), Filmation.
(drawn animation)
contains Lone Ranger (tvss) and The New Adventures of Zorro (tvss) (the Tarzan component was a repeat of older shows)

The Trollkins (tv), Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)

Postman Pat (tvss), Woodland Animations. (Great Britain)
(puppet animation)
the first of several Postman Pat series

Ulysse 31 // Uchu Densetsu Ulysses 31 [宇宙伝説ユリシーズ31] ("Space Legend Ulysses 31") (tv), DIC and TMS (France/Japan).
(drawn animation)

Ninja Hattori-kun [忍者ハットリくん] ("Little Hattori the Ninja") (tvss), Shin'ei.
(drawn animation)
(1981-1987)

Shin Dokonjo Gaeru [新ど根性ガエル] ("New Frog with Guts") (tv)/(tvss), TMS.
(drawn animation)

Maria Yamamoto (Yamamoto Maria 山本麻里安) (September 11, 1981- ) (voice actress, singer) born in Tokyo.

The Flintstones: Jogging Fever (tvsp), Ray Patterson /Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)

The Flintstones: Wind-Up Wilma (tvsp), Carl Urbano and Geoffrey Collins /Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)

Laverne and Shirley in the Army (tv), Hanna-Barbera.
(drawn animation)

Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown (tvsp), Phil Roman /Mendelsohn-Melendez Production.
(drawn animation)

Bokura Mangaka Tokiwaso Monogatari ("We Who Make Manga: The Story of Tokiwaso") (tvsp)/(edu), Toei.
(drawn animation)

Dash Kappei [ダッシュ勝平] (tv), Tatsunoko.
(drawn animation)

Ginga Senpuu Braiger [銀河旋風ブライガー] ("Galactic Whirlwind Braiger") (tv), Kokusa Eigasha.
(drawn animation)

Honey Honey no Sutekina Bouken [ハニーハニーのすてきな冒険] ("Honey Honey's Wonderful Adventures") (tv), Kokusai Eigasha (Toei).
(drawn animation)

Jarinko Chie [じゃりン子チエ] ("Jarinko the Brat") (tv), TMS.
(drawn animation)

Maicchingu Machiko-sensei [まいっちんぐマチコ先生] ("Shame of Teacher Machiko", "Shame of Miss Machiko") (tv), Pierrot.
(drawn animation)
(1981-1983)

Rokushin Gattaj God Mars [六神合体ゴッドマーズ] ("Six Gods Combination God Mars") (tv), TMS.
(drawn animation)

Taiyô no Kiba Dougram [太陽の牙ダグラム] ("Fang of the Sun Dougram") (tv), Nippon Sunrise.
(drawn animation)
(1981-1983)

Urusei Yatsura [うる星やつら] ("Those Obnoxious Aliens") (tv), Pierrot.
(drawn animation)
(1981-1986)

Wanwan Sanjushi // D´Artacán y los tres mosqueperros [ワンワン三銃士] ("Woof-woof Three Musketeers"; "Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds") (tv), Nippon Animation and BRB Internacional. (Japan/Spain)
(drawn animation)

No Man's Valley (tvsp), Bill Melendez /Melendez.
(drawn animation)

A Tale of Four Wishes (tvsp), Sam Weiss /Bosustow Entertainment.
(drawn animation, some live action)

Manzai Taikoki [マンザイ大閣記] ("The Funny Story of the Shogun") (f), TMS.
(drawn animation)

The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold (tvsp), Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass /Rankin-Bass.
(puppet animation)

Shunmao Monogatari--Tao Tao [シュンマオ物語 タオタオ] ("Shunmao Story--Tao Tao") (f), Shunmao.
(drawn animation)

Uchu Senshi Baldios [宇宙戦士バルディオス] ("Space Warrior Baldios"; "Space Warriors: Battle for Earth Station S-1") (f), Ashi Pro.
(drawn animation)

Gentle Ben (tv), Gentle Ben Animation Company.
(drawn animation)

Pinwheel Network changes its name to Nickelodeon.

Cocoshaker (tvss), Jean-Charles Meunier /Films Orzeaux and Gilles de Nanteuil Production. (France)
(drawn animation)

Dilemma (ss), John Halas /Halas & Bachelor. (Great Britain)
(cgi animation)

Fútbol en acción ("Football in Action") (tv), BRB Internacional (Nippon Animation (Japan)).
(drawn animation)

Maria Mirabella [Мария, Мирабелла] ("Maria and Maribella"; "The Magical Forest") (f), Viktor Dudkin, Ion Popescu-Gopo, and Lev Milchin /# Moldova Film and Soyuzmultfilm. (Romania/Soviet Union)
(drawn animation, some live action)

Mesek Matyas Kiralyrol (tv), Pannoniafilm. (Hungary)
(drawn animation)

Quick et Flupke (tvss), Graphoui. (Belgium)
(drawn animation)
(1981-1986)

Taina Tretyei Planety [Тайна Третьей Планеты] ("Alice and the Mystery of the Third Planet") (sf), Roman Kachanov /Soyuzmultfilm. (Soviet Union)
(drawn animation)

Vuk ("Vuk: The Little Fox"), Attila Dargay /Pannoniafilm. (Hungary)
(drawn animation)

The Woofits (tvss), Yorkshire. (Great Britain)
(drawn animation)

Yakari (tvss), Atelier Graphoui. (Belgium)
(drawn animation)
(1981-1983)

Klacto Animations founded by Oscar Grillo and Ted Rockley in London. (Great Britain)

San ge heshang [三个和尚] ("The Three Monks") (ss), A Da /Shanghai Animation. (China)
(drawn animation)

KoKo Enterprises founded by Myong Ok Jeon. (South Korea)