An overview of all Disney-related events that occurred in the year 1940.
Theatrical releases
Feature films
- February 7 - Pinocchio premiered in New York.
- February 9 - Pinocchio (Los Angeles, California)
- February 23 - Pinocchio (wide release)
- November 13 - Fantasia (New York City, New York) (roadshow version)
Shorts
- March 15 - The Riveter
- April 5 - Donald's Dog Laundry
- April 26 - Tugboat Mickey
- May 17 - Billposters
- June 7 - Mr. Duck Steps Out
- June 28 - Bone Trouble
- July 19 - Put-Put Troubles
- August 9 - Donald's Vacation
- August 30 - Pluto's Dream House
- September 1 - The Volunteer Worker
- September 20 - Window Cleaners
- November 1 - Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip
- November 22 - Goofy's Glider
- December 13 - Fire Chief
- December 27 - Pantry Pirate
Comics
- October - The first issue of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories is published.
Books
- Ave Maria
- Dance of the Hours from Walt Disney's Fantasia
- Figaro and Cleo
- Here They Are
- Little Pig Picnic and Other Stories
- Mickey Mouse and the 7 Ghosts
- The Nutcracker Suite from Walt Disney's Fantasia
- Pastoral
- Pinocchio
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice from Walt Disney's Fantasia
- Stories from Walt Disney's Fantasia
- The Walt Disney Parade
Character debuts
- February 7 - Pinocchio, Geppetto, Stromboli, Monstro, Gideon, Cleo, The Coachman, Jiminy Cricket, Figaro, Blue Fairy, Lampwick, Honest John, The Coachman's Goons, The Stupid Little Boys, Dancing Puppets
- June 7 - Daisy Duck
- June 28 - Butch the Bulldog
- September 20 - Spike the Bee
- October - Grandma Duck
- November 13 - Chernabog, Yen Sid, Hyacinth Hippo, Ben Ali Gator, Madame Upanova, Elephanchine, Sugar Plum Fairies, Nutcracker Suite dancers, Magic Brooms, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Pteranodon, Corythosaurus, Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, Ornithomimus, Brachiosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Kannemeyeria, Edmontosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Dimetrodon, Tylosaurus, Plateosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Compsognathus, Archaeopteryx, Troodon, Oviraptor, Bacchus, Jacchus, Centaurs, Centaurettes, Melinda, Brudus, Iris, Morpheus, Diana, Zeus, Apollo, Vulcan, Boreas, Mother Pegasus, Father Pegasus, Pegasi Siblings, Peter Pegasus, Cherubs, Satyrs, Unicorns, Otika, Ostriches, Hippos, Alligators, Elephants, Chernabog's Minions, Pilgrims
People
Births
- January 22 - John Hurt (actor and voice actor)
- January 27 - James Cromwell (actor)
- March 27 - Austin Pendleton (actor, playwright, and director)
- May 5 - Lance Henriksen (actor, voice actor, and artist)
- June 1 - Rene Auberjonois (actor, voice actor, and singer)
- June 3 - Hank Jones (actor and genealogist)
- June 7 - Monica Evans (actress and voice actress)
- June 20 - John Mahoney (actor, voice actor, and comedian)
- June 26 - Luis Valdez (film director, producer, writer, playwright, actor, voice actor, and teacher)
- July 7 - Ringo Starr (drummer, singer, songwriter, and actor)
- July 13 - Patrick Stewart (actor and voice actor)
- July 22 - Alex Trebek (television personality and game show host)
- July 28 - Phil Proctor (actor and voice actor)
- September 11 - Brian De Palma (director and screenwriter)
- October 9 - John Lennon (musician)
- October 13 - Dave Smith (founder and former chief archivist at the Walt Disney Archives)
- November 21 - Dr. John (musician)
- December 31 - Tim Considine (actor)
Deaths
- January 21 - Otis Harlan (comedian, actor, and voice actor)
- September 2 - Eddie Collins (actor, comedian, and director)
- September 28 - Earl Hurd (animator and film director)
Artists joined
- Jack Boyd - Effects Animator for Sleeping Beauty and Mary Poppins.
- Don Griffith (art director)
1940