1981

Halyx Poster

The Fox and the Hound poster

Condorman

Book the illusion of life

An overview of all Disney-related events that occurred in the year 1981.

Theatrical releases

Feature films

March 6 - The Devil and Max Devlin
March 20 - Amy
April 3 - Alice in Wonderland (re-issue)
June 12
- Freaky Friday (re-issue)
- Herbie Goes Bananas (re-issue)
- Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (re-issue)
June 19
- Herbie Rides Again (re-issue)
- Swiss Family Robinson (re-issue)
June 26 - Dragonslayer (co-production with Paramount)
July 10 - The Fox and the Hound
August 7 - Condorman
October 9 - The Watcher in the Woods
November 20 - The Watcher in the Woods (Los Angeles, California)
December 18 - Cinderella (re-issue)

Shorts

Theme Parks and resorts

June 20 - Disney's River Country celebrates its 5th anniversary at Walt Disney World Resort.
October 1 - Walt Disney World Resort and the Magic Kingdom celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Events

July 29 - Disney On Ice is founded under the name of Walt Disney's World on Ice.
After 26 years, the last Disney animated feature to use the Buena Vista logo was The Fox and the Hound, this is the last animated film to use the RCA Photophone Sound Recording logo, the last animated feature to see the copyright information about the movie along with MPAA logo and IATSE logo during the opening credits, and the last animated movie to use the ending title card, The End Walt Disney Productions.
The staff of Walt Disney Productions switched to Dolby Stereo after the deal with RCA Photophone Sound Recording ended.
Walt Disney Productions purchases the rights to Gary K. Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, the basis for the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
Halyx, a sci-fi themed rock band created by Disneyland Records, performs at Disneyland's Tomorrowland during the summer as an experiment to try and generate interest in a full album that ultimately never materializes.
November 26 - The Mickey Mouse balloon makes its 11th appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Character debuts

May - Della Duck, Daphne Duck, Matilda McDuck, Luke the Goose, Fanny the Goose, Goostave Gander
June 26 - Tyrian, Vermithrax Pejorative
July 10 - Tod, Copper, Big Mama, Dinky and Boomer, Squeaks, Widow Tweed, Amos Slade, Chief, Abigail, Mr. Digger, Porcupine, Vixey, The Bear
August 7 - Woodrow Wilkins, Natalia Rambova, Morovich

Books

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life

Home video releases

VHS releases

June 1
- The Absent-Minded Professor
- The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
- Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
- A Dream Called Walt Disney World
- Dumbo (rental only)
- Escape to Witch Mountain (reissue)
- Gus
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (rental only)
- Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Cartoon Collections Vols. 1, 2, and 3
- The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
- Pete's Dragon (reissue)
- Snow White Live at Radio City Music Hall
October 15
- Alice in Wonderland (rental only)
- Amy
- Darby O'Gill and the Little People
- Dumbo (sale) (limited release)
- Kids is Kids (reissue)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Reissue)
- Old Yeller
- On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends (reissue)
- A Walt Disney Christmas

Laserdisc releases

October 15
- Alice in Wonderland
- Old Yeller
- Pollyanna

Video games

Mickey Mouse (Nintendo Game & Watch) (Widescreen variety)

People

Births

January 1 - Eden Riegel (actress and voice actress)
January 4 - Aaron Schwartz (actor)
January 13
- Shad Gaspard † (professional wrestler and actor)
- Ginger Zee (actress, television personality, and meteorologist)
January 22 - Beverley Mitchell (actress and singer)
January 23 - Julia Jones (actress)
January 26 - Colin O'Donoghue (actor and musician)
January 28 - Elijah Wood (actor, voice actor, producer, and DJ)
January 31 - Justin Timberlake (actor, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer)
February 1 - John Gemberling (actor and comedian)
February 2 - Nathan Barnatt (actor, comedian, and dancer)
February 3 - Alisa Reyes (actress and voice actress)
February 9 - Tom Hiddleston (actor)
February 10 - Stephanie Beatriz (actress and voice actress)
February 14 - Erin Torpey (actress and singer)
February 17 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt (actor, filmmaker, singer, and entrepreneur)
February 23 - Josh Gad (actor, voice actor, comedian, and singer)
February 27 - Josh Groban (singer-songwriter and actor)
March 2 - Bryce Dallas Howard (actress, writer, and director)
March 29
- Megan Hilty (actress)
- PJ Morton (musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer)
March 30 - Katy Mixon (actress and voice actress)
April 10 - Laura Bell Bundy (actress and singer)
April 19 - Hayden Christensen (actor and producer)
April 27 - Bonnie Morgan (actress and contortionist)
May 5 - Danielle Fishel (actress, voice actress, screenwriter, director, and television personality)
May 11 - J.P. Karliak (actor, voice actor, and comedian)
May 18 - Daniel "Desus Nice" Baker (actor, voice actor, comedian, writer, and internet personality)
May 23 - Tim Robinson (comedian, actor, writer, producer, and voice actor)
May 26 - Eric "Ty" Hodges (actor, director, and screenwriter)
May 28 - Laura Bailey (actress, voice actress, and voice director)
June 1
- Johnny Pemberton (actor, voice actor, and comedian)
- Brandi Carlile (musician, songwriter, and producer)
June 4 - T.J. Miller (actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, producer, and writer)
June 9 - Natalie Portman (actress, producer, writer, director, and model)
June 13 - Chris Evans (actor, voice actor, director, and producer)
June 28 - Jon Watts (director, producer, and screenwriter)
August 3 - Travis Willingham (voice actor)
August 4
- Meghan Markle (actress and model)
- Abigail Spencer (actress)
August 20 - Ben Barnes (actor and singer)
August 22 - Ross Marquand (actor and voice actor)
August 24 - Chad Michael Murray (actor, writer, and former fashion model)
September 4 - Beyoncé (singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress)
September 8 - Jonathan Taylor Thomas (actor and voice actor)
September 9 - Julie Gonzalo (actress and producer)
September 12 - Jennifer Hudson (recording artist, actress, and spokesperson)
September 15 - Ben Schwartz (actor, voice actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer)
September 16 - Alexis Bledel (actress, model, and producer)
September 22 - Ashley Eckstein (actress, voice actress, and fashion designer)
September 25 - Lee Norris (actor)
September 26 - Christina Milian (singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model)
November 1 - Matt Jones (actor and voice actor)
November 18
- Nasim Pedrad (actress, writer, and comedian)
- Christina Vidal (actress and singer)
December 2 - Britney Spears (singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress)
December 11 - Hamish Blake (actor, comedian, writer and author)
December 15 - Brendan Fletcher (actor)
December 16 - Krysten Ritter (actress, musician, writer, director, and model)

Deaths

March 26 - Hal Adelquist (animator, assistant director, storyboard writer, and TV producer)
November 25 - Jack Albertson (actor, voice actor, comedian, dancer, and singer)
December 16 - Lawrence Edward Watkin (writer and producer)

1981