January

February

• February 4: Japanese animation studio Science SARU is founded by director Masaaki Yuasa and producer Eunyoung Choi.^[1]
• February 24: The 85th Academy Awards premiere, hosted by Seth MacFarlane.
  • Brave by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.^[2]
  • Paperman by John Kahrs wins the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.^[2]

March

• March 22: The Croods, a film by DreamWorks Animation is released.

April

• April 7: The first episode of Attack on Titan is broadcast.^[3]
• April 23: The first episode of Teen Titans Go! airs.

May

• May 7: 40th Annie Awards^[4]

June

• June 1: The Hub renamed to Hub Network.
• June 16: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls is Released.
• June 21: Pixar's Monsters University is Released.^[5]

July

• July 17: Turbo, a comedy film about the Indianapolis 500, was released by DreamWorks.
• July 18: RWBY premieres on Rooster Teeth.
• July 21: The Animation Domination High-Def block launches in the Fox Broadcasting Company.

August

• August 12: The first episode of PAW Patrol is broadcast.^[6]

September

• September 4: Futurama aired its final episode on Comedy Central after four seasons and 52 episodes. The show would be revived again in 2022, with Hulu ordering 20 episodes for 2023.
• September 27: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is released from Sony Pictures Animation to positive reviews.

October

• October 7: PBS Kids rebrands with new promos and bumpers, PBS Kids Preschool Block and PBS Kids Go! was shut down, and Peg + Cat premieres to positive reviews.

November

• November 11: The SpongeBob SquarePants episode "SpongeBob, You're Fired" premieres on Nickelodeon, originally broadcast in Greece four months earlier.^[7] It was condemned for "slamming the benefits of Unemployment".^[8]
• November 13: PBS Kids Sprout renamed to Sprout.
• November 22: Walt Disney Pictures releases Frozen, which becomes a global phenomenon, also released is the Mickey Mouse cartoon Get a Horse!.
• November 24: The Family Guy episode "Life of Brian" premieres, in which Brian Griffin dies.^[9]

December

• December 2: Rick and Morty debuts on Adult Swim.
• December 15: Due to negative fan reaction, Brian Griffin is revived in the Family Guy episode "Christmas Guy".^[10]
• December 18: The Hole is added to the National Film Registry.^[11][12]

January

• January 7: Huell Howser, American television personality, actor, producer, writer and singer (voice of Backson in Winnie the Pooh, himself in The Simpsons episode "Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou?"), dies from prostate cancer at age 67.^[13]
• January 30: Patty Andrews, American singer (co-sung the Johnny Fedora and Alice Blue Bonnet segment in Make Mine Music, and Little Toot in Melody Time), dies at age 94.

February

• February 1: Robin Sachs, English actor (voice of Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four, Sergeant Sam Roderick in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Mrs. Puff, You're Fired"), dies from a heart attack at age 61.^[14]
• February 10: W. Watts Biggers, American writer (co-creator of Underdog), dies at age 85.^[15]
• February 16: Harald Siepermann, German comics artist and animator (Alfred J. Kwak), dies at age 50.^[16][17][18]
• February 17: Richard Briers, British actor (narrator of Roobarb and Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk, voice of Noddy in the 1975 Noddy TV series and Fiver in Watership Down), dies at age 79.^[19][20]
• February 21:
  • Bob Godfrey, British animator (Roobarb, Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk, Henry's Cat, Great), dies at age 91.^[21]
  • Armen Mirzaian, Iranian-born American animator, storyboard artist (Cartoon Network Studios, Hasbro Studios, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.) and writer (Adventure Time), dies from a car accident at age 35.^[22]

March

• March 5: Goro Naya, Japanese voice actor (voice of Inspector Zenigata in Lupin III), dies at age 83.
• March 7: Max Ferguson, Canadian radio personality and actor (voice of Hulk in The Marvel Super Heroes), dies at age 89.^[23]
• March 13: Malachi Throne, American actor (voice of God in Animaniacs, Mongke in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ranakar in Green Lantern: First Flight, Fingers in the Batman Beyond episode "Speak No Evil", The Judge in The New Batman Adventures episode "Judgement Day"), dies at age 84.^[24]
• March 20: Jack Stokes, British animator and film director (worked on Yellow Submarine and Roobarb), dies at age 92.^[25]
• March 26: Don Payne, American screenwriter and producer (The Simpsons), dies at age 48.^{[26][27][28][29][30]}
• March 28: Manuel García Ferré, Argentine cartoonist and animator (Hijitus), dies at age 83.^[31]

April

• April 3: Jean Sincere, American actress (voice of Mrs. Hogenson in The Incredibles), dies at age 93.^[32]
• April 8: Greg Kramer, British-Canadian author, actor, director and magician (voice of Anton in George and Martha, Nemo in Arthur, additional voices in Tripping the Rift), dies at age 52.^[33]
• April 11: Jonathan Winters, American actor and comedian (voice of Mr. Freebus and Roger Gustav in The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley, Grandpa and Papa Smurf in The Smurfs franchise, Coach Cadaver in Gravedale High, Wade Pig in Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Summer Vacation, The Thief in Arabian Knight, narrator in Frosty Returns, Santa Claus in Santa vs. the Snowman 3D, Old Clown in the Johnny Bravo episode "I Used to Be Funny", Sappy Stanley in the Tiny Toon Adventures episode "Who Bopped Bugs Bunny?", Stinkbomb D. Basset in the Animaniacs episode "Smell Ya Later", himself and Maude Frickert in The New Scooby-Doo Movies episode "The Frikert Fracas"), dies at age 87.^[34][35]
• April 13: József Gémes, Hungarian animator and film director (Heroic Times, Willy the Sparrow), dies at age 73.
• April 14: Mike Road, American actor (voice of Race Bannon in Jonny Quest, Zandor in The Herculoids, Ugh in Space Ghost and Dino Boy), dies at age 95.^[36]
• April 16: Pat Summerall, American football player and sportscaster (voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday"), dies from cardiac arrest at age 82.^[37]
• April 27: Kathleen Fleming, American producer (The Lego Group), dies at age 39.^[38]

May

• May 7: Ray Harryhausen, American animator and special effects creator (Mighty Joe Young, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans), dies at age 92.^[39]
• May 13: Dr. Joyce Brothers, American psychologist, television personality, advice columnist and writer (voiced herself in The Simpsons episode "Last Exit to Springfield", and the Pinky and the Brain episode "The Pinky and the Brain Reunion Special"), dies from respiratory failure at age 85.^[40]
• May 16: Mike Stuart, British animator (The Beatles, Yellow Submarine, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Wind in the Willows) and director (The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends, Kipper), dies at an unknown age.
• May 18: Arthur Malet, English actor (voice of Mr. Ages in The Secret of NIMH, King Eidilleg in The Black Cauldron, Jesaja in Felidae, Travelling Salesman and Major Domo in Anastasia), dies at age 85.
• May 31: Jean Stapleton, American actress (voice of Mrs. Jenkins in Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World), dies at age 90.^[41][42][43]

June

• June 11: Babi Floyd, American actor and singer (voice of Sock and Vowells Announcer in the Between the Lions episode "The Lost Rock", Face in Nick Jr. ads, additional voices in Courage the Cowardly Dog, performed the Pokérap in Pokémon: Indigo League, announcer for Nickelodeon and Nick on CBS), dies from cancer at age 59.
• June 19: James Gandolfini, American actor and producer (voice of Carol in Where the Wild Things Are), dies from a heart attack at age 51.^[44]
• June 20: John David Wilson, British animator and animation producer (Walt Disney Company, UPA, Fine Arts Films, the animated opening sequence of Grease, Peter Pan and the Pirates), dies at age 93.^[45][46]
• June 21: Jerry Dexter, American actor (voice of Chuck in Shazzan, Alan in Josie and the Pussycats, Ted in Goober and the Ghost Chasers, Aqualad in Aquaman, Sunfire in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends), dies at age 78.^[47]
• June 29: Ryūtarō Nakamura, Japanese film director and animator (Serial Experiments Lain, Kino's Journey, Ghost Hound, Despera), dies at age 58.^[48]

July

• July 8: Eunice Macaulay, British animator and film producer (Special Delivery), dies at age 90.^[49]
• July 13: Cory Monteith, Canadian actor and musician (voice of Finn Hudson in The Cleveland Show episode "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?", himself in The Simpsons episode "Elementary School Musical"), dies from an alcohol and heroin overdose at age 31.^[50]
• July 14: Tonino Accolla, Italian actor (dub voice of Homer Simpson in The Simpsons), dies at age 64.^[51]
• July 22: Dennis Farina, American actor (voice of Frank Russo in The Looney Tunes Show episode "Daffy Duck, Esquire", Wildcat in the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Cat and the Canary", himself in the Family Guy episode "The Most Interesting Man in the World"), dies at age 69.^[52]
• July 30: Ron Dias, American animator and painter (worked for Don Bluth and Walt Disney Company), dies at age 76.^[53]
• July 31: Michael Ansara, American actor (voice of Mr. Freeze in the DC Animated Universe, General Warhawk in Rambo: The Force of Freedom, Vashtar in the Thundarr the Barbarian episode "Prophecy of Peril", Hiawatha Smith in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "Quest of the Red Skull"), dies at age 91.^[54][55]

August

• August 5: Louis Scarborough Jr., American animator and storyboard artist (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, ChalkZone), dies at age 60.^[56]
• August 7: Hiroshi Ogawa, Japanese animator (worked for Shin-Ei Animation) and film director (Crayon Shin-chan), dies from colon infection at age 62.^[57]
• August 11: Henry Polic II, American voice actor (voice of Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow in Batman: The Animated Series, Baba Looey in Yo Yogi!, Tracker Smurf in The Smurfs), dies at age 68.^[58][59]
• August 19: Lee Thompson Young, American actor (voice of Jermaine in Xiaolin Showdown, Teen Bebe in The Proud Family episode "Twins to Tweens"), dies at age 29.^[60]

September

• September 16: Hiram Titus, American composer and orchestrator (ALF Tales, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid), dies at age 66.^[61]
• September 19: Tom McLaughlin, American animator (Eureeka's Castle), storyboard artist (The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, Duckman, Jumanji, DIC Entertainment), sheet timer (Warner Bros. Animation, BattleTech: The Animated Series, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Iznogoud, Dino Babies, Darkstalkers, Biker Mice from Mars, Bureau of Alien Detectors, X-Men: The Animated Series, Men in Black: The Series, The Legend of Tarzan, DIC Entertainment, Cartoon Network Studios, Pet Alien, Wolverine and the X-Men, Avengers Assemble, Kaijudo), director (Space Strikers, Jumanji, Silver Surfer) and producer (Silver Surfer), dies at age 56.^[62]

October

• October 1: Tom Clancy, American novelist (voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife"), dies from heart failure at age 66.^[63][64][65]
• October 14: Ginger Dinning, American singer (sang "Blame It on the Samba" in Melody Time), dies at age 89.^[66]
• October 17: Lou Scheimer, American animation producer (founder of Filmation), voice actor (voice of Dumb Donald in Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Orko and Stratos in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) and composer (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), dies at age 84.^[67]
• October 18: Felix Dexter, English actor, comedian and writer (voice of Vulture and Hare in Tinga Tinga Tales), dies from multiple myeloma at age 52.^[68]
• October 21: José Luis Beltrán Coscojuela, Spanish comic artist and animator, dies at age 82.^[69]
• October 25: Marcia Wallace, American actress and comedian (voice of Edna Krabappel and Ms. Melon in The Simpsons, Clovis, Mrs. Cavanaugh and Didi Lovelost in Darkwing Duck, 'Dark Interlude' Actress in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Mudslide", Mrs. Blossom in The Addams Family episode "Sweetheart of a Brother", Mrs. Wheeler in the Captain Planet and the Planeteers episode "Talkin' Trash", Oopa in the Aladdin episode "The Game", Old Woman in the I Am Weasel episode "Driver's Sped", Mrs. Beaver in The Angry Beavers episode "If You In-Sisters", Mrs. Rapple in the Rugrats episode "Lil's Phil of Trash", additional voices in Camp Candy and Monsters University), dies from pneumonia and sepsis at age 70.^[70]
• October 31: Toby Bluth, American illustrator, theatrical director, animator and background artist (Walt Disney Animation Studios, Hanna-Barbera, Banjo the Woodpile Cat, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers) and brother of Don Bluth, dies at age 73.^[71][72]

November

• November 28: Danny Wells, Canadian actor (voice of Bush and Raul in Heathcliff, Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, King Hugo III in Potatoes and Dragons, Gus in Willa's Wild Life), dies from cancer at age 72.^[73]

December

• December 3: Avo Paistik, Estonian film director, animator and illustrator (Lend, Tolmuimeja, Klaabu, Nipi ja tige kala, Klaabu kosmoses, Naksitrallid, Naksitrallid II), dies at age 77.^[74]
• December 14: Peter O'Toole, English actor (voice of Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse, Pantaloon in The Nutcracker Prince, Anton Ego in Ratatouille), dies at age 81.^[75][76]
• December 24: Frédéric Back, Canadian animator and film director (Crac, The Man Who Planted Trees), dies at age 89.^[77]
• December 26: Harold Whitaker, English animator and comics artist (Animal Farm), dies at age 93.^[78]
• December 31: James Avery, American actor (voice of Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, James Rhodes/War Machine in Iron Man and Spider-Man, Haroud Hazi Bin in Aladdin), dies at age 68.^[79][80][81]

Specific date unknown

• Robert Henry, Canadian film editor (Nelvana), dies at an unknown age.