# List of animated feature films of 1981

This is a list of animated feature films first released in 1981.

## List

| Title | Country | Director | Studio | Animation technique | Format | Notes | Release date | Duration |
| 21 Emon: Uchū e Irasshai! ２１エモン 宇宙へいらっしゃい！ (21 Emon: Welcome to Space!) | Japan | Tsutomu Shibayama | Toho Shin-Ei Animation | Traditional | Theatrical | | August 1, 1981 | 92 minutes |
| 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother 엄마 찾아 삼천리 (Eomma chaja sammalli) | South Korea | Jeong Su-yong Gang Han-yeong | Sunwoo Production Co., Ltd. Sidus | Traditional | Theatrical | Fourth and final installment of the Dreamland Cartoon Theater series; Unauthorized reanimated remake of 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1980). | January 5, 1981 | 78 minutes |
| Adieu Galaxy Express 999 さよなら銀河鉄道９９９　－アンドロメダ終着駅－ (Sayonara Ginga Tetsudo 999: Andromeda Shuchakueki) | Japan | Rintaro | Toei Animation | Traditional | Theatrical | | August 1, 1981 | 130 minutes |
| American Pop | United States | Ralph Bakshi | Columbia Pictures Bakshi Productions, Inc. | Traditional | Theatrical | | February 13, 1981 | 96 minutes |
| Anime-ban Toukaidou Yotsuya Kaidan アニメ版 東海道 四谷怪談 | Japan | Ryuji Sawada Yasuo Otsuka | | Traditional | Television film | | August 16, 1981 | 46 minutes |
| Around the World with Dot a. k. a. Dot & Santa Claus | Australia | Yoram Gross | Yoram Gross Studios | Traditional/Live action | Theatrical | | June 23, 1981 | 80 minutes |
| Blizkata Dalechina Близката Далечина (The Nearby Distance) | Bulgaria | Slav Bakalov | Boyana Film | Traditional | | First animated Bulgarian feature. | July 9, 1981 | 65 minutes |
| Bokura Mangaka: Tokiwa-sou Monogatari ぼくらマンガ家 トキワ荘物語 (Our Manga Artists: The Story of Tokiwa-so) | Japan | Atsutoshi Umezawa Kazumi Fukushima Shinichi Suzuki | Toei Animation Fuji TV | Traditional | Television film | Fifteenth animated special produced for Fuji TV's "Nissei Family Special" program. | October 3, 1981 | 72 minutes |
| Bremen 4: Angels in Hell ブレーメン４ 地獄の中の天使たち (Bremen 4: Jigoku no Naka no Tenshi-tachi) | Japan | Hiroshi Sasagawa Osamu Tezuka | Tezuka Productions Nippon TV | Traditional | Television film | Fourth animated special produced for Nippon TV's 24 Hour TV "Love Saves the Earth" telethon. | August 23, 1981 | 90 minutes |
| The Call of the Wild: Howl, Buck 荒野の叫び声 吠えろバック (Kōya no Sakebigoe: Hoero Bakku) | Japan | Kozo Morishita | Toei Animation | Traditional | Television film | Tenth animated special produced for Fuji TV's "Nissei Family Special" program. | January 3, 1981 | 85 minutes |
| Captain キャプテン (Kyaputen) | Japan | Satoshi Dezaki | Eiken | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 18, 1981 | 95 minutes |
| Chie the Brat じゃリン子チエ (Jarinko Chie) | Japan | Isao Takahata | Tokyo Movie Shinsha | Traditional | Theatrical | | April 11, 1981 | 110 minutes |
| Chiisana Love Letter: Mariko to Nemunoki no Kodomo-tachi 小さなラブレター まり子とねむの木の子供たち (A Little Love Letter: Mariko and the Children of the Silk Tree) | Japan | Yuzo Ishida | TV Asahi NOW Planning | Traditional | Television film | Fictionalisation of the life story of Mariko Miyagi (March 21, 1927 – March 21, 2020), a Japanese singer, actress and advocate who founded a school for disabled children, the Kusunoki Gakuen. | December 22, 1981 | 1 hour, 24 minutes |
| The Donbee Story ムツゴロウの動物日記 どんべえ物語 (Mutsugorō no Dōbutsu Nikki Donbē Monogatari) | Japan | Bonjin Nagaki | Eiken Nippon TV | Traditional | Television special | Fictionalisation based on the life of Masanori Hata (born April 17, 1935) and one of the animals his family kept, a brown bear named Donbee. | April 26, 1981 | 84 minutes |
| Doraemon: The Record of Nobita, Spaceblazer ドラえもん のび太の宇宙開拓史 (Doraemon Nobita no Uchū Kaitakushi) | Japan | Hideo Nishimaki | Toho Shin-Ei Animation | Traditional | Theatrical | | March 14, 1981 | 90 minutes |
| Enchanted Journey グリックの冒険 (Gurikku no Bōken) | Japan | Hideo Nishimaki | Studio Korumi | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 21, 1981 | 85 minutes |
| The Fantastic Adventures of Unico ユニコ (Yuniko) | Japan | Toshio Hirata | Sanrio Madhouse | Traditional | Theatrical | | March 14, 1981 | 90 minutes |
| The Fox and the Hound | United States | Ted Berman Richard Rich Art Stevens | Walt Disney Productions | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 10, 1981 | 83 minutes |
| Frankenstein 恐怖伝説 怪奇！フランケンシュタイン (Kyōfu Densetsu: Kaiki! Furankenshutain) | Japan | Yugo Serikawa Toyoo Ashida | Toei Animation TV Asahi | Traditional | Television film | | July 27, 1981 | 98 minutes |
| Furiten-kun フリテンくん | Japan | Takashi Sugiyama | Toho Knack Productions Oh! Production | Traditional | Theatrical | | April 11, 1981 | 78 minutes |
| Gongnyong Baengmannyeon Ttori 공룡 100만년 똘이 (Dinosaur One Million Years Ddoli) | South Korea | Kim Cheong-gi | Namyang Planning | Traditional | Theatrical | | August 7, 1981 | 75 minutes |
| Grendel Grendel Grendel | Australia | Alexander Stitt | Victorian Film | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 9, 1981 | 88 minutes |
| Gugugui taeyang seongung isunsin 구국의 태양 성웅 이순신 (Sun-Shin Yi, the Sun of Salvation) | South Korea | Kim Seong-chil | Hana Film Namyang Planning | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 22, 1981 | 71 minutes |
| Heavy Metal | Canada | Gerald Potterton | Columbia Pictures Guardian Trust Company Canadian Film Development Corporation Famous Players Potterton Productions Atkinson Film-Arts | Traditional | Theatrical | | August 7, 1981 | 90 minutes |
| Helen Keller Monogatari: Ai to Hikari no Tenshi ヘレン·ケラー物語 愛と光の天使 (The Story of Helen Keller: The Angel of Love and Light) | Japan | Fumio Ikeno | TV Asahi NOW Planning | Traditional | Television film | | May 5, 1981 | 81 minutes |
| Kabo-Encho no Dobutsuen Nikki カバ園長の動物園日記 (The Kaba Garden Director's Zoo Diary) | Japan | Masayuki Akehi | Toei Animation Fuji TV | Traditional | Television film | Fourteenth animated special produced for Fuji TV's "Nissei Family Special" program. | August 23, 1981 | 67 minutes |
| Kaibutsu-kun: Kaibutsu Land e no Shoutai 怪物くん 怪物ランドへの招待 (Kaibutsu-kun: Invitation to Kaibutsu Land) | Japan | Hiroshi Fukutomi | Toho Shin-Ei Animation | Traditional | Theatrical | | March 14, 1981 | 75 minutes |
| Kaitei Daisensō: Ai no 20,000 Miles 海底大戦争 愛の20,000マイル (The Great Navy War: 20,000 Miles of Love) | Japan | Ippei Kuri | Tatsunoko Production Nippon TV | Traditional | Television film | | January 3, 1981 | 75 minutes |
| The Little Fox Vuk | Hungary | Attila Dargay | Pannónia Filmstúdió | Traditional | Theatrical | | December 10, 1981 | 76 minutes |
| The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie | United States | Friz Freleng | Warner Bros. Animation | Traditional | Theatrical | Film compiled from theatrical animated shorts; third of six Looney Tunes compilation feature films | November 20, 1981 | 79 minutes |
| Lupin tai Holmes ルパン対ホームズ (Lupin vs. Holmes) | Japan | Masayuki Akehi | Toei Animation Fuji TV | Traditional | Television film | Twelfth animated special produced for Fuji TV's "Nissei Family Special" program. | May 5, 1981 | 68 minutes |
| Manga Hana no Kakarichō まんが花の係長 (The Happy Section Chief) | Japan | Noboru Ishiguro Minoru Okazaki | Shochiku Tokyo Movie Shinsha | Traditional | Theatrical | | November 28, 1981 | 60 minutes |
| Manzai Taikouki マンザイ太閤記 | Japan | Ryuji Sawada Hideo Takayashiki | Shochiku Tokyo Movie Shinsha | Traditional | Theatrical | | November 28, 1981 | 100 minutes |
| Maria, Mirabela a. k. a. The Magical Forest Мария, Мирабела (Mariya, Mirabela) | Romania Soviet Union | Ion Popescu-Gopo Natalia Bodyul | Moldova-Film Soyuzmultfilm Casa de Filme 5 | Traditional/Live action | Theatrical | | December 21, 1981 | 68 minutes |
| Minoïe | France | Jean Jabely Philippe Landrot | Dovidis Antenne-2 Les Productions du Tigre Marubeni | Traditional | Theatrical | | December 20, 1981 | 80 minutes |
| The Great Muppet Caper | United States | Jim Henson | Henson Associates | Puppetry | Theatrical | | 26 June 1981 | 97 minutes |
| Mobile Suit Gundam I 機動戦士ガンダムI (Kidō Senshi Gandamu I) | Japan | Yoshiyuki Tomino | Nippon Sunrise | Traditional | Theatrical | Film compiled from TV series episodes | March 14, 1981 | 139 minutes |
| Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow 機動戦士ガンダムII　哀・戦士編 (Kidô Senshi Gandamu II: Ai Senshihen) | Japan | Yoshiyuki Tomino | Nippon Sunrise | Traditional | Theatrical | Film compiled from TV series episodes | July 11, 1981 | 133 minutes |
| Mister Giants Glory Number 3 ミスター・ジャイアンツ 栄光の背番号３ (Mister Giants Eikō no Sebangō 3) | Japan | Tameo Kohanawa Hiromichi Horikawa (chief director) | Nippon TV Toho Eizo Co. Tsuchida Production | Traditional | Television special | Fictionalisation of the life of Shigeo Nagashima (born February 20, 1986), a Japanese former professional baseball player and manager. | March 1, 1981 | 71 minutes |
| The Mystery of the Third Planet a. k. a. The Secret of the Third Planet Тайна третьей планеты (Tayna tretyey planety) | Soviet Union | Roman Kachanov | Soyuzmultfilm | Traditional | Theatrical | | January 1, 1981 | 50 minutes |
| Natsu e no Tobira 夏への扉 (The Door into Summer) | Japan | Mamoru Masaki Toshio Hirata | Toei Animation Madhouse | Traditional | Theatrical | | March 20, 1981 | 59 minutes |
| Old Master Q 七彩卡通老夫子 (Qi cai ka tong Lao Fu Zi) | Hong Kong | Xie Jintu Cai Zhizhong Hu Shuru | Hong Kong Film Company Far East Cartoon Company | Traditional | Theatrical | First Hong Kong animated feature. | July 16, 1981 | 80 minutes |
| Peter-No-Tail Pelle Svanslös | Sweden | Stig Lasseby Jan Gissberg | Sandrews Svenska Filminstitutet Teamfilm AS Treklövern | Traditional | Theatrical | | December 25, 1981 | 81 minutes |
| Rennyo and His Mother 蓮如とその母 (Rennyo to Sono Haha) | Japan | Kihachirō Kawamoto | "Rennyo and His Mother" Movie Production Promotion Committee | Stop motion/Puppet | Theatrical | | October 7, 1981 | 93 minutes |
| Renshenguo 人参果 (Ginseng Fruit) | China | Yan Dingxian | Shanghai Fine Arts Film Studio | Traditional | Theatrical | | | 45 minutes |
| Robot King 로보트킹 | South Korea | Bae Yeong-lang | Sun Production | Traditional | Theatrical | | August 9, 1981 | 67 minutes |
| Run Melos! 走れメロス (Hashire Melos!) | Japan | Tomoharu Katsumata | Toei Animation | Traditional | Television film | Eleventh animated special produced for Fuji TV's "Nissei Family Special" program. | February 7, 1981 | 68 minutes |
| The Sea Prince and the Fire Child a. k. a. The Legend of Syrius シリウスの伝説 (Shiriusu no Densetsu) | Japan | Masami Hata | Nippon Herald Films Sanrio | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 18, 1981 | 108 minutes |
| Shunmao Monogatari Taotao シュンマオ物語 タオタオ (The Story of Taotao the Panda) | Japan | Yoji Yamada | Shochiku Shun Mao Production Committee Tianjin City Craft and Art Design Institute | Traditional | Theatrical | | December 26, 1981 | 90 minutes |
| Son of the White Mare Fehérlófia | Hungary | Marcell Jankovics | Pannónia Filmstúdió | Traditional | Theatrical | | October 22, 1981 | 90 minutes |
| Sonyeon 007 Jihajeguk 소년 007 지하제국 (Boy 007 Underground Empire) | South Korea | Jeong Su-yong Kim Cheol-jong | Geumyong Film Studio | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 18, 1981 | 75 minutes |
| Space Warrior Baldios 宇宙戦士 バルディオス (Uchū Senshi Barudiosu) | Japan | Kazuyuki Hirokawa | Production Reed | Traditional | Theatrical | | December 29, 1981 | 117 minutes |
| Sugata Sanshiro 姿三四郎 | Japan | Yasumi Mikamoto | Tokyo Movie Shinsha | Traditional | Television film | Thirteenth animated special produced for Fuji TV's "Nissei Family Special" program. | June 8, 1981 | 72 minutes |
| Swan Lake 世界名作童話 白鳥の湖 (Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Hakuchō no Mizuumi) | Japan Soviet Union | Kimio Yabuki | Toei Animation Soyuzmultfilm | Traditional | Theatrical | Fourth film in the anthology film series Sekai Meisaku Dōwa (lit. "World Masterpiece Fairy Tales"); Co-production with Soyuzmultfilm. | March 14, 1981 | 75 minutes |
| Tomorrow's Joe 2 あしたのジョー (Ashita no Jō 2) | Japan | Osamu Dezaki | Nippon Herald Films Tokyo Movie Shinsha | Traditional | Theatrical | Film compiled from TV series episodes | July 4, 1981 | 152 minutes |
| Toshishun 杜子春 (Toshiharu) | Japan | Takeichi Saito | TBS DAX International Inc. | Traditional | Television special | Based on the 1920 short story of the same title by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. | April 12, 1981 | 73 minutes |
| Yuki ゆき | Japan | Tadashi Imai | Nikkatsu Children's Movie Mushi Production | Traditional | Theatrical | | August 9, 1981 | 89 minutes |