# List of animated feature films of 1978

This is a list of animated feature films first released in 1978.

## List

| Title | Country | Director | Studio | Animation technique | Format | Notes | Release date | Duration |
| 77 Group's Secret 77단의 비밀 (77 Danui Bimil) | South Korea | Bak Seung-cheol | Samdo Film Co., Ltd. | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 23, 1978 | 70 minutes |
| The Ballad of the Daltons La Ballade des Dalton | France | René Goscinny Henri Gruel Morris Pierre Watrin | Dargaud Films Les Productions René Goscinny Studios Idefix Les Artistes Associés (distributor) | Traditional | Theatrical | | March 10, 1978 | 82 minutes |
| Black Beauty | United States | Chris Cuddington | Hanna-Barbera Australia | Traditional | Television special | Originally aired as the 26th installment of the CBS animated anthology series Famous Classic Tales (1970–1984). | October 28, 1978 | 50 minutes |
| Captain Future: The Great Race in the Solar System キャプテンフューチャー・華麗なる太陽系レース (Captain Future: Kareinaru Taiyoukei Race) | Japan | Tomoharu Katsumata | Toei Animation NHK (distributor) | Traditional | Television special | | December 31, 1978 | 58 minutes |
| Dallyeora Majingga X 달려라 마징가 X (Run Mazinger X) | South Korea | Kim Hyeon-yong | Sekyung Heung Industry Co., Ltd. | Traditional | Theatrical | | December 7, 1978 | 67 minutes |
| Donald Duck's Cartoon Mania | United States | David Hand Jack King Wilfred Jackson Dick Lundy Clyde Geronimi Charles Nichols Jack Hannah | Walt Disney Productions | Traditional | Theatrical Compilation film | Film compiled from Disney theatrical animated shorts; originally released theatrically for overseas markets and never in the United States. | July 16, 1978 | 78 minutes |
| Fantasia's Attic El Desván de la Fantasia | Spain | Cruz Delgado José Ramón Sánchez | Estudios Cruz Delgado | Traditional | Theatrical | | | 75 minutes |
| Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato: Warriors of Love さらば宇宙戦艦ヤマト 愛の戦士たち (Saraba Uchū Senkan Yamato Ai no Senshitachi) | Japan | Leiji Matsumoto Toshio Masuda | Group TAC Toei Company (distributor) | Traditional | Theatrical | Second feature film in the Space Battleship Yamato series; same storyline later reused and expanded on for the TV series Space Battleship Yamato II (1978–1979). | July 14, 1978 | 151 minutes |
| Ferda the Ant. How Ferda Lived in the World and Stories about his Friend Little Back Ferda Mravenec. Jak se měl Ferda ve světě a Příhody brouka Pytlíka | Czechoslovakia Soviet Union | Hermína Týrlová | Filmové Studio Gottwaldov Ústrední Pujcovna Filmu (distributor) | Traditional | Theatrical | First Soviet full-length animated film made in the commonwealth with other countries. | | 60 minutes |
| The Flintstones: Little Big League | United States | Chris Cuddington | Hanna-Barbera Productions Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd. | Traditional | Television special | | April 6, 1978 | 60 minutes |
| Gold Wing 123 황금날개 123 (Hwang Geumnalgae 1.2.3.) | South Korea | Kim Cheong-gi | Sejong Cultural Corporation | Traditional | Theatrical | | January 5, 1978 | 71 minutes |
| The Island of Nevawuz | Australia | Paul Williams | Fable Film Productions Australian Film Commission | Stop motion | Theatrical | | | 48 minutes |
| King Fang 大雪山の勇者 牙王 (Daisetsusan no Yūsha Kibaō) | Japan | Eiji Okabe | Nippon Animation | Traditional | Television film | | September 23, 1978 | 70 minutes |
| Kongjui & Patchui 콩쥐 팥쥐 (Kongjwi Patjwi) | South Korea | Gang Tae-ung | U Production | Stop motion | Theatrical | | January 23, 1978 | 72 minutes |
| Krabat – The Sorcerer's Apprentice Krabat, Čarodějův učeň | Czechoslovakia West Germany | Karel Zeman | Bavaria Atelier Ceskoslovenský Filmexport Filmové Studio Gottwaldov Krátký Film Praha Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR) Ustredni Pujcovna Filmu | Cutout | Theatrical | | March 1, 1978 | 73 minutes |
| The Light Princess | United Kingdom | Andrew Gosling | BBC | Traditional/Live action | Television film | | December 24, 1978 | 56 minutes |
| The Lord of the Rings | United States United Kingdom | Ralph Bakshi | Fantasy Films United Artists | Traditional/Rotoscope | Theatrical | First American animated feature to be presented in Dolby Stereo; at a running time of 133 minutes, the film is the longest American animated feature. | November 15, 1978 | 133 minutes |
| Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo ルパン三世 ルパンVS複製人間 (Rupan Sansei: Rupan tai Kurōn) | Japan | Sōji Yoshikawa | Tokyo Movie Shinsha Toho (distributor) | Traditional | Theatrical | First animated feature film installment in the Lupin III manga and anime franchise. | December 16, 1978 | 102 minutes |
| The Magic Flute Il flauto magico | Italy Australia | Emanuele Luzzati Giuilio Gianini | Thalia Film | Traditional/Cutout/Live action | Theatrical | | | 54 minutes |
| Metamorphoses 星のオルフェウス (Hoshi no Orufeusu) | Japan United States | Terry Ogisu Takashi Hiro Tsugawa | Sanrio | Traditional | Theatrical Anthology film | Later edited down to 82 minutes and reissued on May 3, 1979, under the title Winds of Change. | October 27, 1978 | 89 minutes |
| Mickey Mouse Jubilee Show | United States | Walt Disney Ben Sharpsteen James Algar Riley Thomson Charles Nichols Milt Schaffer | Walt Disney Productions | Traditional | Theatrical Compilation film | Film compiled from Disney theatrical animated shorts; originally released theatrically for overseas markets and never in the United States. | June 30, 1978 | 76 minutes |
| Not Everything that Flies is a Bird Nicht alles, was fliegt, ist ein Vogel Nije Ptica Sve Sto Leti | Germany Yugoslavia | Borislav Sajtinac | Stockmann Film Verlag | Traditional | Theatrical Compilation film | Compilation film of several shorts. | November 25, 1978 | 79 minutes |
| One Million-Year Trip: Bander Book 100万年地球の旅バンダーブック (Hyakumannen chikyû no tabi: Bandâ bukku) | Japan | Osamu Tezuka | Tezuka Productions Nippon TV (distributor) | Traditional | Television film | First two-hour animated television special, the first installment of the Tezuka Star System series of specials and the inaugural animated special produced for Nippon TV's 24 Hour TV "Love Saves the Earth" telethon. | August 27, 1978 | 94 minutes |
| The Phoenix 火の鳥 (Hi no Tori) | Japan | Kon Ichikawa | Toho (distributor) Firebird Productions Tezuka Productions | Traditional/Live action | Theatrical Live-action animated film | Animated hand drawn elements in otherwise mostly live action feature film. | August 19, 1978 | 137 minutes |
| Popeye vs. the Red Indians Braccio di Ferro contro gli indiani | United States Italy | Seymour Kneitel Izzy Sparber Bill Tytla | Famous Studios (archive footage) G.P.S. Distribuzione Cinematografica United Artists (distributor) | Traditional | Theatrical Compilation film | Compilation of 12 Famous Studios Popeye the Sailor theatrical animated shorts; originally released theatrically for overseas markets and never in the United States. | December 23, 1978 | 80 minutes |
| Puff the Magic Dragon | United States | Charles Swenson Fred Wolf | Murakami Wolf Swenson Yarrow/Muller-My Company | Traditional | Television special | | October 30, 1978 | 30 minutes |
| Ringing Bell チリンの鈴 (Chirin no Suzu) | Japan | Masami Hata | Sanrio | Traditional | Theatrical | | March 11, 1978 | 47 minutes |
| Robot Taekwon V vs. Golden Wings Showdown 로보트 태권V 대 황금날개의 대결 (Roboteu taegwonbeuiwa hwanggeumnalgaeui daegyeol) | South Korea | Kim Cheong-gi | Sejong Cultural Corporation | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 26, 1978 | 66 minutes |
| Run, Wonder Princess! 날아라 원더공주 (Narara Wondeogongju) | South Korea | Kim Cheong-gi | U Production | Traditional | Theatrical | | July 31, 1978 | 75 minutes |
| Science Ninja Team Gatchaman: The Movie 科学忍者隊ガッチャマン 劇場版 (Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman: Gekijōban) | Japan | Hisayuki Toriumi | Shochiku (distributor) Tatsunoko Production | Traditional | Theatrical Compilation film | Alternate retelling of the plot of the animated television series Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, compiling the first three minutes of original material with key footage through episodes 1 to 2, 51 to 53 and 102 to 105. | May 12, 1978 | 110 minutes |
| The Stingiest Man in Town 町一番のけちんぼう (Machi Ichiban no Kechinbō) | United States Japan | Arthur Rankin Jr. Jules Bass Katsuhisa Yamada | Rankin/Bass Productions Topcraft | Traditional | Television special | Animated adaptation of the live action musical TV special of the same title, that first aired as a part of The Alcoa Hour on NBC in December 23, 1956. | December 23, 1978 | 56 minutes |
| Los Supersabios | Mexico | Anuar Badín | Kinemma S.A. | Traditional | Theatrical | | November 4, 1978 | 78 minutes |
| The Talking Parcel | United Kingdom | Brian Cosgrove | Cosgrove Hall Films | Traditional | Television film | | December 26, 1978 | 40 minutes |
| The Thralls Trællene | Denmark | Jannik Hastrup | Dansk Tegnefilm Traellenes Boern | Traditional | Theatrical | | March 27, 1978 | 84 minutes |
| Thumbelina 世界名作童話 おやゆび姫 (Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Oyayubi Hime) | Japan | Yugo Serikawa | Toei Animation | Traditional | Theatrical | Second film in the anthology film series Sekai Meisaku Dōwa (lit. "World Masterpiece Fairy Tales"); Osamu Tezuka provided the character designs for this feature. | March 18, 1978 | 64 minutes |
| The Water Babies | United Kingdom Poland | Lionel Jeffries | Pethurst International Ltd. (distributor) Studio Miniatur Filmowych | Traditional/Live action | Theatrical | | June 23, 1978 | 105 minutes |
| Watership Down | United Kingdom United States | Martin Rosen | Nepenthe Productions CIC (distributor) Avco Embassy Pictures (distributor) | Traditional | Theatrical | First ever animated feature film to be presented in Dolby Stereo. | October 19, 1978 | 102 minutes |
| Wilhelm Busch – Die Trickfilm-Parade: Max und Moritz und andere Streiche | Germany | Hermann Leitner John Halas | Studio Hamburg Polyphon | Traditional/Live action | Theatrical | | May 15, 1978 | 82 minutes |
| Xigua pao 西瓜炮 (Waterwater Cannon) | China | Jin Xi | Shanghai Fine Arts Film Studio | Stop motion | Theatrical | | | 45 minutes |

## Highest-grossing animated films of the year

| Rank | Title | Studio | Gross | Ref |
| 1 | Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato | Group TAC | ¥4,300,000,000 ($43,000,000) | |
| 2 | The Lord of the Rings | Fantasy Films | $30,471,420 | |