1981

**1981** was the year of Mario's debut in Japan.

## Movies released in theaters this year

### North America

* Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981)
* Dragonslayer (June 26, 1981)
* The Fox and the Hound (July 10, 1981)

### Latin America

* Raiders of the Lost Ark (July 16, 1981)
* The Fox and the Hound (July 23, 1981)

### Japan

* Popeye (June 13, 1981)
* Raiders of the Lost Ark (December 5, 1981)
* The Rescuers (December 19, 1981)
* Herbie Goes Bananas (December 26, 1981)

### UK

* Herbie Goes Bananas (July 23, 1981)
* Raiders of the Lost Ark (July 30, 1981)
* The Fox and the Hound (October 22, 1981)

### France

* Herbie Goes Bananas (January 26, 1981)
* Raiders of the Lost Ark (September 16, 1981)
* Xanadu (November 11, 1981)
* The Fox and the Hound (November 25, 1981)

### Australia

* Raiders of the Lost Ark (August 14, 1981)
* The Fox and the Hound (December 26, 1981)

### Brazil

* Raiders of the Lost Ark (August 21, 1981)
* The Fox and the Hound (September 18, 1981)

## Movies re-issued in theaters this year

### North America

* Alice in Wonderland (April 3, 1981)
* Star Wars IV: A New Hope (April 10, 1981)
* Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (June 12, 1981)
* Herbie Goes Bananas (June 12, 1981)
* Herbie Rides Again (June 19, 1981)
* Swiss Family Robinson (June 19, 1981)
* Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (July 31, 1981)
* Cinderella (December 18, 1981)

### France

* Close Encounters of the Third Kind (March 4, 1981)

### Australia

* Close Encounters of the Third Kind (January 22, 1981)
* 2001: A Space Odyssey (September 10, 1981)

## Movies aired on television this year

### CBS

* A Disney Halloween (October 24, 1981)
* Herbie Rides Again (October 10 and 17, 1981)\*
* The Love Bug (September 26 and October 3, 1981)\*
* Mary Poppins (November 22, 1981)
* The Wizard of Oz (February 27, 1981)

### NBC

* The Rescuers

(\*) These films were re-edited for viewing in two parts.

## Programs debuted on television this year

### NBC

* The Smurfs (September 12, 1981)
* A Chipmunk Christmas (December 14, 1981)

## Programs airing new seasons this year

### CBS

* M\*A\*S\*H (Season 10) (October 26, 1981–April 12, 1982)
* The Price is Right (Season 10)

### PBS

* Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
* Sesame Street (Season 13) (November 23, 1981–May 21, 1982)

## Programs broadcasted in reruns this year

### PBS

* 3-2-1 Contact
* The Electric Company (1975-1977)
* Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (1969-1975)

## Programs ended this year

### NBC

* Card Sharks (1978-1981) (last episode aired on October 23, 1981)
* Disney's Wonderful World (last episode aired on September 13, 1981)

## VHS releases this year

* 2001: A Space Odyssey
* The Absent-Minded Professor (June 26, 1981)
* Alice in Wonderland (October 15, 1981)
* The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (June 26, 1981)
* Close Encounters of the Third Kind
* Darby O'Gill and the Little People (October 13, 1981)
* Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (June 26, 1981)
* A Dream Called Walt Disney World (October 15, 1981)
* Dumbo (June 26, 1981)
* Herbie Rides Again (October 15, 1981)
* The Devil and Max Devlin (October 15, 1981)
* Goofy Over Sports (October 15, 1981)
* The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (June 26, 1981)
* Old Yeller (October 15, 1981)
* Pollyanna (October 15, 1981)
* The Shaggy Dog (October 15, 1981)
* Snow White Live at Radio City Music Hall (June 26, 1981)
* Treasure Island (October 15, 1981)
* A Tale of Two Critters (October 15, 1981)

## Comics

### USA

* Batman (March 1, 1981)
* Doraemon (September 18, 1981)

## Toys:

### Japan:

* Mr. Potato Head (July 10, 1981)
* Lots-A-Bear (November 1, 1981)

## Logos introduced this year

* 20th Century Fox - "The Searchlights" (August 28, 1981)
* 20th Television Fox - "The Searchlights"
* Columbia Pictures - "80s Torch Lady" (June 5, 1981)
* MGM/CBS Home Video - "The Metallic Logo" (June 1981)
* Walt Disney Home Video - "Walt Disney" (Europe only) (Q4 1981)

## Logos updated this year

* Warner Home Video - "The Big \\" (formerly WCI Home Video)

## Logos ended this year

* Buena Vista Distribution (1966) (July 10, 1981)
* Columbia Pictures - "70s Torch Lady" (May 15, 1981)
* MGM/CBS Home Video - "The Green Lines" (March 1981)

## Albums released this year

* The Fox and the Hound (Disney Picture Disc) (LP)

## Software released this year

* 86-DOS 1.1 (July 1981)
* MS-DOS 1.0 (August 12, 1981)

## Animes introduced this year

* Dr. Slump
* Dragon Ball

## Vehicles introduced this year

* 1982 Buick Century (2-door coupe and 4-door sedan only)
* 1982 Cadillac Cimarron (May 21, 1981)
* 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier
* 1982 Chevrolet Celebrity
* 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
* 1981 Dodge Aries
* 1981 Ford Escort
* 1981 Isuzu Impulse
* 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (September 28, 1981)
* 1982 Pontiac Sunbird