1981

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

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)

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)

Japan

 * 101 Dalmatians (July 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)

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

CBS

 * Walt Disney (1981-1983)

NBC

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

ABC

 * Family Feud (1976-1985)

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)

PBS

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

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 23, 1981)
 * Alice in Wonderland (October 13, 1981)
 * The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (June 23, 1981)
 * Close Encounters of the Third Kind
 * Darby O'Gill and the Little People (October 13, 1981)
 * Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (June 23, 1981)
 * A Dream Called Walt Disney World (October 13, 1981)
 * Dumbo (June 23, 1981)
 * Herbie Rides Again (October 13, 1981)
 * The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (June 23, 1981)
 * Old Yeller (October 13, 1981)
 * Pollyanna (October 13, 1981)
 * The Shaggy Dog (October 13, 1981)
 * Snow White Live at Radio City Music Hall (June 23, 1981)
 * Treasure Island (October 13, 1981)

USA

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

UK

 * Archie Comics (November 22, 1981)

Japan

 * Garfield (July 31, 1981)

Australia

 * Peanuts (August 2, 1981)

USA:

 * Care Bears (May 2, 1981)

UK:

 * Strawberry Shortcake (June 19, 1981)

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)

Books released this year

 * Spot's First Walk (October 16, 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