List of animated feature films before 1940


A list of animated feature films released prior to 1940.
TitleCountryDirectorStudioAnimation techniqueNotesRelease Date
1917------
The Apostle
El Apóstol
ArgentinaQuirino CristianiTraditional/CutoutThe first animated feature ever made, and in Argentina, but it is considered a lost film.
1918------
Without a Trace
Sin dejar rastros
ArgentinaQuirino CristianiTraditional/Cutoutlost film
La República de Jauja
ArgentinaAndrés DucaudTraditional/CutoutLost filmMarch 8, 1918
1926------
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed
GermanyLotte ReinigerSilhouetteThe oldest surviving animated feature.
1931------
Peludo City
Peludópolis
ArgentinaQuirino CristianiTraditional/Cutoutlost film and the first animated feature film with sound
1935------
The New Gulliver
Новый Гулливер
Soviet UnionAleksandr PtushkoMosfilmStop motion/Live actionCombines live-action with animation, and the first animated feature film to be made in the Soviet Union.
1937------
The Tale of the Fox
Le Roman de Renard
FranceLadislas StarevichStop motionAlthough completed in 1930, it remained unreleased for years because of problems with the original French soundtrack. It premiered in Berlin in 1937 with a German soundtrack, and was released with a new French soundtrack in April 1941.
Academy Award Review of Walt Disney CartoonsUnited StatesBurt Gillett
Wilfred Jackson
David Hand
TraditionalPackage film
The Seven Ravens
Die sieben Raben
Ferdinand Diehl
Hermann Diehl
Stop motion
Snow White and the Seven DwarfsUnited StatesDavid Hand
William Cottrell
Wilfred Jackson
Larry Morey
Perce Pearce
Ben Sharpsteen
Walt Disney ProductionsTraditionalThe first animated feature film to be presented in Technicolor. Won a special Academy Award for the first animated feature.
1939------
Gulliver's TravelsUnited StatesDave FleischerFleischer StudiosTraditionalThe first American Technicolor animated feature film to not be made by Disney. Also first Technicolor animated feature film made in World War II