1940

Theatrical releases

Feature films

• February 7 - Pinocchio premiered in New York
• February 9 - Pinocchio (Los Angeles, California)
• February 23 - Pinocchio
• November 13 - Fantasia (New York City, New York) (roadshow version)

Shorts

• March 15 - The Riveter
• April 5 - Donald's Dog Laundry
• April 26 - Tugboat Mickey
• May 17 - Billposters
• June 7 - Mr. Duck Steps Out
• June 28 - Bone Trouble
• July 19 - Put-Put Troubles
• August 9 - Donald's Vacation
• August 30 - Pluto's Dream House
• September 1 - The Volunteer Worker
• September 20 - Window Cleaners
• November 1 - Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip
• November 22 - Goofy's Glider
• December 13 - The Fire Chief
• December 27 - Pantry Pirate

Artists joined

• Jack Boyd - Effects Animator for Sleeping Beauty and Mary Poppins.
• Don Griffith (art director)

Comics

• October - The first issue of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories is published.

Character debuts

• February 7 - Pinocchio, Gepetto, Stromboli, Monstro, Gideon, Cleo, The Coachman, Jiminy Cricket, Figaro, Blue Fairy, Lampwick, Honest John, The Coachman's Goons, The Stupid Little Boys
• June 7 - Daisy Duck
• October - Grandma Duck
• November 13 - Chernabog, Yen Sid, Hyacinth Hippo, Ben Ali Gator, Madame Upanova, Elephanchine, Sugar Plum Fairies, Nutcracker Suite dancers, Magic Brooms, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Pteranodon, Corythosaurus, Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, Ornithomimus, Brachiosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Kannemeyeria, Edmontosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Dimetrodon, Tylosaurus, Plateosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Compsognathus, Archaeopteryx, Troodon, Oviraptor, Bacchus, Jacchus, Centaurs, Centaurettes, Melinda, Brudus, Iris, Morpheus, Diana, Zeus, Apollo, Vulcan, Boreas, Mother Pegasus, Father Pegasus, Pegasi Siblings, Peter Pegasus, Cherubs, Satyrs, Unicorns, Ostriches, Hippos, Alligators, Chernabog's Minions

People

Births

• January 22 - John Hurt (actor and voice actor)
• January 27 - James Cromwell (actor)
• February 2 - Thomas M. Disch (author and poet)
• February 4 - George A. Romero (director, producer, editor, and screenwriter)
• February 11 - Lord Tim Hudson (DJ and voice actor)
• March 25 - Anita Bryant (singer)
• March 26 - James Caan (actor)
• March 27 - Austin Pendleton (actor)
• April 25 - Al Pacino (actor and director)
• May 5
  • Lance Henriksen (actor)
  • Lasse Åberg (actor, film director, and artist)
• May 22 - Bernard Shaw (journalist and former news anchor)
• June 1 - Rene Auberjonois (actor)
• June 3 - Hank Jones (actor and genealogist)
• June 7 - Monica Evans (voice actor)
• June 20 - John Mahoney (voice artist)
• July 7 - Ringo Starr (drummer, singer, songwriter, and actor)
• July 13 - Patrick Stewart (actor)
• July 22 - Alex Trebek (television personality and game show host)
• July 28 - Phil Proctor (voice actor)
• August 3 - Martin Sheen (actor)
• August 26 - Don LaFontaine (American voice actor)
• August 31 - Jack Thompson (actor)
• September 5 - Raquel Welch (actress)
• September 19 - Paul Williams (actor and songwriter)
• October 4 - Kei Yoshimizu (Japanese actor and voice actor)
• October 13 - Dave Smith (founder and former chief archivist at the Walt Disney Archives)
• October 18 - Cynthia Weil (songwriter)
• November 5 - Elke Sommer (actress)
• November 21 - Dr. John (singer, pianist, and guitarist)
• December 1 - Richard Pryor (stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer, and emcee)

Deaths

• September 28 - Earl Hurd (animator and film director)