Frequently asked questions

What is BCDB?

The Big Cartoon DataBase (BCDB) is a free reference to animated cartoons: theatrical shorts, feature films, television series, specials, direct-to-video and streaming releases, from the silent era to today. It lists 165,000+ cartoons and the credits of 170,000+ animators, voice actors, directors, writers, composers and other crew.

Each cartoon has its release date, studio, series, running time, credits and, for many, a synopsis and a title card or poster. Dave Koch started it in 1997; you can read the whole story on the About page.

I heard BCDB was offline?

It was, and now it is back. Updates stopped in late 2019, and the site went offline in January 2024. Dave rebuilt it from the ground up in 2026, and BCDB came back online on November 11, 2026, with all of the original data.

Old links still work: addresses from the old site lead to the same cartoon, studio or person on the new one. The BCDB blog and forum are back too, as read-only archives.

Is BCDB still being updated?

Yes, every week. The data that came back in 2026 ran through October 2019, and we are filling in the years since: new feature films, the latest TV seasons, Academy Award nominees and much more. See New on BCDB for everything added recently.

Who runs BCDB?

BCDB was founded by Dave Koch, who still runs it. It became a nonprofit corporation in 2003. Over the years hundreds of fans, researchers and professionals have sent in information; the Thanks page lists many of them.

Are you part of Disney, Warner Bros. or any other studio?

No. BCDB is independent. We list the studios' work, but we cannot answer questions for them, pass on job applications or portfolios, or help with free products. Please contact the studio directly.

Can I search any cartoon on BCDB?

Yes. The search box at the top of every page looks through cartoon titles, series and studios, and people. It also finds English and other alternate titles, so a foreign cartoon turns up under either name. As you type, suggestions appear.

You can also browse: by studio, by series, by year, or through people. If a cartoon you know is missing, it probably has not been added yet. Tell us, and we will look into it.

I want to know release dates. How do I do that?

Every cartoon page shows its main release date near the top. For a theatrical film that is its general release in its home country; for a TV episode, its first broadcast; for a streaming title, the day the service released it.

Many cartoons also list other dates: premieres, festival screenings, releases in other countries, reissues and home-video releases.

To see everything from one year, use the years pages. The home page also shows cartoons released on today's date in past years.

Why isn't my favorite cartoon listed?

Either it hasn't been added yet, or it is listed under a different title. We file cartoons under the title shown on screen in their home country, with the English title alongside, so try searching for both. We are not U.S.-centric: cartoons from every country are welcome. If you still can't find it, let us know.

How are cartoons organized?

By studio, then series. Big studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera and Universal have their own sections; every other studio is listed under Other Studios by the first letter of its name. Each series has its own episode guide, in broadcast order with seasons and episode numbers.

Where does the information come from?

From on-screen credits, studio and broadcaster information, books and published filmographies, festival catalogues, The Movie Database (TMDB), and many years of contributions from fans and people who worked on the cartoons. When sources disagree, we use the most official one.

I found a mistake. How do I report it?

Please tell us: the cartoon or person, what is wrong, and where the right information comes from (on-screen credits, a studio page, a book). Every report is read, and corrections usually go in within days.

How do the ratings work?

Any visitor can rate a cartoon from 1 to 10 on its page, one vote per visitor. The rating shown is the average of all votes, old and new.

I want to help build BCDB. How?

Thank you! The most useful things you can send us are:

• Missing cartoons: titles, release dates and studios we don't have yet.
• Credits: directors, writers, animators and voice casts, ideally from the on-screen credits.
• Corrections to dates, titles or credits.
• Title cards and posters for cartoons that have none.
• Biographies and birth and death dates for animation people.

For now, send them through the contact page. Contributor accounts, so regular helpers can submit updates directly, are on our list. Everyone who helps is credited on the Thanks page.

Can I watch or buy cartoons here?

No. BCDB is a reference, not a video store or streaming service. Where and when a cartoon is available is up to the studios and the streaming services, so please check with them.

Can I use pictures from BCDB?

The title cards and posters belong to the studios and artists who made them. BCDB shows them for reference only, so please ask the owner before using them elsewhere.

Have you ever met Ariel?

Yes. On a boat. At night. Near Long Beach. That is all I can say.