Mark Kirkland is an American animation director. He has directed 84 episodes of ''

The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, ...

'' since 1990, more than any other director.

Career

At the age of 13, Kirkland began making super 8 films and working for his father, noted photographer and filmmaker

Douglas Kirkland Douglas Morley Kirkland (August 16, 1934 – October 2, 2022) was a Canadian-born American photographer. He was noted for his photographs of celebrities, especially the ones he took of Marilyn Monroe several months before her death. Early life ...

, creating “

making of In cinema, behind-the-scenes (BTS), also known as the making-of, the set, or on the set, is a type of documentary film that features the production of a film or television program. This is often referred to as the EPK (electronic press kit) vid ...

” films for major production companies. This exposure to Hollywood sparked Kirkland's desire to seek a career in the entertainment industry. Kirkland developed an interest in drawing at an early age. At the age of 17, he began studying in the Experimental Animation Program at the

California Institute of the Arts The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a private art university in Santa Clarita, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the US created specifically for students of both ...

for four years, earning a BFA degree. There, he was mentored by people such as

Jules Engel Jules Engel (born Gyula Engel, March 11, 1909 – September 6, 2003) was an American filmmaker, painter, sculptor, graphic artist, set designer, animator, film director, and teacher. He was the founding director of the experimental animation ...

(serving as his

teaching assistant A teaching assistant or teacher's aide (TA) or education assistant (EA) or team teacher (TT) is an individual who assists a teacher with instructional responsibilities. TAs include ''graduate teaching assistants'' (GTAs), who are graduate school ...

), A. Kendall O'Connor,

Ollie Johnston Oliver Martin Johnston Jr. (October 31, 1912 – April 14, 2008) was an American motion picture animator. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, and the last surviving at the time of his death from natural causes. He was recognized by The Wal ...

and Moe Gollub. In 1976, he won the

Student Academy Award The Student Academy Awards are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in an annual competition for college and university filmmakers. Description The awards were originally named the Student Film Awards and were first ...

for animation along with fellow student,

Richard Jefferies John Richard Jefferies (6 November 1848 – 14 August 1887) was an English nature writer, noted for his depiction of English rural life in essays, books of natural history, and novels. His childhood on a small Wiltshire farm had a great influ ...

, for their graphically animated film made to the song " Fame" by

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

. After finishing up his degree, he applied to

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

, but he was not accepted and instead began working for

Hanna-Barbera Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to c ...

. He began working on ''

'' from

season two Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album) * ''2econd Season ''2econd Season'' is the second and most recent album by Atlanta-based rapper Unk. Release It was released on November 4, 2008. Guest Performers The album features gu ...

onwards and has directed 82 episodes, more than any other director. In season 18, he became the show's supervising director. In 2021, Kirkland left ''The Simpsons'' to become supervising director on ''

HouseBroken ''HouseBroken'' is an American animated sitcom created by Jennifer Crittenden, Clea DuVall, and Gabrielle Allan that premiered on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox on May 31, 2021. In August 2021, the series was renewed for a second season which prem ...

''. Kirkland has won three

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

s, two

Environmental Media Awards The Environmental Media Awards have been awarded by the Environmental Media Association since 1991 to the best television episode or film with an environmental message. The Environmental Media Association (EMA) is a non-profit organization cre ...

and a Pioneer in Television Animation Award from the

Burbank International Film Festival The Burbank International Film Festival (BIFF) is an annual film festival held since 2009 in Burbank, California, United States. It was founded by Val Tonione, and awards are distributed to filmmakers that have focused on social and environmental i ...

for his work on ''The Simpsons''. An active member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, Kirkland served as the Animation Peer Group Governor from 2012 to 2013. As an independent filmmaker, Kirkland has written, directed, and produced award-winning

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

s which have been shown at film festivals around the world and screened at the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

in New York. During a 5-year period, Kirkland participated in 25 festivals screening his films: "A Letter from Home," "The Moving Picture Co. 1914," "The Audition," and "Bud's Odyssey." Kirkland is an accomplished still photographer whose images have been published in the US and ''

People A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...

'' magazines. He created

photo essay A photographic essay or photo-essay for short is a form of visual storytelling, a way to present a narrative through a series of images. A photo essay delivers a story using a series of photographs and brings the viewer along a narrative journey. E ...

s on the behind-the-scenes making of ''The Simpsons'', and ''A Visit with Ollie'' about legendary Disney animator

''HouseBroken'' episodes

;Season 1 *" Who's a Good Girl?" (2021 - episode #1)

''The Simpsons'' episodes

;Season 2 * "

Dancin' Homer "Dancin' Homer" is the fifth episode of the second season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 8, 1990. In the episode, Homer becomes the Springfield I ...

" * "

Bart Gets Hit by a Car "Bart Gets Hit by a Car" is the tenth episode of the The Simpsons (season 2), second season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network in the United States on Janu ...

" * "

Principal Charming "Principal Charming" is the fourteenth episode of the second season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 14, 1991. In the episode, Marge asks Homer to ...

" * "

The War of the Simpsons "The War of the Simpsons" is the twentieth episode of the second season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 2, 1991. In the episode, Homer gets drunk at a ...

" ;Season 3 * "

Homer Defined "Homer Defined" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 17, 1991. In the episode, Homer accidentally saves the Sp ...

" * "

Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk "Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk" ( English translation: "Burns Sell the Power Plant" sic.html"_;"title="'sic">'sic''_is_the_eleventh_episode_of_the_The_Simpsons_(season_3).html" ;"title="sic">'sic''.html" ;"title="sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''" ...

" * "

Homer Alone "Homer Alone" is the fifteenth episode of the third season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'', and the fiftieth episode overall. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 6, 1992. In the epis ...

" * "

Colonel Homer "Colonel Homer" is the twentieth episode of the third season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 26, 1992. In the episode, Homer and Marge quarrel afte ...

" ;Season 4 * "

Kamp Krusty "Kamp Krusty" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 24, 1992. During summer vacation, the children of Spri ...

" * "

Lisa the Beauty Queen "Lisa the Beauty Queen" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 15, 1992. In the episode, Homer enters Lisa into a be ...

" * "

Lisa's First Word "Lisa's First Word" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It was first broadcast on the Fox network in the United States on December 3, 1992. In the episode, as the Simpson family g ...

" * "

Last Exit to Springfield "Last Exit to Springfield" is the seventeenth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 11, 1993. The plot revolves around Homer ...

" ;Season 5 * "

Homer's Barbershop Quartet "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" is the first episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 30, 1993. It features the Be Sharps, a ...

" * "

Marge on the Lam "Marge on the Lam" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 4, 1993. After Marge invites her neighbor Ruth Powers ...

" * "

Homer and Apu "Homer and Apu" is the thirteenth episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 10, 1994. In the episode, Homer participates in a ...

" * " Burns' Heir" ;Season 6 * "

Lisa's Rival "Lisa's Rival" is the second episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 11, 1994. Winona Ryder guest stars as Allison Taylor, ...

" * "

Sideshow Bob Roberts "Sideshow Bob Roberts" is the fifth episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 9, 1994. Kelsey Grammer returns in his fourth major ...

" * "

Fear of Flying Fear of flying is a fear of being on an airplane, or other flying vehicle, such as a helicopter, while in flight. It is also referred to as flying anxiety, flying phobia, flight phobia, aviophobia, aerophobia, or pteromechanophobia (although a ...

" * " Homer vs. Patty and Selma" * "

The Springfield Connection "The Springfield Connection" is the twenty-third episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 7, 1995. In the episode, Marge deals with ...

" ;Season 7 * "

Lisa the Vegetarian "Lisa the Vegetarian" is the fifth episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 15, 1995. In the episode, Lisa decides to stop ...

" * "

Team Homer "Team Homer" is the twelfth episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 7, 1996. In the episode, Homer starts a bowling team with ...

" * "

A Fish Called Selma "A Fish Called Selma" is the nineteenth episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 24, 1996. The episode features Troy McClure, ...

" * " Summer of 4 Ft. 2" ;Season 8 * "

The Homer They Fall "The Homer They Fall" is the third episode of the eighth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 10, 1996. After Homer realizes he has a bizarre me ...

" * " Mountain of Madness" * " The Old Man and the Lisa" ;Season 9 * "

Treehouse of Horror VIII "Treehouse of Horror VIII" is the fifth episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 26, 1997. In the eighth annual ''Treehouse of Horror ...

" (as "Mad Dog Kirkland") * " Bart Carny" * "

Girly Edition "Girly Edition" is the twenty-first episode in the ninth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 19, 1998. In the episode, Lisa and Bart Simpson mus ...

" ;Season 10 * " The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace" * "

D'oh-in' in the Wind "D'oh-in' in the Wind" is the sixth episode of the tenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 15, 1998. In the episode, Homer Simpson travels to a ...

" (with

Matthew Nastuk Matthew Nastuk is an animation director on ''The Simpsons''. He started directing during the tenth season, and has since directed over two dozen episodes and continues to direct today. ''The Simpsons'' episodes He has directed the following episod ...

)According to the Season 10 DVD commentary, Kirkland was going through a divorce and hired Nastuk to direct most of the episode. * " Marge Simpson in: 'Screaming Yellow Honkers' * " The Old Man and the 'C' Student" ;Season 11 * "

Brother's Little Helper "Brother's Little Helper" is the second episode of the The Simpsons (season 11), eleventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network in the United States on Octob ...

" * "

Little Big Mom "Little Big Mom" is the tenth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 9, 2000, the first episode of the new millennium. In ...

" * "

Pygmoelian "Pygmoelian" is the sixteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 27, 2000. In the episode, after getting his face cen ...

" * "

Behind the Laughter "Behind the Laughter" is the twenty-second and final episode of the The Simpsons (season 11), eleventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network in the United Sta ...

" ;Season 12 * "

The Computer Wore Menace Shoes “The Computer Wore Menace Shoes" is the sixth episode of the twelfth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 3, 2000. In the episode, Homer buy ...

" * "

Simpson Safari "Simpson Safari" is the seventeenth episode of the twelfth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 1, 2001. When the Simpsons run out of food t ...

" ;Season 13 * "

The Parent Rap "The Parent Rap" is the second episode and official premiere of the thirteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 11, 2001. In the episode, B ...

" * " Sweets and Sour Marge" * "

Gump Roast "Gump Roast" is the seventeenth episode of the thirteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 21, 2002. In the episode, Homer Simpson is honored ...

" ;Season 14 * " Helter Shelter" * "

The Dad Who Knew Too Little "The Dad Who Knew Too Little" is the eighth episode of the fourteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 12, 2003. In the episode, Homer disa ...

" * "

Three Gays of the Condo "Three Gays of the Condo" is the seventeenth episode of the fourteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 13, 2003. The episode was written by ...

" ;Season 15 * "

The Regina Monologues "The Regina Monologues" is the fourth episode of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 23, 2003. It was directed by Mark Kirkland ...

" * "

Diatribe of a Mad Housewife "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife" is the tenth episode of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox Network in the United States on January 25, 2004. Marge is inspired to write a ...

" * "

My Big Fat Geek Wedding "My Big Fat Geek Wedding" is the seventeenth episode of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 18, 2004. The episode was originally plan ...

" ;Season 16 * "

All's Fair in Oven War "All's Fair in Oven War" is the second episode of the sixteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 14, 2004. In the episode, Marge gets her ...

" * "

Mommie Beerest "Mommie Beerest" is the seventh episode of the sixteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 30, 2005. The episode was directed by Mark Kirland and w ...

" * "

Don't Fear the Roofer "Don't Fear the Roofer" is the sixteenth episode of the sixteenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 1, 2005, and guest-stars comedian Ray Romano and p ...

" ;Season 17 * "

Bonfire of the Manatees "The Bonfire of the Manatees" is the first episode of the seventeenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 11, 2005, making it the first ''Si ...

" * "

The Italian Bob "The Italian Bob" is the eighth episode of the seventeenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 11, 2005. Serving as a sequel to " The Great Louse ...

" * " Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore" ;Season 18 * "

Moe'N'a Lisa "Moe'N'a Lisa"
is the sixth episode of the

" ;Season 19 * "

He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs", also known as "He Loves to Fly", is the nineteenth season premiere of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It was the first episode to air after the release of ''The Simpsons Movie'', having or ...

" * "

That '90s Show ''That '90s Show'' is an upcoming American television period teen sitcom set during the summer of 1995, featuring characters and locales which debuted in its predecessor, ''That '70s Show.'' It is set to premiere on Netflix on January 19, 2023 ...

" ;Season 20 * "

The Burns and the Bees "The Burns and the Bees" is the eighth episode of the twentieth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 7, 2008. In the episode, during a poker game, M ...

" * "

No Loan Again, Naturally "No Loan Again, Naturally" is the twelfth episode of the twentieth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on March 8, 2009. In the episode, the Simpsons lose their hous ...

" ;Season 21 * " Bart Gets a 'Z' * "

Postcards from the Wedge "Postcards from the Wedge" is the fourteenth episode of the twenty-first season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 14, 2010. In the episode, Homer and ...

" * " To Surveil with Love" ;Season 22 * " Elementary School Musical" * " Homer the Father" * "

Homer Scissorhands "Homer Scissorhands" is the twentieth episode of the twenty-second season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 8, 2011. Kristen Schaal guest stars in the episode ...

" ;Season 23 * " Replaceable You" * "

Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson "Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson" is the tenth episode of the twenty-third season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. In the episode, Bart uploads a video on YouTube in which Homer rants about airlines' horrible trea ...

" * "

Beware My Cheating Bart "Beware My Cheating Bart" is the eighteenth episode of the twenty-third season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 15, 2012. The title refers to the son ...

" ;Season 24 * " Penny-Wiseguys" * " Homer Goes to Prep School" * "

Dark Knight Court "Dark Knight Court" is the sixteenth episode of the twenty-fourth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'', and the 524th episode overall. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 17, 2013. Th ...

" ;Season 25 * "

Four Regrettings and a Funeral "Four Regrettings and a Funeral" is the third episode of the twenty-fifth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'' and the 533rd episode of the series. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 3, ...

" * " The Kid Is All Right" * "

You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee "You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee" is the sixteenth episode of the twenty-fifth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'' and the 546th episode of the series. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United State ...

" ;Season 26 * " Super Franchise Me" * " I Won't Be Home for Christmas" * " Peeping Mom" ;Season 27 * "

Love Is in the N2-O2-Ar-CO2-Ne-He-CH4 "Love Is in the N2-O2-Ar-CO2-Ne-He-CH4" is the thirteenth episode of the The Simpsons (season 27), twenty-seventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'', and the 587th episode of the series overall. The episode was di ...

" ;Season 28 * " Fatzcarraldo" ;Season 29 * "

No Good Read Goes Unpunished "No Good Read Goes Unpunished" is the fifteenth episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'', and the 633rd episode of the series overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on April 8, 2018. Pl ...

" ;Season 30 * " 101 Mitigations" ;Season 31 * "

Hail to the Teeth "Hail to the Teeth" is the 11th episode of the thirty-first season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'', and the 673rd episode overall. Being the first episode to air in the 2020s, it aired in the United States on Fox on Ja ...

Interviews

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirkland, Mark Living people Place of birth missing (living people) American television directors American animated film directors American animators American photographers American film producers California Institute of the Arts alumni Emmy Award winners Year of birth missing (living people)