Jess Espanola

Jesus "Jess" Española (born December 23, 1959) is a Filipino former animator, layout artist, and assistant director. He is best known for his work as the latter two of Fox's Futurama and The Simpsons. In his early career as an animator, prior in its introduction of outsourcing animation labors in the Philippines, he contributed with Hanna-Barbara for several animated series in late-1980s to early-1990s, most notably The Smurfs.

In 2008, Española is the first Asian and native Filipino (Kapampangan) to win the Primetime Emmy Award, a television equivalent of the Academy Awards and one of the four major performing entertainment achievements in the United States, for his contribution as an assistant director of "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" from the 19th season of The Simpsons.

Early life and education Española was born in Caloocan, then in the province of Rizal (now Metro Manila), on December 23, 1959, and raised temporarily. He is conceived out of wedlock as a product of rape between his Kapampangan teenage mother, when she was a high school student, and the father of one of her classmates. His first name, Jesus, was named by his mother's friend in Caloocan.

Before his birth, his mother and her elder sister lived in Guimaras during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in almost two years prior as her father and grandfather were killed during the war.

Career Since he graduated University of the Philippines with a Fine Arts degree, he started working with Fil-Cartoons, a subsidiary of Hanna-Barbera in Pasig where he served as lead animator and supervisor in 1985. He spend much time of animation for several cartoon shows, particularly The New Yogi Bear Show and The Smurfs. His exceptional talent was immediately noticed by the company, giving him the opportunity to work with Hanna-Barbera in Los Angeles.

Works

Animator only

The New Yogi Bear Show (1988) Police Academy: The Animated Series (1988–1989; uncredited) Fantastic Max (1988–1990) The Further Adventures of SuperTed (1989) The Smurfs (1989) Paddington Bear (1989–1990) Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990; uncredited) Tom & Jerry Kids (1991)

Accolades YearCeremonyCategoryTelevisionEpisodeStatusRef/s2008(60th)Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Animated ProgramThe SimpsonsEternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind Other awards given to Española are the Pamana Award in 2000, Reflection XII Award in 2000, Celebrity Chronicles Award in 2001, Pampanga Day Celebration Commission Professional Excellence Award in 2008, FASGI American Dream Award 2009, and MOKA – Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards in 2010.