Animation
Melinda Leasure
Los Angeles native Melinda Leasure joined King of the Hill in 1994, during its second season, as a prop designer, and was with the production through the end of its thirteenth (and final) season; during the last season she also served as retake design lead for King of the Hill postproduction. She moved on to work as prop designer for Lolo’s Café, Me, Eloise and Neighbors from Hell; in design development for The Goode Family; and is currently location/utility designer for Disney's Phineas and Ferb (Leasure is married to the namesake of the “Ferb” character). When not enjoying what she thinks of as the best job of her varied career, Leasure and her husband like to make an annual trip to Scotland. A long-term member of the Animation Peer Group Executive Committee, Leasure is honored to serve as a governor, and looks forward to continuing the excellent work implemented by her predecessors.
Mark Kirkland
Mark Kirkland is currently a director with The Simpsons. During his 22 consecutive years with the show, he has directed 70 episodes and has won three Primetime Emmy Awards. At the age of 13, Kirkland began making Super 8 films and working for his father, noted photographer, Douglas Kirkland. Kirkland studied animation at Cal Arts, where he received a BFA degree. Kirkland got his break in the animation industry when hired by Hanna-Barbera Productions as a designer/storyboard/layout artist/crew supervisor. Later in advertising, he worked as a producer/director supervising animation, effects, miniatures and live-action. As an independent filmmaker, Kirkland has made award-winning short films, which have been shown internationally and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. With nearly 35 years in the television industry, Kirkland cherishes working with his longtime colleagues and living in Burbank with his wife Letty.
