After finishing up his degree, he applied to
Disney, but he was not accepted and instead began working for
Hanna-Barbera. He began working on
The Simpsons from
season two onwards and has directed 84 episodes, more than any other director. In
season 18, he became the show's supervising director,although he would relinquish this position to
Mike B. Anderson as of season 20. In 2021, Kirkland left
The Simpsons to become supervising director on
HouseBroken. Kirkland has won three
Primetime Emmy Awards, two
Environmental Media Awards and a Pioneer in Television Animation Award from the
Burbank International Film Festival 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 films which have been shown at film festivals around the world and screened at the
Museum of Modern Art 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 magazines. He created photo essays on the behind-the-scenes making of The Simpsons
, and A Visit with Ollie'' about legendary Disney animator
Ollie Johnston. ==
HouseBroken episodes==