Mark Kirkland

This exposure to Hollywood sparked Kirkland's desire to seek a career in the entertainment industry.

At the age of 17, he began studying in the Experimental Animation Program at the California Institute of the Arts for four years, earning a BFA degree.

[2] There, he was mentored by people such as Jules Engel (serving as his teaching assistant), A. Kendall O'Connor, Ollie Johnston and Moe Gollub.

An active member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, Kirkland served as the Animation Peer Group Governor from 2012 to 2013.

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."