Local puts the Patterson touch on ‘The Simpsons Movie’
 Megan Kelly as a Simpson
The Patterson High School graduate helped animate “The Simpsons Movie,” which made its way through theaters this summer.
For those who don’t know, “The Simpsons” is the longest-running U.S. sitcom. Each week, viewers get to watch the animated family and its dysfunctional behavior. But no matter how many times dad Homer chokes son Bart, the family’s love for one another remains unending.
The legions of fans who have kept the series alive since it debuted in 1989 got their first chance to see the Simpsons on the big screen this summer with the debut of “The Simpsons Movie.” That’s where Kelly gets in on the story. The 27-year-old Burbank resident was one of the feature’s animators.
“I always drew as far back as I can remember,” Kelly said.
She remembers early obsessions with the old Warner Bros. cartoons.
“I was a big Bugs Bunny fan,” she said.
Now, she’s working on the types of cartoons she used to get a kick out of as a child. Not only that, the movie she helped make went on to be wildly successful.
According to Box Office Mojo, “The Simpsons Movie” has taken in almost $183 million in the U.S. and another $341 million in foreign box offices since its July 27 release.
“I loved (the movie),” Kelly said. “It’s really funny.”
Since completing her work on the film, Kelly has gone on to work on the animated series “Futurama,” helping that series get ready to be released on DVD.
Kelly’s journey from Patterson to Springfield did not happen overnight. She said she always had an interest in animation, but it wasn’t until high school that she started getting really serious.
“Since the first year of high school, I knew I wanted to get into animation,” she said.
That led her to the animation program at San Jose State University, where her father, Bruce, also graduated. Her time at school gave her opportunities to meet people in the industry, which led to her first job.
“Going to school is always really helpful,” she said. “You meet people and get the basics.”
One of the people she met, professional animator Jennifer Klein, ended up being her mentor. Kelly helped Klein work on projects, and eventually Klein connected her with the people who got her working on “The Simpsons Movie.”
However, she needed to head to Southern California after graduation to make it in her field. Though many of her classmates found work in the Bay Area after college, they mostly did three-dimensional computer graphics often used in video games, Kelly explained.
“Right now, it’s been a lot of 3D,” she said. “But it doesn’t give me the same satisfaction.
(Two-dimensional work) feels more amazing.”
To get the chance to do the type of animation she loves, she headed south.
“TV and feature animation is almost all in L.A.,” Kelly said.
She admitted the move was a little intimidating at first.
“I was afraid to come down here at first,” she said. “I am a country girl.”
She’s since found her niche and said she loves where she is living in Burbank. She is fast falling into the Southern California lifestyle, including celebrity spotting.
“I saw (reality television star) Flava Flav in the Burbank Airport,” Kelly said.
To reach John Saiz at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Love ya!
Season, Benji, and Nathan Lozano