Nationality American Name Jesse Moynihan Citizenship United States Role Writer | Years active Early 2000s–present Education Pratt Institute Shows Adventure Time | |
 | ||
Born January 4, 1978 (age 46) ( 1978-01-04 ) Santa Ana, California Occupation Animator, writer, artist Nominations Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short-format Animation Similar People Tom Herpich, Ako Castuera, Adam Muto, Kent Osborne, Pendleton Ward | ||
Notable work Adventure Time
Forming | ||
Jesse Talks About Forming
Jesse Moynihan (born January 4, 1978) is an American artist, composer and director who is best known for being a writer and storyboard artist on the animated television series Adventure Time as well as being the creator of the graphic novel Forming. He also released the animated short Manly exclusively through Cartoon Hangover, made with his brother Justin.
Contents
Early life
Jesse was born in Santa Ana, California to Shoko and Robert Moynihan. The family moved to Pennsylvania when he was one, where he spent the rest of his childhood with his younger brother, Justin.
At an early age, Jesse was encouraged to draw and learn music. His parents started him on violin when he was five. In elementary school, he drew his first comic about a character named Super Bug, described by Jesse as a dust ball with legs and Garfield eyes.
Jesse went to a Quaker boarding school in Westtown, Pennsylvania. It was here that Jesse and his brother Justin began their leap into greater explorations of art and music. Jesse graduated from Westtown School in 1996, and attended Pratt institute for one year, before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to focus on his own artistic endeavors. He later earned a film degree from Temple University.
Music
In high school, Jesse formed the punk band, Anal Sausage with his brother and friend Dave "Sausage" Walling. The group lasted from 1993-1999 and gained cult notoriety among the underground punk scene in Philadelphia, playing such venues as the legendary Stalag 13. After Anal Sausage disbanded, Jesse and Justin moved into a house in South Philadelphia with their high school friend, Brandon Beaver, who later went on to play in the band mewithoutYou. The three built a recording studio in their basement, where they would practice and record with their band Hiroshima Nagasaki. Other bands Jesse has been in include Hunson Abadeer, Ivy Labs, Wolf Vs, Kuru Kuru Pa, Hiroshima Nagasaki, and Hiroshima Lemon. In addition, he also auditioned as drummer for Dr. Dog. Make A Rising is Jesse's most current band, and consists of brothers Moynihan, and John Heron. Past members of Make A Rising include Brandon Beaver, John Pettit, Andrew Ciccone, Nick Millevoi, and Travis Woodson. Photos for the band's album covers were taken by friend and photographer Ryan Collerd. Jesse has also contributed violin playing to bands such as Dr. Dog, Man Man, Whales & Cops, & The Teeth.
In 2005, Jesse, Justin, & MAR drummer John Heron moved into a warehouse in West Philadelphia which they coined The Avant Gentlemen's Lodge. They turned the warehouse into a DIY venue space, which hosted "The Astral Projection Club"; plays by local playwrights; seasonal solstice and equinox parties, and musical performances from notable acts such as Dan Deacon, Kayo Dot, and The Flying Luttenbachers.
Comics
Jesse has published three graphic novels: Follow Me, "The Backwards Folding Mirror", and Forming. The story of Forming continues to be updated on his website and is collected in volumes through Nobrow Press Forming has received a fair share of critical attention: with Rob Clough of The Comics Journal describing it as "a success on so many different levels", and praising the series' storyline and "brightly colored and bizarre images".
He has contributed work to such publications as Philadelphia Weekly, The Philadelphia Independent, Arthur magazine, Mome, Meathaus, The Believer magazine, and Vice
Jesse collaborated with graphic novelist Dash Shaw in the May 2010 issue of The Believer magazine.
Awards
In 2005, Jesse received the Xeric Foundation grant for self-publishing comic artists. He used the money to self-publish two issues of The Backwards Folding Mirror.
His work on Adventure Time gained him an Emmy Award nomination for the third season episode "Too Young".