Boyd Kirkland
Encyclopedia
Boyd Douglas Kirkland was an American
television
director
of animated cartoons. He was best known for his work on X-Men Evolution. His other famous works included Batman: The Animated Series
. He suffered from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
(IPF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). While in ICU at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
, he died waiting for a lung transplant on January 27, 2011.
as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah
. His career in animation started in 1979 as a layout artist. This evolved into XAM! Productions, a partnership based in Salt Lake City that subcontracted for larger Los Angeles
based studios. He moved his family to Los Angeles in 1985.
Kirkland has published articles about the nature of God in Mormon thought. While a missionary
for the LDS Church, Kirkland was confused about the Adam-God doctrine, ostensibly taught in the 19th century, which led him to start questioning the current official church teachings. After brief unhelpful requests for answers from church leaders, Kirkland continued in his own research into the controversy, resulting in articles published in Sunstone Magazine
, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
, and chapters of Line Upon Line: Essays on Mormon Doctrine.
Kirkland has worked as a producer for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series
, and with storyboards for G.I. Joe: The Movie
, Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
, My Little Pony: The Movie
, and Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
. He has also worked on various Mormon cartoons from the Living Scriptures, Inc., including "The Savior in America" and "The Miracles of Jesus."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
of animated cartoons. He was best known for his work on X-Men Evolution. His other famous works included Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
. He suffered from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive form of lung disease characterized by fibrosis of the supporting framework of the lungs...
(IPF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). While in ICU at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
, he died waiting for a lung transplant on January 27, 2011.
Biographical background
Kirkland was raised in UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. His career in animation started in 1979 as a layout artist. This evolved into XAM! Productions, a partnership based in Salt Lake City that subcontracted for larger Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based studios. He moved his family to Los Angeles in 1985.
Kirkland has published articles about the nature of God in Mormon thought. While a missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
for the LDS Church, Kirkland was confused about the Adam-God doctrine, ostensibly taught in the 19th century, which led him to start questioning the current official church teachings. After brief unhelpful requests for answers from church leaders, Kirkland continued in his own research into the controversy, resulting in articles published in Sunstone Magazine
Sunstone Magazine
Sunstone is a magazine published by the Sunstone Education Foundation, Inc., a 501 nonprofit corporation, that discusses Mormonism through scholarship, art, short fiction, and poetry. The foundation began the publication in 1974 and considers it a vehicle for free and frank exchange in The Church...
, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought is an independent quarterly journal of "Mormon thought" that addresses a wide range of issues on Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint Movement....
, and chapters of Line Upon Line: Essays on Mormon Doctrine.
Kirkland has worked as a producer for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is an animated television series based on the movies Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and Return of the Killer Tomatoes. It aired on Fox Kids from September 8, 1990 to November 23, 1991. Repeats continued to air until September 5, 1992. Three years later, repeats were...
, and with storyboards for G.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie is a 1987 animated film spun off from the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, based on the original Hasbro toyline. It was produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions and was animated in Japan by Toei Animation.Created at the height of the G.I. Joe craze in...
, Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, known in Japan as simply Nemo, is a 1989 animated film directed by Masami Hata and William T. Hurtz. Loosely based on the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay, the film went through a lengthy development process with a number of screenwriters...
, My Little Pony: The Movie
My Little Pony: The Movie
My Little Pony: The Movie is a 1986 animated feature film based on the Hasbro toy line, My Little Pony. It was released on June 20, 1986 by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group...
, and Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
Starchaser: The Legend of Orin is a 1985 animated movie. It was written by animation writer Jeffrey Scott and was originally released in 3-D by Atlantic Releasing. Starchaser was one of the first animated movies to mix traditional and computer animation. It is the only 3-D film distributed by...
. He has also worked on various Mormon cartoons from the Living Scriptures, Inc., including "The Savior in America" and "The Miracles of Jesus."