Jesse Leon McCann
Encyclopedia
Jesse Leon McCann is an American comic book and children's book author. He wrote most of the stories for the Pinky and the Brain
comic series, edited two out of the four Simpsons episode guides, and wrote all of the Smiley the Psychotic Button comics for Chaos! Comics
. McCann's Shrek
II movie adaptation novel made the New York Times Best Selling Children's Book list in 2005. While McCann mostly scribes comic books and children's books, he has written for a variety of genres in different forms (such as the Austin Powers
trivia game).
, others at various venues in L.A. William Peter Blatty
, author of The Exorcist
, once called McCann his "theatrical Godson," after McCann wrote and directed a stage adaptation of Blatty's The Ninth Configuration
. McCann was also involved with stand-up comedy group The Big Mac Theatre, (who opened for such groups as Oingo Boingo
, Canned Heat
and Cecilio & Kapono
), worked on independent films, designed sets
, and did his own art on the side. In the early 1990s, McCann was an editorial director, artist, and writer for Cult Press, an independent comic book company.
McCann usually had to work the daily grind to support himself and his family, his creative aspirations becoming more of a hobby. But, while working at Diamond Comics
in the mid-1990s, he was offered a writing job by former Cult Press owner Robert Graff, co-founder of Goldstar Events
, who was then working as an editor for Warner Bros. Worldwide Publishing, which created, in addition to many other publications, children's comics for DC Comics
. In February, 1996, Animaniacs
#10 was published, with McCann's story "The Ice Cream Man Cometh." This story launched McCann's career as a professional writer. Eventually, McCann was able to quit Diamond Comics, to make a living by his writings alone.
McCann participates in many activities, encouraging youths to appreciate their own writing talents. He has taken part in the Alta Vista School's Student Writer's Conference since 2005, teaching workshops where he gives writing tips. He is known to reply to almost all of his fan mail.
He currently resides in El Segundo, California
with his four cats, two children, and one wife.
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain is an American animated television series.The characters Pinky and the Brain first appeared in 1993 as a recurring segment on the show Animaniacs...
comic series, edited two out of the four Simpsons episode guides, and wrote all of the Smiley the Psychotic Button comics for Chaos! Comics
Chaos! Comics
Chaos! Comics was a comic book publisher that operated from 1994 until 2002.-Overview:Their titles included Lady Death, Purgatori, Evil Ernie, Chastity, Jade, Omen, Bad Kitty, Cremator, Lady Demon, and Smiley The Psychotic Button.They also published licensed comics for the World Wrestling...
. McCann's Shrek
Shrek
Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Loosely based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!...
II movie adaptation novel made the New York Times Best Selling Children's Book list in 2005. While McCann mostly scribes comic books and children's books, he has written for a variety of genres in different forms (such as the Austin Powers
Austin Powers (film series)
The Austin Powers series is a series of action-comedy films written by and starring Mike Myers as the title character, directed by Jay Roach and distributed by New Line Cinema...
trivia game).
Background
McCann has had a long and creative career. He started writing in high school for the student newspaper and acted in stage productions there. He has performed in and directed plays, a portion of them at El Camino CollegeEl Camino College
El Camino College is a two-year public community college located partially in the unincorporated area of Alondra Park and partially in the City of Torrance in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is commonly referred to as "Elco" or "ECC"...
, others at various venues in L.A. William Peter Blatty
William Peter Blatty
William Peter Blatty is an American writer and filmmaker. The novel The Exorcist, written in 1971, is his magnum opus; he also penned the subsequent screenplay version of the film, for which he won an Academy Award....
, author of The Exorcist
The Exorcist
The Exorcist is a novel of supernatural suspense by William Peter Blatty, published by Harper & Row in 1971. It was inspired by a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism that Blatty heard about while he was a student in the class of 1950 at Georgetown University, a Jesuit school...
, once called McCann his "theatrical Godson," after McCann wrote and directed a stage adaptation of Blatty's The Ninth Configuration
The Ninth Configuration
The Ninth Configuration, is an American-made film, released in 1980, directed by William Peter Blatty...
. McCann was also involved with stand-up comedy group The Big Mac Theatre, (who opened for such groups as Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band. They are best known for their influence on other musicians, their soundtrack contributions and their high energy Halloween concerts. The band was founded in 1972 as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, a performance art group...
, Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
and Cecilio & Kapono
Cecilio & Kapono
Cecilio & Kapono are a Hawaiian music duo formed in 1973, comprising Henry Kapono Ka’aihue and Cecilio David Rodriguez, who have released 14 albums to date...
), worked on independent films, designed sets
Scenic design
Scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A...
, and did his own art on the side. In the early 1990s, McCann was an editorial director, artist, and writer for Cult Press, an independent comic book company.
McCann usually had to work the daily grind to support himself and his family, his creative aspirations becoming more of a hobby. But, while working at Diamond Comics
Diamond Comics
Diamond Comics Pvt. Ltd. is the largest comic book distributor and publisher in India.-Overview:Diamond Comics is responsible for popular Indian comics characters such as Chacha Chaudhary. Diamond Comics has been publishing many foreign characters comics such as Phantom, Superman, Batman,...
in the mid-1990s, he was offered a writing job by former Cult Press owner Robert Graff, co-founder of Goldstar Events
Goldstar Events
Goldstar Events is a privately-held company in Pasadena, California that sells half-price tickets to leisure activities such as live entertainment, theatre, concerts, dance, film screenings, sporting events, and spa services...
, who was then working as an editor for Warner Bros. Worldwide Publishing, which created, in addition to many other publications, children's comics for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. In February, 1996, Animaniacs
Animaniacs
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, usually referred to as simply Animaniacs, is an American animated series, distributed by Warner Bros. Television and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The cartoon was the second animated series produced by the collaboration of Steven...
#10 was published, with McCann's story "The Ice Cream Man Cometh." This story launched McCann's career as a professional writer. Eventually, McCann was able to quit Diamond Comics, to make a living by his writings alone.
McCann participates in many activities, encouraging youths to appreciate their own writing talents. He has taken part in the Alta Vista School's Student Writer's Conference since 2005, teaching workshops where he gives writing tips. He is known to reply to almost all of his fan mail.
He currently resides in El Segundo, California
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
with his four cats, two children, and one wife.