MULTI-AWARDED artist-animator Jess Espanola goes where his art takes him. Since childhood, Espanola’s life is intertwined with the wonderful world of visual arts. He was raised by a single mother in a depressed area in Central Luzon, where getting a good meal was not easy.
But when he came face to face with hunger and utter deprivation his artistic talent bails him out every time. Even in grade school, his skill as an artist was already manifested. His teachers would ask him to create illustrations that are used as teaching aids, and he gets token payments as a result.
Amazingly, despite the great odds, Jess still remained on top of his class, and people started helping him out when they noticed that he was an exceptionally talented kid. He was among the high achieving students in high school that gained scholarships at the University of the Philippines.
When Hanna Barbera put up Fil-Cartoon Inc., a subsidiary outfit in Pasig, Metro Manila, Jess was hired as a team supervisor and lead animator. Jess's works were, and still are, considered standards of excellence in Philippine animation. In the maintime, painting, which is his first love, had to take a backseat in favor the lucrative commercial arts.
Jess and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1994. He was given permanent U.S. residency status as a "person with exceptional ability.” Again, it was his art that was leading him to the land of milk and honey, and to Hollywood where his remarkable animation job was rightfully admired and celebrated.
During the 60th annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2008, Jess’ achieved what he considered the pinnacle of his career – winning an Emmy trophy for his work as Assistant Director for the The Simpsons' "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind," which was named "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour)." Also given recognitions, along with Jess, are the top executives of Fox Gracie Films and Starz Film Roman.
“That feat – Jess Espanola winning an Emmy – validates the common knowledge that Filipino animators are among the best in Hollywood… that they are in the cutting edge of the animation industry,” goes an editorial from a Filipino publication.
On Saturday, January 21, Jess, along with top Filipino painter-artists participated in “Sining Para Sa Bayan,” a fundraiser for the members of the media who were killed or greatly affected by the floods in Northern Mindanao. The artists displayed their works in a silent auction at the front facility of the NoyPitz Bar and Restaurant on Brand and Glenoaks in Glendale. A concert featuring marquee names in the Philippine entertainment industry capped the day-long fundraising activity.
“When I was struggling as a child and as student, I benefitted a great deal from people’s goodness when they extend to me some help, and that is why any event like this where I can be a part of a fundraising effort, I consider it an opportunity to get back to the community, make a difference in my own little way,” said Espanola.
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