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Al Jean

Al Jean

Writer and producer · Born January 9, 1961 (65) · Detroit, Michigan, USA

10 Primetime Emmys · 2 other major award bodies

Alfred Ernest Jean III (born January 9, 1961) is an American writer, animator, and producer. Jean is well known for his work on The Simpsons. He was born and raised near Detroit, Michigan, and graduated from Harvard University in 1981. Jean began his writing career in the 1980s with fellow Harvard alum Mike Reiss. Together, they worked as writers and producers on television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, ALF and It's Garry Shandling's Show. Jean was offered a job as a writer on the animated sitcom The Simpsons in 1989, alongside Reiss, and together they became the first members of the original writing staff of the show. They served as showrunners during the show's third (1991–92) and fourth (1992–93) seasons, though they left The Simpsons after season four to create The Critic, an animated show about film critic Jay Sherman. It was first broadcast on ABC in January 1994 (then aired its second season on Fox in March 1995) and was well received by critics, but did not catch on with viewers and only lasted for two seasons. In 1994, Jean and Reiss signed a three-year deal with The Walt Disney Company to produce other television shows for ABC, and the duo created and executive-produced Teen Angel, which was canceled in its first season. Jean returned full-time to The Simpsons during the tenth season (1998–99). He became showrunner again with the start of the thirteenth season in 2001, without Reiss, and has held that position since. Jean was also one of the writers and producers who worked on The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film based on the series, released in 2007.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 9, 1961 (65)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Writer and producer
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 29 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 70% in 30 days

What are Al Jean's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
45%
Self
21%
Society
18%
Power
9%
Ideas
5%
Morality
3%
Community5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 5 · Wry 1 · Earnest 7

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 6

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 1 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 4

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 13 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
11
Absurd
8
Warm
3
Thrilling
3
Contemplative
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Al Jean's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Al Jean's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

29 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The New Simpsons Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Producer

  • The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer

  • The Most Wonderful Time of the Year(2024)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • May the 12th Be with You(2024)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Rogue Not Quite One(2023)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Welcome to the Club(2022)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • When Billie Met Lisa(2022)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Feliz Navidad(2022)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons in Plusaversary(2021)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons: A Serious Flanders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Executive Producer

  • The Simpsons | Balenciaga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Producer · Writer

  • The Good, the Bart, and the Loki(2021)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Force Awakens from Its Nap(2021)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Playdate with Destiny(2020)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Longest Daycare(2012)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Presidential Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Writer

  • A Terrifying Message from Al Gore(2006)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons Movie(2007)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The PJs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 43 episodes · Producer

  • Teen Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 17 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

  • The Critic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 23 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 527 episodes · Co-Producer · Executive Producer · Story · Supervising Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Sledge Hammer!(1986)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • ALF(1986)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Head of the Class(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • It's Garry Shandling's Show.(1986)

    Show 72 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Charles in Charge(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Not Necessarily the News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer

  • Airplane II: The Sequel(1982)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 28 titles, 27 of them dated from 1982 to 2024.

Biggest box office

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

$536M worldwide

Highest rated

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

Midcredits 89th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Writing22 of 28: 7 only writing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score41stProducing20 of 28: 5 only producing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score41stOther crew3 of 28: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

28 titles, 15 with more than one role — writing and producing overlap on 15 of them.

By decade

1980s8 · crew1990s3 · crew2000s2 · crew2010s2 · crew2020s12 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

10 Primetime Emmys and 1 other major award from 38 major nominations, 1990–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  2. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  3. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program
  4. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
  5. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
  6. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  7. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program
  8. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
Show 23 earlier years
  1. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media within a Scripted Program
  2. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  3. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  4. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  5. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  6. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  7. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program
  8. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Comedy Series
  9. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
  10. 2007
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
  11. 2006
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Writers Guild Award, won
  12. 2005
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
  13. 2004
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
  14. 2003
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
  15. 2002
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
  16. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
  17. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)
  18. 1999
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated ×2 · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)
  19. 1996
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)
  20. 1995
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)
  21. 1992
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)
  22. 1991
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)
  23. 1990
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Al Jean's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 31st percentile, the median of all 14; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 25th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 20 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · writer, producer

The Simpsons in Plusaversary (2021)

67th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer, producer

The Simpsons (1989)

Midcredits 96th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 37/100 and the plot and story 29/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Al Jean work with?

People who share at least 2 of Al Jean's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Silverman shares the most, 12.

Directors

  • David Silverman12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with David Silverman

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

  • Richard Raynis12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Richard Raynis
  • Richard Sakai12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Richard Sakai
  • Peter Gave11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Peter Gave
  • Tom Klein11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Tom Klein