Jayson Thiessen

Jayson Thiessen (born December 30, 1976) is a Canadian animator, voice actor, and director best known for shaping the modern incarnation of My Little Pony through his work on Friendship Is Magic. Emerging onto the animation scene in 1997, Thiessen quickly established a reputation for blending dynamic visual storytelling with a playful sense of humor, a combination that would later become a hallmark of the series he helped launch. Prior to his involvement with My Little Pony, he co‑directed the second season of the globally popular Pucca television series, demonstrating an early talent for managing cross‑cultural comedic timing and vibrant character design. He also served as animation supervisor for the 2007‑2008 revival of George of the Jungle, further honing his expertise in coordinating large‑scale production pipelines. In 2010, Thiessen was appointed the first supervising director of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, where he oversaw the first four and a half seasons and acted as executive producer from season 2 through halfway through season 5, guiding the show’s evolution from a modest children’s series into a cultural phenomenon embraced by audiences of all ages. During his tenure, he lent his voice to memorable side characters such as Bulk Biceps and Doctor Whooves, adding a distinctive personal flair to the series’ rich ensemble. Thiessen also directed the franchise’s first two Equestria Girls spin‑off films—Equestria Girls (2013) and Rainbow Rocks (2014)—and supervised the accompanying short‑form content, showcasing his versatility in translating television aesthetics to feature‑length storytelling. In 2017, he transitioned to helm the theatrical adaptation My Little Pony: The Movie, a project that required a seamless blend of the series’ established visual language with the heightened narrative demands of cinema. After the film’s release, Thiessen stepped back from the series, allowing new leadership to continue the show’s legacy while he pursued additional directorial opportunities, including eight episodes of Cleopatra in Space (2019‑2020). Throughout his career, Thiessen’s dedication to collaborative creativity, meticulous animation supervision, and an uncanny ability to capture the spirit of beloved characters has left an indelible mark on contemporary animated television and film.