Andreas Deja | |
|---|---|
 At the35th Annie Awards in 2006 | |
| Born | (1957-04-01)1 April 1957 (age 67)[1] |
| Occupation | Animator |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Employer | Walt Disney Animation Studios (1981–2011) |
| Awards | Winsor McCay Award, 2006 Disney Legends, 2015 |
Andreas Deja[needs IPA] (born 1 April 1957) is a Polish-bornGerman-American character animator most noted for his work atWalt Disney Animation Studios. Deja's work includes serving as supervising animator on characters in several Disney animated films, including the Disney villainsGaston inBeauty and the Beast,Jafar inAladdin, andScar inThe Lion King, the titular character inHercules, and Lilo Pelekai inLilo & Stitch.
Deja credits seeing Disney'sThe Jungle Book as an 11-year-old with inspiring him to become an animator.[2] At that young age, he promptly wrote toWalt Disney Productions to express his interest in working there, and received back a form letter[3] which he has kept ever since. Deja later summarized the letter and how he acted on it as follows: "Please, do not send us any copies ofMickey Mouse. We can teach you that. You need to become an artist in your own right first. Watch the world around you. Draw your brothers and sisters. Go to the zoo. Sketch the animals a lot ... I took it very seriously ... I knew I had to be good. I knew I had to be above average."[4]
After graduating from Theodor-Heuss Gymnasium (secondary school) inDinslaken, where he was taught by the artist and art teacherAlfred Grimm,[5] he studied graphic design at theFolkwang Hochschule inEssen, Germany.[6]
A lifelong fan of Disney animated films,[7] Deja was hired by the studio in August 1980 after he had corresponded withEric Larson, one of Disney's seniorNine Old Men of animation who ran the studio's training department.[4][8] The first film on which he worked for wasThe Black Cauldron, during which time he shared a cubicle with future film directorTim Burton.
During his rookie days at Disney, Deja sought mentorship and practical advice from seven of the then-living Nine Old Men, who were already retired before his tenure.[4][9][10] Deja has collected information on the Nine Old Men over the years, and has stated that one of his ambitions is to publish one book for each of the Nine Old Men.[11]
Deja is best known as the supervising animator of some of the most memorable Disney villains: Gaston inBeauty and the Beast,[12] Jafar inAladdin,[13] Scar inThe Lion King[14] and Queen Narissa inEnchanted.[15] He also animated Roger Rabbit inWho Framed Roger Rabbit, King Triton inThe Little Mermaid, the title character inHercules, Lilo Pelekai inLilo & Stitch, Mama Odie inThe Princess and the Frog and Tigger inWinnie the Pooh. In addition, he is the current resident specialist for the animation of Mickey Mouse.
In 2011, he began a blog where he shares some of his collection of the work of the early Disney animators.[16]
In 2015, Deja authoredThe Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney's Great AnimatorsISBN 978-0415843355 published byFocal Press.[10][17]
As of June 2023, he currently worked on the animated short filmMushka.[18]
Deja was the guest curator for the exhibition titledWalt Disney's The Jungle Book: Making a Masterpiece which took place atThe Walt Disney Family Museum from June 23, 2022, to January 8, 2023, to celebrate thefilm's 55th anniversary.[19][20] A Members Only Preview of the exhibition which included a special talk with Deja,Darleen Carr,Floyd Norman andBruce Reitherman took place on June 22, 2022.[21] Deja also wrote an extensive companion book for the exhibition which was originally slated to be published by Weldon Owen on September 20, 2022,[22] before it was changed to November 1, 2022.[23]
Deja is openlygay.[24] His sexuality has been discussed as an influence on the development of some Disney characters.[25][26][27][28]
| Year | Title | Credits | Characters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Black Cauldron | Animator / Character Designer | Taran,Eilonwy,Dallben,Gurgi,Doli,Horned King, Fairfolk And Talyllyn | |
| 1986 | The Great Mouse Detective | Character Animator | Queen Mousetoria | |
| 1987 | The Brave Little Toaster | Elmo St. Peters | ||
| 1988 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | Supervising Animator | Roger Rabbit, Weasels,Baby Herman, Gorilla,Hyacinth Hippo,Clarabelle Cow,Mickey Mouse,Minnie Mouse,Bugs Bunny,Daffy Duck,Donald Duck,Goofy,Droopy,Pinocchio,Speedy Gonzalez andPorky Pig[29][30][31][32][33] | |
| Oliver & Company | Character Designer | |||
| 1989 | The Little Mermaid | Directing Animator / Supervising Animator / Character Designer | King Triton AndVanessa[34] | |
| 1990 | The Prince and the Pauper (Short) | Supervising Animator | Mickey Mouse & The Prince | |
| 1991 | Beauty and the Beast | Gaston | ||
| 1992 | Aladdin | Jafar | ||
| 1993 | The Simpsons (TV Series) | Animator / Character Designer -1 Episode | ||
| 1994 | The Lion King | Supervising Animator | Scar | |
| 1995 | Runaway Brain (Short) | Mickey Mouse, Julius As Mickey | ||
| 1996 | Quack Pack (TV Series) | Animation Director / Supervising Animator -1 Episode | ||
| 1997 | Hercules | Supervising Animator | Adult Hercules | |
| 2000 | Fantasia 2000 | Animator - Segment "Rhapsody in Blue" / Character Animator -Host Sequences | Mickey Mouse | |
| The Emperor's New Groove | Additional Visual Development Artist | |||
| 2002 | Lilo & Stitch | Supervising Animator | Lilo Pelekai | |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | Animator | Alameda Slim And Junior the Buffalo | |
| Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (Video) | Animation Consultant | |||
| 2006 | Bambi II (Video) | |||
| 2007 | Enchanted | Animator | Queen Narissa | |
| How to Hook Up Your Home Theater (Short) | Goofy | |||
| 2009 | The Princess and the Frog | Supervising Animator | Mama Odie and Juju[35] | |
| 2011 | The Ballad of Nessie (Short) | Animator | Nessie | |
| Winnie the Pooh | Supervising Animator / Visual Development Artist | Tigger | ||
| 2020 | Prop Culture | Himself | Episode: "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" | |
| 2023 | Mushka | Director |
In 2006, at the34th Annie Awards, Deja was awarded theWinsor McCay Award for outstanding contribution to the art of animation.[36]At the 2015D23 Expo, he was honored as aDisney Legend.[4]
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
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