Andreas Deja

Andreas Deja is a Polish-born German-American character animator, known for his work at Walt Disney Animation Studios. He has served as supervising animator on characters such as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Jafar in Aladdin, and Scar in The Lion King.

Cartoonist

April 1, 1957

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Andreas Deja, born on April 1, 1957, in Gdańsk, is a renowned character animator of Polish-German-American descent. He is best known for his contributions to Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he has worked as a supervising animator on various iconic characters. Some of his notable creations include the villains Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, Jafar from Aladdin, and Scar from The Lion King, as well as the main character in Hercules. Deja has also animated Mickey Mouse in the 1990 featurette The Prince and the Pauper, Runaway Brain (1995), and Fantasia 2000.

Deja enjoys animating villains and is recognized for his captivating portrayals of these characters. Apart from his animation work, he lent his voice to the character Yzma in the German version of The Emperor’s New Groove. He has been honored with numerous awards for his impact on the animation industry and has been inducted into the Disney Legends hall of fame. Deja has also authored a book on Disney animation techniques and remains an influential figure in the world of animation.