Animator Andreas Deja has been creating a wide diversity of inspiring and unforgettable characters at Disney for over 30 years.  

From Scar and Jafar to Roger Rabbit and to Lilo and Hercules, his designs and creations span from regally evil to over the top to subtle and restrained.  He has never rested on his past experience but has always pushes himself to learn, to take risks, and become a better artist. 

The world of Disney animation cannot ask for a better ambassador.  With the knowledge and wisdom he has gleaned from his close friendships and interactions with 7 of the 9 Old Men of Disney, he carries in his head the tricks, stories, and solutions to problems they encountered that led to everything we now know of modern animation.  It has helped him become one of the most well known and favorite of all Disney animators. 

We sat with him and discussed his career, his inspiration, heard great stories about his characters, and got treated to a journey through some of his favorite pieces of Disney animation from his impressive collection of drawings...

We will be releasing this 5 part interview over the next weeks as part of the great “The History of Disney through Courvoisier” original art show we’ll be having at ArtInsights this fall...