If Walt Disney's team of "Nine Old Men" was responsible for the decades of classics that defined the studio's golden years, then Andrea Deja is an Old Man for a new generation. Born in Poland and trained in Germany, Deja joined Disney in the mid-1980s, making his studio debut on The Black Cauldron. Since that time, he has served as supervising animator for some of Hollywood's most memorable characters, among them: Roger Rabbit, King Triton, Gaston, Jafar, Hercules, and Lilo. He's even drawn Mickey in a handful of the iconic mouse's big screen outings.
Perhaps Disney's best-known animator and an expert in his field, Deja is the go-to guy for an insider's perspective on the rich history of Disney animation. It makes sense, then, that when 101 Dalmatians was released as the newest installment in the prestigious Platinum Edition line of DVDs earlier this month, Disney invited us to talk with Mr. Deja about the 1961 classic. Along the way, we got to ask a bit about the artist's work on this winter's How to Hook Up Your Home Theater and the things he and the studio's animation team have in store for the future. […]
