Veteran Disney Animator Andreas Deja Returns With 'Mushka'.

Disney veteran named Andreas Deja is about to return with a traditionally animated short named Mushka.

Trained by members of the Nine Old Men (the elite team who worked alongside Walt Disney himself), Andreas is a master animator who has produced some memorable Disney characters, specifically those from the Renaissance films (1989-1999). His resume includes the dastardly villains Jafar, Scar, and Gaston, as well as the noble King Triton and an outspoken little Hawaiian girl named Lilo. Andreas has even worked on a new version of Tigger and designed Mama Odie in The Princess and the Frog (2009). After leaving Disney, he opened his own independent animation studio, which aims to create films in the classic style of 2D, an art form that Andreas once feared would die out completely.

Now, after years of hard work, the Polish-born German master of the pencil has finally breathed life into his first work, a magical story simply called Mushka. Described as a “story of love and sacrifice set in Russia,” the short film explores the friendship between a little girl and a tiger cub and has been entirely animated in a colored pencil style (Amidi, 2012). In essence, it will be similar to Isao Takahata’s The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013). And Mushka is not going to disappoint.

Production Art and Stills from "Mushka" 

 As a fan of Andreas’ work and a fan of classic Disney altogether, I am biting at the bit to see this beautiful romp of poetry in motion. Something tells me he has a revolution on his hands. 

After all, the magic of 2D animation cannot be forgotten.

To check out more works by Andreas Deja, take a look at his website and some of these awesome resources! He is one amazing guy with a great story that will truly inspire you. I know he’s been one of my greatest teachers throughout the years…and he doesn’t even know it! 

Deja View (official blog): http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/

Andreas Deja, Veteran Animator: https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/andreas-deja/

Andreas Deja, 11th Most Influential Disney Animator: https://50mostinfluentialdisneyanimators.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/11-andreas-deja/

  "Mushka" is set to be released in early 2017. 

References

Amidi, A. (2012, December 22). Andreas Deja reveals “Mushka” teaser trailer. [Web log posting]. Retrieved from the Cartoon Brew website: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/andreas-deja-reveals-mushka-teaser-trailer-75331.html. 

Martens, T. (2015, August 13). Animator Andreas Deja breathes life into Disney characters and more. Lost Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-andreas-deja-20150813-story.html.