February 11, 2007 – Disney Animator Andreas Deja Wins Winsor McCay Award
“It’s fine to have a villain who beats people up and is ruthless, but the more important thing for me is whether or not they are interesting. The villains who have full personalities are the ones you remember.”
On February 11, 207, the 34th Annie Awards were held at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. One of the honorees of the Winsor McCay Award was Disney animator Andreas Deja. The award, named after pioneer animator Winsor McCay, honors those who have made lifetime or career contributions to the animation field. Deja is known for animating some of the most well-regarded villains in the Disney Renaissance, including Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, Jafar in Aladdin, and Scar in The Lion King. With this award, Deja joins the ranks of esteemed animators Max Fleischer, Tex Avery, and early mentor Eric Larson.
