Celebrated animator and director Andreas Deja, who has been recognized with ASIFA’s Winsor McCay Award (2006) and as a Disney Legend (2015), announces the release of a new music video for “Mushka’s Lullaby” — one of the final compositions by legendary Disney songwriter Richard M. Sherman (Academy Award winner for Mary Poppins).
Featured in Deja’s directorial debut short, Mushka, as the end credit song, sung by Holly Sedillos, the song is part of the film’s poignant orchestral score created and arranged by Fabrizio Mancinelli.
The new “Mushka’s Lullaby” music video, created by the film’s editor and co-producer, Roger Viloria, presents the tune accompanied by film clips from Deja’s hand-drawn short, combined with fun and nostalgic behind-the-scenes clips of recording the song, featuring Sedillos, and the orchestra who recorded the award-winning Mushka soundtrack on the Synchron Stage in Vienna, with a 60-piece orchestra.
“I’m thrilled to showcase the beautiful ‘Mushka’s Lullaby’ song with a celebration of the legacy of one of the world’s greatest songwriters, my friend Richard M. Sherman,” said Deja. “I’m beyond grateful to our amazing team on Mushka. We’re all so lucky to have had Richard contribute ‘Mushka’s Lullaby’ to our film.”
A 30-year veteran of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Deja has brought to life beloved character including Scar in The Lion King, Gaston in Beauty and The Beast, Jafar in Aladdin and Lilo in Lilo and Stitch. Animated and crafted by hand over a period of 10 years, the 28-minute short Mushka is Deja’s directorial debut. Since its world premiere at The San Francisco International Film Festival and European premiere at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in 2023, the film has screened around the world, winning multiple awards, including Best Animation at the San Jose International Short Film Festival and the Kids Choice Award/Best Animation award at Palm Springs International Short Fest.
Mushka is the story of Sarah, a young Ukrainian girl who discovers an orphaned baby Siberian tiger and realizes she must either raise him or leave him to the perils of the snowy wild. Featuring new characters full of personality in a story brimming with excitement, humor and emotion, it is the culmination of nearly a decade of dedication, experimentation and creativity.
“Mushka’s Lullaby” is included on the film’s soundtrack album, Mushka—Original Score, available digitally from Lakeshore Records.
