Scar — Based on Jeremy Irons
Initially, Disney's "The Lion King" conceived Scar, the cunning and treacherous lion, with a different design before casting Jeremy Irons. Originally, Scar had been envisioned as a more muscular and imposing figure. However, when Irons joined the project, the character needed adjustments to align with his distinctive voice and acting style. Animator Andreas Deja influenced the transformation of Scar's physical appearance by drawing inspiration from Jeremy Irons' facial traits and gestures, drawing cues from Irons' previous performance in the film "Reversal of Fortune."
This collaboration between the voice actor and the animator resulted in a character design that captured the essence of Scar's cunning personality and bore the unmistakable imprint of Jeremy Irons' portrayal. The fusion of voice acting and animation highlighted the importance of a cohesive character portrayal in bringing Disney's villains to life.