Ray Harryhausen : A tribute

It has sadly been announced that Ray Harryhausen, visual effects pioneer and a master of stop-motion animation, has died today at the age of 92. As a thirteen year old boy, Harryhausen stared, captivated by the spectacle of King Kong (1933) - an experience which undoubtedly lit a fire in his creative soul. Fast forward a few years and he would be crafting his own animations and models, for productions such as It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955) and 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957). 

He made cinematic history delivering creations of Cyclops in Sinbad, and Medusa and the Kraken in Clash of the Titans (1981). His most famous work (especially for me, as these figures were etched in my mind from a young age) was the animation of seven skeletons in Jason and the Argonauts (1963). An undoubtedly magnificent feat, resultant from committed, arduous work over three months. It's timeless and instantly recognisable. Even if you haven't seen the film, you will know the imagery.


All are so memorable and incredibly influential to the world of animation, fantasy and SFX. As a horror enthusiast, there is no doubt that monstrous creations within the genre have at some point or another drawn inspiration from Harryhausen’s craft. But they weren't just monstrous creations, they were characters, brought to life by the man himself. His meticulous work has fervently influenced the likes of Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Terry Gilliam... to name a few. All of whom have paid their utmost respects to the Harryhausen family and his passing...

"The Lord of the Rings is my 'Ray Harryhausen movie'. Without his life-long love of his wondrous images and storytelling it would never have been made - not by me at least" - Peter Jackson

"Ray, your inspiration goes with us forever" - Steven Spielberg

"What we do now digitally with computers, Ray did digitally long before  but without computers" - Terry Gilliam

Thanks to the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, a charitable trust established by Ray in 1986, his work will forever be archived, preserved and restored. A true cinematic genius has passed, but his legacy will most definitely live on.