Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen was a world-renowned visual effects artist and author who created a new form of stop-motion model animation known as "Dynamation." His works, including films such as "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" from 1958 and "Jason and the Argonauts" from 1963, still captivate audiences today. Harryhausen was born on June 29, 1920, in Los Angeles, California.

Harryhausen was of German ancestry, born to Martha L. and Frederick W. Harryhausen. He was educated at the University of Southern California, where he earned a degree in business. However, his true passion was film, and he was inspired to pursue his film career after seeing "King Kong" in 1933.

During the World War II era, Harryhausen created animated short films that detailed the development and use of military equipment. He served as assistant animator on the 1949 film, "Mighty Joe Young," working alongside his mentor, the famed Willis O'Brien; the film won the Academy Award for special effects.

Harryhausen's outstanding achievement was his groundbreaking work in inventing "Dynamation." His technique involved the use of stop-motion animation combined with live-action footage to create realistic action scenes. This technique was widely used in films that followed his success.

Harryhausen was known for his imagination, creativity, and attention to detail. He was a perfectionist and took great pride in his work. He was also passionate about his craft and was always looking for new ways to improve his techniques.

Before becoming famous, Harryhausen faced numerous difficulties and challenges in his career. He started out as an uncredited animator and worked his way up to achieve success. He struggled to get his early projects off the ground due to lack of funding and support.

Harryhausen was married to Diana Livingstone Bruce from 1963 until his death in 2013. They had no children, but he had many close friends and colleagues in the film industry, including Willis O'Brien, with whom he worked on "Mighty Joe Young."

Harryhausen's final film was "Clash of the Titans" from 1981, starring Laurence Olivier. Throughout his career, he won numerous awards and accolades for his work. He will always be remembered as a pioneer and innovator in the visual effects industry, paving the way for future generations of filmmakers.