Ray Harryhausen - by Vanessa Harryhausen (Paperback)

About the Book

Special effects superstar Ray Harryhausen elevated stop-motion animation to an art during the 1950s to 1980s. With material drawn from his incredible archive, his daughter, Vanessa, selects 100 creatures and objects that meant the most to her as she watched her father make world-famous films that changed the course of cinema. The book includes many newly restored works and items that have never previously been seen. In addition to Vanessa's reflections, many of those who worked with Harryhausen or were inspired by him add their own memories and comments. Ray Harryhausen's work included the films Jason and the Argonauts, the Sinbad films of the '50s and '70s, One Million Years B.C and Mighty Joe Young, and a wider portfolio including children's fairy tales and commercials. He also inspired a generation of film-makers such as Peter Jackson, Tim Burton, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg, and his influence on blockbuster cinema can be felt to this day. 2020 will be the 100th anniversary of his birth. Exhibition: Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, UK (23.05.-25.10.2020). --

Book Synopsis

• Winner of the 2020 "Book of the Year" award in the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
• 100 objects selected by the animator's daughter - packed with personal stories that have never previously been heard or published
• A fascinating examination of the work of the pioneer of the special effects that we see in modern cinema
• Contributions from experts in the field and in conjunction with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, such as Caroline Munro and John Landis
• A broad readership drawn from those who appreciate art, film, science fiction and fantasy
• Tells the story of the man who changed the face of modern cinema - the pioneer of stop-motion animation
• Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are among his legion of fans; Harryhausen was an inspiration to Spielberg among many other current filmmakers
• Entries often include earlier versions of finished models and sketches of scenes that illustrate how Harryhausen worked and developed his models

Tells the very personal story of the man who changed the face of modern cinema

Special-effects superstar Ray Harryhausen elevated stop-motion animation to an art during the 1950s to 1980s. With material drawn from his incredible archive, his daughter, Vanessa, selects 100 creatures and objects, in chronological order, that meant the most to her as she watched her father make world-famous films that changed the course of cinema.

Ray Harryhausen's work included the Sinbad films of the 50s and 70s, One Million Years B.C.and Mighty Joe Young, as well as a wider portfolio including children's fairy tales and commercials. He inspired a generation of film-makers such as Peter Jackson, Aardman Animation, Tim Burton, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, and his influence on blockbuster cinema can be felt to this day. Some of the objects featured in the book, such as Talos from Jason and the Argonauts, are world famous, while others are less well known but hold special personal significance to Vanessa. Many newly restored works that have never previously been seen are included.

This book is published in collaboration with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation and it will receive a great deal of international publicity. It celebrates the legacy of a filmmaker who changed the face of modern cinema and it is certain to delight and fascinate those who appreciate film, art, science fiction and fantasy.

Review Quotes

"Ray Harryhausen was a titan of cinema.. After decades, this is our first glimpse of many of Ray's movie models painstakingly restored to their former glorious and gruesome selves. So this preview of extraordinary objects, literally on legendary status, charts the rise of Ray Harryhausen the student, son and friend, visionary, director and inventor. A true master of his craft." -- BBC Arts

"Ray Harryhausen's special effects... are so seminal that, though his early films were made almost 60 years ago, they still hold up today. Harryhausen influenced countless artists after him and took special effects to a new level. His unique vision and memorable creations make the movies he worked on stand out - you always know when you're watching a movie with a Harryhausen stamp on it". -- SciFi Now

"The biggest collection of his work ever" -- The Times

"The largest and most comprehensive presentation of his work to date" -- Metro

"The world's biggest ever celebration of Hollywood special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen" -- The Scotsman

"A pioneering, brilliant special effects film-maker whose credits include movie masterpieces." -- BBC News

"Few artists of the 20th century can compete with Harryhausen's illusive brilliance or reach." -- The Spectator

"Harryhausen brought the stories of antiquity kicking and screaming into the film age - or rather roaring, like the cyclops in the 1958 film The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and hissing like Medusa in Clash of the Titans (1981)... There is no film, however, quite like his 1963 masterpiece Jason and the Argonauts... This is not just great special effects. This is art." -- The Guardian

About the Author

Vanessa Harryhausen is the daughter of special effects superstar Ray Harryhausen and a trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation. She grew up around her father's films and creations, and spent time on many of the film sets for which he created special effects.