Imagine the patience it takes to do what he does, particularly when you consider he worked alone for the most part. He also frequently commented how much he appreciated the music scores in his films.
My favorite Harryhausen films....
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad Mysterious Island Jason and the Argonauts Clash of the Titans
I have these films in my DVD collection and own the wonderful scores as well.
Think of the artistry of the animators back then. They had to act out the body language in their minds and transform that into movement one frame at a time. Today it's all motion capture, basically digital tracing.
He is an artist and scientist all in one package. One cannot bring the things he created to life without knowing how it all would work on the inside.
This world is going to be IMMEASURABLY poorer once he leaves it.
It still brings a big grin to my face to remember an afternoon a few years back. The late Missus and her cousin were in the back yard with their goblets of vino while I and the cousin's husband were in the living room watching a Harryhausen flick. Gwangi, I think. We were not even looking at each other when we both started to applaud AT PRECISELY THE SAME MOMENT! We turned to each other, stunned, and both laughed until there were tears in our eyes.
My 4 year-old granddaughter's favorite film (since she was 2), is VALLEY OF GWANGI. I have no clue, why? I wish his films fared better on home video. They all required true remastering, and it hasn't happened. I still love his films and his creatures.
My favorite: 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH and EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS. My mother took me to see them when they were a double feature....remember those?
When I bought the Harryhausen/Sony dvd set, it came with a free Ymir figure.
I was a big fan in the early 60's when no one seemed to know him. I read about him in that great old mag, Famous Monsters Of Filmland. And of course the movies were always an event. People go on about the animation, but I think it's his design & taste that really set him apart. Talos coming to life by just a turn of the head, passively looking down on the humans. There's only two of his films I really like now, Mysterious Island & Jason & the Argonauts, & happily have both looking really good on Blu-ray.
Naw these were the scenes that mesmerized my mind at the age of five. Never was there a Cyclops like this and it's NEVER been bested by ANYONE. Just look at the subtle movements and expressions. A Masterpiece!
ABSOLUTMUNDO, Seer Si ... which is why it's (he - ol' captivatin' Cy - is far and away our favorite (as is the film) from childhood till now and ever after of Master Harryhausen's magnificent visions ...
Well, as I understand it, this gentleman created software which, when applied to the chosen elements onscreen, will add motion blur to the animation. It smooths out the herky-jerky quality that stop-motion cannot help but have. The effect is VERY subtle, but it's there if your eye is really looking at it.