Ray Harryhausen

I have to pay tribute today to another pioneer who has died - Ray Harryhausen. He played a major role in stop motion photography and moved animation based on this technique dramatically forward. Here is a tribute to him published online in the CBC news. He is also credited with influencing so much of the mixed animation and live action films that we see today. He was a truly remarkable individual.

We came to know Harryhausen's work because our eldest was captivated by it. Sandy took courses in stop motion photography and watched every film that Ray had made. My son was about 12 when he went with his aunt to the Museum of the Moving Image in London to see the work of Harryhausen. When he got back, I suggested that he try to contact him. He wrote a letter which we sent care of the museum. Sadly it was never answered.

Although Ray Harryhausen was born in Los Angeles, he lived a good part of his life in England. There he married the great granddaughter of the explorer David Livingston. Livingston was born in Blantyre Scotland, my husband's home town, and where our son spent a good deal of time visiting his grandmother - funny the connections that people make over the years.

Ray Harryhausen

The picture is of a few of the films that my son has bought which featured Harryhausen's work.

Have an animated day!!