Ray Harryhausen, the visual effects pioneer who worked on classic films including "Mighty Joe Young" (1949), "It Came From Beneath The Sea" (1955) and "Jason and the Argonauts" (1963) died today, according to a statement from his family. The American writer and producer was 92 years old.
Harryhausen first became fascinated with animation after seeing Willis O'Brien's work in "King Kong," which he saw in 1933 with his childhood friend Ray Bradbury. The two soon joined a science fiction league together and became lifelong friends. Harryhousen's first major motion picture, "Mighty Joe Young," ended up winning anOscar for Best Special Effects in 1949.
One of Harryhausen's greatest achievements was his the creation of his own animation technique, which he called DynaMation. The purpose was to allow live action to be "split" so that a model could be appear to coexist and interact directly with the actors. The technique itself is far more complicated, however.
Harryhausen's family released a statement outlining his past projects and accomplishments:
"Harryhausen's genius was in being able to bring his models alive. Whether they were prehistoric dinosaurs or mythological creatures, in Ray's hands they were no longer puppets but became instead characters in their own right, just as important as the actors they played against and in most cases even more so."
The statement also contains lovely words from the biggest names in filmmaking, all heavily inspired by Ray's innovation and imagination. Stephen Spielberg wrote: "Ray, your inspiration goes with us forever."
See photos from Harryhausen's 2010 "Myths and Legends" exhibition at The London Film Museum in the slideshow below. Leave your favorite memories of Ray's work in the comments.
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- Ray Harryhausen Myths And Legends Exhibition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Special effects creator Ray Harryhausen poses for photographs with an enlarged model of Medusa from his 1981 film 'Clash Of The Titans' at the The Myths And Legends Exhibition at The London Film Museum on June 29, 2010 in London, England. Ray Harryhausen is considered the father of modern day special effects. In total Ray made sixteen landmark fantasy films including 'Jason And The Argonauts' (1963), 'One Million Years BC' (1966) and his last feature 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981). The exhibition includes original models and artwork and opens on June 29, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
US film producer and special effects creator Ray Harryhausen, who turns 90 today, poses for photographers next to some of his earlier creations, at the London Film Museum in London on June 29, 2010. Harryhausen was at the museum for the launch of the 'Myths and Legends' exhibition which showcases his art and stop-motion dimensional animation, which runs until next year. AFP Photo/Carl Court. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images)
- Ray Harryhausen Myths And Legends Exhibition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: An enlarged copy of Medusa from the 1981 film 'Clash Of The Titans' created by Ray Harryhausen is displayed at The Myths And Legends Exhibition at The London Film Museum on June 29, 2010 in London, England. Ray Harryhausen is considered the father of modern day special effects. In total Ray made sixteen landmark fantasy films including 'Jason And The Argonauts' (1963), 'One Million Years BC' (1966) and his last feature 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981). The exhibition includes original models and artwork and opens on June 29, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
- Ray Harryhausen Myths And Legends Exhibition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Armature models of creatures from 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981) by special effects creator Ray Harryhausen (on video screen) are displayed at The Myths And Legends Exhibition at The London Film Museum on June 29, 2010 in London, England. Ray Harryhausen is considered the father of modern day special effects. In total Ray made sixteen landmark fantasy films including 'Jason And The Argonauts' (1963), 'One Million Years BC' (1966) and his last feature 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981). The exhibition includes original models and artwork and opens on June 29, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
- Ray Harryhausen Myths And Legends Exhibition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Special effects creator Ray Harryhausen poses for photographs with an enlarged model of Medusa from his 1981 film 'Clash Of The Titans' at the The Myths And Legends Exhibition at The London Film Museum on June 29, 2010 in London, England. Ray Harryhausen is considered the father of modern day special effects. In total Ray made sixteen landmark fantasy films including 'Jason And The Argonauts' (1963), 'One Million Years BC' (1966) and his last feature 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981). The exhibition includes original models and artwork and opens on June 29, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
- Ray Harryhausen Myths And Legends Exhibition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Special effects creator Ray Harryhausen poses for photographs with an enlarged model of Medusa from his 1981 film 'Clash Of The Titans' at the The Myths And Legends Exhibition at The London Film Museum on June 29, 2010 in London, England. Ray Harryhausen is considered the father of modern day special effects. In total Ray made sixteen landmark fantasy films including 'Jason And The Argonauts' (1963), 'One Million Years BC' (1966) and his last feature 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981). The exhibition includes original models and artwork and opens on June 29, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 13: Models created by visual effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen from the 1963 movie 'Jason And The Argonauts' on display at The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences Chuck Jones & Ray Harryhausen exhibit opening on May 13, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 13: Models created by visual effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen from the 1963 movie 'Jason And The Argonauts' on display at The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences Chuck Jones & Ray Harryhausen exhibit opening on May 13, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 13: Models created by visual effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen from the 1963 movie 'Jason And The Argonauts' on display at The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences Chuck Jones & Ray Harryhausen exhibit opening on May 13, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)
- Ray Harryhausen Myths And Legends Exhibition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: A life size sculpture of special effects creator Ray Harryhausen stands in the The Myths And Legends Exhibition at The London Film Museum on June 29, 2010 in London, England. Ray Harryhausen is considered the father of modern day special effects. In total Ray made sixteen landmark fantasy films including 'Jason And The Argonauts' (1963), 'One Million Years BC' (1966) and his last feature 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981). The exhibition includes original models and artwork and opens on June 29, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
- Ray Harryhausen Myths And Legends Exhibition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Special effects creator Ray Harryhausen opens the The Myths And Legends Exhibition at The London Film Museum on June 29, 2010 in London, England. Ray Harryhausen is considered the father of modern day special effects. In total Ray made sixteen landmark fantasy films including 'Jason And The Argonauts' (1963), 'One Million Years BC' (1966) and his last feature 'Clash Of The Titans' (1981). The exhibition includes original models and artwork and opens on June 29, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Still curious? See every animated creature created by Harryhausen, in chronological order, in the video below.
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