Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen with his Dragon and Cyclops

Ray Harryhausen (June 20,1920-May 7,2013) was one of the most famous American special affects artists. He was inspired by Willis O'Brien's King Kong film, and based many of the creatures in his movies off of the giant ape's stop-motion effects. Through the 50s and 70s, Harryhausen created many stop-motion animation monsters in movies from Mighty Joe Young to Clash of the Titans. Harryhausen developed an intrest in dinosaurs and included them and other prehistoric beasts in many of his other works (Gwangi , Allosaurus), even films that take place in western films and the middle ages.