Ray Harryhausen S Fantasy Scrapbook

Ray Harryhausen is one of the most innovative and influential film animators in the history of the medium, responsible for such classic films as Jason and the Argonauts, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Clash of the Titans and One Million Years BC. A pioneer of stop-motion animation he has won countless awards, including a star on the Hollwood Walk of Fame, and inspired numerous film-makers, such as Stephen Spielberg, George Lucas and Peter Jackson. Ray’s story has been told in books such as An Animated Life and many of his concept drawings and models have appeared in The Art of Ray Harryhausen (both of which books were also published by Aurum). This new book reveals a wealth of fascinating artefacts relating to his films that has never been seen before, many of them recently discovered in a garage in Los Angeles. Designed in the form of a scrapbook, it provides a visual feast for Harryhausen fans. There are models from unrealized projects, such as dinosaurs from the unfinished film Evolution; prints of outtakes from various films including The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms; early concept drawings and storyboards; colour transparencies of Ray at work; written artefacts such as letters and production budgets and a diary that details Ray’s first meeting with his mentor Willis O’Brien; early film treatments and script extracts; publicity posters and brochures; and much, much more. Some of the items show Ray’s earliest artistic endeavours such as watercolours painted when he was 15 years old and marionettes of creatures from King Kong that he made when he saw the film in 1933. Organized into themed chapters covering the different genres that Ray worked in, each film is given a brief introduction and every image has a detailed caption. In many cases images are juxtaposed to show how a creature or effect evolved or to compare a concept drawing with a still from the finished film. The result is a treasure trove of rare artefacts and material which not only offer new insights into how Ray created particular effects, but bring the worlds of his films to life in a new way and paint a fascinating visual portrait of the man himself and his creative imagination. This is a must for every Ray Harryhausen fan.

100 objects selected by the animator Ray Harryhausen's daughter - packed with personal stories that have never previously been heard or publishedA fascinating examination of the work of the pioneer of the special effects that we see in modern cinemaContributions from experts in the field and in conjunction with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen FoundationA broad readership drawn from those who appreciate art, film, science fiction and fantasyTells the story of the man who changed the face of modern cinema - the pioneer of stop-motion animationSteven Speilberg and Tom Hanks are among his legion of fansEntries often include earlier versions of finished models and sketches of scenes that illustrate how Harryhausen worked and developed his modelsAccompanies a major exhibition at the National Galleries of Scotland from October 2020 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.

"This stunning array of images is a tribute to the scope of Harryhausen's imagination and his artistic skills which no student of special effects or cinema history will want to be without." -- Provided by publisher.

From the age of thirteen Ray Harryhausen knew his future lay in special effects. Drawing inspiration from his mentor Willis O’Brien, creator of King Kong, Ray took the art and skill of stop-motion animation one step further, weaving his magic on dinosaurs, aliens and mythological creatures alike. From early experiments with animating fairy tales in his father’s garage to creating groundbreaking effects for blockbuster movies, Ray Harryhausen shares the fascinating story of his “animated life”. The last great animator before the introduction of CGI, he takes us through the pleasures and pitfalls of sixty years dedicated to making movie magic.

"Whether it came from outer space, beneath the sea, or across the eons from prehistoric time, you can be sure of one thing: it came from the vivid imagination and technical expertise of a special effects genius. An more often than not, it was Willis O'Brien or Ray Harryhausen. Now from the archives of cinematic history comes the story of their work and others' in a fascinating, revealing look at how 150 of the most fantastic fantasy films were made. The silent era and the origin of special effects; the history and techniques of 3-D stop motion animation; the equipment used in the studios; how such overwhelming realism was achieved; solving the 'unsolvable' problems; dealing with production costs; and much, much more ... including scene-by-scene discussions of the major films!"--Cover.

Dragon Art is a stunning survey of amazing contemporary fantasy artwork, specifically of dragons - that most popular of fantasy creatures. The inspirational foreword is by fantasy legend and Lord of the Rings film concept artist John Howe. The 'Masters of Dragon Art' section includes such favourites as Don Maitz and Bob Eggleton. A fascinating discussion of dragons and fantasy art runs throughout the book, alongside a large selection of the best work out there at the moment, which is interspersed with features presenting artists' works-in-progress, providing invaluable insight on technique. Dragon Art is an inspiration and a feast for the eyes.

Freddie Francis was regarded as one of the great cinematographers of the last half of the 20th century. He won Academy awards for Sons and Lovers and Glory. This is Francis’ memoir in which he recalls working on such films as Room at the Top, Sons and Lovers, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Elephant Man, Glory, Cape Fear, and The Straight Story.