Ray Harryhausen, creature designer extraordinaire, died today at the age of 92.
As a kid I LIVED for his movies. I remember watching Clash of the Titans on TV in my grandparents' dining room, keeping out of the adults' hair on a Saturday night. Nana made us popcorn and I was enthralled. It, just like Jason and the Argonauts and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, EXPLODED in my brain. I thought, "This is my favorite stories come to life!" just as I always did when his movies were on. The grey sisters and Pegasus and Bubo and Kalibos and Medusa and "RELEASE THE KRAKEN!"
I remember watching The 7th Voyage with my mom on a Sunday afternoon in Summer. I remember getting upset when Golden Voyage was on at a friend of my parents that we were visiting and we had to leave in the middle of it.
His movies were heaven to me and my whole life I wanted to meet the man that brought me my stories. I never did but that's OK. I never expected I'd be able to.
I know he hasn't made anything for a long time but he didn't have to. His special effects, even though they used handfuls of clay and wire and old-time stop-motion, are timeless and unforgettable. Ray Harryhausen's work has been a blueprint for creature effects and the cinema world owes him a great debt.
Goodbye, Ray. The world will miss you.
Thank you.
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