Awesome Look at the Restored Creature Models From Legendary Filmmaker Ray Harryhausen

Model of Skeleton from Jason and the Argonauts, c.1961 by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013). Mounted on wooden base. Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Clash of the Titans, Jason and the Argonauts, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Earth Vs. Flying Saucers… these are all incredible classic films that featured the stop-motion work and creature designs of legendary artist and filmmaker Ray Harryhausen.

I grew up watching these films! I love these movies, and I was always fascinated by the creatures and monsters in them that Harryhausen brought to life! The skeletons from Jason and the Argonauts and from his Sinbad series, the Minaton from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and Medusa from Clash of the Titans. The onscreen visuals of these creatures played a big part of why I fell in love with movies.

Harryhausen’s work also inspired the likes of John Landis, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Peter Jackson. They’ve also said wonderful things about the artist and how he influenced them in their careers.

If you’re a fan of Harryhausen’s work as well, you’ll be happy to learn that many of these models that were created for these films have been restored and will go on display at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema. This is going to be the largest and widest-ranging exhibition of Harryhausen’s work ever seen.

Marking the stop motion pioneer's centenary, the models will join newly restored and previously unseen material from Harryhausen’s matchless collection and archive, from 23 May 2020.

Thanks to Creative Boom, you can see some photos of the restored creature models below!

Medusa model from Clash of the Titans, c.1979 by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013) Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Original Skeleton model. armatured skeleton, with Medusa shield, from Jason and the Argonauts, c.1962 and Original Skeleton model; octopus shield by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013), armature by Fred Harryhausen, c.1962 Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Model Talos from Jason and the Argonauts, c.1962 by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013) Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Original Skeleton model from Jason and the Argonauts, 1963; octopus shield by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013), armature by Fred Harryhausen, c.1962 Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Model of the Kraken from Clash of the Titans, c.1980 by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013) Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Model Minaton from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, c.1975 by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013) Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Copy resin model Allosaurus from One Million Years B.C. c. 1965 by Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013) Collection: The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation Photography: Sam Drake (National Galleries of Scotland)

Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013) animating Skeleton model (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, 1958) © The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No. SC001419)