Famous movie animator brings life's collection to Media Museum

Harryhausen made his name by developing animated creatures based on legends and classical mythology, and creating fantasy films betweem the 1950s and the 1980s.

His speciality was combining stop-motion puppet animation seamlessly with live action cinematography. Harryhausen's films include The 7th Voyage of Sinbad from 1958, Jason and the Argonauts from 1963 and

Clash of the Titans from 1981.

The Ray Harryhausen Collection contains most of the material connected with the conceptualisation and realisation of his films – such as drawings, paintings, models and storyboards

The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation is working with the National Media Museum in Bradford to fundraise to establish a UK home for the collection at the museum.

Harryhausen said: "Now I have reached 90 it is important, certainly in my profession which does not have a reputation for looking after cinematic artefacts, to preserve my art in all its forms – models, drawings, equipment etc. and that this will be available for future generations."