Models from special effects genius go on show to public

Medusa from Clash of the Titans, Talos and a skeleton, both from Jason and the Argonauts, were all created by Ray Harryhausen, the master of stop-motion animation and special effects and will be on show at the National Media Museum in Bradford from today. They will be displayed alongside examples of Harryhausen’s artwork for the films.

Further objects from the Ray Harryhausen Collection will be exhibited at later dates as part of a rolling programme.

The display is one of the first steps following last year’s agreement with The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation to deposit the animator’s complete collection with the museum

Mr Harryhausen said: “Knowing that my collection is going to be cared for by the museum, and that my foundation will continue to be directly involved, is a great comfort and an acknowledgement that my work and art will be preserved for new film makers to study and hopefully continue to appreciate.”

Michael Harvey, the museum’s curator of cinematography, said the museum was “delighted” it could start putting some of the objects on public display.