When I was growing up, my ambition was never to be a writer. In high school and even in college, my hope was to become a special effects maestro, and specifically to practice the arcane art of stop-motion animation, as epitomized by the fantasy films of Ray Harryhausen.
It is probably fortunate that I did not pursue this career path after leaving college. I never really had the patience, the single-minded focus, or the instinctive sense of movement required of a good animator. Moreover, jobs in that field have always been limited, and once Jurassic Park came out in 1993, stop-motion as an effects technique was effectively extinct. It survives in puppet films, like the recent, marvelously animated -- and profoundly creepy -- Coraline, and as a campy touch in a few live action films (e.g., the animated denizens of the North Pole in Elf).
I can't really mourn the passing of Ray Harryhausen's style of special effects, since the new CGI technology, at its best, can give us images Ray could only dream of. Even so, I still enjoy the handmade look of stop-motion, the genuine three-dimensionality of the figures (unlike the faux three-dimensionality of CGI critters), and the strangely surreal combination of animated models with live actors, which was Harryhausen's forte.
For a taste of this type of filmmaking, you can see the wonderful allosaurus sequence from One Million Years BC at this link. The scene starts at the 1:55 mark. Transfer quality is mediocre; the animation looks a lot better on DVD. Keep in mind that this movie was released in 1966, when most screen dinosaurs were depicted by iguanas or by men in rubber suits. Harryhausen was decades ahead of his time.
A few months ago, I was going through some junk in my closet and came across an old, half-finished dinosaur "armature" (metal skeleton) which I'd made years ago. I decided to finish it and eventually built up a foam-and-latex dinosaur out of it. I followed this up with a second dinosaur, for which I made the armature from scratch.
As I was making the second dinosaur, a styracosaurus, I decided to document the process in a blog. I made no attempt to publicize the blog because I wasn't sure how well the model would turn out. If it was lousy, I could delete the blog and no one would be the wiser!
But it turned out okay, so for those who may be interested, here it is: Building A Stop-Motion Model. The blog chronicles the construction of this two-foot-long dinosaur from its beginnings as a pile of metal parts to its completion. There are also a few brief animation clips, though animation, as I said, was never my strongest suit.
I admit this is a departure from the usual subject matter posted here, but after all, there's more to life than death!
I totally agree about stop-motion. I think it's an awesome an underrated medium, and there's something about it CGI just can't match.
I especially like the works of Jan Svankmajer, some of which are up on youtube.
This one for example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39j7bypVxL8
Posted by: Sam | August 08, 2009 at 08:39 PM
Well, I think the work of Pixar is equal to any form of animation. The beauty of Wall*E's Earth scenes, or the design of Paris in Ratatouille, are stunning.
However, I'm a fan of stop motion myself but would like to remind Michael of the Wallace and Gromit films, which have been successful for years and are made with stop motion. It's the characters people invest in, not neccessarily the mode of animation.
Posted by: The Major | August 09, 2009 at 06:06 AM
I agree. The "man in a suit" stuff can also be pretty convincing. No CGI will ever top "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" or "The Predator" in my book.
Posted by: Greg L | August 09, 2009 at 08:24 AM
"would like to remind Michael of the Wallace and Gromit films"
I enjoy Aardman's work very much, though I liked the Wallace and Gromit shorts better than the W & G feature film. I also liked "Chicken Run" a lot.
Puppet films are still pretty popular - perhaps more popular than ever - but stop-motion as a special effects technique is pretty much done. I think that's unfortunate, since stop-motion enhanced with digital effects could be amazing.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | August 09, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Michael: what a wonderful surprise to hear about your visual side, particularly as you profess your enthusiasm for the art of Ray Harryhausen. I, too, was enthralled by his work, so distinctive and characteristic, along with that of his mentor, Willis O'Brien. For many years I liked to imagine what a marvelous conversation could ensue seated at a table with Harryhausen & his friends, Ray Bradbury and the late (great) Ackermonster, Dr Acula, Forrest J.. We also agree that stop motion animation is a distinctive artform with distinctive possibilities, an art I hope will continue. My own personal Harryhausen fave is "Jason and the Argonauts", though only by a small margin. I'll be checking out your new site. Along with seconding Sam's recommendation, let me add the Brothers Quay (look for "Street of Crocodiles") to the list, presenting stop motion animation with some captivatingly haunting visuals (while I'm at it: "Morgenrot" by Jeff Desom, music by Hauschka). Intriguing non-sequiturs for the optic nerve input. I recall back when Tom Hanks presented Ray Harryhausen with his lifetime achievement Oscar and how he gushed gleefully about the impact Harryhausen's work had on his childhood. I think we, like countless others, could have given a similar testimonial.
Posted by: Kevin | August 09, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Actually, Michael, it's assuring to see that there's more to *you* than death. I tend to see you as a sharp, solid and sane intellectual (relax, I have you up on a nice foot ladder, not a pedestal). Your insights are engaging, and often quite compelling.
However, it's always nice to see your other facets of interest. Near death experiences, PSI, etc... can be very interesting and uplifting, but an overwrought obsession with them can be dreary at best, and lunatic fringe at the worst.
Posted by: RabbitDawg | August 09, 2009 at 11:23 AM
"However, it's always nice to see your other facets of interest."
I used to blog on a much wider range of topics, but I found that the afterlife stuff was what got the most reaction, so over the years I've gravitated toward that. (My political posts have also garnered reactions, but usually unfavorable ones!)
Posted by: Michael Prescott | August 09, 2009 at 02:01 PM
I'm waiting to see how this series of postings gets twisted around into a discussion of reincarnation.
Posted by: wvogt | August 09, 2009 at 03:33 PM
It just occurred to me. It's obvious: reanimation!
Posted by: wvogt | August 09, 2009 at 03:40 PM
This is just awesome Michael! I read all of your blogs here(for the last year or so anyway) but had no idea you were a sculptor! I used to make life sized posable animals, on my website if you click the cougar pic, it shows him in stages. I am always fascinated by the process! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Donna | August 10, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Very nice work, Donna. Chauncey Cougar is impresssive (though I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley). I love the walking stick, too. Great detail.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | August 10, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Thanks for looking! I tend to change hobbies every few years, but sculpture is my favorite thing.
Posted by: Donna | August 10, 2009 at 03:20 PM
Too bad we weren't friends as kids. I would have loved joining you in animating your creations.
When I was in high school, I did some object animation and I enjoyed the challenge of figuring things out. I even enjoyed the solitude of the work. It would have been great to find someone who shared my enthusiasm.
I'm not mechanically or artistically inclined, so I would have left it to you to built the models. But I would have gladly spent hours with you animating it or creating scenarios for battle.
Your final animation was the best. The rear leg had the illusion of massive weight because of the way the skin and muscle moved around the joint.
Good job!
Posted by: Steggy Saurus | August 14, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Thank you, Steggy Saurus. I myself was surprised to see the muscles of the rear leg move so convincingly. It may have been a lucky accident.
"No CGI will ever top The Creature From The Black Lagoon or The Predator in my book."
This comment inspired me to rent "Predator," a movie I only dimly remembered. It's a lot of fun, especially in the second half. Great creature design by the late Stan Winston, a master of that kind of thing.
Maybe I should rent "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" next ...
Posted by: Michael Prescott | August 16, 2009 at 04:32 PM
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Posted by: 1251856527 | September 01, 2009 at 09:58 PM