Developers

Willis O’Brien

 

Willis O'Brien was the man who was behind the stop animation in the classic film King Kong from 1933, he was well known as a special effects pioneer. He worked on the production of a film called 'Nippys Nightmare' in 1917, this was the first time we saw a combination of live actors with stop animation models. He then continuied to put together realistic stop animation. King Kong was such a success as the stop animation models interact almost fully convincingly with the human actors. He also made some very famous films using the same technique like The Lost World and Mighty Joe Young. He was also so the first one to use miniture size models, instead of using real life models. This is done by all animators today. He has also inspired present animators today.

This is an example of how Willis used stop animation in King Kong

 

Ray Harryhausen

 

Ray HarryHausen was inspired by Willis O'Briens King Kong from 1933, he said "this kind of film making was something I felt I had to do". He then went on to being producer and cheif animator in many successful films such as Mighty Joe Young, The Beast From 20,00 Fathoms and One Million Years BC. He considers himself to be a film-maker rather than just a special effects man. He often came up with the story, advise on the script, look for locations, design and sculpt models. His films are known for having his personality that he is so famous for. He inspired many people like Steven Spielbergs Jarassic Park after he had watched Rays first dinasour film. Tim Burton loved his 20 Million Miles to Earth, fasinated by the idea of misunderstood monsters with was the root to all Tims work. This shows he has influenced alot of current animators post his work. As a boy he had always loved dinasours, when he first went to see King Kong at the age 13 it brought his fantasys to life. At that time he didnt really understand how stop animation works but he sure figuered it out. In the beginning he got his dad (a machinisit) to create him armatures for his characters which he then covered in latex. An amazing thing about him, he said he was always an one man band as he "couldnt get anyone interested" and from there he always prefered to work alone. This is why he has aimed to be able to make everything in his own way. He has done very successfully and his legacy will always remain as being the father of stop animation after King Kong. I think his work could be improved alot now as technology has changed which current animators use. This will always be an advantage on any of his work but this will always stand out and be an example that was set a long time ago as the beginning of stop animation. Therefore I with the resources he had when his work was done is not comparable to what is avalible now. But if it wasn't for him many current successful animators wouldn't exist.

This is some of Rays most iconic work that still remains

 and known for best stop motion animation

 

 

*Sources - wikipedia, the guardian

 

 

 

Jan Svankmajer

 

Svankmajer a Czech filmmaker made his first film in 1964. He has made some very famous films that are known for its unique factor. He has also influenced current animator such as Tim Burton and The Brothers Quay. His stop motion animation is mostly in the format of clay-mation. Jans work mostly is revolved around surreal things, he tends to give everyday objects a live of their own. Many of his best known films are based around childhood such as Jabberwocky and Alice. He says that "he cannot see any difference between myself and myself at seven and now". He also says that children are fasinated by the magic in the world and that animation is a form of magic. This really gives us a clear image of his work and the ideas he emphasizes in his work. There has been a pattern seen that many of his work start by him waking up in the morning as a huge insect. His past generation has brought to him a trouble imagination that he portrays in his work very effectively. As you watch his films you start to think about why would you do such odd things? But it's the emotion that is added to it that makes it so surreal and magnifisent. His work really does connect with his audience, mostly in discuss.

 

 

 

This is one of Jan Svankmajer short film that shows

 a big part of what hes work is about, surrealism

 

 

*Sources - www.jansvankmajer.com, the guardian