Original monster models go on display in Winchester
Special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen crafted the stop-motion figures for films such as Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans inside a small upstairs room at his home, according to his daughter, Vanessa Harryhausen. An exhibition featuring his original monster figures and artwork is now on display at The Arc in Winchester, Hampshire, running until 16 February 2027.
Handmade creatures and familial memories
The collection brings together iconic characters including the Medusa, the Cyclops, and an army of sword-wielding skeletons. Vanessa Harryhausen recalled returning home from school to find new pieces for upcoming productions, such as Bubo the clockwork owl and Pegasus the flying horse.
Just having all these wonderful creatures in the house, they were like my family,
Vanessa Harryhausen said. He kept them in cabinets and on tables, so I was constantly surrounded by this wonderful plethora of his talent.
She expressed excitement about the exhibition opening in Winchester, noting her childhood memories of summer visits to the area to see her grandmother. Harryhausen first developed his passion for animation after watching King Kong as a child.
Physical stop-motion versus digital effects
The intricate process of moving physical models a fraction of an inch to capture a single frame influenced subsequent stop-motion work, including Aardman Animations’ Wallace and Gromit films. Connor Heaney, collections manager for the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, emphasized the enduring appeal of practical techniques.
There’s something intangible and magical about stop-motion animation,
Heaney said. In a world of increasingly sophisticated computer-generated imagery, or CGI, people are searching for something real and physical.
Heaney noted that the figures remain in excellent condition because Harryhausen left specific instructions for repairing and maintaining the latex rubber models. The foundation frequently hears from classicists, archaeologists, and palaeontologists who trace their initial interest in their fields back to Harryhausen’s cinematic monsters.
Hollywood directors and future exhibitions
Harryhausen’s stop-motion style influenced several prominent Hollywood directors, including Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and Christopher Nolan. Heaney mentioned that Nolan recently referred to The Odyssey as his Ray Harryhausen movie.
The exhibition, titled Ray Harryhausen – Myths in Motion, remains open at The Arc until 16 February 2027.
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