Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Final case study
Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien Case Study
I. Introduction
• A. Thesis: Both Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien can be seen by many people throughout film history as innovators of visual effects and animation.
• B. Sub thesis: Some see their work as staples of animation and visual effects, others see their work as influential to future generations of film makers.
o 1. They were stop motion clay animators who animated many monsters in the early days of films.
o 2. Most of their work has influenced many other film makers and animators in film history who have went on to make films that have been regarded as standards.
II. Body
A. Ray Harryhausen was born on June 29, 1920 in Los Angeles. He was an American film producer and effects creator most famously known for his style of stop motion clay animation.
o 1. Ray Harryhausen started out doing small shorts of stop motion animations mostly about what influenced him most, science fiction. He first work was of two dinosaurs fighting entitled Evolution some may say an homage to Willis O Brien's Creation. He continued to make many shorts including working for the army during World War II making instructional shorts for weapon use.
o 2. He later went on to work with Willis O' Brien as his apprentice do majority of the animation for his first feature film Mighty Joe Young. After the emergence of King Kong the 50's was in monster-movie fever and Ray Harryhausen was making nothing but. This is also where he made some of his most well known films and creatures such as Jason and the Argonauts (The statue of Talos), Clash of the Titans ( The Gorgon Medusa), and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (the Cyclops). He made many other films in this time period, but these stand out as most well known.
B. Many films made today can have noticeable tracings of Ray Harryhausen's work.
o 1. Many artists throughout films, especially in the world of animation and visual effects have been influenced by Ray Harryhausen. Many of the animation seen in films before computer graphics especially, has traces of an animation style from Ray Harryhausen. Films involving elements that cannot be done or do not exist in the real world would use stop motion techniques. Such things like monsters, space ships, etc. would be using stop motion and puppetry similar to that of Ray Harryhausen's animation in his earlier films. Many people toady and in the recent past would not have done or be doing some of the things that they are, without Ray Harryhausen leading the way with his creatures.
o 2. Some of the films that come to mind which use techniques of Ray Harryhausen are Star Wars, the Thing, and Lord of the Rings. In Star Wars one creature comes to mind that almost directly mimics the cyclops monster from "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad," and that is the Rancor that Luke fights in the third Star Wars. The Animation style and the scale of it looks closely similar to the fight with the cyclops or Talos from Jason and the Argonauts. The monster in the Thing stands out to me as an example of an influence of Ray Harryhausen's work, just as the Giant Troll in Lord of the Rings. Both resemble creatures animated in many of the films of Ray Harryhausen.
C. Willis O'Brien was an Irish American special effects artist born on March 2 1886 and died November 8 1962. Like Ray Harryhausen he was known for his brand of stop-motion animation.
o 1. He started out as a cartoonist for the paper and a marble sculptor before he got into make films. Although he died in the early sixties, he was awarded the Winsor McCay Award by ASIFA-Hollywood, which is the United States chapter of the International Animated Film Society ASIFA. This award recognizes people who create lifetime or career contributions to the field of animation.
o 2. He started out being hired by the Edison Company to make several short films with a prehistoric themes. Such films for the Edison Company during this time, as The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: A Prehistoric Tragedy and The Ghost of Slumber Mountain led him to his first major feature work, Lost World. One of his most famous films, although it was never finished was Creation. This led to his most famous creatures, the dinosaur and the, King Kong inspired, giant ape. Willis O'Brien went on to make many other films using his many stop-motion talents, such as, Mighty Joe Young, King Kong vs. Godzilla, it's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and The Valley of Gwandi, which Ray Harryhausen finished later.
D. Willis O'Brien was a pioneer of his field in which he created a style of animation and visual effects in which Ray Harryhausen would later perfect and influence many.
o 1. Willis O'Brien led a new form of visual effects that would influence no one more than his student Ray Harryhausen. Ray Harryhausen's films influenced many, but without Willis' O'Brien starting and teaching it then Harryhausen would not have done many of the things that he did. So we owe much to Ray Harryhausen, but we owe even more to Willis O'Brien.
o 2. One cannot compare the two to each other because they are almost the same person. The only thing that sets them apart is the fact that Willis O'Brien died early in his career and was unable to create many things he might have if he had lived a bit longer and Ray Harryhausen lived longer and went on to create many other films that became very influential in film and animation history.
E. Conclusion
o 1. Many are influnced by the films that Willis O' Brien and Ray Harryhausen have done and many of the films would not have been possible without them. However, Ray Harryhausen would not have done some of the things that he did without Willis O'Brien's teachings and influence. Many of the films we have today and many of the animation and visual effects techniques that we use today would not be possible or available without people using these two people as inspiration for their films.
I. Introduction
• A. Thesis: Both Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien can be seen by many people throughout film history as innovators of visual effects and animation.
• B. Sub thesis: Some see their work as staples of animation and visual effects, others see their work as influential to future generations of film makers.
o 1. They were stop motion clay animators who animated many monsters in the early days of films.
o 2. Most of their work has influenced many other film makers and animators in film history who have went on to make films that have been regarded as standards.
II. Body
A. Ray Harryhausen was born on June 29, 1920 in Los Angeles. He was an American film producer and effects creator most famously known for his style of stop motion clay animation.
o 1. Ray Harryhausen started out doing small shorts of stop motion animations mostly about what influenced him most, science fiction. He first work was of two dinosaurs fighting entitled Evolution some may say an homage to Willis O Brien's Creation. He continued to make many shorts including working for the army during World War II making instructional shorts for weapon use.
o 2. He later went on to work with Willis O' Brien as his apprentice do majority of the animation for his first feature film Mighty Joe Young. After the emergence of King Kong the 50's was in monster-movie fever and Ray Harryhausen was making nothing but. This is also where he made some of his most well known films and creatures such as Jason and the Argonauts (The statue of Talos), Clash of the Titans ( The Gorgon Medusa), and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (the Cyclops). He made many other films in this time period, but these stand out as most well known.
B. Many films made today can have noticeable tracings of Ray Harryhausen's work.
o 1. Many artists throughout films, especially in the world of animation and visual effects have been influenced by Ray Harryhausen. Many of the animation seen in films before computer graphics especially, has traces of an animation style from Ray Harryhausen. Films involving elements that cannot be done or do not exist in the real world would use stop motion techniques. Such things like monsters, space ships, etc. would be using stop motion and puppetry similar to that of Ray Harryhausen's animation in his earlier films. Many people toady and in the recent past would not have done or be doing some of the things that they are, without Ray Harryhausen leading the way with his creatures.
o 2. Some of the films that come to mind which use techniques of Ray Harryhausen are Star Wars, the Thing, and Lord of the Rings. In Star Wars one creature comes to mind that almost directly mimics the cyclops monster from "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad," and that is the Rancor that Luke fights in the third Star Wars. The Animation style and the scale of it looks closely similar to the fight with the cyclops or Talos from Jason and the Argonauts. The monster in the Thing stands out to me as an example of an influence of Ray Harryhausen's work, just as the Giant Troll in Lord of the Rings. Both resemble creatures animated in many of the films of Ray Harryhausen.
C. Willis O'Brien was an Irish American special effects artist born on March 2 1886 and died November 8 1962. Like Ray Harryhausen he was known for his brand of stop-motion animation.
o 1. He started out as a cartoonist for the paper and a marble sculptor before he got into make films. Although he died in the early sixties, he was awarded the Winsor McCay Award by ASIFA-Hollywood, which is the United States chapter of the International Animated Film Society ASIFA. This award recognizes people who create lifetime or career contributions to the field of animation.
o 2. He started out being hired by the Edison Company to make several short films with a prehistoric themes. Such films for the Edison Company during this time, as The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: A Prehistoric Tragedy and The Ghost of Slumber Mountain led him to his first major feature work, Lost World. One of his most famous films, although it was never finished was Creation. This led to his most famous creatures, the dinosaur and the, King Kong inspired, giant ape. Willis O'Brien went on to make many other films using his many stop-motion talents, such as, Mighty Joe Young, King Kong vs. Godzilla, it's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and The Valley of Gwandi, which Ray Harryhausen finished later.
D. Willis O'Brien was a pioneer of his field in which he created a style of animation and visual effects in which Ray Harryhausen would later perfect and influence many.
o 1. Willis O'Brien led a new form of visual effects that would influence no one more than his student Ray Harryhausen. Ray Harryhausen's films influenced many, but without Willis' O'Brien starting and teaching it then Harryhausen would not have done many of the things that he did. So we owe much to Ray Harryhausen, but we owe even more to Willis O'Brien.
o 2. One cannot compare the two to each other because they are almost the same person. The only thing that sets them apart is the fact that Willis O'Brien died early in his career and was unable to create many things he might have if he had lived a bit longer and Ray Harryhausen lived longer and went on to create many other films that became very influential in film and animation history.
E. Conclusion
o 1. Many are influnced by the films that Willis O' Brien and Ray Harryhausen have done and many of the films would not have been possible without them. However, Ray Harryhausen would not have done some of the things that he did without Willis O'Brien's teachings and influence. Many of the films we have today and many of the animation and visual effects techniques that we use today would not be possible or available without people using these two people as inspiration for their films.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Case Study Ver. 2
Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien Case Study
I. Introduction
• A. Thesis: Both Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien can be seen by many people throughout film history as innovators of visual effects and animation.
• B. Subthesis: Some see their work as staples of animation and visual effects, others see their work as influential to future generations of film makers.
o 1. Who they are and what they did
o 2. How this affected films and animation
II. Body
A. Who Ray Harryhausen was
o 1. Briefly introduce Ray Harryhausen
o 2. Who he was, how he got started, etc.
B. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Ray Harryhausen's animation in early films influenced many things even today.
o 2. Different films that stand out as influential in this regard.
C. Who Willis O'Brien was
o 1. Briefly introduce Willis O'Brien
o 2. Who he was,how he got started, etc.
o 3.
D. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Similar to Ray Harryhausen, Willis O'Brien's films many aspects of films and animation done in motion pictures today.
o 2. Examples of films that he has done that stand out as important films emphasizing this.
E. Compare and Contrast
o 1. Compare and Contrast the two people to each other and relate that back to films and animation
o 2.Examples of films that emphasize this.
III. Conclusion
• A. Reemphasize the importance of the two people and restate the thesis
• B. Being early forms of animation, they helped to pave the way for others in many aspects.
I. Introduction
• A. Thesis: Both Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien can be seen by many people throughout film history as innovators of visual effects and animation.
• B. Subthesis: Some see their work as staples of animation and visual effects, others see their work as influential to future generations of film makers.
o 1. Who they are and what they did
o 2. How this affected films and animation
II. Body
A. Who Ray Harryhausen was
o 1. Briefly introduce Ray Harryhausen
o 2. Who he was, how he got started, etc.
B. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Ray Harryhausen's animation in early films influenced many things even today.
o 2. Different films that stand out as influential in this regard.
C. Who Willis O'Brien was
o 1. Briefly introduce Willis O'Brien
o 2. Who he was,how he got started, etc.
o 3.
D. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Similar to Ray Harryhausen, Willis O'Brien's films many aspects of films and animation done in motion pictures today.
o 2. Examples of films that he has done that stand out as important films emphasizing this.
E. Compare and Contrast
o 1. Compare and Contrast the two people to each other and relate that back to films and animation
o 2.Examples of films that emphasize this.
III. Conclusion
• A. Reemphasize the importance of the two people and restate the thesis
• B. Being early forms of animation, they helped to pave the way for others in many aspects.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien Case Study
I. Introduction
• A. Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien are influential people in the field of films animation.
• B. subarguments
o 1. Who they are and what they did
o 2. How this affected films and animation
II. Body
A. Who Ray Harryhausen was
o 1. Briefly introduce Ray Harryhausen
o 2. Who he was, how he got started, etc.
B. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Ray Harryhausen's animation in early films influenced many things even today.
o 2. Different films that stand out as influential in this regard.
C. Who Willis O'Brien was
o 1. Briefly introduce Willis O'Brien
o 2. Who he was,how he got started, etc.
o 3.
D. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Similar to Ray Harryhausen, Willis O'Brien's films many aspects of films and animation done in motion pictures today.
o 2. Examples of films that he has done that stand out as important films emphasizing this.
E. Compare and Contrast
o 1. Compare and Contrast the two people to each other and relate that back to films and animation
o 2.Examples of films that emphasize this.
III. Conclusion
• A. Reemphasize the importance of the two people and restate the thesis
• B. Being early forms of animation, they helped to pave the way for others in many aspects.
I. Introduction
• A. Ray Harryhausen and Willis O'Brien are influential people in the field of films animation.
• B. subarguments
o 1. Who they are and what they did
o 2. How this affected films and animation
II. Body
A. Who Ray Harryhausen was
o 1. Briefly introduce Ray Harryhausen
o 2. Who he was, how he got started, etc.
B. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Ray Harryhausen's animation in early films influenced many things even today.
o 2. Different films that stand out as influential in this regard.
C. Who Willis O'Brien was
o 1. Briefly introduce Willis O'Brien
o 2. Who he was,how he got started, etc.
o 3.
D. How his work influenced films and animation
o 1. Similar to Ray Harryhausen, Willis O'Brien's films many aspects of films and animation done in motion pictures today.
o 2. Examples of films that he has done that stand out as important films emphasizing this.
E. Compare and Contrast
o 1. Compare and Contrast the two people to each other and relate that back to films and animation
o 2.Examples of films that emphasize this.
III. Conclusion
• A. Reemphasize the importance of the two people and restate the thesis
• B. Being early forms of animation, they helped to pave the way for others in many aspects.
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