by Vanessa Harryhausen

National Galleries Scotland, out now

To mark what would have been stop-motion maestro Ray Harryhausen’s 100 birthday, and to tie in with the major career retrospective exhibition of his work which is running until next September at National Galleries Scotland, daughter Vanessa selects 100 pieces from his extensive vault.

If asked, few people could claim that their father’s job was ‘monster maker’, but that’s exactly the reality of Vanessa Harryhausen, who grew up while her parent was meticulously wrestling with mythological beasts. While there are such obvious favourites included in this book as Medusa and a Skeleton Warriors, one of the joys of this book is the appearance of lesser-known pieces such as Cerberus and a giant crab, their reason for inclusion being that they mean something to Vanessa, and she shares her first-hand memories of her attachments to these relics, often with family snaps.

The items have been drawn from the collection of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation. There are earlier versions of finished models, sketches, restored models and others that have sadly near-perished over the years. I hope to visit the exhibition when travel plans allow, and this is a wonderful primer, prepping you on what’s in store.

Verdict: A lush bestiary of Dynamation’s fantastic beasts. Where to find them? Scotland. And here’s your guide book, complete with personal photos and anecdotes that are as animated as the monsters on screen. 9/10

 

More information and tickets from https://www.nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/ray-harryhausen-titan-cinema