NEW HARRYHAUSEN KALI 'SOFT MOTION' FIGURE!

Holy Cow! Where am I gonna scrape up the dough for this baby! The Kali scene in THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD is right up there near the top of my favorite Harryhausen stop-motion accomplishments.

What makes this figure (on pre-order from Star Ace) special is a brand new technique during the casting process called "soft motion" that enables you to move this just as you would an actual stop motion figure. Read below for the details. Oh, man -- where am I gonna get the . . .

Golden Voyage of Sinbad Kali Soft Motion Series 12" Figure by Star Ace

Retail price: $229.99

Golden Voyage of Sinbad Kali Soft Motion Series 12" Figure by Star Ace:

A statue of Kali, Goddess of Death, stands guard over countless treasure. Woe to any sailor who tries to steal from the horde guarded by this stone sentry. Her six arms all wield swords and can fight off multiple attackers. One of Ray Harryhausen’s more ambitious stop-motion creations, Kali would move all her arms as she battles the adventurers.

Soft Motion Series

The Soft Motion Series introduces an innovative approach to collectible figures, utilizing a new formula material combined with a special casting technique. This series features a newly designed framework that ensures seamless motion without altering the figure’s appearance. Perfect for dynamic scenes and fighting situations, these figures are poseable and highly recommended for stop-motion animation. Collectors can now enjoy the beauty and functionality of these figures in a way never seen before.

Solicited by MONSTERS IN MOTION. Go HERE to visit.

RAY HARRYHAUSEN PORTFOLIO

The plates in this portfolio are examples that Ray Harryhausen used to pitch his films. It's odd that he didn't think of himself as an artist, as they are as fabulous as any other fantasy illustrator. Perhaps he just felt it was a means to an end in order to achieve his goals with his true-calling -- animation.

These images were never meant to be seen by the public as they were considered promotional and not commercial. The sepia-tone prints measure 20" x 15.75" and each is signed and dated by Harryhausen. Harlan Ellison provides an introduction.

Sinbad fights a skeleton in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

Talos from Jason and the Argonauts.

Credited as from a Hercules proposal, the Hydra ended up in Jason and the Argonauts.

The Ymir in a dramatic scene from 20 Million Miles to Earth.

Harryhausen pitched an idea for War of the Worlds that was not filmed.

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG: BEHIND THE SCENES

The creators of KING KONG had one more go at his legacy in the 1949 RKO production of MIGHTY JOE YOUNG. KONG was re-released three more times after its original run (1938, 1942, and 1946), and studio execs thought audiences were ready for another "giant gorilla" film. The old crew was brought back: Merian C. Cooper produced with Ruth Rose scripting Cooper's story; Ernest B. Shoedsack directed with Robert Armstrong starring. 

The story takes place in Africa where 7-year-old Jill Young (Lora Lee Michel, then Terry Moore as a grown-up Jill) lives with her widowed father (Ben Johnson in his first credited role) on his ranch. She raises a young gorilla, and when it is 10-years-old (and considerably larger) she is convinced to have "Joe Young" transported to Hollywood by entrepreneurs looking for an act for their nightclub after promising Jill enough money to bail out her father's struggling ranch. As one would expect, lots of drama and animated mayhem ensues.

Willis "Obie" O'Brien was originally set to do the stop-motion animation, but he soon got tangled in various production problems and handed over the work to a young Ray Harryhausen, Pete Peterson and Marcel Delgado. As in KONG, Delgado sculpted the various models (Harry Cunningham is credited for building the armatures as he did in KING KONG).

Unfortunately, the film did not do well at the box office and aside from the effects, was met with a tepid response from critics. Plans for a remake were shelved.

Ironically, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for 1949. Perhaps it was fitting, as the Academy Awards had not yet been active in 1933. For his acceptance speech, Obie politely and succinctly said, "Thank you, very, very much."

This photo set shows rare shots from Willis O'Brien's personal collection of work that took place behind the scenes during the making of MIGHTY JOE YOUNG.

Portrait of Ray Harryhausen by RKO studio photographer Bert Six.

NEW MONSTER MODEL KITS!

I usually don't do much model kit building during the summer here in the Pacific Northwest because this is the only time when it doesn't rain as often and I would rather be outside as much as possible during the few months when the moss and mushrooms have stopped growing! That hasn't stopped me from purchasing a kit here and there to build later, plus there's always a chance that a kit can sell out by the time winter rolls around.

Just arriving on my doorstep today was X-Plus' The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and it looks like another beaut from these folks who sure no how to sculpt and mold a line of fantastic-looking monster models. I'll probably be pulling the trigger on another one of their kits based on Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion masterpieces, the Cyclops from THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD which has been out for a while now.

Further down this post you'l see a couple others that they've released in the last year or so, the Gill Man from REVENGE OF THE CREATURE and Warren's Vampirella.

If you are a monster kit builder and haven't grabbed one or all of these yet, I recommend my two go-to sources for them -- CultTVMan and Monsters in Motion. Links are on the sidebar to the right under "Websites I Like".

THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS

THE CYCLOPS FROM 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD

REVENGE OF THE CREATURE

VAMPIRELLA

The End!

NEW HARRYHAUSEN MODEL KITS

Model kit building seems to be holding its own these days. Renewed interest was rekindled during the COVID pandemic but enthusiasts became frustrated when hobby suppliers sold out of much of their stock because overseas shipments were being quarantined for so long.

Now things have improved and so has the influx of brand new kits. One manufacturer from Japan, X-Plus/Star Ace, is meeting the monster model market head on with a flurry of excellently-crafted kits that are sculpted with a high degree of detail, nicely-calibrated parts that fit together well and are just plain cool.

Case-in-point, these three kits based on Ray Harryhausen's films, the Rhedosaurus from THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, Medusa from CLASH OF THE TITANS, and the Allosaurus from THE VALLEY OF GWANGI.

If you're interested in having a closer look at these, I recommend my favorite online shop to buy kits, CultTVman. You can also find them at MONSTERS IN MOTION.

Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Rhedosaurus with Lighthouse 1/72 Scale Model Kit by X-Plus Japan

Retail Price: $76.99

The Creature That Started It All: Ray Harryhausen's iconic creation, the Rhedosaurus, holds a special place in the history of monsters and Kaiju cinema. As the first creature to truly captivate audiences with its monstrous scale and awe-inspiring presence, the Rhedosaurus laid the foundation for the entire genre. Its menacing rampage through New York City marked the birth of Kaiju as we know it, paving the way for a vast universe of colossal creatures that would captivate generations. This legendary beast not only inspired the imagination of countless filmmakers and artists but also established the thrilling spectacle of Kaiju that continues to enthrall audiences to this day.

The Model: This model is a recreation of the Rhedosaurus’s ascent from the depths of the ocean to the shores of New York City, as it lays siege upon a towering lighthouse, leaving a mark on cinematic history that reverberates with the power and drama of Ray Harryhausen's unparalleled artistry. Transparent Parts The lighthouse glass parts are molded in transparent plastic material. The lighthouse model includes a transparent lighthouse lamp model."

Rhedosaurus Height approx. 8 in. (including the base). Light house Height approx. 9 in. (including the base).

Clash of the Titans Medusa Model Kit by X-Plus Japan

$144.99

Here is a deluxe vinyl model it of the Medusa from Ray Harryhausen's classic film Clash of the Titans. The Medusa stands a bit over 12 inches when built and comes with a base.

12 in. Soft Vinyl Model Kit Series

Gwangi DELUXE Diorama Model Kit

$349.99

Fans of stop motion animation can build this amazing diorama.  The Gwangi was sculpted by Joe Laudati and the diorama by Robert Ortiz of Blueskyhelper.  The diorama includes a 17" x 9 " base that includes a nameplate, cowboy ,horse and dead dinosaur.