I was very limited in what I could do with flying saucers, because they’re just a metal disc. I had to try and put character in as if they were intelligently guided.

Meaning of the quote

Ray Harryhausen, an American director, was limited in how he could portray flying saucers on screen because they are just metal discs. To make them seem more alive and intelligent, he had to try to give them personality and make them seem like they were being controlled by something.

About Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen was an American-British animator and special effects creator who pioneered a unique form of stop motion animation called “Dynamation.” He worked on numerous iconic films, including Mighty Joe Young, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and Jason and the Argonauts, before retiring in 1981 after his final film, Clash of the Titans.

More about the author

More quotes from Ray Harryhausen

I brought in the stories many times. I don’t just do animation.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

I was very limited in what I could do with flying saucers, because they’re just a metal disc. I had to try and put character in as if they were intelligently guided.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

I prefer to work alone and do everything alone, even today.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

Many times I felt like I’d do better than what the director did, but some of them got a little discouraged because they didn’t have full charge of making the film, and sometimes there’d be battles of egos.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

That’s why I never became a director. I never had patience with people.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

So our films had a lot more to them than entertainment value, and I’m glad that a lot of people recognize that now. People realize now the value of them as educational.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

I was never restricted. I was never told what to do.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

I know pretty well in the broad sense what I’m going to do, because I have to know that when we shoot the live-action, so that it’ll synchronize. Then I know pretty well when I get to the animation stage, what that scene requires.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

I had to learn to do everything because I couldn’t find another kindred soul. Now you see eighty people listed doing the same things I was doing by myself.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)

I took courses at USC in film editing and art direction and photography when I was still in high school.

Ray Harryhausen

American animator (1920-2013)