Fantasy footfall

Fantasy fans can pay homage to legendary animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen when his models go on show at the National Media Museum this week.

Harryhausen completely revolutionised stop-motion animation, and fans of perennial Channel 5 classic 'Jason and the Argonauts' can check out one of his incredibly creepy fighting skeletons from that very B-movie.

Devotees of schlock films can also see the Medusa figure that featured in 'Clash of the Titans', as well as artwork from his films.

"Ray has without doubt been responsible for many iconic moments in cinema history, creating unforgettable scenes."

The display is one of the first steps following last year's agreement with The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation to deposit the animator's complete collection with the National Media Museum, which was announced during Harryhausen's 90th birthday celebrations.

"Knowing that my collection is going to be cared for by the museum, and that my Foundation will continue to be directly involved, is a great comfort and an acknowledgement that my work and art will be preserved for new film makers to study and hopefully continue to appreciate," he said.

Further objects from the Ray Harryhausen Collection will be exhibited at later dates as part of an ongoing rolling programme.

"To have agreed with Ray and the Foundation to bring this internationally significant body of work to Bradford in its entirety is a huge coup for the Museum, and we are delighted that we can start putting some of the objects on public display," said Michael Harvey, the museum's curator of cinematography.

"Ray has without doubt been responsible for many iconic moments in cinema history, creating unforgettable scenes such as the fight with the skeleton warriors in Jason and the Argonauts and the chillingly atmospheric encounter between Perseus and the Medusa in Clash of the Titans."

The display area, outside Insight, the National Media Museum's Collection and Research Centre, will not only feature a selection of Harryhausen's models, storyboards and drawings but also provide an indication of why and how a museum acquires such a collection.

The theme of the display will change regularly to showcase different aspect of Harryhausen's work: the first, Mythology, runs until October 2011.