45 Years Ago Mattel Finally Gave an Iconic Creator an Epic Toyline Just in Time For His Final Film

45 Years Ago Mattel Finally Gave an Iconic Creator an Epic Toyline Just in Time For His Final Film

Everyone from Peter Jackson to Tom Hanks has name-checked stop motion animator Ray Harryhausen as a primary inspiration. Hanks called Harryhausen’s Jason and the Argonauts “the greatest film ever made,” while Christopher Nolan has cited Harryhausen’s work as a direct (and visible) influence on The Odyssey. Despite a decades-long career, and Nolan’s observation that Harryhausen’s work “really connects with kids,” the legendary animator’s worlds o…