Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen earnt the title of 'The Grandfather of Model Animation' for his contributions to the art of stop motion animation or as it was known at the time; 'special effects animation'. Using intricate models based on expertly articulated armatures (metal skeletons), and a process which he pioneered and named 'Dynamation'. Here is a brief discription of the process...
1) An image of the live action film was projected onto a translucent screen from behind using a rear projector. 
2) A table with the miniature models was then set up infront of the screen.
3) Infront of that table a glass screen was set up. Black matte paint was used to black out the foreground areas of the image as seen through this screen that were to remain infront of the model characters.
4) A camera was then arranged infront of this all. As the original live action film was played frame by frame, the models could be manipulated to look as though they were interracting with the characters/ environment in the film convincingly.
5) Once complete, the film and the projection were wound back to the beginning. The glass frame was then replaced so that the inverse areas could be blacked out this time and the entire film was shot again to create a complete image in the final production.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Mighty Joe Young (1949), and Jason and the Argonauts (1963) all included scenes utilising this technique. One of the most famous scenes Harryhausen created using Dynamation is a skeleton fight scene in Jason and the Argonauts. Although the scene only lasts for about three minutes, it took him four months to produce.