Fresh from the dedication of the Ray Harryhausen Animation Lab at Expression Center for New Media in Emeryville, California, Ray Harryhausen is preparing for another honor, this time from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. On Monday, June 24, 2002, as part of the Academy of Art College's ongoing "Legends of Film Graphics" series, Ray Harryhausen will receive an honorary doctoral degree from the Academy of Art College. Harryhausen will present his work to the audience at the event and on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 he will have yet another building dedicated to him, when the main animation building at the Academy of Art College is renamed the Ray Harryhausen Building. Considered by many to be the father of modern special effects, Ray Harryhausen redefined the nature of stop-motion animation with his thrilling effects work on such classic films as THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and CLASH OF THE TITANS.
Phil Tippett is one of many who credit Ray Harryhausen's special effects classic THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD as the inspiration for his career path. Tippett will join Harryhausen and also receive an honarary doctorate from the college. Founder and president of Berkeley, California-based Tippett Studio, Phil Tippett worked on many landmark visual effects films, including EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI (for which he won his first Oscar), ROBOCOP, STARSHIP TROOPERS and JURASSIC PARK (for which he won his second Oscar). More recently, Tippett Studios completed visual effects work for Jan DeBont's THE HAUNTING and BLADE 2, and have won many awards for their sassy Blockbuster commercials featuring "Carl" and "Ray." In addition to overseeing and expanding Tippett Studio, Phil is currently in development with his own project, EXPEDITION, at Disney.
The ceremony will be held at 6:00 pm on Monday, June 24, 2002 in the Academy of Art College main auditorium at 491 Post Street, San Francisco, California. The public is invited to attend.
