While he's primarily known for his work in special effects, Ray Harryhausen never felt that the term "special effects artist" was an apt description for his line of work.

In addition to his work in special effects, Harryhausen was also credited as a producer on various films he had worked on, including The Golden Voyage of Sinbad and The Valley of Gwangi.

During an interview with The Toronto Star, Harryhausen refused to assume the title of "special effects man."

"It suggests that I'm just handed a script and told to put it on the best way you can," said Harryhausen. "I've worn many different hats. I brought in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad story; I composed a 20-page outline for it and made eight big drawings. The other two Sinbads also came from my hand, as did the giant Ymir in 20 Million Miles to Earth, but I didn't take credit for them at the time. In my early days, I was very modest, and it took me a long time to learn that modesty was a dirty word in Hollywood."

Harryhausen worked hard to immerse himself in the creative process of a film. By doing so, he was able to contribute in ways that not only expanded beyond the duties of a special effects artist but also aided in the performance of his creations on set.

"I worked with a writer on every picture I've ever done," said Harryhausen. "With all our characters, we tried to give a performance, rather than just moving for the sake of moving."