Yesterday I mentioned that I would list some of my influences, I know that I've talked alot about current comic book writers here but for this post I wanted to go farther back all the way back to the beginning. It didn't take anytime at all for me to choose these three fellows as the real formative influences in my young life.Ray Harryhausen is an obvious choice, if you remember the Sinbad films you know exactly what I'm talking about. Yes, Star Wars was cool but the Harryhausen films were remarkable stories for a young kid to watch, there was sorcery, swashbuckling and incredible beasts, my father would always let me know when one was playing on TV and I would sit and stare at the screen, I wouldn't budge until I was sure the film was over and they amaze me to this day.
The second book was my constant companion and the best birthday gift I have ever received.
I come from a familiy of readers and my parents had no problem buying this book for me when I was just a kid. I carried this book everywhere, I can even remember the day I thought I lost it, I carried it in a milk bag inside my napsack just to make sure it never got wet. I also have "The Future Is Wild" TV series from a few years ago and I was thrilled to see Dougal Dixon's name listed as a collaborator on the show. Like Harryhausen, Dougal Dixon's fabulous beasts of the future was a huge influence and is a big part of why the animals in AHT are so unique.
Mercer Mayer's drawings captivated me from such a young age, as soon as I found his section in the kids part of the library it was where you could always expect me to go first. I love this book, he would always include funny things happening all of the page and crazy names for stores and characters. I think he'd like AHT, he'd probably see his influence for sure.
just a quick post, hope you see some old friends here too.
A.Shay Hahn
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