The Humunculus

Creator: Ray Harryhausen

Film: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad 1973

Humunculus Video Clip

 

A miniature, fully formed individual believed by adherents of the early biological theory of preformation to be present in the sperm cell, A little man; a dwarf....Koura creates this being and uses him as an extension of his eyes. The Humunculus first appears flying around Sinbad's ship but one of Sinbad's crew members shoots an arrow at him, the Humunculus drops an golden amulet. Sinbad takes the amulet not knowing the dangers that lie ahead. The Humunculus flies away after trying to retrieve the amulet from Sinbad. As Sinbad and the Vizier try to solve the riddle behind the golden amulet, the Humunculus hides in the shadows of the Viziers secret chamber and hears the entire conversation at the same time allowing Koura to hear it also. When Sinbad and the Vizier figure out that there were being spied on, they try to capture the small creature but because of its size it almost escapes, Sinbad manages to grab the Humunculus but it kills itself turning into apile of ashes.

Koura revives the Humunculus later in the film to do his dirty work again. When Sinbad and his crew get trapped in a cave in the Temple of the Oracle by Koura's magic, the Humunculus tries to stop Sinbad from escaping but this time an arrow by one of Sinbad's crew member pierces the Humuculus' skin and it falls to his death.

 

 

 

 

The Humunculus Facts

• For the scene where the Humunculus jumps on Koura's sleeve, Mr. Harryhausen drew a matte line along the top of Tom Baker's sleeve onto which the creature appears to jump.

 

• When the Humunculus attacks Sinbad when he was trying to escape the cave, Mr. Harryhausen did this by photographing a rear projection plate of Sinbad (John) climbing the rope, during which Ray would talk to him through the actions of what the creature would be doing to make him lose his hold.

Credit: An Animated Life

By Tony Dalton