HOW did they do THIS in 1948?!

This scene is from the movie Mighty Joe Young from 1949 (yes, the one you know from 1998 was a remake).

Animated by a young Ray Harryhausen, master of stop-motion, this shot combines a real lion filmed separately, matte painting, stop-motion, and double-exposure techniques, all composited together in some really creative ways that would hold up to today’s standards.