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Contents
Explore Harry Potter Creature Effects | Highlights, Why Visit, Visitors Tips And More
Why you shouldn't miss creature effects at the Harry Potter Studio
- Look for magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest: The Forbidden Forest is a dark place full of mysteries. Keep an eye out for Aragog, Buckbeak, and other creatures you might encounter on your tour. But be careful, you do not want to get into their bad books!
- Learn about how these creatures were made: On a guided tour, you also get to see and find out interesting facts and techniques that went into bringing these creatures to life.
- Test whether you are as valiant as Harry: Getting close to these creatures is not for the faint-hearted. Although they are not real, you won't feel so. The effects used to make them look realistic will give you an experience of a lifetime.
Highlights of Harry Potter creature effects
Buckbeak
The Prisoner of Azkaban introduced us to Buckbeak, the Hippogriff. Creating Buckbeak wasn't easy, with the Creature Effects team preparing 3 life-size versions of the creature: one standing up, one rearing, and one lying down. They had to individually insert and glue the feathers! The creators drew design cues from actual birds, particularly the Golden Eagle, for its profile.
Forbidden Forest
Basilisk
One of Harry's heroic acts was killing the Basilisk in The Chamber of Secrets. The Basilisk wasn't all CGI, to reduce dependency on graphics. The aquatronic model could slither to trail Harry in the fighting sequence, reducing dependency on CGI. The final battle scene where Harry killed the beast featured a full-size Basilisk mouth measuring 30 feet in length and 3 feet in depth.
Goblins
Creature Effects Designer Nick Dudman (known for The Mummy & Carnival Row) and his team worked to create goblins and give each of them unique traits, allowing us to tell every goblin apart. Goblin prosthetics from the movies were thrown away as they couldn't be reused. However, the team placed familiar goblin heads at the Studio so you can get a real look at goblins.
Aragog
Nick Dudman, Creature and Make-Up Effects Designer, along with Production Designer Stuart Craig, brought Aragog to life in The Chamber of Secrets. With an impressive 18-foot leg span, Aragog could crawl and speak. Each of his hairs was meticulously inserted by hand. On set, it took over 15 people to operate the animatronic Aragog, with four puppeteers controlling his hind legs.
Dobby
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dobby first appeared as a CGI character. To help the actors, filmmakers used a simple tennis ball on a stick as a reference on set. They also created a detailed physical model of Dobby for the actors to look at during filming. This helped them know where to focus their attention when interacting with the CGI character.
Fawkes
"It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day," said Dumbledore to Harry. But you don't! The Creature Effects team constructed 3 animatronic models of Fawkes: an adult phoenix, an older molting version, and a newborn fledgling. Fawkes' feathers were real and hand-painted. For flying scenes, the team crafted a digital bird to perform actions that physical models couldn't do.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Harry Potter creature effects
Is it worth exploring the Harry Potter creature effects tour at Warner Bros. Studios?
Absolutely! Creature effects in Harry Potter™ Studios make these majestic beasts look very real and you better pluck up the courage to face them.
Do I need separate tickets to see the Harry Potter creature effects tour at Warner Bros. Studios?
Creature effects are included in the standard Harry Potter™ Studios tours. A separate ticket is not required.
Who designed Harry Potter creatures in the movies?
Nick Dudman, who was the Creature and Make Up Effects Designer, is the brains behind the Harry Potter creatures.
Does my Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour include a guided tour?
Not all Harry Potter Studio tours include a guided tour. You would have to purchase tickets that specifically include guided tours.
How do I get from London to the Warner Bros. Studio?
Located about an hour’s drive from the London city center, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour offers several bus tours that offer hourly return transfers from central London and Birmingham directly to the studio tour.
What are the Harry Potter™ Studio opening hours?
The Harry Potter Studio tour is open from 9:30am to 10pm every day. However, timings may vary on some days. The opening times of Harry Potter™ Studios can be checked ahead of your visit. You can also check the calendar to know about any special events at the Studio to make the most of your visit.
What should I wear to explore Harry Potter Studio?
Comfortable clothing is advised to wear on your Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour. You might need to walk a fair distance to explore the different sets, props, costumes, special effects, and creature effects, so wear comfortable shoes.
