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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
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban introduced us to Buckbeak, the Hippogriff. He was a delightful creature who respected manners and helped Harry and his friends. Creating Buckbeak wasn't easy, though, with the Creature Effects team first preparing three life-size versions of the creature for the Harry Potter film series: one standing up, one rearing, and one lying down. They had to individually insert and glue the feathers! The creators of Buckbeak drew design cues from actual birds, particularly the Golden Eagle, for the creature's profile. You can see the magical creature in the Forbidden Forest, standing like a king.
Forbidden Forest
Basilisk
One of Harry's heroic acts was killing the Basilisk in The Chamber of Secrets. The Basilisk wasn't all CGI, with the crew creating a model to reduce dependency on graphics. The final battle scene where Harry killed the beast featured a full-size practical Basilisk mouth measuring thirty feet in length and three feet in depth. The aquatronic model could slither to trail Harry in the fighting sequence, lessening the dependency on CGI. Therefore, try not to get too close to it at the Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studio London.
Goblins
Harry Potter was full of "fantastic beasts." Goblins were one of them. They ran the famous Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Diagon Alley, which housed incredible wealth and dangerous objects like a Horcrux. Creature and MakeUp Effects Designer Nick Dudman (renowned for The Mummy & Carnival Row) and his team worked tirelessly to create goblins and give each of them unique personalities and traits. Thanks to them, we can 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 Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studio London to give fans a real look at goblins.
Aragog
Nick Dudman, Creature and MakeUp Effects Designer, along with Production Designer Stuart Craig, brought Aragog to life in Harry Potter and 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 using various materials. On set, it took over 15 people to operate the animatronic Aragog, with four puppeteers controlling his hind legs. Head to the Forbidden Forest at the Warner Bros Harry Potter™ Studio London to catch Aragog at his best.
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 three animatronic models of Fawkes: an adult phoenix, an older moulting version, and a newborn fledgling that emerged from ashes. Fawkes' feathers were real and hand-painted in fiery colors. For flying scenes, the Visual Effects team crafted a digital bird to perform actions beyond what the physical models could do.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Harry Potter creature effects
Which Harry Potter creatures can I see on my Warner Bros. Studio tour?
Harry Potter creatures are a significant part of the wizarding world and in Harry Potter™ Studio Tours, and you get a chance to have an encounter with them. Meet Buckbeak, the Basilisk, goblins, Aragog, Dobby, Fawkes, and more creatures on your tour.
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.
How can I skip the lines to see the Harry Potter creature effects tour?
To skip lines on your studio tour, opt for the Harry Potter™ Studio guided tour and you can also book priority parking to save time at the entrance.
Who designed Harry Potter creatures in the movies?
Nick Dudman, who was the Creature and MakeUp 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.
