Special & Visual Effects
Special & Visual Effects
Learn how the special effects and visual effects teams made Harry and his pals fly and play quidditch, made the chocolate frogs jump, and made Harry invisible.
The Cloak of Invisibility
The Invisibility Cloak, which was given to Harry in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is extensively featured in the films. A version with a green fabric lining was developed, allowing the Visual Effects Department to make Harry and his friends invisible in post-production. The cloak on display at the Studio which you will see on your Harry Potter Studio tour was made from a special velvet fabric with Celtic symbols and runes imprinted on it by the Costume Department.
The Green Screen
Filmmakers frequently use a green screen to capture visual effects scenes because it allows them to swap the green colors with a different background or a computer-generated set. While on your Harry Potter studio tour in London, don’t miss out on the green screen experience, where you can fly a broomstick over London exactly like the Harry Potter cast.
The Chamber Of Secrets Door
The Chamber of Secrets door, which is often, mistaken for a visual effect, is actually a fully functional door developed by the Special Effects team based on concepts provided by the Art Department. The snakes slither down slotted tracks and are propelled by a concealed electric motor. Each snake was painstakingly cast in resin and hand-painted before being fastened to the door with great care and attention to ensure that each snake retracted at a precisely set time to prevent colliding.
The Whomping Willow
For Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the temperamental tree began as a sketch from the Art Department, which had to be turned into a real Whomping Willow. Mr. Weasley’s flying car WAS ‘whomped’ by mechanically driven branches, according to Special Effects Supervisor John Richardson and his team. For the Whomping Willow’s appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a full-size tree trunk was created on set, with branches added digitally in post-production.