VFX AND CGI The New Age of Cinema 📽️

  

 ( Wiki, n.d.)

Sneak peek behind Harry Potter movies: CGI and VFX edition.

VFX and CGI have is vital part of the cinematic history, where creators have the opportunity and platform to bring the most unimaginable scenes into life. These technologies have become the backbone of record-breaking movie franchises as we know at present. A landmark in CGI is the Harry Potter franchise, inspired by the novel series of J.K. Rowling. A franchise which has won the hearts of millions all over the world.

When the Warner Brothers Studio began to produce the Harry Potter movies back in 2001, the expectations were rather high. Upon release is safe to say those expectations were met quite unexpectedly. The success owes to the vast team of actors, producers, set managers etc., but the mostly to the CGI and VFX teams for tying everything together.

 

(Large Wall Poster
 Harry Potter - Hogwarts |
 Gifts & Merchandise
 Europosters, n.d.)

Elements of CGI in Happy Potter franchise.

CGI was incorporated into 80% of the franchise. Let us ponder on these CGI moments. The famous School of Hogwarts was brought to life by taking pieces of different locations in location in UK like Durham Cathedral and New College, and special effects for scenes like moving staircases. Initially the floating candles in the “Great Hall” were candles hung, however with the flames burning off wires CGI was used to make floating candles a reality.

Most fight scene involving magic spells were put together with CGI along with help of physical props and safe explosives. The “Hogwarts war” takes place in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2," CGI was used to create realistic backgrounds using green screens. The fight between Harry and Voldermort, where red and blue magical spells battle each other is a significant CGI moment. Take the Quiditch matches that premiered since the first Harry Potter movie “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)”. Players on Flying brooms chasing a golden stitch was a result of CGI as well.

Text Box: (Downs, 2012)

In addition to creating magical environments and scene, CGI was also incorporated into facial effects and acting. The infamous Voldermort is known for his nose-less face, or rather snake like face. In early movies, the make up artists would take over two hours to work on the Ralph Fiennes (Voldermort), which was later replaced by CGI visually editing his nose in every scene. It is quite remarkable! All Harry Potter fans remember the scene with seven Harry’s. Instead of the conventional method of using seven actors to do the scene, Daniel Radcliff acted out seven times in different attires. Then the special effects team put the seven roles into one seamless scene.

Another astonishing aspect is the magical creatures seen throughout the movies. The Basilik (giant snake) in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), the Dementors and Buckbeak in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and even the nine feet tall Hagrid are amazing results of CGI backed by the physical props. These props can be masks, models and or even actors.

 (Steel, 2024)

Evolution of CGI in the Harry Potter movies.

To understand the evolutionary development of CGI employed in Harry Potter movies, we can take few major landmarks.

0101.  Hogwarts.

In early movies, Hogwarts the School Witchcraft was built as a miniature structure spreading over 50 feet of space with 2500 fiber optic lights. As the franchise developed Hogwarts was fully built as a digital model with the help of CGI.

                      Before            

 (Failes, 2016)

                                   After                    

1(Large Wall Poster Harry Potter - 

Hogwarts | Gifts & Merchandise

 | Europosters, n.d.)

 

                                                                      

 

 

 

0202.  Buckbeak – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

To create this mythical creature the CGI teams had to incorporate much advances technology at the time. Since Buckbeak was ridden by some of the characters, it was shot by an actor riding a hydraulic system in front of a green screen, then producing a digital model with feathers and fur.

                       

 (Failes, 2016)

                                                                          

0303.  Dumbledore VS Voldemort – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

By the fifth movie the audiences were expecting more and more with upcoming battle between two of the most powerful wizards in the Harry Potter Universe. Dumbledore and Voldemort have a fire on water battles which great levels of VFX done into the scene. Another evolutionary moment is digitally editing Voldemort’s nose into that much like of a snake’s.

 

                                 

 (Pooley,2021)

(Keepin,2018)

                                  

0404.  Quidditch – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)

Up until this there has been few quidditch matches, however this Quidditch in 2009 was on a different level with much CGI incorporated with the combination of real photography.

 (Failes, 2016)

 

Conclusion.

It is no understatement that Harry Potter movies owes its success to CGI and VFX. In addition to the original fan base for the book a much bigger audience was attracted due to the unreal, yet realistic and magical world portrayed by the movies. It is even so satisfying to see the evolution of CGI and VFX throughout the movies. Harry Potter will forever be a timeless masterpiece.

References

Cracklex. (2024, January 16). What HARRY POTTER movies look like behind the scenes (CGI, VFX, BLOOPERS) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqHe9tdS1hU

 

Downs, K. (2012, August 6). The 16 Best Special Effects Makeup Before And Afters. Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/135319163779939878/

 

Failes, I. (2016a, November 18). Harry Potter revolutionized visual effects over 13 years. Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/24076-harry-potter-visual-effects-quidditch-dragons-fantastic-beasts

 

Failes, I. (2016b, November 18). Harry Potter revolutionized visual effects over 13 years. Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/24076-harry-potter-visual-effects-quidditch-dragons-fantastic-beasts

 

How was the Harry Potter Buckbeak scene filmed? (n.d.). Quora. https://www.quora.com/How-was-the-Harry-Potter-Buckbeak-scene-filmed

 

Keepin, R. (2018, September 28). Harry Potter. Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/dumbledore-vs-voldemort--280841726749170324/

 

Large Wall Poster Harry Potter - Hogwarts | Gifts & Merchandise | Europosters. (n.d.). https://www.europosters.eu/harry-potter-hogwarts-v94039

 

Pooley, J. (2021, September 7). 10 most drastic character transformations between movies. WhatCulture.com. https://whatculture.com/film/10-most-drastic-character-transformations-between-movies?page=7

 

Steel, T. (2024, March 4). Harry Potter: 10 Most Powerful Magical Creatures, ranked. CBR. https://www.cbr.com/harry-potter-most-powerful-movie-magical-beasts-ranked/

 

Wiki, C. T. D. E. U. (n.d.). Warner Bros. DC Extended Universe Wiki. https://dcextendeduniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Warner_Bros.

- By Raveen Fernando (2209586)