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Get ready for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter 

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Something extremely magical is coming to Tokyo – and is set to be one of the biggest magical experiences for fans yet. Yes, tickets for Warner Bros. [Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter](https://www.wbstudiotour.jp/en/about/) are now on sale.

The Tokyo branch of the Studio Tour will not only have exclusive Wizarding World treats on offer – but invites you to visit the biggest Harry Potter shop in the world as part of your visit. 

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As with other Studio Tours around the world, Japan-based Harry Potter fans can expect to visit authentic sets, props and costumes made by the original British filmmakers. The Studio Tour in Tokyo is a brand-new experience, and the first tour of its kind to open in Asia, where fans can step behind the scenes and discover the world of film production through the medium of witchcraft and wizardry.

For those unfamiliar with the Studio Tour, visitors will be able to visit the iconic Great Hall set, walk along the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley and traipse through the mysterious Forbidden Forest. You’ll bump into magical creatures, observe gorgeous costumes and take part in magical activities, such as broom riding and Butterbeer drinking.

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Fans will also get to immerse themselves into iconic Wizarding World moments, such as appearing in a moving Hogwarts portrait or stepping into the crowd of a Quidditch match, just as if you were a wizard or witch yourself. 

The Platform 9 ¾ set was created by the original Harry Potter filmmakers using authentic techniques. It’s home to the Hogwarts Express which is an original British steam locomotive that was built in 1929 called The Dumbleton Hall. Operated by the Great Western Railway, it continued to run for over 35 years until it was retired. The locomotive was refurbished in England, then shipped to Japan to take up its position at the Studio Tour. 

Torben Jensen, VP and GM Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter said: “The Studio Tour is a completely new experience for Harry Potter fans in Japan and I’m so excited to open the doors on 16th June.  In addition to fantastic interactive features, multiple photo opportunities and the world’s largest Harry Potter shop, the Studio Tour will exclusively showcase a number of incredible film sets that are one of a kind.” 

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Alongside Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts fans will be able to seek out some of their favourite locations from the films: The Great Wizarding Express, for example, is a set that is exclusive to Tokyo, which appeared in *Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore*.

The train carriage is art deco in styling, to match the era, and is decorated with ornate detailing throughout recreating the appearance of birdseye maple, ebony and brass inlay strips.  Depicting the scene where Newt Scamander leads an intrepid team of wizards, witches, and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, the mannequins display the costumes of Newt Scamander, Jacob Kowalski, Theseus Scamander, Bunty Broadacre, Yusuf Kama and Eulalia “Lally” Hicks.

The Studio Tour will also be home to the largest Harry Potter shop in the world, featuring 14 themed sections that are decorated with over 7,000 bespoke and specially sourced props. The areas are beautifully designed and take inspiration from elements of the shops on Diagon Alley including Honeydukes, Ollivanders and Flourish and Blotts.

A huge range of products will be available to buy, many of which have been exclusively developed for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. In addition, visitors can enjoy a choice of restaurants and cafés which will serve a celebration of traditional British fare such as fish and chips, roast beef, English breakfast and Afternoon Tea. Delicious.

Get ready for a summer of magical delights out in Tokyo! It’s going to be a big one.

***

Tickets for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo will be on sale from Wednesday 22nd March at 2pm JST, available to purchase for visits between 16th June to the 30th September, 2023. [Visit the official website for details.](https://www.wbstudiotour.jp/)

Take a look inside Hogwarts Legacy: The Official Game Guide

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In this official game guide published by Scholastic, players will learn everything they need to know to play Hogwarts Legacy in the best way. Discover exclusive information about brand-new characters and locations found in the game, plus unlock hidden secrets and other tips for completing the game’s various quests. 

Here’s a quick look inside the book so you can see what you can expect. [Or pick up the book for yourself here.](https://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter)

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The game’s character maker is richly detailed, so you can create your perfect Hogwarts persona, perhaps one you’ve been dreaming about for a long time. The game guide can show you a couple of options to choose from, and offers a few helpful tips that could become handy for later.

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This game is all about YOUR Hogwarts Legacy, but the game also introduces you to fellow classmates living their own Hogwarts lives. Here’s a page on just a few of the characters you’ll meet.

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Hogwarts Legacy is so full of fascinating little details, you may blink and risk missing some. We especially enjoy this page from the game guide that lays out some of the pages of the Wizard’s Field Guide, which will be absolutely instrumental to you during your gameplay experience. So here is a guide to... the guide, effectively!

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All Hogwarts students need to unwind – and where better to do that than Hogsmeade? These pages lay out all the shops and pubs you can visit, whether you require some plant seeds or fancy a change of clothing.

***

This official game guide is a must-have for any gamer and Wizarding World fan.

[Available now!](https://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter)

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Seven magical things to look forward to in The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac 

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Bloomsbury Children’s Books is proud to present *The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac*, a rich and colourful new tome for the whole family to dig deeper into the wizarding world. [You can pre-order here.](https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/superpages/harry-potter/the-harry-potter-wizarding-almanac-pre-order-offer/)

Published by Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the US in October 2023, this visual compendium is richly illustrated and packed with all sorts of magical tidbits about the Harry Potter stories – some you may know, some you may not, all wrapped up in gorgeous new illustrations by seven talented artists: Peter Goes, Louise Lockhart, Weitong Mai, Olia Muza, Pham Quang Phuc, Levi Pinfold and Tomislav Tomić. 


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You can expect to see charts, maps, lists, timelines, handy guides, favourite quotes, cheerful infographics and much more in this celebration of J.K. Rowling’s epic book series. And even we, as your Wizarding World experts, learnt a few new nuggets as well! 

Here are seven fantastic pages of the book for you to take a sneak peek at.  

## 1. No sock is left unturned 

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The wizarding world is a visual spectacle – and this book celebrates every little detail of it with love and care; like this page, (drawn by Louise Lockhart) which illustrates some of our favourite character outfits. Enjoy new interpretations of these memorable wizarding fashion moments, from Mrs Weasley’s jumpers to Dobby’s socks. Of course, everyone has a different aesthetic, especially Rubeus Hagrid and his go-to outfit for smart occasions – his brown, hairy suit. 

Beyond clothes, other pages of the book will take you to the Hogwarts library to study book titles, an unruly collection of household pests reveals some of the magical nuisances of the wizarding world, and ‘Fantastic Treats and Where to Find Them’ may make you hungry, mapping out a dedicated spread of magical foods!

## 2. Transport yourself to magical locations

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Oh, to be able to casually tap on a seemingly innocuous brick wall and find yourself in Diagon Alley. Well, the Almanac will do its best to take you there, and even invite you inside some of the most beloved shops. Here, we see a delightfully pink layout (as put together by Olia Muza) of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George’s larger-than-life joke shop. Some of their most eccentric creations are displayed here, such as their mischievous Decoy Detonators and a colourful array of Skiving Snackboxes.

This is just one shop window we happen to be peering into. The rest of the book invites you to other locations, such as Gringotts, the Ministry of Magic, Grimmauld Place, The Burrow and, of course, Hogwarts itself. Merlin knows how they’re going to fit that big old castle into this book, but we’re sure an Extension Charm or two will help...

## 3. Take some ‘unguided tours’ with handy maps – including this stunning guide to Hogwarts

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We all get a little lost sometimes, and in the wizarding world, even more so than usual. Thankfully, the Almanac is here to help, and takes us on a few ‘unguided tours’ of key locations across the stories. Above, the Almanac artist Peter Goes has – rather brilliantly – made sense of the chaos that is Hogwarts castle, detailing its many floors and secret passages in this pièce de résistance.

Take a good look at this page to discover the locations of certain towers and rooms, a meticulous depiction of every Hogwarts floor (catch Fluffy on the third, obviously) and even where specific paintings and statues are, such as Lachlan the Lanky and the Fat Lady’s drinking buddy, Violet. You can even find the vanishing step, where Harry once got trapped sneaking around Hogwarts after dark, and the amount of time it takes to get to certain areas (about ten minutes from the Entrance Hall to the North Tower, apparently!).

The little illustrative moments will also make you smile, especially if you catch the reference. For instance, the little painting of a bowl of fruit is particularly special (Tickle the pear! If you know, you know!) and the Barnabas the Barmy tapestry is a reference to the bizarre tale of a wizard who once tried to teach trolls ballet. See what else you can find! 

We won’t blame you if you need to pore over this page for hours and hours.  

## 4. Top up your Harry Potter knowledge to 112 per cent!

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You think you know absolutely everything about Harry Potter – and then boom – someone asks you what wand core Remus Lupin has. Yes, life comes at you fast. (And it’s a unicorn hair, if you wanted to know.) Fortunately, the Almanac has you covered, and can provide all sorts of fascinating specifics to make you the toast of your next Harry Potter party. Take this page, for instance, illustrated by Weitong Mai,  which examines the wand cores of key characters from the Harry Potter stories, straight from the records of Mr Ollivander. Are there any cores here you didn’t know?

## 5. Explore detailed timelines of some of your favourite moments 

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Comb back through some of your favourite scenes from the Harry Potter stories with these comprehensive timelines – including the ending of *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’s* famous Time-Turner sequence, illustrated by Tomislav Tomić. Time travel is always quite complicated, where even the slightest amendment can change the course of history, so we are grateful for this log of events to remember exactly how Harry and Hermione saved the day. Just think, if Hagrid’s milk jug hadn’t smashed … it could’ve been a different ending for lovely Buckbeak.

You’ll also be able to navigate other trails of wizarding history – for example, you can examine every Hogwarts house point won and lost by Harry, Ron and Hermione in their first year, learn about the creation of Dumbledore’s Army and embark upon a potted history of Quidditch Through the Ages.

## 6. Search for hidden delights 

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Don’t turn the pages of the Almanac too quickly, for there are little easter eggs and miniature surprises to be found all over the book. Look out for hidden Horcruxes, constellations and Deathly Hallows, as you expand your wizarding education. Even the designs of certain pages contain multitudes – this character quotes spread, by Pham Quang Phuc, is designed to look like Dumbledore’s golden pocket watch, embossed with planets. Remember when we first saw it in *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*? Yes, we also needed to remind ourselves! 

## 7. Discover new illustrative interpretations 

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Seven incredibly talented artists from across the globe contributed to this book, including some Harry Potter illustrator favourites in the form of Levi Pinfold and Tomislav Tomić, whose work you may recognise from the Hogwarts House Editions and Hogwarts Library editions respectively.

Each artist brings their own extraordinary creative vision to J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. Just take a look at this ethereal celebration of the Patronus, as beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, and learn about some of your favourite characters’ animal guardians. 

***

And to think, this is just a small preview of what is to come. We hope you are as excited about this treasure trove of wizarding delights as we are.

*The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac* will be released on 10th October, 2023 in hardback. The book  will also be published worldwide across 34 languages in translation, which are as follows:

- Bulgarian - Egmont Bulgaria
- Catalan - Grup62
- Chinese (Complex) – Crown Publishing Company
- Chinese (Simplified) – Pepople’s Literature Publishing House
- Czech – Albatros Publishing House
- Danish - Gyldendal
- Estonian - Varrak
- Faroese- Bókadeild Føroya
- Finnish - Tammi
- French – Gallimard Jeunesse
- German - Carlsen
- Greek - Psichogios Publications
- Hungarian - Central Publishing Group Ltd. Animus Books
- Hebrew – Books in the Attic & Yedioth Books 
- Italian – Salani
- Japanese - SayZanSha
- Kazakh - Steppe and World
- Korean – Moonhak Soochup 
- Latvian - Zvaigzne
- Lithuanian - Alma Littera
- Mongolian – Monsudar Publishing
- Norwegian - Cappelen Damm
- Polish - Media Rodzina
- Portuguese (Portugal) – Editorial Presenca
- Portuguese (Brazil) - Rocco 
- Romanian - Editura Arthur
- Serbian – Carobna Knjiga
- Slovenian - Mladinska Knjiga
- Spanish – Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
- Swedish - Rabén & Sjögren
- Thai - Nanmeebooks
- Turkish – Yapi Kredi Yayinlari
- Ukrainian - A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA
- Vietnamese – Tre Publishing House

For more information, please visit:

[Bloomsbury.com](https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/superpages/harry-potter/the-harry-potter-wizarding-almanac-pre-order-offer)

[Scholastic.com](http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter)

Stay up to date with the latest Wizarding World news here. Faster than an owl and more accurate than the Daily Prophet.

Get the latest Wizarding World news here. Faster than an owl and more accurate than the Daily Prophet

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London announces new feature coming this summer: Discovering Hogwarts  

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Running from 2nd May to 4th September, fans visiting the Studio Tour can expect to get an even more thorough Hogwarts education this summer. The feature, named [‘Discovering Hogwarts’](https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/whats-on/discovering-hogwarts/), will divulge behind-the-scenes movie secrets about how the labyrinthine castle came to life on screen.

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During the feature, you will discover the secrets behind one of Harry’s first experiences of magic; Professor Flitwick’s Charms class. In a live demonstration, fans are invited to try their hand at Wingardium Leviosa and see how filmmaking techniques were used to bring the spell to life. Created using practical effects, rather than CGI, the magic was as simple as stringing a feather onto a fishing line. A technique described by Special Effects Supervisor, John Richardson, as ‘’going back to the silent movie era.”

For this feature, the extremely talented Special Effects Department will use a particular light effect to make the candles seem like they have real flickering flames and have been hung with over three miles of wire to give the illusion of floating. 

Speaking of floating, the Discovering Hogwarts feature will also explain how Professor Flitwick’s [Wingardium Leviosa](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/five-times-wingardium-leviosa-came-in-handy) scene came to be – and you will be privy to the filmmaking secrets that made this levitating charm really pop on screen. In this case, some trickery with a fishing line was involved! 

Also, Hagrid fans will have a real treat to look forward to– the Discovering Hogwarts display boasts a live demonstration of how the effects team tackled the half-giant’s towering height – which involved the help of 6ft 10” rugby player Martin Bayfield, and quite an impressive prosthetic head. 

So, if you fancy a few Hogwarts secrets, we think you’ll enjoy this one. 

*** 

For further details about Studio Tour and tickets for this particular feature, [do visit the official website. ](https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/whats-on/discovering-hogwarts/)

Explore The Art and Making of Hogwarts Legacy

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*The Art and Making of Hogwarts Legacy* celebrates “exploring the unwritten Wizarding World”. Here, you’ll be able to peer behind the curtain of this epic game, look at concept art, game renders and illustrations, read interviews with the developers and discover different facets of the story and characters of Hogwarts Legacy. So, where to begin? 

Hogwarts Legacy is wrapped up in a fascinating, mysterious story helmed by you. In *The Art and Making of Hogwarts Legacy*, you’ll learn more about the artistic choices that went behind the game’s sprawling tale – and how you can develop and influence your own storyline. Discover easter eggs, exclusive interviews with those that made this fabulous game, and gather up fun facts to impress your friends. 

This richly detailed game is full of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments that the book wants you to see. Everything from the confectionary packaging at Honeydukes sweet shop to the lavish architecture of the Hogwarts bathrooms is captured in this lovingly put together volume. Here’s a couple of areas you’ll be able to explore. 

## The settings 

The book is crammed with beautiful full-colour paintings of the insides and outsides of Hogwarts, and also goes beyond the grounds – where you’ll find gorgeous landscapes, old-worldy hamlets and glowing graveyards. Hogwarts Legacy’s Environment Team were instrumental in sourcing foundational ideas for the locations you see in the game – facing several technical challenges along the way. In the book, you can learn about those creative journeys.

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You’ll also be able to examine concept sketches of how these locations came to be, and some of the inspirations for this late 1800s aesthetic.

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Expect the familiar and the unfamiliar. While the outskirts of Hogwarts will gift you with new locations, there are some old haunts Harry Potter fans will know all too well, such as the shops of Diagon Alley and of course, Hogwarts castle itself. And although we are hundreds of years into the past (Harry’s story takes place in the 1990s) you’ll see that the Victorian stylings and thatched roofs of some of the buildings is still prominent well into the Harry Potter era of the stories. The wizarding community likes to protect their history!

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## Hogwarts

Across the book, you’ll learn about the design stories behind many elements of the game - and just how much magic went into making an open-world RPG of this size and scale, predominantly set inside a labyrinthine castle. 

The Hogwarts Legacy art team have worked tirelessly on making sure every environment and artefact are unique.

Recreating Hogwarts and all of its secrets in the most realistic way possible is surely no easy feat.  In the book, you’ll be able to look inside iconic rooms and classrooms that have been lovingly recreated, examine specific objects, from portraits to potions bottles, and learn more about what you can do at the school, from growing magical plants to navigating your Hogwarts house common room. Each common room is celebrated in the book for you to have a good look at, with full in-game renders of the differences between Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin – with commentary from the designers on the themes and motifs they studied to represent each common room’s personality. 

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## The characters 

Of course, you are the main character in Hogwarts Legacy – but there are also new teachers to meet, new students to befriend, and new enemies to face. But naturally, there are certain faces that you will recognise, such as the ghosts of Hogwarts – from Professor Binns to Nearly Headless Nick, and certain names that conjure up connections to future wizarding world character, such as the kindly Professor Weasley or the not-so-kindly Victor Rookwood. In the book, you can enjoy full-spread imagery of everyone you can encounter in Hogwarts Legacy, and learn a little more about their stories. 


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## The beasts 

Explore the conception of some of your favourite magical creatures, from cat-like Kneazles to the wide-eyed Mooncalves. You’ll get to meet so many of them during Hogwarts Legacy, and even look after them in your very own [Vivarium.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/look-after-magical-creatures-in-the-hogwarts-legacy-vivarium) Learn how the creatures were brought to life, rendered and animated in the book – and how you’ll be able to interact with them.


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***

You think you know Hogwarts Legacy? This book is about to open your eyes to so much more. 

You can pick up the book from [Bloomsbury's website now.](https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/art-and-making-of-hogwarts-legacy-exploring-the-unwritten-wizarding-world-9781526659910/) 

[If you're stateside, you can grab the book from Amazon.](https://www.amazon.com/Art-Making-Hogwarts-Legacy-Exploring/dp/1647226198/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2LSJPKSCFT412&keywords=hogwarts+legacy&qid=1673400863&s=books&sprefix=hogwarts+legacy,stripbooks,127&sr=1-3)

Join us for the Hogwarts Legacy global launch livestream

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[And remember, you can now ORDER the game right here!](https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-gb/purchase?utm_source=wwd_web&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=HL&utm_content=HL-PreOrder)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OTYHkROn2GQ?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And you can visit our [Hogwarts Legacy page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/hogwarts-legacy) for quizzes, deep-dive articles and much more about the game.

Universal Studios Japan invites you to encounter magical creatures

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Universal Studios Japan Magical Creatures Encounter

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Embrace your inner Hagrid and get ready to meet some of your favourite magical creatures with Universal Studios Japan launching an adorable new addition to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

![Universal-Studios-Japan-creature-feature](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4kVUWKKUMiJiWHqNguTWup/ace3e78d179cfcccf31fe9b575e3440f/USJ_S0933272_NifflerPygmyDragon.jpg) 

Coming March 17th, some of your absolute beastly favourites have been let loose in the Hogsmeade section of the theme park. Fans can join Hogwarts students in learning how to approach a Hippogriff politely (with the hope of getting a bow back!) in a brand new show. You can also expect to meet some smaller friends, from a cheeky Niffler, who has gotten into some Owl Post in search of all things shiny, to an adorable fluffy Pygmy Puff outside Zonko’s Joke Shop to a freshly hatched baby dragon. 

The magical creatures will be stationed all over Hogsmeade for you to find and interact with –  so take a page from Newt Scamander’s book and prepare to learn all about them. Remember, no two visits to the wizarding world are ever quite the same.

You can visit the official [Universal Studios Japan website](https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us) for more details.

Check out the Hogwarts Legacy Early Access Livestream, dev Q&A and Hogsmeade gameplay

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Catch up on all the action if you missed it, as we join Game Director Alan Tew, and Systems Designers Mekenzie Toner and Stephen Dona to celebrate early-access day!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UfDMsB1_etQ?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

*Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to launch worldwide for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on February 10, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One will launch on April 4 and Nintendo Switch on July 25.*

Visit the [official website for more details](https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-gb) – [or visit our page here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/hogwarts-legacy), where you can catch up on all the latest updates and trailers, and learn how to link up your Harry Potter Fan Club account for some extra in-game goodies.

Scholastic celebrates 25 years of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

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Scholastic are observing a milestone anniversary in 2023: 25 years since the publication of *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone*. 25 years later, the books are estimated to have sold over 230 million copies in the US alone – with the love for the series still going strong today.

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The book covers, which were all illustrated by artist Mary GrandPré, have become just as iconic as the stories themselves – and now, fans can pick up all seven books in paperback this May, where the covers have been embellished in a beautiful gold foil design and packed up in this lovely box-set. Eagle-eyed fans will even notice little easter eggs nodding to elements of each Harry Potter story along the borders. For instance, is that [Professor Umbridge’s](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/dolores-umbridge) evil quill we see in the corners of *Order of the Phoenix?*

These new embellished covers are just the beginning of the celebrations for Scholastic this year.

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“The Harry Potter series has been responsible for inspiring and engaging young readers here and around the world for twenty-five years,” says President of Scholastic Trade, Ellie Berger.  From midnight parties to Muggle Walls, we’ve seen firsthand the excitement and the power of J.K. Rowling’s brilliant storytelling, with themes of friendship and family, all still relevant today. Here’s to the next twenty-five years of reading magic!” 

Fans can also expect two other offerings from Scholastic this year: *The Official Harry Potter Cookbook* is set to launch this September, packed with over 40 scrumptious recipes inspired by the wizarding world. And last week, we told you about an upcoming edition of *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, which has been lovingly illustrated by award-winning studio, MinaLima. ([You can take a look at the cover and some of the imagery here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/take-a-look-at-prisoner-of-azkaban-illustrated-by-minalima).)  

Here’s to a fantastic year for Scholastic!

[You can pre-order the newly embellished Harry Potter 1-7 series here.](https://kids.scholastic.com/kid/books/harry-potter/)

Cover of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban illustrated by MinaLima revealed – plus a sneak peek inside

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After lending their beautiful artistic stylings to the [first](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/minalima-interview-for-harry-potter-and-sorcerers-stone-illustrated-edition) and [second](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/minalima-talk-chamber-of-secrets-with-scholastic) Harry Potter books, MinaLima return for the third, *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*. Here’s a look at the cover.

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The book’s cover is richly detailed, as ever, focusing on Buckbeak the Hippogriff soaring over the iconic Hogwarts turrets. The golden framing around the cover includes smaller references to J.K. Rowling’s iconic story, such as a little teacup (a nod to Harry’s introduction to Divination and tea leaves?) and the Hogwarts house animals.

The graphic design team are no strangers to the nuances of the wizarding world, of course, perfecting the iconic look and feel of some of your favourite props from the films, such as the Daily Prophet or the Marauder’s Map. 

Now, see how the team have brought the third Harry Potter story to life, when Harry’s story starts to get a little bit darker. 

MinaLima illustrate Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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While you wait for the book launch, here are a few glimpses inside.

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Here, we see MinaLima’s interpretations of a festive Hogsmeade (which Harry visits for the first time in this book) a side-profile of the glorious, purple Knight Bus and the warm glow of the Divination classroom. 

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We especially love the adverts on the side of [the Knight Bus](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-knight-bus) and the Christmassy feel of the Hog’s Head pub. What are you most excited about seeing brought to life from the third book?

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When asked about the team’s work on the third book, Mira (one half of MinaLima!) said:

‘When we first started illustrating the Harry Potter series over five years ago, we were already looking forward to *Prisoner of Azkaban* for two reasons. In this book we start seeing a real development of the bigger overarching plot – dark forces are coming closer to take hold of the Wizarding world – so we knew it would be an interesting challenge to convey this changing course while not losing the light-hearted humour of a group of clever and witty children. The other was that, for many fans, this is their favourite book from the collection so we knew that the scrutiny – and, we hope, enjoyment – would be at their peak!’

***

To pre-order the MinaLima edition of *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, you can do so from [MinaLima’s website](https://minalima.com/product/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban), [Bloomsbury's website](https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban-minalima-edition-9781526666321/) or [Scholastic's](https://kids.scholastic.com/kid/books/harry-potter/). Fans visiting the MinaLima site will be able to look into getting hand-signed copies of the book too!

Hogwarts Legacy shares its final trailer before launch 

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__And there is still time to [pre-order Hogwarts Legacy](https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us?utm_source=wwd_web&utm_medium=newsarticle&utm_campaign=HL) right here and nab an exclusive Onyx Hippogriff Mount!__

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hyjWaEBZ6TI?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

## The Wizard's Field Guide

At the start of the trailer, we are told: “In light of your unique situation, joining us as a fifth year, we’ve devised something extraordinary to ensure your success” before the main character is shown an enchanted book, which we gather to be the Wizard's Field Guide. We’ve seen this helpful tome pop up before in various showcases. This guide is said to assist us during gameplay, so we can catch up on our magical education without falling too far behind. After all, our character is special, as we learn more about as the trailer progresses.

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## The Herbology greenhouses and Mandrakes 

We get another look at the red-haired Herbology professor, Mirabel Garlick (incredible name) alongside a glimpse of the classmates pulling Mandrakes – a magical plant we all got to know very well in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*. And that’s not all for Hogwarts lessons.


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## Closer looks at other Hogwarts classes and professors, such as Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts 

It's not just Herbology we see in the trailer – another professor appears to be conjuring a mystical unicorn (is this Care of Magical Creatures?) and we also see another professor perform a Transfiguration-esque spell, creating a butterfly. There is another mention of the elusive Professor Weasley too, who we are very interested to know more from – is she Ron’s great (great…great?) grandmother maybe?

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## Our character will have more to do than just Hogwarts lessons

Another ominous statement tells us that our character has been given “instruction outside of the ordinary curriculum” – meaning we will have some work to do outside of our normal lessons. And, spoiler alert: it’s obviously going to be dangerous.


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## Is that an ancestor of Garrick Ollivander?

We know that Ollivander’s wand shop is a family-run business which has been creating and providing wands for young wizards since 382 BC. So, that must be a lot of Ollivanders! In one shot of the trailer, we see an elderly wizard (with an interesting pin) provide our character with his wand – and we surely must assume it is an ancestor of Garrick from Harry Potter’s era.


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## We see the Vivarium in more detail 

Wholesome gamers will be thrilled to see another glimpse at the Vivarium, an outdoor area where you can keep and nurture magical creatures. We’re also accompanied by a house-elf (we’ll guess this is Deek, who we’ve spotted in trailers before) as we enter our Vivarium, who will also help us out in our very own Room of Requirement.

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## Professor Fig takes us to mysterious new places

A wizened professor by the name of Fig appears to be a confidant of ours in the game and takes us to a strange-looking caved area in this trailer. We also hear a voiceover say that it has become clear how much our main character is spending away from the castle. We clearly have bigger fish to fry than doing our Hogwarts homework!

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## Rookwood seems interested in our character  

We’ve encountered this shady gentleman with a top hat in teasers of the game before – and in this trailer – it seems he wants something from our main character. Rookwood is clearly bad news, and Harry Potter fans will recognise the last name as a Death Eater from Harry’s era. 


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## The giant wizard statue continues to cause intrigue 

Hogwarts Legacy has some gorgeously designed set pieces to look forward to, including this magnificent statue of a bearded wizard that seems to be significant to our story. Who do you think he is? A Hogwarts founder? Merlin? A legendary wizard we have yet to meet? It’s a pretty humungous statue, so he must be kind of a big deal!


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## “Whispers of ancient magic”

It has been teased before, but in this trailer, our character fully tells us that they have a rare ability to see whispers of ancient magic. This would explain why we’re being whisked off to do ‘extra-curricular’ activities and maybe even why we’ve started Hogwarts as a fifth year. Our character is clearly holding a big responsibility on their shoulders, a “powerful magic that should only be wielded by a select few”, apparently. So don’t get too cosy in your Hogwarts common room...

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## New mysterious, silvery foes 

In one sequence, a giant silver warrior with a sword embarks in a violent battle. But who are they? What are they? Either way, we don’t want to get on the wrong side of them...

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## Dragon fighting 

We all know dragons are not to be trifled with – and in this trailer, we see dragons actually being pitted against each other in an arena. There is also a close-up of a horned dragon, which is bringing out our inner Magizoologists trying to guess which breed it is. Is it another variation of a Hungarian Horntail? Or a Romanian Longhorn, perhaps? What do you think? 


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## Other honourable mentions

Other things that caught our eye included a confrontation with Rookwood in Hogsmeade, animated suits of armour, a well-dressed troll, a distressed Hippogriff, more beautiful flight sequences, and generally, a lot of strange magic we want to know more about immediately! But only a few more days now before we get to discover our very own Hogwarts Legacy.

You can see more of our observations here.

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***

*Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to launch worldwide for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on February 10, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One will launch on April 4 and Nintendo Switch on July 25.*

Visit the [official website for more details](https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-gb) – [or visit our page here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/hogwarts-legacy), where you can catch up on all the latest updates and trailers, and learn how to link up your Harry Potter Fan Club account for some extra in-game goodies.

Take a closer look at the Hogwarts Legacy Cinematic Trailer

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As Hogwarts Legacy readies for its worldwide release, this new teaser is the perfect aperitif as we wait patiently (well, sort of) to play the game ourselves. 

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This latest trailer shows us another look at the character Professor Weasley, (who we are hoping is an ancestor of the Weasley family we know from the Harry Potter stories) a Dark wizard casting the Killing Curse, Nearly Headless Nick, and takes us for a very creepy visit to the Forbidden Forest, which hasn’t got any less scary than the one we know from Harry’s time at Hogwarts. Our guide is a beautiful (and very realistic!) owl flying around Hogwarts and the world beyond.  

We also see glimmers of the plot in this teaser. Professor Weasley is with a group of worried students, telling them she is not sure “what magic caused this”, while a trip to the outskirts of Hogwarts reveals a group of students standing around a grand dragon breathing fire. We also encounter a Hippogriff held captive by an encampment of masked Dark wizards. What could it all mean for our own personal journey in Hogwarts Legacy? You don’t have much longer to find out. 

*** 

__Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to launch worldwide for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on February 10, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One will launch on April 4 and Nintendo Switch on July 25.__

Visit the [official website](https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us?utm_source=wwd_web&utm_medium=newsarticle&utm_campaign=HL) for more details – [or visit our own page here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/hogwarts-legacy), where you can catch up on all the latest updates and trailers, and learn how to link up your Harry Potter Fan Club account for some extra in-game goodies. 