We’re approaching the holiday season, so why not celebrate with a giveaway! Shirts.com is offering the chance for one lucky Magical-Menagerie reader to win a Harry Potter t-shirt! The winner can choose any of the Harry Potter shirts available at Shirts.com! Use the Rafflecopter entry widget below to win!

Celebrate your lack of magic ability in a Muggle shirt. Show your love of the books and movies with a movie poster shirt. Perhaps help the Ministry of Magic spread the word that Harry Potter is “Undesirable No. 1.” Or you can just lounge in one of these soft cotton T-shirts  for a movie-watching marathon!

There are multiple ways to enter and you can do any you’d like. NOTE: If you opt to Tweet about the giveaway, you MUST also be following us on Twitter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[click any of the thumbnails for larger photos]

For one thing, many people simply do not have $600 to spend on a collection of books and The Creature Vault is only $27 at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. The book, out October 28th, also has 208 pages while the other edition only has 127. This new publication contains a LOT more material. The earlier book is mostly comprised of photos while this combines imagery with all the information you could want on the creatures in the films.  Harper Collins sent us a copy to review, and here are our thoughts!

We went over the basics, now let’s dig in a little deeper. The quality is beautiful, just picking up the book stimulates the senses with it’s textured cover (creatures are debossed in a dark purple.) The attention to detail in the creation of this book is apparent, the cover was designed to look worn out, almost as if it is part of the Potter universe. The book also contains a poster depicting some of the world’s favorite magical creates. It is concealed in an envelope on the back cover of the book.

 

 

What about the content, you’re thinking?  Well, you won’t be left wanting.  There are 208 pages full of little tidbits, fast facts and even film quotes to go along with the descriptions of each creature.  The Creature Vault is a great companion for fans of the movies because within the book you will find details on how certain creatures were made for the films. Also, in the “fast facts” sections you get to see the first film appearance of the creature, additional appearances if any, and other details you may want to know. For example, from Mrs Norris’ section:

First Film Appearance: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Additional Film Appearances: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
Location: Hogwarts Castle
Owner: Argus Filch
Description from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Book, Chapter Eight: “Filch owned a cat called Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust-colored creature with bulging, lamplike eyes just like Filch’s.”

 

[flat interior shots thanks to Behance; all others by Magical-Menagerie]

The Film Cell, an online store that sells film merchandise, have emailed to let us know they’ve received information about a few new Harry Potter items for this year!  The items will be available in December. Some of the images are a little slow, but you get the idea!

The Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw: The Diadem features the words “Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure” etched onto the crown. Made to a fantastically high standard from quality silver-plated brass and blue and white crystals. This can be worn and comes in a one size fits most size measuring approx. 14 inches in length 5inches wide and 2 inches high. This Rowena Ravenclaw Diadem replica can also be displayed and comes with fantastic display box.

Diagon Alley Map: mounted on a wooden plaque and features every wizards favourite shops. So you no longer need to guess where Ollivander’s is in relation to Madam Malkin’s robe shop as they are all pictured in this highly collectable wall sign.

Daily Prophet Sign: the logo of the most popular Wizards newspaper is now available to hang on your wall.

Basilisk Fang and Tom Riddle Diary statue: the fang can be removed from the diary which is essentially it’s display stand.

Triwizard Tournament Golden Egg: 9 inches tall. The egg doesn’t open when placed under water (haha) but this is hand painted reproduction of the task from the Triwizards tournament as featured in the Goblet of Fire

The holiday season is fast approaching, so starting this week we will be sharing one or more Harry Potter items to get for the Potter fans in your life (or yourself) every Friday!

Dementors and House-elves, merpeople and Chinese Fireball Dragons, and Harry Potter fans everywhere are sure to love the magical gifts inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. For those Harry Potter Super Fans who have it all, Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) presents Harry Potter: The Creature Vault, a book that takes a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how this menagerie was produced for the blockbuster Harry Potter film series. Also, bring spells to life this holiday, or at least to the television.  WBCP is offering the Harry Potter Remote Control Wand, allowing wizards everywhere to magically control any IR device with the flick of the wrist.