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World’s First Bottled Butterbeer Available at WB Studio Tour London & Platrofm 9¾
Posted by Megs

Butterbeer was originally only available for fans to purchase at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida in 2010. Next, in 2012, it ventured to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and then Universal Hollywood in 2016. Now, there is a new form for fans to enjoy – Bottled Butterbeer!

Bottled Butterbeer Available at Warner Bros Studio Tour London

For the very first time, fans of Butterbeer can experience the Wizarding World drink in a brand-new way – at home! A much-requested fan favourite over the years, it comes in beautifully crafted souvenir glass bottles with each one featuring an exclusive collectable label designed by MinaLima.

The Bottled Butterbeer will be sold at WB Studio Tour London, Platform 9 3/4 shops and their online counterparts. Unfortunately they will only ship to the UK for now. It was also revealed that there will be different labels to collect as time goes on. We have asked if the new mug will also be available for purchase but have not heard back yet.

At 7:30BST tonight (September 10th,) Warwick Davis will be taking over the Studio Tour Instagram to answer questions about the Bottled Butterbeer.

The studio tour started the fun yesterday with a mystery video where some Potter personalities received boxes in the mail.

The video reveal continued today with them opening their boxes to reveal the beautifully designed Butterbeer bottles:

The Studio Tour have sent over a press release with more details on this delicious development:

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Platform 9 ¾ Shop launch the world’s first bottled Butterbeer.

For the very first time, fans of Butterbeer can experience the Wizarding World drink in a brand-new way – at home!

Appearing throughout the stories and loved by Hogwarts students and teachers alike, Butterbeer is a much-requested fan-favourite. Previously available in draught form at select Wizarding World locations, today, the world’s first official bottled Butterbeer launches exclusively at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London –The Making of Harry Potter and the Platform 9 ¾ Shops at London King’s Cross, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

Made and brewed in the U.K, bottled Butterbeer has a style which is entirely unique and comes in beautifully crafted souvenir glass bottles, each one featuring an exclusive collectable label designed by MinaLima, the design duo behind the graphic props of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.

Following launch, there will be different labels to collect, making a bottle the perfect gift for any fan to first enjoy and then proudly display.

Best served chilled and poured straight from the bottle, the delicious soft drink features a new take on the butterscotch flavour fans know and love. The unique blend of top-secret ingredients make bottled Butterbeer a must try for any aspiring witch or wizard!

Bringing the magical taste to everyone, bottled Butterbeer can also be purchased online at shop.wbstudiotour.co.uk or harrypotterplatform934.com and fans are invited to join us at @wbtourlondon and share their #ButterbeerCheers.

They also answered some questions you may have about the product:

What does bottled Butterbeer taste like? Butterbeer is a butterscotch flavoured sparkling soft drink. 

What does bottle Butterbeer cost?  Butterbeer is available at £5.95 for an individual 275ml bottle or £12.95 for 4 X 200ml pack.

Is Butterbeer dairy/free/vegan/vegetarian? Our bottled Butterbeer is vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.

How is Bottled Butterbeer made?  Along with the recipe, the brewing process is top secret.

Will Bottled Butterbeer be available to buy online? Yes, bottled Butterbeer is available to purchase from both Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and Platform 9 ¾’s website. Butterbeer is currently only available for delivery within the UK.  

How many collectible labels are there? There is currently one label available, hand designed by MinaLima, the Graphic Design duo on all Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Keep an eye out for more collectible labels in the future.

Filed Under: Products, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter
Trailer for James Phelps’ “Cadia: The World Within”
Posted by Megs

A new trailer for Cadia: The World Within starring James Phelps has been released. Cadia: The World Within is the story of Matthew, David, and Renee Addams, three fourteen-year-olds whose journey into a mystical realm teaches them about grace, love, doubt, and the nature of good versus evil.

James Phelps stars as Tanion, a mysterious character we don’t know much about. Is he good? Or is he evil? Only time will tell.

The film will be released on Amazon Prime and Vudu on September 15th 2020. We will share streaming links as soon as they are made available.

Devastated by the loss of their mother, three teenagers discover a mystical realm ruled by unseen forces, where they must attempt to work together and overcome evil to return home. Cadia: The World Within is a family fantasy film written and directed by Cedric Gegel and produced by Zach Throne and Schalet Jackson. Starring two-time Emmy® and GOLDEN GLOBE® nominee Corbin Bernsen (LA Law, Major League, Psych), James Phelps (the Harry Potter saga), Rick Montgomery, Jr. (Blessid, Altered Hours, Squid Man), Nicky Buggs (The Secret Life of Bees), and introducing Keegan Sells, Carly Sells, Tanner Sells, and Dillon Perry.

Filed Under: James and Oliver Phelps
LEGO Announces Interactive Harry Potter Diagon Alley Set
Posted by Megs

We have some exciting news on this eve of Back to Hogwarts day! LEGO announced a brand new set, created with help from James & Oliver Phelps, releasing tomorrow! The beautiful Diagon Alley LEGO set has an interactive element to it with the help of a mobile site and buildable QR codes.

The set is a little over a yard wide when lined up and comes with 14 minifigures of characters found in Diagon Alley throughout the series! There are interactive elements such as a hidden lever to trigger movement of the arm/hat of the statue in Weasley’s shop.

Marcos Bessa, LEGO Harry Potter Design Lead commented: “I love how faithful the final design is to the architectural details in the film. You can barely see some of these buildings zooming past your screen, but we tracked down different photographs from the sets – some of them from nearly 20 years ago – to make sure everything is spot on. Diagon Alley is the biggest set I’ve designed to-date and I am really proud of how it has come together.”

This set is for ages 16+, contains 5,544 pieces and retails for $399.99. It will be available for purchase tomorrow, September 1st in LEGO stores and their official website!

For full details click the “more” button.

More Filed Under: LEGO Harry Potter, Products
Harry Potter Fan Club Announces Pin Sets Launching September 1; Members Order Now!
Posted by Megs

The Official Harry Potter Fan club has announced a brand new pin collection launching on September 1st. The collection celebrates the magical events, characters and locations spanning the Wizarding World universe. There will be four Hogwarts house themed sets: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin as well as a special Back to Hogwarts pin of the Hogwarts Express.

Harry Potter Fan Club Gold members will receive 6 days priority early access to buy the new collectibles, starting today, 24 August, and can save 20% off the purchase price, whilst registered fans of the free Fan Club can look forward to 48-hour early access from the 30 August, ahead of general release on 1 September.

The new Hogwarts House sets will be available to purchase at Wizarding World’s online shop and in-store at The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾, London Kings Cross, priced at $54.99 / £50.00, and three individual pins from the sets are sold separately at $9.99/£8.95 each.

Check out the details in our full article.

More Filed Under: Official Harry Potter Fan Club
Celebrate #BackToHogwarts 2020 Virtually with Potter Marathons, a Livestream & More!
Posted by Megs

Every year on September 1st Potter fans around the globe celebrate Back to Hogwarts day. Fans found their own way to celebrate; whether that meant visiting the Universal Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Parks, Platform 9 3/4 in London, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London or a movie marathon at home.

Things look a little different this year with many staying safe at home due to coronavirus. WizardingWorld.com has announced virtual activities leading up to and on day-of so we can all enjoy safely from home – offering the largest “Back to Hogwarts” celebration than ever before.  

USA and SyFy will be airing all eight Potter films for a Back to Hogwarts marathon. On September 1st there will be a livestream with special guests! Graphic Designers for the Potter films, MinaLima, have created a beautiful poster to celebrate. You can purchase the Back to Hogwarts print on their website.

Full details on what to expect may be found in the press release below:

The Wizarding World extends an open invitation to come together virtually and join the very first digital Back to Hogwarts. This completely free, atmospheric, virtual event has been developed to help keep everyone safe and to be enjoyed from the comfort of home.

Starting August 29th, fans can check out the Back to Hogwarts Hub on WizardingWorld.com, where they can join the Harry Potter Fan Club, get Sorted and ready themselves to celebrate with an incredible selection of content, including:

• Hearing from some of the creative masterminds responsible for bringing the magic to life, (including genius wand choreographer Paul Harris, who will be demonstrating and teaching the art of Wand Combat)

• Transporting themselves from the muggle-world into the magical one by listening to the Journeys to Hogwarts Soundscape – a Harry Potter immersive audio experience featuring all the sounds you’d hear on that iconic journey. Simply close your eyes and let your imagination roam!

• A CineConcerts performance featuring orchestras from around the world playing memorable musical selections from each of the eight Harry Potter films at home

• A sneak peek of the brand-new House of MinaLima on opening day, featuring Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, plus exclusive Back to Hogwarts 2020 celebration artwork, which was created especially for the occasion and is also available as a limited-edition art print!

• Going back to where the magic began with the celebrity readings of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (accessible exclusively for registered members of the Harry Potter Fan Club)

• Plus, a host of Hogwarts-themed, inspiring craft ideas and creative tutorials for all ages

——————————————

On September 1st, more people than ever will be able to join the very first virtual, Back to Hogwarts Livestream and experience the excitement of a fan celebration at Kings Cross, (including the countdown) without leaving the house! The livestream will feature a mass of surprises and fun, including appearances from special guests, including James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy).

Sharing their enthusiasm at being involved in this year’s celebration, James Phelps said: “I’m so excited to be playing a part in the first ever digital Back to Hogwarts! 2020 has definitely been a strange year and it’s really important that we all do everything we can to keep safe, including staying home. I hope fans will join us and keep the celebrations virtual.

Oliver Phelps added: “The Wizarding World fans are the greatest and getting the chance to share this special day with people all over the world is going to be brilliant. I’m really looking forward to everything this Digital Back to Hogwarts has in store and it’s a bonus that we can all do it from the sofa!

In addition to familiar faces dropping by, there will be trivia games for fans to join in with, and even an appearance from the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, before the fan countdown kicks off.

Additionally, fans can get even closer to the magic by submitting a snap of themselves to join the ‘Back to Hogwarts – Class of 2020’. Their photos will be added to a digital mosaic, which will grow throughout the day to bring the community to life. This is a chance for fans across the globe to show off their best cosplay, call out their House Pride or simply celebrate their fandom! Harry Potter Fan Club members will also receive a memento of the day too, as the mosaic will be available to them exclusively as a digital download to keep.

Fan submitted imagery will also be displayed inside Kings Cross station, giving participants a virtual presence there throughout the day! It will be available to view throughout the morning via the livestream and on social.

The Back to Hogwarts Livestream will also support Lumos, as fans will have the option to press a button during the stream and make a donation throughout the digital event.

The digital event will kick off at 5:30 a.m. EST on September 1st, and fans can tune in live or following the event by visiting www.wizardingworld.com, where the livestream will be hosted.

There is a huge amount in store… to be among the first to receive updates, don’t forget to go to www.wizardingworld.com and sign up to the Harry Potter Fan Club. There, you can also check the Back to Hogwarts Hub to receive additional information on what will be happening in the run up to, and during, Back to Hogwarts 2020 – as the Wizarding World seeks to safely bring the magic home.

Filed Under: Back to Hogwarts, Other Potter Related
Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition – Illustrated by Arch Apolar
Posted by Megs

Before we get to the details of this beautiful Harry Potter Thai boxed set let’s go back in time. In March and April 2020 American news sites shared photos of the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter Thai edition covers. We at Magical-Menagerie have been waiting for their release since the illustrator, APOLAR, posted a preview of the first cover in October 2019.

MM owner Megan has been collecting different editions of the Harry Potter books for years – mainly US and UK (and buys a copy or two on international trips.) She stopped recently because there were too many being released. But, once the Harry Potter Thai Edition was announced, it immediately made it on her “must-have” list.

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

The publisher of this unique set, Nanmee Books, began taking pre-orders in January 2020. Fans are able to buy the books separately or in paperback and hardcover boxed sets. Those that pre-ordered the hardcover set also received 8 bookmarks, 8 postcards, a tote bag and a hanging ornament.

I made sure that I put all my effort, my heart and my soul into this project as I would like this version to be like a love letter from fan to fan.

Apolar via wizardingworld.com

The bookmarks feature some of our favorite characters – Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna and Draco! Postcards included all 7 covers as well as a new illustration of Harry and Hagrid in Diagon Alley. A tote bag showcased the covers of Philosopher’s Stone as well as Chamber of Secrets and the 20th anniversary logo. The hanging ornament is actually a mini book with pop-up pages.

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

(click images to view larger)

The best part of the hardcover set is the box itself. It unfolds for a two-sided masterpiece. One side shows the house colors, animals and the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch. The sides of the box show Harry, Draco, Cho and Cedric in their Quidditch uniforms. The opposite shows a stunning view of inside Hogwarts castle with “windows” showing different scenes and characters. It is easy to get lost for hours viewing all the details.

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar
Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

Not one spot in this special boxed set went untouched. Tiny details from the icons inside the box to the delicate moon shape the pages make are everywhere. Illustrations are sprinkled throughout the books.

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar
Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

(click images to view larger)

Harry Potter Thai Ordering Information

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

Nanmee Books published the new Harry Potter Thai editions on May 11th. Since we’re in the US it took them a few months to get to us via international shipping. It was worth the wait!

The paperback set retails for 3,950 baht and the hardcover set is 4,950. Shipping to the USA was 1,490 bringing the grand total for our Harry Potter Thai Hardcover boxed set to 6,440. This works out to about $205 when we bought the set.

Note: They may be offering other shipping options now, but we were told 2-3 months for delivery when we pre-ordered the set.

View all the options for purchasing here. Fans outside Thailand wishing to order the books will need to email Nanmee Books directly at contact@nanmeebooks.com. You can also message them on Instagram. (tell them Magical-Menagerie.com sent you!)

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

Interviews with the Illustrator

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

In an interview with a local website, artist Arch-Arus Engchuan (Apolar) talked about his process for illustrating 200 images for the books. We translated the quotes so they may not make perfect sense.

When drawing the characters, I try to find the middle value between the realistic and the cartoon because if the cartoon is too much, it will look too young. The color tone is classic, looks ancient. Saturation of the color is not very high and in the set of 7 books, the cover will switch shades between light and dark like playing with day and night because J.K. Rowling Clever that creates excitement in both modes

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

When discussing the Philosopher’s Stone cover he states:

The first cover wants to have a festive atmosphere into the world of magic. Therefore choosing to use gold color as a medium I remembered the candle of hope in the school hall, so the Hogwarts played with the candle, and there was a picture of Hagrid holding a lantern. I play with gimmicks, for example, platform number 9¾, I write in Thai numbers. And there’s a picture of the chocolate frog that doesn’t really matter in the story, but these little things make reading fun and take us excitingly into the magical world.

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

In an interview with TimeOut he says:

I wanted this edition to be a gift to Thai fans. I wanted to create this edition as a Harry Potter fan would. I tried to convey my love for the Harry Potter books by putting my all into the details of my art. The international publisher and Nanmee allowed me to put some Thai elements into the artwork such as Thai characters and Thai numbers. At first, I was worried that people would not like it since this is a foreign book but, in the end, we figured out how to incorporate them. For example, in the cover of the first book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Platform 9 3/4 was redesigned to reflect a Thai number: 9 3/4. I feel like since it’s a Thai edition, there should be some Thainess to it.

We could not agree more! Staying true to the Thai culture really makes this set more unique. Arch’s passion shows in the care he took in creating the artwork.

What do you think of the set? Will you be ordering it?

Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar
Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar
Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar
Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar Harry Potter Thai 20th Anniversary Edition - Illustrated by Arch Apolar

(click images to view larger)

Filed Under: Books, Collectible of the Week, Review, Thai Edition Illustrated by APOLAR
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