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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
Celebrities, Including Daniel Radcliffe, Read Philosopher’s Stone for Harry Potter at Home
Posted by Megs

Harry Potter at Home has launched a read-along for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Celebrities including Daniel Radcliffe will be reading chapters of the first Potter book for fans to enjoy. Daniel reads the first chapter; The Boy Who Lived. Watch it here!

Harry Potter At Home is the Wizarding World’s way of bringing Hogwarts closer to you, as we all continue to stay at home and keep safe. For parents looking for new magical ways to entertain their children during this time, we launched the Harry Potter At Home hub full of quizzes, puzzles, fun videos and features, along with contributions from our friends, UK and US Harry Potter publishers, Bloomsbury and Scholastic, alongside assistance from Warner Bros., Audible and our many library partners. To learn more about everything Harry Potter At Home has to offer, our handy round-up should help!

Also seen in the clip above are Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander,) Stephen Fry (UK audiobook reader,) Noma Dumezweni (Hermione in Cursed Child,) and more from the Harry Potter world! Look out for more famous faces and friends of the Wizarding World (and beyond!) to read through all seventeen chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone over the coming weeks.

We look forward to new narrators every week as they take turns to read different sections of the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone, until we reach the end with Chapter Seventeen. Keep an eye out for some very special surprise cameos along the way too.

As you watch Daniel read through ‘The Boy Who Lived’, you’ll notice some amazing artwork interspersed in the experience, thanks to some talented fans. Brilliantly, you yourself can get involved in future chapters, from Chapter Two onwards, so your own pieces can feature alongside our special guest narrators. According to our incredible mathematics skills, you have sixteen chapters remaining of Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone to work with – so please do send in your artistic interpretations of key scenes. Read all about how to get involved here.

Filed Under: Books, Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne
Cover Art Released for US & UK Versions of Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition
Posted by Megs

Back in April 2019, we shared the announcement of an illustrated edition of the Harry Potter companion book Quidditch Through the Ages. We revealed that it would be illustrated by Emily Gravett and published in hardcover on October 6th 2020 – previously it was the 1st. There will be a regular edition as well as a Deluxe edition.

Today, Bloomsbury and Scholastic have sent over their covers and have released several illustrations from inside the book!

A full press release can be read below:

Bloomsbury Children’s Books today reveals the cover of the full-colour illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s Quidditch Through the Ages illustrated by Emily Gravett. The cover showcases some of the key elements of Harry Potter’s favourite sport – including players, team badges and a hovering Golden Snitch waiting to be caught. Devoured by Harry Potter in his first year, Quidditch Through the Ages is consulted on a daily basis by the young witches and wizards at Hogwarts, and this beautifully illustrated edition is set to become a firm favourite for readers of all ages who dream of grabbing a broomstick and taking to the skies.

Publishing in the UK and US on 6th October 2020, Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition features showstopping artwork from Emily Gravett, twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal. Emily’s wildly creative imagination has conjured a cornucopia of sporting memorabilia to surprise and delight. With some items lovingly created in a dazzling range of media and infused with her trademark visual wit, these charming and funny artworks are the perfect pairing for J.K. Rowling’s humorous insights into the magical, airborne sport.

Quidditch Through the Ages invites readers to take a whistle-stop tour through wizarding history, reliving epic matches and great moments along the way. Accessible at any point in the Harry Potter reading journey, it is packed with trivia, tales of on-pitch antics, and Quidditch stars past and present. The sports almanac also contains comprehensive profiles of teams loved by readers of the Harry Potter novels.

Quidditch Through the Ages first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. After catching Harry Potter with a copy, it is also the reason that Professor Snape invents the rule that no library books are allowed outside of Hogwarts School. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone continues to mesmerise readers, and in 2019 was the bestselling backlist title across all children’s publishing with over 177,000 copies sold. The full Harry Potter series took the top seven spots in a 2020 chart of favourite book as chosen by primary school students, and was recently selected by thousands of young Blue Peter viewers as its ultimate Blue Peter Book Award winner.

A percentage of proceeds from the sale of this edition will go to J.K. Rowling’s own international charity Lumos, which helps some of the world’s most vulnerable children and young people to have a better life; and to Comic Relief. Scholastic are set to publish in the US at the same time.

Filed Under: Books, Harry Potter Illustrated Edition
Harry Potter Graphic Designers, MinaLima, Announce Illustrated Philosopher's Stone
Posted by Megs

The graphic design team behind the Harry Potter films, MinaLima, have announced they will be releasing their own illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!

With brilliant full-colour illustrations on nearly every page, this new edition also includes eight interactive special paper craft features.

Readers can open the beautifully designed, elaborately folded Hogwarts™ letter and Diagon Alley™ shopping list, reveal the magical entryway to Diagon Alley™, open a die-cut, fold-out Hogwarts™ Castle, make a sumptuous feast appear in the Great Hall, and more.

The book will be released in a 368 page hardback complete with full-colour illustrations with 8 interactive elements! There will also be a MinaLima™ exclusive copy that includes a book plate personally signed by Miraphora and Eduardo.

Copies signed by the design duo behind MinaLima are available for pre-order on minalima.com and at House of MinaLima in London. The book will be published on 20 October 2020.

Filed Under: Books, MinaLima
Bloomsbury Announces Theme for Harry Potter Book Night 2020
Posted by Megs

Bloomsbury Children’s Books have announced The Triwizard Tournament as the theme for Harry Potter Book Night 2020. The sixth annual Harry Potter Book Night returns on Thursday 6th February 2020.

The Triwizard Tournament is a breathtaking and pivotal event in the Harry Potter journey. For the first time we meet students from other magical schools, and watch four champions take part in a perilous set of challenges that will ultimately lead to one of the most devastating moments of the series. The Tournament consists of three tasks, designed to test magical prowess, daring, powers of deduction and the ability to cope with danger. Bloomsbury will put this thrilling wizarding school contest at the very heart of Harry Potter Book Night 2020.
 
Harry Potter Book Night 2019 saw the highest overall registration since the night began in 2015. The digital event kit was downloaded over 16,000 times and Rest of the World registration saw a 43% rise on the previous year. Hundreds of events took place across the UK, bringing Harry Potter fans together within their communities.
 
With an updated event kit themed around the Triwizard Tournament and lots more exciting elements yet to be announced, once again fans of all ages are invited to celebrate J.K. Rowling’s wonderful Harry Potter series – and pass the magic on to young readers who are yet to discover these unforgettable books. 
 
Sign up at www.harrypotterbooknight.com to register for an event kit and to make sure you’re one of the first to hear all the latest Harry Potter Book Night news. If you’ve already registered, you will carry on receiving our exclusive news bulletins.

Filed Under: Books, Harry Potter Book Night
20 Years Of Prisoner Of Azkaban Celebrations Begin with Fan Photo Mosaic + Art Auction
Posted by Megs

Bloomsbury are preparing to celebrate 20 years since Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released. As we posted last month, on July 8th – the anniversary – there will be an online auction with artwork by 26 artists featuring Patronuse.

Bloomsbury have been working with BookTrust, the UK’s largest reading charity, to challenge the artists to create original, postcard-sized, masterpieces of Patronuses. The postcards include original renditions of key character’s patronus as well as a menagerie of other creatures.

The auction will run for 10 days and an exhibition of the postcards will be displayed at Waterstones Piccadilly for the week. Bids are open globally. Stay tuned on our Twitter and Facebook  for a direct link to the auctions when they begin!


Additionally, Bloomsbury wants fans to get involved in the celebration! In partnership with Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Bloomsbury wants Harry Potter fans around the world to post their happiest memories to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #ExpectoPatronum20. The images will be printed as tiles to create a huge mosaic of Harry Potter casting his stag patronus (as drawn by Jim Kay).

View this post on Instagram

We LOVE seeing your photos of the happy memories you would summon to conjure your Patronus (using #ExpectoPatronum20)! Our staff have been sharing them too: pictured here is the moment our Australian social media manager, @tobias_madden, was proposed to at @universal_studios_japan ?? ? ? Remember to post your photos (publicly) representing what you would think of to conjure your Patronus for a chance to be featured in our Patronus mosaic at @wbtourlondon on 8th July. Hashtag #ExpectoPatronum20 By posting a photo in this way, you agree to Bloomsbury using the photo for the purpose of creating a mosaic, which will be displayed at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London on 8 July 2019 and afterwards online on our social media channels. Please see http://bit.ly/expectopatronum20 for all the rules and requirements you agree to if you post a photo, and the permissions you grant to Bloomsbury if we decide to use your photo.

A post shared by Bloomsbury Publishing (@bloomsburypublishing) on

All you need do is post a photo that encompasses your best Harry Potter happy memory. It could be when you first bought the book, got married, had your first child, or even when you first dressed up as their favourite character. Simply post a photo (publicly) on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #ExpectoPatronum20, and your image might just be printed as one of the tiles in the huge mosaic. That mosaic will be displayed at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London on the big anniversary day!

Please see http://bit.ly/expectopatronum20 for all the rules and requirements you agree to if you post a photo, and the permissions you grant to Bloomsbury if they decide to use your photo.



Filed Under: Books
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