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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider 'Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History' explores inspirations behind Wizarding World's magical creatures

'Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History' explores inspirations behind Wizarding World's magical creatures

Published Feb 17, 2022 11:55 am

It’s like a BBC documentary with a touch of magic

From the giant three-headed dog and the fiery phoenix to the compulsive stealer niffler and the tiny but dependable bowtruckle, the Wizarding World has brought on the screens creatures that only live in one’s imagination. This time, as we wait for the coming of the “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” Warner Bros. releases a new documentary that puts the spotlight on these fantastic beasts and more?

Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander with a niffler (Photo from Warner Bros.)

Dubbed “Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History,” the documentary features English actor Stephen Fry as he journeys through both the wizarding and muggle worlds, and he discovers the inspirations behind former’s magical creatures. The film production company behind “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” movies worked with the BBC’s Natural History Unit and the Natural History Museum to make this special possible.

“Expect this documentary to unfurl all sorts of mysteries around fantastic beasts and real-life creatures across history that you may not believe could possibly exist,” the Wizarding World said in a release. “Delve into the mythological, including dragons, mermaids, and unicorns—alongside examinations of natural world beasts that continue to inspire us, such as vervet monkeys, narwhals, and manatees.”

Apart from the magical creatures, the documentary will also showcase Wizarding World creator J.K. Rowling and visual effects supervisor Christian Manz as they discuss the origin of the beasts and how they brought them to life on the screen.

“Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History” is set to be released on Feb. 27 in the UK and in the US on April 1 on HBO Max.

Watch the trailer here:

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