"Wingardium Leviosa!" Have you ever heard of this spell? This spell is used in the Harry Potter series to make something levitate. It is also the first spell that many people recall when they think of Harry Potter. The original Harry Potter series that many people first encountered as fantasy movies was written by J. K. Rowling. Since both novels and movies were a hit, the Harry Potter series has even been made into plays and games. The 8th film of the series was released on July 14th, 2011, and the Harry Potter series, which swept the world for 10 years, was completed. However, the popularity did not turn off, and as a result, the series of Fantastic Beasts, a spin-off version of the Harry Potter series, was released into a movie. The series was as successful as the Harry Potter series, and the popularity of the Harry Potter series is coming back to life. In response, the Chung-Ang Herald will analyze the Harry Potter series and the Harry Potter craze and introduce media that we can meet it.
1. Introduction of Harry Potter Series
a. Plot
The Harry Potter series will consist of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010) and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The main character Harry Potter enters Hogwarts when he is 11 years old, and then he knows that he is already a famous and capable wizard. Meanwhile, Harry keeps getting stuck with Voldemort who made his parents die. Voldemort had been told by Professor Snape that a child born on the night of the last day of July would kill him. Voldemort, who judged the child to be Harry Potter, tried to kill Harry, but killed his parents. This causes Harry to have a lightning shaped scar on his forehead. Throughout the series Voldemort does not stop evil deeds to get rid of Harry, but in the end Harry wins his duel with him.
b. Famous Lines
i. Dobby is free!
Dobby is a house fairy. In the Harry Potter series, if an owner gives sock to the house fairy, it means that the house fairy that received it no longer belongs to the owner and has freedom. "Dobby is free!" is the line at the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). When the Harry Potter series became popular, this line became a routine sentence, meaning 'liberation,' which is used when many people leave an organization which made them feel tired.
ii. Shut up, Malfoy!
It is one of the main lines that appeared in all the Harry Potter series. In Harry Potter, Malfoy loves sarcasm, so, people around him used to warn "Shut up, Malfoy!" Since the release of the movie, the phrase has spread like a buzzword, and now many people use it to humiliate someone in their daily lives. The expression is listed in Korean language dictionary from the portal site NAVER.
iii. Calm down, Ron.
The line also frequently appears in all the Harry Potter series, such as "Shut up, Malfoy!" The main character Ron easily gets excited, sometimes acts foolishly, and embarrasses people around him. Under these circumstances, people around him often referred this line as spell which made Ron quiet. When people around them, such as Ron, are confused, they often use this expression as a joke. It is also listed in the Korean dictionary of the portal site NAVER.
2. Return of Harry Potter Craze
a. Fantastic Beasts Series
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) are films released as spin-off versions of the Harry Potter series. When the Harry Potter series was completed but its popularity did not wane, author J.K. Rowling said she would produce a spin-off version of the series and write the script herself. As a result of the release, thanks to the influence of existing Harry Potter fans, the Fantastic Beasts series has also become a worldwide success. Two of this series have already been released, and three more will be released by 2024.
b. Re-released Harry Potter Series
Recently, there has been a craze for re-opening famous films in theaters. The Harry Potter series also joined the craze. Thanks to its enduring popularity, on October 24th, 2018, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was re-released. On February 20th, 2019, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was also re-released. The film was not just about being shown, it was released using the current technology, 4DX. 4DX is the technology applied for movies where the chair moves as the movie progresses, wind blows, and smells. This technology is gaining huge popularity because it increases level of immersion. In fantasy films such as Harry Potter series, there are many dynamic scenes such as people flying around on broomsticks, so the re-opening of past movies was also able to hit the jackpot once again.
3. Where Can We Experience Harry Potter Series?
a. Happy Together Season 4
On KBS2, the entertainment show ‘Happy Together 4,’ which airs every Thursday night at 11:10 p.m., has set up a corner to borrow the Harry Potter concept under the assumption that it will magically erase the stars' ugly past after reorganization. Ironically, the corner allows stars to reveal the facts in person, making their ugly past even more widely known. MCs actually shout the spell "Wingardium Leviosa!" shortly after its release. However, there is a flaw in that it is actually the spell that enables levitation, not erasing memories, within the Harry Potter series. To correct this, an exact memory-erasing spell is "Obliviate!"
b. SPAO X Harry Potter
On November 9th, 2018, SPAO, the SPA brand, unveiled its clothes through collaboration with Harry Potter. This led to the complete sale of all items in two hours, surprising many people. Thanks to the popularity, the products that conducted the second collaboration with Harry Potter were also unveiled on February 15th, 2019. This was also a success, meeting the needs of consumers who missed their first purchase.
c. Café 943 King’s Cross
Located 10 minutes on foot from Hongik University Station, 'Café 943 King's Cross' is a café created by borrowing the concept of Harry Potter as a motif. The whole building is a café, and the first floor sells desserts relevant to magic potions and foods that appeared in the Harry Potter movies. The second floor consists of the concept of a wizard café, the third floor is a banquet hall, and the fourth floor is a dormitory. If you want to go to the café, you should have a waiting time about an hour due to the constant visits by Harry Potter fans.
The Harry Potter series gained popularity by letting readers and audiences fall into a fantasy world. Unlike other movies, the movies have been praised for its unique characters and wide worldview. In addition, there is a saying 'There are viewers who have not seen the Harry Potter series, but there are no viewers who have seen it once.' These works are positive in that they show our ideals and dreams away from our daily lives. If you are tired of repeating your daily routine, why don't you draw Harry Potter Series into our daily routine?