Harry Potter fans rejoice! Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the new film set in J. K. Rowling’s wizarding world, hit theaters in November. It tells the story of “magizoologist” Newt Scamander, who studies endangered magical creatures. Several of these creatures escape into 1920s New York City!
The film’s visual effects team, led by Christian Manz and Tim Burke, based the beasts on living species. For instance, the Niffler (above), which has an appetite for treasures, was inspired partly by the honey badger (below). That’s an animal that eats almost anything.
It took 21 months to animate the film’s 15 beasts. Some of the cutest creatures have the most surprising abilities, says Manz. “They’re able to do things audiences won’t expect!”