Something Magical
Muse Science Magazine for Kids|May/June 2023
THE SCIENCE OF SPECIAL EFFECTS IN 'HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD'
Ben Silver
Something Magical

We all know magic isn't real. Or is it? Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play that explores the wizarding journey of the next generation of Hogwarts students, including the children of Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Malfoy. Written by British playwright Jack Thorne, the play has dazzled audiences in London's West End since 2016 and on Broadway in New York City since 2018. It now plays in theaters all around the world, from Toronto, Canada, to Tokyo, Japan.

While the play's story has been lauded as a brilliant addition to the world of Harry Potter, its live special effects and magical illusions put it in a category all its own. Flames fly out of wands, a Time Turner floats in midair, and Ministry of Magic visitors disappear inside a phone booth. Before our eyes, Polyjuice Potion transforms kids into adults. Dementors hover over the audience, eerily aglow.

The entire set is distorted as the main characters travel through time. Awe-inducing effects and illusions like these happen in every performance. How do they do it? Believe it or not, no real magic is necessary. Engineers, lighting designers, flying specialists, illusions experts, and the actors work together to make it happen. Each trick works thanks to science. From chemistry to physics to psychology, it's the science behind the magic that brings Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to life.

Fire

If you know one thing about wizards, it's that they use wands to cast spells. Wands can be turned into flashlights or deployed against your worst enemy. In Cursed Child, Harry's son Albus casts the Incendio spell, in which a bright burst of flames shoots out of his wand, only to quickly disappear.

この記事は Muse Science Magazine for Kids の May/June 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Muse Science Magazine for Kids の May/June 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

MUSE SCIENCE MAGAZINE FOR KIDSのその他の記事すべて表示
HOUSE OF CARDS
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

HOUSE OF CARDS

TRY THE PERFECT EXPERIMENT—AND THEN REFLECT ON HOW IT WENT.

time-read
3 分  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
ACCIDENTALLY Delicious
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

ACCIDENTALLY Delicious

Have you ever been really hungry, but there wasn't much to eat in your kitchen? Did you throw together a bunch of stuff you had on hand and were pleasantly surprised when it tasted good?

time-read
3 分  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED TOO PERFECT?
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED TOO PERFECT?

EVERYONE'S LIFE CAN APPEAR PERFECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. On YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and similar apps, people tend to share their happiest, most picturesque moments. They carefully compose any text to get the message just right. They use filters and enhancements to glam up images and videos. The app sorts the posts with the most likes and comments to the top. The end result? All you see of others' lives is the best of the best.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
Art ALERT!
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Art ALERT!

THE CASE OF THE MASTERPIECE THAT WASN'T

time-read
5 分  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
MARYAM ZARINGHALAM
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

MARYAM ZARINGHALAM

SCIENCE POLICY FELLOW AND WRITER

time-read
4 分  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
Lost Cat Treks More Than 800 Miles to Get Home
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Lost Cat Treks More Than 800 Miles to Get Home

Rayne Beau (pronounced RANE-BO, as in \"rainbow\") is a two-year-old Siamese cat.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
EASY AS ABC
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

EASY AS ABC

But in number theory, well, it's complicated.

time-read
6 分  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
That Wanaka Tree Gets a Companion
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

That Wanaka Tree Gets a Companion

\"THAT WANAKA TREE,\" AS IT'S CALLED, IS A FAMOUS WILLOW TREE THAT GROWS OUT OF LAKE WANAKA ON THE SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
Two College Students Devise Smart Glasses That Can ID People
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Two College Students Devise Smart Glasses That Can ID People

YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE SUBWAY WITH A COUPLE OF YOUR FRIENDS.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?
Two Comb Jellies Can Fuse Their Bodies Together to Become One
Muse Science Magazine for Kids

Two Comb Jellies Can Fuse Their Bodies Together to Become One

COMB JELLIES ARE GELATIN-LIKE AND MOSTLY SEETHROUGH INVERTEBRATES, OR ANIMALS WITHOUT A BACKBONE, THAT FLOAT IN THE OCEAN NEAR SHORE.

time-read
1 min  |
Muse February 2025: Waht Misteak?