Experiential Tech

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter features over 50 brand new experiences and more than 20 new media moments and interactives, compared to its Leavesden counterpart. For all the scale, detail, and craftsmanship found throughout the Tokyo Tour, some of the most engaging highlights are the signature media moments and never-before-seen interactives.
Within the glass-walled lobby, guests are welcomed by a stunning sculpture of a life-sized Hungarian Horntail dragon, paired with theatrical lighting and a massive 270-degree mural media screen. Rendered in a painterly concept-art style, this projected media program celebrates memorable Hogwarts exterior scenes, from the Hogwarts Express to the Dark Lake.
Throughout the Tour, visitors then encounter a number of immersive interactive exhibits that help seamlessly transport guests directly into the realm of the Wizarding World, while teaching them about the filmmaking process.
In a meticulously crafted version of the halls of Hogwarts, guests experience the iconic shifting stairs and towering portraits from the films. Visitors can pose at one of five designated stations, to create a custom moving portrait that then appears on the walls.
An interactive Quidditch filming experience allows visitors to experience movie-making magic firsthand as an extra in a scene. In this performance-based interactive, visitors sitting in the stands use their imagination to respond to objects overhead, reacting as if Quidditch players were flying above. At the end, they can view themselves in a complete 90-second scene.
Inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, visitors learn how to duel like proper witches and wizards with help from Paul Harris, the Wizarding World’s wand choreographer. Every ten minutes, an Interactor teaches visitors wand combat moves from the films. Soon, the Dark Mark appears in the sky and a Death Eater infiltrates the classroom! Visitors use their new wand choreography skills to combat the Death Eater.
Within the Costume & Props Transition Zone, visitors are given the chance to create their own Death Eater mask, while following the real-life fabrication process. Specially-designed tools allow guests to design the mask shape, design style and material finish. Once complete, each mask is added to the larger Death Eater Mask collection, alongside masks seen in the films.
Visitors then venture deep into the Forbidden Forest, where Dementors track individual visitor movements. If visitors stay still or move too slowly, the Dementors begin to perform the Dementor’s kiss.
Next, visitors put their wands to the test as they cast their own Patronus against the Dementors on a massive 11.379 x 4.810m screen. Individual visitors brandish their own wands (or use hand gestures) to cast an Expecto Patronum spell and vanquish a Dementor (seen approaching in projected and interactive media).
The culminating Dementor experience is a group showdown crafted to recreate the moment that Harry delivers the ultimate Expecto Patronum spell near the end of The Prisoner of Azkaban. While one lucky visitor is called to the front to play the role of Harry, it takes the entire group of visitors exclaiming “Expecto Patronum” together to generate the Stag Patronus that saves Sirius and Harry. Spell cast, a giant swell of white light clears the Dementors from the scene.
Past the Forbidden Forest, visitors discover even more sets and interactives, including a “Floo Powder video op.” A motion detector trigger placed within a tunnel activates a blast of particulate smoke illuminated with green lighting to create the signature look and feel. Visitors can download their film scenes as a keepsake and to share on social media.
Through detailed immersive interactives that allow visitors to step into iconic Wizarding World scenes, from stepping into a Quidditch game, to casting a Patronus, the Tokyo Tour allows visitors to experience movie making magic like never before.
partners
Warner Bros. Entertainment and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Vega Global (AVC Integrator) and Tokyo Butai Showmei (Lighting Integrator)
Brand Realisation
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter is no clone of the original attraction in Leavesden that has wowed more than 17 million visitors since it opened in 2012.
The Tokyo Tour is the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and the first Warner Bros. Studio Tour to open in Asia.
Built from the ground up for fans in Japan and beyond, the experience caters to local fans through custom media narrated by Kensho Ono, the Japanese film dub voice of Harry Potter, bilingual exhibit content with English, katakana, and kanji, plus localized food and beverage options and Tokyo-exclusive merchandise.
The experience begins as soon as visitors step off the train and enter an enchanting sculpture garden filled with iconic Wizarding World icons and characters.
As visitors leave the sculpture garden and venture inside the glass-walled lobby, they are welcomed by a stunning sculpture of a lifesize Hungarian Horntail dragon, paired with theatrical lighting and a massive hand painted mural.
Visitors then enter the Tour via a surprise screen raise that takes them into the Great Hall. From there, they explore the many sets from the films, experience a linear filmmaking process through a series of galleries peppered throughout the Tour that takes them from Production Design to the Art of Sound.
The first series of sets create a feeling of homecoming, as visitors explore the dormitories, Dumbledore’s Office, and the Quidditch pitch. An interactive Quidditch filming experience allows visitors to experience movie-making magic firsthand as an extra in a scene. Visitors sit in the stands and use their imagination to respond to objects overhead, reacting as if Quidditch players were flying above.
Inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, visitors learn how to duel like proper witches and wizards with help from Paul Harris, the Wizarding World’s wand choreographer. Visitors follow interactive prompts to learn a couple spells. The best performers are selected to be part of the show!
Within the Costume & Props Transition Zone, visitors are given the chance to create their own Death Eater mask. This interactive allows visitors to create their own designs, while following the real-life fabrication process.
In the Forbidden Forest, visitors come face to face with Dementors, who follow their movement through motion tracking. Visitors put their wands to the test as they cast their own patronus against the Dementors on a massive 11.379 x 4.810m screen. As the grand culmination, one lucky visitor is given the opportunity to duel a Dementor in the iconic “Dark Lake” scene.
Halfway through the Tour, visitors take a break on the outdoor Backlot, where they discover Professor Umbridge’s office, an outdoor Butterbeer bar, and more explorable sets.
When visitors re-enter, they find themselves on Platform 9 ¾, complete with an authentic, antique Hogwarts Express locomotive and walk-through carriages restored for the attraction with custom media seen through the windows.
Past the Hogwarts Express, visitors discover even more sets and interactives, including the never-before-seen full-scale walkthrough set of the Ministry of Magic and Fantastic Beasts and How to Create Them, a digital creature shop hosted by Eddie Redmayne.
Finally, visitors enter the Art of Sound Zone before finishing the Tour in the Hogwarts model room. This new zone features a walkthrough video and audio experience which guides visitors through the process of creating a cinematic soundscape.
From the arrival exterior experience and the lobby’s seamless 270-degree, 80-meter wide 20K resolution multi-projector screen with original animation, to engaging new interactives like a participatory Quidditch experience and making your own Death Eater mask, alongside stunning new galleries dedicated to the many filmmaking departments, the Tokyo Tour delivers a fan experience for the Harry Potter franchise like never before.
partners
Warner Bros. Entertainment and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
UK Filmmakers Heads of Department
Neil Lamont – Art Department
Paul Hayes – Construction
Rosie Goodwin – Set Decoration
Pierre Bohanna – Props
Sarita Allison – Creatures
John Richardson – Special Effects
Laurent Guinci LOLO Creative – Costumes
MinaLima – Graphics
Lumsden Design – F&B and Retail Designers
CodSteaks – Hogwarts Model Fabricator/Installer
Garner Holt Productions – Animatronics
Japan Show Vendors
Tanseisha Co – Scenic Fabricator/Installer
Field Club Inc. – Scenic Fabricator/Installer
Nitten – Casework Fabricator/Installer
Vega Global – AVC Integrator
Tokyo Butai Showmei – Lighting Integrator
Sansei Technologies – Mechanics Fabricator/Installer
Dentsu Live – Structural Engineers
Kume Design – Facility Architects
Taisei Corporation – Facility General Contractor