Books like The Case of Beasts: Explore the Film Wizardry Of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

This book is as fantastic as the title suggests! It says "160 pages" but honestly, there is so much to look at and discover beside the actual text that it feels as if the book was at least twice that size.Shaped as a hardcover book with a magnetic clasp, the exterior looks like Newt's case (complete with a Niffler trying to get out ). Inside, there are countless little trinkets and maps, wanted posters and leaflets, ...Now, fair warning for anyone who has not seen the movie yet, there are spoilers ahead (from the names of the chapters as much as from the pictures I will include)!The chapters are as follows:1) Newt Scamander - Introducing Newt, Eddie Redmayne, Costume2) Introducing Jacob Kowalski, Jacob's Apartment, Introducing Porpentina Goldstein, Introducing Queenie Goldstein, Goldstein's Apartment3) New York City - Welcome to New York, Steen National Bank, The Brownstones, The Tenements, Introducing Senator Henry Shaw, Henry Shaw Senior, Langdon Shaw, Shaw's Newsroom, New York Clarion, City Hall, Diamond District, Central Park Zoo, Times Square, Costume Design4) MACUSA - Introducing Percival Graves, Graves' Office, Introducing Seraphina Picquery, MACUSA, Exterior MACUSA, Major Investigations Department, Typing Pool, Wand Permit Office, Death Cells, Pentragram Office, Wizard Newspapers, Graphic Art5) New Salem Philantropic Society, Introducing Mary Lou Barebone, Credence, Modesty & Chestity6) The Blind Pig - Gnarlak, Visual Effects, The Blind Pig, Wanted Posters7) The Finale - Ginzberg Delaunay, Storeroom, New York Subway, Kowalski's Bakery8) Newt's Case - Inside Newt's Case, Newt's Shed, Designing the Beasts, Niffler, Erumpent, Demiguise, Occamy, Bowtruckle, Murtlap, Mooncalf, Doxy, Billywig, Swooping Evil, Runespoor, Graphorn, Fwooper, Nundu, Diricrawl, ThunderbirdThe chapters showing the characters focus not only on them but also on the actors portraying them (visually as well as emotionally). It is noteworthy that each text is encased in numerous photographs and sketches to show early stages of planning, development and final outcome in creating the characters and places in the movie. We get small interviews with the creators as much as with the cast and Rowling herself that are part of the description of every process.Since it's better to SHOW rather than tell, here are some pictures I've taken of my edition (sometimes with captions for a better understanding):The two pictures above show the process of creating New York of 1926. They took old ads, photographs and posters and mostly copied from there.These two show the story board versions of events that were used for planning certain scenes beforehand (and for letting the art department know just how much had to be built).This is a very cool detail from inside MACUSA which is unfortunately not shown in the movie (the scene was cut). It shows a memorial for those who have died in the Salem Witch Trials which was of course a very important part of history for all wizardom, but especially the American witches and wizards.This is the building that will become the bank. Again, as with the Harry Potter films, it's breathtaking what gigantic sets were built (and in many cases that that is actually cheaper than paying certain owners to be allowed to film on site)! These, as the text already tells, are how MACUSA sends notes and memos inside their building - so cute!\ ⬇️ \ We also get to know and see a little about stunt workbut mostly it's about the process from what the set really looked like to what we see in the final movie through CGI, puppets and stuff; Sometimes, which I find very funny, actors were "aided" (for example in order to know how far up they have to stare) by crew members holding up faces *lol* or half-versions of creatures being built (the parts the actors had to interact with, mostly):And just look at the awesomeness of what the art department created! So many posters, ads, leaflets, bottles and cans (like Elbow Grease and Pumpkin Juice which we already know from the HP movies so as to invoke a familiar feeling in the audience), but also all sorts of furniture and decoration - often it is so much that the atmosphere is created but you cannot take all of it in (a shame, considering the effort and time spent to make these):And yes, an actual Niffler was created (here you see it getting its fur sprayed on) and I want one!!!Finally, here come the creatures (some of which are seen in the movie, if only briefly, and some of which unfortunately never made it in):(This last one, the Nundu, is my personal favourite - just in case anyone here was looking for a birthday gift for me. ;P)These are only a few pictures from the book. However, there is so much more and I didn't even find a way to show you all the wonderful things one can pull out or turn or fill out (like maps, a wand permit that unfortunately doesn't list spruce - my wand's wood -, flyers and posters or Tina's ID card complete with moving pictures of her)!I've always been very interested in how films are being made; the pyrotechniques, costume designs, stunt work and choreographies, art design, CGI and the lot. Thus, this book was a must-have for me. Mina Lima, the designer (who also designed most for the movie), is known for her wonderful details and for letting the viewers/readers feel the love she puts into her work, but with this book she has outdone herself. I'm completely in love with my own little version of Newts case and spent some wonderful hours submerged in it (even if I couldn't go down a staircase, sadly)!