UNIVERSAL Studios have released a new video teaser of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the new attraction coming to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
According to Universal, the beloved character will be the most advanced and life-like animated figure they’ve ever made.
Universal's team worked closely with actor Robbie Coltrane, who played the character in the movies.
The figure stands at 7 feet 6 inches tall, which is just right for the half-giant character.
They studied his body movements and facial experiences to create 24 different actions for the animated figure.
Digital scans were taken of his teeth and individual hair strands were placed on his eyebrows and lashes to recreate his look as precisely as possible.
The costume worn by Hagrid will be created by the same team who worked on his outfit in the films.
The actor recorded new lines for the ride as well.
In the books, Hagrid is the gamekeeper at Hogwarts and the Care of Magical Creatures professor.
For the ride, he’ll guide guests through the Forbidden Forest, which will be populated with rare, magical creatures from the “Harry Potter” series.
Sun Online Travel previously revealed that the experience will begin with guests becoming Hogwarts students while Hagrid leads a Care of Magical Creatures class, before boarding his enchanted motorbike and taking to the skies.
Specially designed to create a “freedom of flight” sensation, the bikes replicate Hagrid’s vehicle from the movie series – with an adjacent sidecar – giving guests two very different ride experiences depending on where they choose to sit.
True to Hagrid’s calamitous nature, things take a turn for the worse and you’ll find yourself needing a whole lot of magic to fend off a swarm of mischievous Cornish Pixies, a pack of centaurs, and Fluffy, a giant three-headed dog that has a bite as bad as its bark.
The track of the ride is angled to perfectly mimic the exact motions of an actual motorbike, with speeds reaching up to 50mph as you soar through the Forbidden Forest.
Alan Gilmore – art director on the record-breaking movie franchise – told how over 1200 real trees have been planted to replicate the shadowy lands of the Forbidden Forest.
Plenty of further surprises have been promised, including a new creature that’s never been seen in the films but was in the original books.
Other magical creatures on the Hagrid ride
- Blast-Ended Skrewt – Hagrid created these magical creatures by crossbreeding Fire Crabs and Manticores.
- Centaurs – these half human, half horse creatures are great friends with Hagrid and stands at 8ft tall.
- Devil’s Snare – while not a creature, this dangerous plant is one of the many challenges that guests will face on the ride.
- Cornish Pixies – at just 13 inches tall, these mischievious trickesters will be "wreaking havoc" on the ride.
- Fluffy, the Three-Headed Dog – Hagrid's pet guard dog will be making an appearance too.
The new ride is replacing the Dragon Challenge attraction, a set of intertwined rollercoasters that closed in September 2017.
Universal began teasing the new coaster in October 2018, although the connection to Hagrid and the Forbidden forest wasn’t fully revealed at the time.
The ride is set to open on June 13.
A new Harry Potter attraction opened at the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London this year.
Sun Online Travel previously revealed some of the top Universal Studios secrets, including hidden rides.
Universal Hollywood will be opening a new Jurassic World attraction later this year as well.
A version of this article was originally published by Fox News and was reproduced with permission.
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