In a world of chaos, pain, disgust and overall disappointment, who wouldn’t want to go into an imaginary world where you can use magic? How are you to enter into this world of magic? What’s the portal? For some, a book, for others maybe TikTok, or musicals, or puppets.
Original cover for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Via Entertainment Weekly
Harry Potter is a well-written book series with a following of loyal readers. Joanne Rowling, aka J. K. Rowling, wrote seven books in the 1990s, and these books flew off the shelves. Their relatable characters, enchanted world, and intriguing plot made the books a part of a perfect series to transform. From pages to the big screen to the small screen, you hold in front of your face (when you know you should be sleeping but aren’t). Harry Potter has caught many generations' attention over the past 27 years.
Since the creation of the whimsical world in 1997, Harry Potter has been adapted into many different forms of entertainment. So where do we start? What’s the difference? And do only true fans read the books? Let’s go down memory lane for some of you and discuss the different versions of Harry Potter.
As a sixteen-year-old girl who has read the books and the comic strips, and watched the movies, the puppet pals, Chanwills0 Potter parodies, and the musicals, my sister has had plenty of experience to speak confidently on this topic with me. (And no, I do not have too much free time on my hands). This article will be focusing on the books compared to the movies, musicals, and Chanwills0. Now, most Harry Potter fans know the differences between the books and movies so let's talk about that first.
The books are placed in the third-person passive which tells us everything in the books has already happened. This is the easiest form to write in, and it has many advantages for the reader. The books start with an overview of Harry’s aunt and uncle, showing Uncle Vernon going through his day as he works. The first book starts as we are looking in on Uncle Vernon the day after James and Lily Potter are killed by Voldemort and Voldemort is ‘vanquished.’
The day shows us a little glimpse of the wizarding world as they become careless to hide themselves, consumed by their new freedom. The first chapter ends with readers being introduced to baby Harry Potter, “the Boy who Lived.”
One of the simplest differences from the books to the movies is the absence of multiple characters, including Charlie Weasley, Peeves (two great losses), Andromeda Tonks (nee Black), Ted Tonks, Augusta Longbottom, Marietta Edgecombe and, of course, Winky. With the loss of these characters, we also lose valuable scenes that help develop the course of the books.
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A Very Potter Musical starts in the middle of Harry’s Hogwarts experience but should be watched first. A Very Potter Sequel goes back and shows him meeting the Weaselys, Hermione and Draco. It starts for the most part with Harry Potter trying to find Platform 9¾. He runs into some luck (for the first time in his life) by way of the Weasleys.
The musicals show the fun side of Harry and Ron’s friendship, and it also makes a mockery of the entire series but in a respectful way. For instance, Cho is a Southern bell, Mr. Weasley is incompetent, and Harry is cocky. Not to mention, no one is British aside from Draco. The musical has incredible songs, brilliant dialogue and hilarious run-on jokes. It is a must-watch for any Potter fan. The two musicals are the most ridiculous, hilarious and impressive things on YouTube. [Warning, there is some explicit language and a few innuendos.]
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Chanwills0 is a popular TikToker and YouTuber best known for her Harry Potter Parodies. Her “Potter Parodies” started around two years ago on YouTube with a parody of Minerva and Dumbledore destroying Umbridge in a verbal spat. Her full compilation of Potter Parody TikToks is now around two hours. It covers most of the important scenes and starts where the movies do on Privit Drive with Minerva and Dumbledore. Chanwills0 continues this series all the way through until the end of the books with many behind-the-scenes specials.
Chanwills0 brings humor through her exaggerations and insinuations. The greatest of these is her series of McGonagell going to people's funerals, like Fred, Dumbledore and Umbridge, etc. Watching these videos is an incredible way to spend a night with your friends, whether they’re Harry Potter fans or not.
So which is the portal to this magical world where we don’t worry about chaos, pain, disgust and overall disappointment? The answer is all of them. While the books are the original, all these adaptations are just as much Harry Potter. Harry Potter is a thing to be shared and revisited again and again. It’s an escape for everyone, so they can stop worrying about the problems of this world and worry about the problems of another world.
For most, it’s a place they’ve been, for many it's a place they’re at, for some it’s a place they’ll go. “The stories we love best do live in us forever so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home,” (Rowling at the Deathly Hallows Part 2 London Premiere).
That’s it! This is an overview, with key differences and introductions to the different adaptations of Harry Potter entertainment. If you have more differences, write a response article!