First Look at HARRY POTTER Anime

At long last, Warner Bros. and Rowling have opened up the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter to anime merchandising.

For many of us fans it’s been a long wait, but the inevitable has finally happened: anime-styled Harry Potter merchandise!

This new line of merchandise marks the first that Warner Bros. granted permission for Harry Potter to be produced in the Japanese art form of anime. Considering its fantasy-themed setting, colorful characters and fast-paced story line (trademark tropes that feature in many Japanese animation), it’s no wonder Japan has been eager to produce and sell their own products on this popular franchise. And fans are just as eager to get their hands on them. But Harry Potter fans may be surprised by the type of anime art form used.

harry chibibuckbeak-anime draco-malfoy-anime dumbledore-anime fred-george-weasley-anime hedwig-anime hermione-anime james-potter-anime remus-lupin-anime ron-weasley-anime sirius-black-anime snape-anime

The first anime-styled Harry Potter products to be released for sale are 12 trading cards depicting 1 (or 2) characters drawn in the anime chibi form. Interestingly enough, this lineup includes Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and James Potter, but not Harry’s mother, Lily. What’s also strange is that of the 12 trading cards, 2 of them feature Buckbeak the hippogriff and Hedwig, Harry’s owl, as opposed to other wizards or witches. Why these certain characters were chosen and others excluded cannot be said.

The line will continue to expand to include pins, keychains, rubber straps and other various products. And no doubt, fans can expect for these chibi-versions of Harry Potter characters to make reappearances as more products are produced. If popular demand is strong enough, more characters may be added.

The characters that feature on the cards are as follows: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Fred & George Weasley (both on one card), Buckbeak and Hedwig.

Although these cards will be sold online and in Japan, it has not yet been confirmed or denied when or if these products will be available in America stores.

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