Every once in a while I purchased an art book and it gets buried or forgotten under my “to review” pile; this book was one of them. Released in 2018, Fantastic Beasts : The Crimes of Grindelwald is the 2nd film from the Harry Potter spin-off series following the travails of renowned magizoologist Newt Scamander.

I love all the Harry Potter films as well as the 3 films in the Fantastic Beast series; and while every single film-making aspect ( from character design to costumes, visual effects ) of the franchise are exemplary, the really breathtaking production design by 3 time Oscar winner Stuart Craig must get noteworthy mention.

These can be readily felt in the splendid concept art pieces showcased in this book, created by a most talented team of concept artists headed by Stuart Craig. The book is packed full of splendid creature designs from the menagerie of magical creatures that pepper the film, as well as the absolutely captivating environment designs for the streets and architecture of Paris set in the wizarding universe. Many of the design elements feature Art Nouveau motifs, something I am very partial to.

Book synopsis – The Art of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, curated by concept artist Dermot Power, and filled with unique insights from Stuart Craig and the artists themselves about the filmmaking journey, takes you on a thrilling journey through a design process every bit as wonderful as that encountered by Newt, Tina, Queenie, and Jacob in the Wizarding World.

Beautifully designed, and bursting with hundreds of dazzling production paintings and concept sketches, intricate card models of the sets, storyboards, and matte paintings, and sumptuously printed with “magical effects” and enhanced with unique removables, this finely crafted book—officially licensed by Warner Bros. Consumer Products—presents a visual feast for readers, and a truly immersive experience for fans of Fantastic Beasts.

(image above) The Lestrange family tree, illustrated/designed by concept artist MinaLima. The visual design and style is much similar to the Black family tree first seen in the Harry Potter films.

(above) The art book also comes with a beautiful fold-out poster of the astronomical chart depicting magical creatures that was seen decorating the celestial dome ceiling at the Ministry Of Magic. Designed/illustrated by Dermot Power.

It is rather unfortunate that the film’s potential success/popularity was somewhat marred by tabloid news that plagued a key actor during its theatrical release. The art and design of the movie ( and indeed the entire Harry Potter franchise ) is of extremely high quality and caliber, and this book is an excellent showcase of it all. Very highly recommended.

I also suggest checking out the voluminous concept art book for the Harry Potter films.

“The Art of Fantastic Beasts : The Crimes of Grindelwald” book details :

– Dimensions – 11.6 x 0.9 x 10.5 inches
– Hardcover, 256 pages
– Full color

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