When Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in the year 2001, no one expected it to become such a roaring success. The seven-part book series about a boy who discovers he is a wizard and goes on to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was an instant hit among children and adults alike. Its popularity grew so much that J.K. Rowling had a hard time keeping up with meeting the demand for her books. The growing popularity also meant that plenty of people were willing to spend money on Harry Potter merchandise from branded clothing to toys, stationery, video games, and more. As such, this article explores the Harry Potter franchise and its merchandising in detail.
Harry Potter Shop Tour
Introduction to Harry Potter Franchise
The Harry Potter franchise is a globally recognized brand with millions of fans across the world. It consists of a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling between the years 1997 and 2007, several films based on the novels, and themed theme parks in several countries. Harry Potter has evolved into a vast commercial enterprise that has won several awards, including the Fantasy Book of the Year award and the Kids’ Choice Award. The commercial success of the Harry Potter franchise has been attributed to several factors, including the widespread appeal of the books among children and adults, the large theme park, and a diverse merchandise collection. The franchise has also attracted a large number of unofficial, or fan-made, products, which have been produced for a variety of reasons, such as raising money for charity.
Harry Potter Books
As mentioned earlier, Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The series follows the journey of the titular character, a young boy who discovers he possesses magical powers and is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in the year 1997. The other six books were published over six years, with the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, being released to great fanfare in the year 2007. The books were published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic in the United States. The first four books in the series were also released as audiobooks read by Stephen Fry.
Harry Potter Movies
The first three installments in the Harry Potter series were adapted into films, with the first two being released in the year 2001 and 2002 respectively, and the third being released in the year 2005. The final four installments in the series were released as two-part films, with the first part of each being released in the years 2010, 2012, and 2014, and the final part of both series being released in the year 2011 and 2015 respectively. The first part of each of the two-part films was released in 3D. The first three installments in the series were directed by Chris Columbus, with Alfonso Cuarón taking over for the next two installments. The final four installments in the series were directed by David Yates.
Harry Potter Video Games
Harry Potter has appeared in several video games, including the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone video game and the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets video game. The Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone video game was released in the year 2001, while the video game based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released in the year 2002. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in the year 2004, while the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire video game was released in the year 2005. The Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix video game was released in the year 2007, while the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince game was released in the same year. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I and Part II video games were released in the years 2010 and 2011 respectively. The final installment in the Harry Potter video game series was released in the year 2013.
Harry Potter Toys
Toys based on the Harry Potter series have been extremely popular among children of all ages. This popularity is also attributed to the fact that children can act out their favorite moments from the series using the toys. Most of the toys based on the series have been manufactured by the toy giant Mattel. Some of the popular toys based on the series include the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone figures, the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Deluxe Talking Doll, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Electronic Blasting Broom, the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Electronic Broom, and the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Electronic Broom.
Conclusion
The Harry Potter franchise may have come to an end, but the impact it has had on pop culture and merchandising will never be forgotten. Books, movies, and licensed products have delighted millions of fans and provided them with entertainment for years. As new generations discover the series, there is no doubt that Harry Potter will continue to grow in popularity for years to come.
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