Harry Potter: What Magic Sounds Like

[@FrenchGuyCooking]

"People understand what they see, but feel what they hear." *Gone framing this one*

[@liamwatson-barber9400]

Alex French Guy Cooking I love your videos! I just made some ramen from scratch based on your videos! Thanks for all the cooking help :)

[@Sevendogtags]

Two of my favorite youtubers in one place? hell ya!

[@sonkeschmidt2027]

@@burgzaza deaf people do not have their brain wired like non deaf people however. They do have a lack of input that they compensate through their other senses. This is very apparent in the limited world of film, which works with just two senses, one of which they lack which makes them miss a very big part of the films "feeling". That doesn't say anything about the experience being better or worse, that's very subjective, but fact is, that they miss out on a lot of how the film feels like.

[@burgzaza]

@@sonkeschmidt2027 Sure they miss out of the sounds and musics, but my point is, a clever film maker can convey feelings trough imagery, and not only exposition, like what Nerwriter said.

[@mariekeschoutsen]

"Moguls don't see anything.." - "no, but if you jab em with a fork, they feel!"

[@friestailor]

Missed opportunity to call this video: Harry Potter and the sound of magic

[@justsomeponywithamustache8731]

Here’s a comment for your thousand likes

[@BlackMesaEmployee]

Heres another comment for your 2 thousand likes

[@haigmactaggart8744]

heres a third comment for your 2.2k likes

[@bens5925]

Here’s a fourth comment for your still 2.3k likes

[@giaaquino5412]

Here is the SEVENTH and FINAL comment for your 2.5k likes

[@Stehako]

Sound designers are no doubt unsung heroes of film.

[@politereminder6284]

or perhaps, the singing heroes?

[@bluebell8557]

I honestly think its the writers.

[@SamHeadphaze]

Thanks for saying this. We don't get enough credit really because sound is usually such a subliminal aspect of the film.

[@jd3924]

Stephen H. Koontz or villains

[@turbotaquitogoogle8095]

@@bluebell8557 Writers generally get tons of cred. When people praise characters etc they're praising the writers. Sound design (minus music) doesn't get as much acclaim colloquially unfortunately

[@flavio4923]

That water sound from Dumbledore's trapping spell is chilling. Very cool.

[@AMoistBum]

Saw the movie in theaters and can still hear that sound in my head to this day

[@mrhuntalot123]

Reminds me of the sound of stables being opened

[@vxwk]

Sounds like a strange exotic bird call to me

[@LEVRAN]

1:56 yess

[@deadfr0g]

**rimshot**

[@jamiewindsor]

I was literally just thinking about how Harry Potter is carried so much by the sound design. I think this is best exemplified by the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort at the end of The Order of the Phoenix. There's no incidental music or dialogue. Just pure sound effect design, and it makes the fight seem very powerful and real. You can almost feel all those tiles exploding around you.

[@antiseth3964]

While there are plenty of interesting battles in the series, I consider Dumbledore v Voldemort the single best battle. Two of the most powerful wizards in history flexing their power and duking it out. There is something so visceral about that fight. Dumbledore is almost always defensive, Voldemort is almost always attacking.

[@GewoonRood]

Order Of The Phoenix is easily the best movie in the series

[@antiseth3964]

@@GewoonRood See _that_ we might disagree on, but it comes down to personal preference. I can see why you might like it. I think I like it less just because it's such a dark film and the tone is really unrelenting.

[@sakshamchawla2280]

@@antiseth3964 The battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort in Order of The Phoenix is not the greatest battle in the Harry Potter universe. The greatest battle to ever exist in the universe was Dumbledore vs Grindelwald in the chapter The Greater Good. There's a fan-made movie about it, but I heavily expect to see the fight in Fantastic Beasts. Edit: They talk about it in the chapter but I don't think the books tell how exactly it happened.

[@antiseth3964]

@@sakshamchawla2280 Ahh good point. I was referencing the battles within the context of the movies that have been made so far. Of all the fights they have shown on screen I prefer Dumbledore v Voldemort.

[@cezarcatalin1406]

Most powerful spells according to Lord Voldy mcMortbutt : 1.) NYAAAH 2.) AAAARGH 3.) UUAAAAH 4.) SAAAAAH 5.) AAAVALAHHADAAVAAH 6.) YYYAAAAA 7.) NAAAAAAH 8.) WOOOOOH 9.) WAAAAAH 10.) * smiling in creepy *

[@user-ho6du8hp2w]

Haa haaa heaaa ha hea ha

[@Ranger1812]

ᏰĪᏝᏝ ՇÎρɧᏋƦ It's emotion.

[@Ranger1812]

Variklis It's emotion.

[@Ranger1812]

Shaggy It's emotion.

[@Jc-go3mz]

DBen Tarr Bro, if you reply to one person, the other people who have made a comment in the thread will see it to, you don’t need o say the same the three times

[@geri4367]

-"People understand what they see, but feel what they hear". That's a super tip for film makers and game developers like myself!

[@KR1S71ANthenoob]

Geri visuals definitely can be felt too, I wouldn't underestimate how much of an emotional response visuals can evoke. That being said I do think sound provokes more emotion though.

[@Tomasz.Nowakowski]

@@KR1S71ANthenoob that's why timing is the key, great sound effect + great visual = magnificent experience

[@Harshhaze]

"You're not trouble if you tell me the truth." *Mom reaches for the wooden spoon anyway*

[@Kevinmadefilms]

this sums up sound design so perfectly and concisely

[@bazonga9085]

Geri Ahaha everyone a game developer nowadays Jesus Christ. Your stuff is mediocre. Don’t call yourself that.

[@olivia.martin]

I love love LOVE the spell sounds from Prisoner of Azkaban, aka the best Harry Potter movie period. There’s something so hauntingly whimsical about the spells that give me goosebumps every time.

[@Henchman.24]

Please explain the phrase "hauntingly whimsical"

[@alexsmith12]

Yes, I agree. Cuaron did a great job with that film. He didn't miss alot from the books, and you get more detail on harry's friendships and everyday life (eating sweets in the dormitory, ghosts performing, etc). Also, the way he moves the camera around is incredible. The music also shows the more medieval castle side of hogwarts. It's just a magical piece if art.

[@Sillytommysadventure]

Olivia Martin ngl i kinda find those sounds annoying. i think the crackling is much better or the zooms. goblet of fire and POA where werid to me, kinda sounded like whooshes and lasers

[@exiaax]

HapaxHog So full of whimsy that it haunts you.

[@ohwellwhateverr]

In another, better universe than the one we inhabit, Alfonso Cuaron directed all the movies and yes, they were 6 hours long but goddamn it they were artistic masterpieces. As it stands, Azkaban is a gift to humanity.

[@DanMarinerMan]

I still get chills every time Harry yells “EXPECTO PATRONUUUUUM!” At the end of PoA. Chills. Every. Damn. Time.

[@hola542]

Daniel Radcliffe did an incredible job with showing that sincerity of emotion. Incredible talent for such a young age.

[@lonerwithaboner8891]

All I could think of was his voice crack

[@emimurase813]

also the beginning of OftP that one is crazy

[@atribecalledlen3567]

Emi Murase wasn’t as iconic as when he did it in PoA

[@pilar8323]

Same. It's so good that for a minute I forget to be disappointed that his patronus isn't a stag.

[@rubend5191]

A nice sound effect is 'Lumos Maxima' in Prisoner of Azkaban, used at the very beginning of the movie

[@danmaloney9215]

Almost makes up for how annoying it is that he's using magic outside school with no repercussions

[@piotrnowak8725]

@@danmaloney9215 The Ministry didn't mind in Prisoner of Azkaban given that Sirius Black was at large. In the Chamber of Secrets though they shouldn't ignore that warning letter he got.

[@danmaloney9215]

@@piotrnowak8725 Yeah they do ignore it in the end but he wouldn't just be casually casting Lumos without thinking about it because he didn't know they'd ignore it

[@leandroisaac2000]

@@danmaloney9215 I thought you weren't supposed to use magic outside of the school only if it was in front of a muggle.

[@ahriik]

@@danmaloney9215 he was under a blanket. the same technique used by millions of children to continue playing gameboy or DS past bedtime with no repercussions

[@tikaedits]

harry's expecto patronum in prisoner of azkaban gets me every time

[@hainigill450]

Me too..i get goosebumps..

[@burgulize]

Loved it when they sampled it for the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Bangers mushup.

[@mjg_____]

B U R S T into tears omFg. was not ready.

[@thekiss2083]

Best moment in the series hands down.

[@hola542]

Completely agree, I get chills. And the white noise of the patronus charm that follows, adds to it as well. Daniel Radcliffe has his moments.

[@KassidyJMoore]

3:47 still gives me goosebumps to this day. I'll always be a kid when Harry Potter comes on lmao

[@FutureNow]

If only Harry knew more than two spells.

[@swapnilbatle]

*Hermione eye roll*

[@soufian2733]

Expelliarmus & Stupefy ?

[@MegaClaymore123]

All dueling spells are pretty much useless when you can just disarm your foe ... hence Harry's affinity for expeliarmus.

[@Enthalpiste]

Still more than Rincewind...

[@UnusGrunus]

@@MegaClaymore123 never really thought about it but that's true. Effective but peacefull aprouch to a duel that fits harry very well

[@Sam-0827]

3:28 The Prisoner of Azkaban will always be my favorite. Every hint from the previous books tied together and creates a dark atmosphere, preparing us for what the rest of the movies would be like. The characters developed more and relationships started to develop. Even something as seemingly simple as a wand sound was different, more creative. Love harry potter.

[@TommoCarroll]

Nerdwriter plus Harry Potter... *TODAY IS A GOOD DAY!*

[@verdurite]

Nerd

[@Brikxar]

Aspect Science :)!

[@rawvid9065]

Damn didn't knew you also watched Harry Potter and all It's like seeing someone like s.l. Jackson or Obama watching game of thrones or something

[@dripstein6130]

LOL i was gonna say the same thing

[@MediumDSpeaks]

Oh hey, you're that guy that's famous now.

[@ellja9399]

Bellatrix: Avada Kedavra Snape: Avada Kedavra Voldemort: AVUADAAA KEDAVRRAAA

[@Micoolaw]

"People understand what they see, but they feel what they hear" That's good

[@turbotaquitogoogle8095]

It is but I'd argue you can feel what you see too. Cinematography isn't as powerful as sound in my opinion, but it can still be intensely emotional

[@LichlordKazam]

I doubt it. I showed my mother the computer setup, and she undestood nothing. Not sure what you mean with "feel what you hear". If someone says fuck you, should i feel like fuck you?

[@pepijnstreng4643]

For the patronus sounds in the Prisoner of Azkaban, you've got to give some credit to John Williams. When you hear Harry do the patronus, listen to the harmonies in the choir - he wrote those. Especially the great one with Sirius at the lake that you showed, listen how it harmonizes with the horn playing a recurring theme from the music (you can also hear it, for example, when he talks to Remus about his parents, only then it's played by a recorder), signifying the personal significance for Harry. I sang in a choir once for a live performance of the music along with the movie, and you really notice how important the music is for the pacing and drama of the entire film. Music and sound design are so tightly woven together that you don't always hear which is which. It's an amazingly made movie, and I agree with you that it's the best (although I love the Half Blood Prince as well).

[@draxiss1577]

This comment reminds me of the interplay of music and sounds design in *Babylon 5.* Some of the most iconic space battle scenes in the series use an incredible interplay of music, sci-fi weapon sounds, and battle shots.

[@aidanthornton4827]

I agree totally= it also weirdly reminded me of some of the (amazing) choir work in Halo 3 xD but youre right it toally boosts the scene and adds to the goosebump effect alright

[@pranavjoshi9833]

The Half Blood Prince is also a haunting film about loss and coming of age. Though Cuaron's POA is masterful, HBP's Hogwarts finally comes of age and is almost unbearably atmospheric and ominous.

[@PeterParker-kg4xe]

I always knew it coz John William him self is a wizard. Waving his wand to people who are sitting in front of him and making magical music.

[@zmanrockz6358]

That piece of music is Window to the Past, for anyone looking for it.

[@TMWriting]

I just rewatched all of these movies in a row, and one of the things I noticed and was really impressed by was how the spells begin before the incantation is completed. It’s a really subtle decision but, for all of the reasons you mentioned, it does something really interesting with the movement of a spell. Instead of it being “word *then* result”, the two are intertwined as one incredibly potent action that lends a powerful rhythm to any act of magic, no matter how isolated or cacophonous the spell is in the scene. Great movies are built on great details and Harry Potter has yet to disappoint.

[@SunnyBear]

that's an excellent point that I have never considered, thanks for pointing it out! I'll be watching (listening) more closely when I rewatch them again now :)

[@MSephirroth]

however, word-then-result had a certain logic, you know. intertwined word and result takes away the point of learning the spells right. now no one would care if it is windgardium levioooosa or windgardium leviosaaa, because the object would start to fly around "lev" already. but based on what? you inner intention of doing that specific spell? ok I can take it as a base of non verbal magic, where your intention is the only thing that matters, obviously. But with this we have another problem. first: why are the students taught to cast spells with voice and incantations, that are in fact irrelevant? Afterwards they have to relearn the spells to cast them solely with their intent instead. It is easier to use incantations, but do we want to teach things, that are rather easy than right? Second: not even Voldemort is able to use Avada Kedavra without incantation. He does need to say something along the line Avada Kedavra and even though he messes up the pronunciation, he gets the result. At around the same time as he shouts those words. And again it takes away the feeling, that you need to know the incantation properly in order to execute the spell. It is contradictory to magic of Lockhart. remember when his honest intention was to help Harry? he removed the bones in his hand instead of healing them. Based on previous logic, his intention should prevail against the words, that he mumbled wrongly. But it did not happen - what he SAID was definite. Though we might try to explain this with "Voldemort, well, even Harry, both are much better wizards and therefore their intentions will prevail, because they can direct their magic to the task they need with much better focus..." or something like that, it still does sound like a bit forced defence of disconnectedness. Maybe I would, in the name of technical and logical correctness, divide the casting into two cathegories: non verbal, where you intention defines the spell, and verbal - where the incantation defines the spell. In first, you need to be really good in directing your magical power to perform magical result exactly as you wanted it plus wand movement if necessary. In second, you need to master the spell with proper pronunciation and wand movement. Wrongly said spell would therefore ruin your intention and because you can ruin your incantation at the end of it, it is logical that first you need to cast it properly and only then the result will come. I understand, that blending those two helped the movies. because it would be weird to always wait until the incantation is complete. It looks better, feels better, smoother and more dramatic when the spells are flying around faster, that they would, if we waited for incantation to be completed - but still, I repeat: it takes away the logic of spell casting.

[@Ranger1812]

MSephirroth Using words makes it easier. And you don't need to relearn the entire spell... It doesn't remove the need for correct pronunciation, it's still a part of it.

[@MyrthexLatoya]

@@MSephirroth I always saw it like learning to ride a bicycle. Once you master it you will never lose the ability to ride a bicycle. However if you want to learn how to ride it without hands (non-verbal spells) you first need to know how to ride a bicycle properly in the first place (verbal spells). You can't start by learning how to ride a biclyce without hands, you will absolutely fail if you don't know how to ride it in the first place. Casting spells non-verbally is extremely difficult and not something everyone will succeed in learning how to do. That's why they start by teaching the verbal spells and don't just rush to the non-verbal ones. But I do believe that once you have mastered a certain spell and have used it a lot of times, learning how to cast it non-verbally will become easier. And maybe that makes that you can do a combination of verbal and non-verbal at the same time, you are not skilled enough to use it non-verbally yet, but you are getting there. That would explain the different ways in which the Killing Curse is cast in the movies: Bellatrix, Snape and Wormtail all finish their verbal spells before the actual curse is cast, but Voldemort doesn't need to use the whole verbal spell because he has used it countless times before. I also don't think it is not a question of either the incantation or the wand movement or your intention, but a combination of all of these. Using an incantation makes the spell easier because it directs your intention and guides your movement, but it is not always necessary to say the incantation out loud. For example if you use the Unforgivable Curses you need to 'mean' it. What better way to drive your intention home than to say it out loud? However if your intention is strong enough, like with Voldemort, you can already cast the spell without completing the incantation. I believe that combined with the fact he knows the spell inside and out and has already used it a lot of times makes that he doesn't need to verbally complete the incantation to make the spell work.

[@UltimateKyuubiFox]

MyrthexLatoya We know based on JK’s writing about African magic schools that young mages in Africa primarily learn how to perform nonverbal magic and they don’t even have wands. It would appear that wands in the Wizarding World are more like cyphers for magical power-training wheels, essentially. They make your magic more potent and easier to control, but they also reduce your magical capability into specific spells you need to memorize.

[@kanal2123a]

My favourite spell is "Nyaaaaaaa"

[@MuslimInventions]

Isn't how the lion King begins?

[@keandras8584]

Stenky what's that

[@kanal2123a]

@@keandras8584 Voldemort in ministry of magic :D

[@thathsaraamarasinghe6774]

Mine is; EEUUUUAAAGHHH!!!! (This one: 6:43)

[@MEllOWDPRODUCTIONS]

@@thathsaraamarasinghe6774 It such a mood xD

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

Alfonso Cuaron is one of my favorite directors, and conveniently he made my favorite Harry Potter film.

[@apullcan]

Hope he wins more Oscars this year for Roma...

[@t500010000]

What he did for Harry Potter is art and creation in it's purest form

[@joemagill4041]

The other directors made decent to good HP films... Cuaron just made a good film.

[@KyleGallagher]

Prisoner of Azkaban is the best one for many reasons, but for me it's because it's the only film in the series where Voldemort isn't the antagonist: it's Harry. He has to overcome, and save himself.

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

@@KyleGallagher I agree, but I do think they revisit this thematically later because of the parallel between Voldemort and Harry. Voldemort is inside Harry's head, telling him how similar they are. Harry has to overcome the self doubt and insecurity wondering "am I like him?". I think it is explored best in Azkaban.

[@TeleBlur]

Movie noises: *exists* Nerdwriter1: I'm about to analyze this man's whole career.

[@houston-coley]

Loved this! I’ve been thinking about the sound design in HP for awhile - I’ll never forget watching a featurette for Order of the Phoenix where the Foley artist talked about how the apparating sound effect was a combination of a cloak flapping in the wind, firecrackers, and some kind of bicycle sound. It’s creativity like that that blows my mind.

[@turbotaquitogoogle8095]

@@Churro_Flaminguez Plus you can be WILDLY creative with Foley. It's really a phenomenally underrated part of film

[@maxlewis5975]

If you want to see some other creative sound design look into Doom 2016. Both the music and in game sound effects have a neat history behind them.

[@mr.krepshus1467]

This video is pure greatness

[@sheikhheisen]

Just have to say, you are a master at making trailers.

[@mr.krepshus1467]

SlashTrike Well, thank you :)

[@tanmayjain5385]

Editing God complimenting analysing God.

[@LetsbeHonestOfficial]

It must take a lot of time to collect all the little scenes and make it all go together so seamlessly. Good job, Nerd

[@morriscolenbrander1395]

that last part made it sound like you are sarcastic

[@LetsbeHonestOfficial]

@@morriscolenbrander1395 Not meant as sarcasm in any way. Just a play on his channel's name meant in a funny tone

[@whereeveritgoes]

Voldemort: "Abra kadabra!" *rabbits jumps out from the tip of his wand* Potter: wtf? Voldemort: "Shit! Avada Kedavra!" *rabbit dies instead of Potter* Potter: bruh

[@floweydreemurr33]

Yes.

[@odinkristiansen6731]

BrUh

[@annikaheydl7342]

*calls peta*

[@emmaisweird2731]

Awang Budiman ABRA KADABRA

[@Doctor_Straing_Strange]

*facepalm*

[@CDHord]

First rule of Harry Potter magic: No pew pews!

[@VocalBear213]

Mmm... Are you taking about the last 3 movies? Oh, and add a poor Guinea portrayal and puke jokes..

[@zacharyjochumsen9677]

​@VocalBear213 well to be hmeat th harry potter wands do kind llok.like compressed lightsabrs though

[@iliketochasegibbons8015]

If there’s one memorable sound that I’ll always remember hearing in these movies, it’d have to be the water sound when Dumbledore fight Voldemort. It just sounds so right and seems to be handled with elegance and care, while you can see within seconds what kind of damage can be done with it. Marvelous.

[@ghian89]

I love how every fight scenes it gets quiet and you would hear crisp sounds of the spells, the breathing, peoples feet running or walking. Its magical.

[@aMilling]

Harry saving himself by the lake will always be amazing. The sound of his Patronus is just so fucking awe inspiring.

[@moonlitproductions7182]

Magic sounds like waves of energy or sparkling of light.

[@gorgolyt]

Neither of those things sound like anything.

[@gitanjalisrivastava16975]

@@gorgolyt Lol true

[@thathsaraamarasinghe6774]

5:20 Jesus christ this gives me the CHILLS

[@AaditDoshi]

My game design professor used to say "visuals tell you what to think, audio tells you what to feel"

[@Jagosvault]

I feel like they missed a trick on Avada Kedavra, since in the books it is described as "the sound of speeding death", but in the films it sounds more like a bot of energy (powerful, yet not like speeding death)

[@draxiss1577]

I always envisioned it as being less flashy and less like an arc of green electricity. In my mind, it barely has a shape before it hits something, but it's more like a projectile. Just a *Fffsss* and someone''s dead before they hit the ground.

[@adisaster8734]

while reading the book i definitely imagined it silent just a chilling silence and then the thump of a body falling. in the movies i liked that they went with electricity cuz the wand movement is in he shape of a lightning bolt and its why harry's scar is that shape. the way from the book wouldnt really make it dramatic in the movie and the way from the movie would make it over dramatic in the book. idk if im making sense lol. basically in my head the tone from the movie and book is different. movie is dramatic and book is realistic and quiet? (lmao realistic for a magic book i know)

[@Jdpoz]

I still think the movie battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore was the single best use of "magic" in the sense I think of it, because of its basis in more of what seemed to be an extension of a battle of wits. So many of the Harry Potter films' magical battles consisted of these non-descript energy blast style spells that seemed to either just knock someone over or clash against another energy spell... but the battle between V and D was about various spells and ways to counter them. V casts fire? Dumbledore pulls a ball of water. V shatters all glass and then sends them towards Harry and Dumbledore in a shower of deadly needles? Dumbledore turns them to snow. It reminded me of the Disney animated film - The Sword and the Stone - specifically the scene where Merlin and Mad Madam Mim had a "wizard duel." They each changed to various creatures to try to defeat one another, wherein Merlin only won when he became a virus against Mim's dragon (which also was her cheating - since mythical creatures weren't allowed from the outset). The battle between Merlin and Mim wasn't about whose "magic beam" they fired by pointing their wand at the other wizard was stronger. It was about which wizard was more clever... I just wish there had been more of that sort of magic throughout the films, because it made the battles less abstract and more exciting.

[@JudePhilips]

JDPoZ Very Well Analyzed ! I completely agree.

[@DeadlyDeadlyBeees]

I've always thought that was one of the best battles, and you just explained why perfectly.

[@subbtopewd7266]

Doesn't he turn the glass into sand because that's what it's made of? Not snow?

[@liiindseyyy]

Subb ToPewd Yeah he turned it to sand not snow

[@matthewcooper4248]

Well first off he turned the glass to sand not snow. Secondly, while I want to agree, you have to realize Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard of all time. That's the only reason they went that way. As you remember, they started with the energy spell blast thing. Voldemort knew it was going to stay a stalemate, so he made the snake. The example you brought up from the sword in the stone is fine because it worked for that system of magic. But knowing HP's system of magic, in the movies at least, most magic is the 'energy blasts', so that's what most people would use.

[@vrindajourno]

The slight tremble with which Alan Rickman says 'Avada Kedavra' at 6:03 is so meaningful when you know about his actual relationship with Dumbledore and his place in the war that was to ensue.

[@beccalanning6370]

"Okay, that was a corny line, I can't end on that. Let's do Voldemort instead" Laughed so hard at this XD

[@jp3813]

I hate how the spells in the later films basically began resembling gunshots, especially in the cafe scene of Deathly Hallows 1.

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

*now that’s what I call magic*

[@jalcome4201]

Boy am I glad we dodged that one

[@allergictoalliteration6033]

"okaythatwasacornylineican'tendonthat"

[@dabadeedabadie001]

@@allergictoalliteration6033 "Let's do Voldemort instead" "HEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAGH!!!!"

[@drruid7645]

No one, literally no one: Voldemort:”Auadaa kedaaavaaah”

[@user-ss2pj1rh7q]

I think it's more like EEUUVADA KEDAVRAAH

[@mk677hd]

6:09

[@thazl]

2:55 Just close your eyes and imagine a bunch x-wings and tie fighters flying all over space in an epic battle. That´s a star wars sequence right there.

[@franks8462]

That's what I was thinking during the whole sequence. The sounds established in the first film were thrown out the window in the second. Coincidentally, the second film was also (arguably) the worst film in the franchise.

[@_coffeebean_]

Thought the same. Seems like they completely ignored the "no modern sounds" part in this one. Good thing that they quickly got away from that and changed it in the third one

[@RohannvanRensburg]

@@franks8462 I don't know what it is about Chamber of Secrets but it feels so unnecessarily long.

[@THENBASTORYTELLER]

!!!

[@jessefontainieohfwob]

That moment sirius gets killed is so heartbreaking. You see harrys smile immediately fade away as he starts to realise what just happened

[@LoverboyMedia]

Here for literally any praise for these movies. We're so lucky to have them.

[@wendel5868]

Its called being a fanboy.

[@koenmvandeurzen613]

I think Warner is a perfect studio for the hp movies, especially the later more gritty ones, but which studio do you propose?

[@MrLizardLab]

They could have been better, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. Rushed movies can go wrong in soo many ways.

[@LoverboyMedia]

You're probably underestimating how crazy it was for things to line up as well as they did with WB, David Heyman and Chris Columbus. I doubt any other studio, especially if they were made today, would have been crazy enough to throw Alfonso Cauron at a Harry Potter movie, and because of that, it paved the way for a franchise that consistently delivered exciting, adventurous, artistically stimulating blockbusters that critics loved. Sure, they could have been better in a number of places, but getting 8 films as good as what we got is kind of incredible.

[@TheRishijoesanu]

Doctor Strange does a better job with magic sounds

[@thegrynne]

Cuaron is such an artist, the series owes him so much.

[@MelanieAnneAhern]

Love this. Solid sound design is so under appreciated in filmmaking, but it’s impact is huge.

[@TheMrWillje]

My favourite spell sound is one you showed at 1:56. It's in the 5th film where Dumbledore and voldemort are fighting, and Dumbledore has voldemort in a sphere of water. It's a sound just after half a second of silence. It almost sounds like a bird singing

[@thehopeofeden597]

Nerdwriter brings me so much joy. I love the comment he made about Prisoner of Azkaban in an older video. That Harry Potter is there to help people learn how to read literature, and the movies help people learn how to "read" cinematically. Just the idea that someone like you Evan, is willing to put the effort in to helping people understand what they're passionate about, why they're passionate about it, and why art and society become effective at making us feel the way they do, is really uplifting. I think that's why this is my favorite KZbin channel. So, I just wanted to say thank you.

[@franczi9664]

I never realized this before but..the sound of magic in The Prisoner of Azkaban might be one of the reasons why this is my favourite HP movie. This, plus the soundtrack and the colors made everything seem more...introspective and misterious

[@jamesheydenrych3466]

That patronus scene at the beginning of the Order of Phoenix reminds that Umbridge ordered the dementors to kiss Harry and Dudley, she truly was the most horrid character.

[@SharpDesign]

kiss?

[@NobodyC13]

The dementor's ultimate attack is called "the dementor's kiss": they latch onto their victim's mouth like a violent kiss when really they're sucking out their soul, rendering the victim an empty husk for the rest their life. Rowling describes it like becoming catatonic or living in a persistent vegetative state, your body still lives but the things that make you you are gone and can no longer enter any kind of afterlife.

[@SharpDesign]

@@NobodyC13 oh, thank you. I forgot the meaning.

[@EricGraham94]

That wasn’t openly mentioned onscreen but heavenly implied when Umbridge says during the trial “It sounded for a moment as though you were suggesting the Ministry had ordered the attack on this boy.”

[@controlZchannel]

I've used the legit magic spell soundfx in my own HP spoof videos. Never appreciate how loud they are until you have to listen to them over and over again while editing.

[@AmbitionMusic]

god I love your videos about Harry Potter. please make more

[@bellabpaiva]

Second that!

[@Harshulnarang1]

The shield penetrating charm used by voldy in the last movie was my favourite magic moment in the entire series! The sound of the shield creation and the reverberating tremor when all death eater spells hit it! and then when voldy does his "eeyeahhh" spell and the explosion that follows! Just wow! Like here's a shield that was created by some of the most accomplished witches and wizards; the entire deatheater army fired at it and nothing happened; and then voldy looses his shit and shreds it to pieces in seconds using a wand that was resisting him! It was just so real! and it was a horrifying testament to his powers and why everyone was so scared of him! The CGI and the sound effects did complete justice to this scene!

[@OfTwoLands]

Brilliant, as always. Harry Potter is such an amazing story on so many levels and luckily the movies did it justice.

[@melaniemagdalene1616]

Unlike those Peter Johnson movies...

[@RabiyaRavenclaw]

Humbly disagree. Apart from the first two, the rest of the HP movies couldn't possibly catch the magic of Rowling's Wizarding World. Also Becoz they omitted out so much information and details from the books, it created a significant amount of plot holes in the movies.

[@allykaman9340]

seeing all the "avada kedavra" moments one after another actually made me like stop and sigh at how much meaning there was with each one. good stuff.

[@TheRockerX]

Even more evidence that Prisoner of Azkaban is the best Harry Potter movie

[@vaibhavgupta20]

i don't know why he didn't direct anymore movie. IMO Prisoner of Azkaban is better than the book itself.

[@horizon92lee]

The Rocker X goblet ftw

[@camerono.3183]

@@vaibhavgupta20 After that film came out, despite it earning more than enough to carry on the franchise, the director was still treated as if he had tarnished the entire series. Think about it, this was the first HP film to ever delve into darker territories and to discuss matters of the human experience, and people didn't like that. They wanted their happy, wizard, school, kiddy films back. Of course, it is nowadays regarded as the best one in retrospect in many ways.

[@vaibhavgupta20]

how do you like the David Yates' movies? after i watched order of Phoenix i hated and stopped watching happy potter entirely. Biggest problem i find is lack of colors in the movies. only recently watched rest after i read the novel.

[@Cavers]

@@vaibhavgupta20 What are you talking about? Order of the Phoenix had plenty of colours.

[@egnato1165]

The "explosive-whoosh" thing is mainly done/decorated with the all-mighty *flanger* sound effect. I recently started using it on music production and it's one hell of a tool, mostly because how satisfying it sounds (It does for me, at least)

[@JustAHat]

I love the sound of lumos maxima when the prisoner of azkaban title appears

[@NotMe6044]

My personal favorite sound from the series is when the killing curse is used on the spider in Goblet. It almost seems like the sound was cut short like the curse does to lives.

[@thehopeofeden597]

Something I forgot that this video made me remember: Daniel Radcliffe has very pretty eyes.

[@idktbh92929]

Awsamazing Eden Indeed

[@live_evil4961]

i thought I was the only one who knew this!

[@idktbh92929]

Live_ Evil same

[@Danilego]

He has his mother's eyes

[@LunAR-ic7uj]

Danilego i....I love you for that reference

[@wind-flower]

4:44 This is probably one of my favourite "spell sound" moments in the movies. I love the slightly delayed "whip sound" of Sirius's disarming spell combined with his hand motion and the abruptly ending "snare sound" of Avada Kedavra combined with Sirius's expression when he gets hit by it - you only see pain for a short moment and then he's already dead, there's no time for a drawn out dying moment.

[@im19ice3]

i'm glad someone notices these things, many of the collaborators on such projects only really prove how competent they are when we don't notice what they did

[@jaredavies]

Was anybody else getting emotional when he showed the succession of killing curse moments? Seeing all those beloved characters die all in a row legit made me cry.

[@JustNicole6400]

Great now I’m in the mood to watch the entire series in one night

[@NicolaLarosa]

How's it going up there in the Arctic (or down there in the Antartic)? ;-)

[@Corehaven22]

My favorite magic sound from the films is when Dumbledore is manipulating the water ball with Voldemort inside it. There's a whistling noise his wand makes several times. And I wish I'd heard that more in the movies. I loved that sound associated with the wand.

[@nazeefchowdhury2226]

I feel that the music of harry potter is underappreciated and needs more credit. Its beauty could battle with hans zimmer.

[@biggainallbran8937]

Google accounts Well the first three films were scored by John Williams, so that’s hardly surprising.

[@obiwankenobi687]

BigGainAllBran even though I love John Williams, I’ve always preferred the soundtrack of goblet of Fire onwards.

[@ohwellwhateverr]

​@@obiwankenobi687 The GOF soundtrack was a travesty. I much preferred the medieval route that Williams took on the third film. Though Desplat did really well on the last few. Lily's Theme and Dumbledore's Farewell are beautiful.

[@obiwankenobi687]

ohwellwhateverr and Obliviate, which is my favorite overall piece of any of the films. And then a new beginning, which is just beautiful

[@irai_nesanOfThamizhOrigin]

@ohwellwhateverr I don't know man, but "The story continues" from GOF is something else. It fits the dark turn the movie had took

[@PlamenDrop]

I thought that the Dementors fed on happiness and that's why everything becomes sad and depressing when they're around and anyone they "attack" only have their saddest feeling remaining

[@nicholascureton933]

Voldy Mort will never be able to use magic spells if he have to pronounce spells correctly.

[@m.h.9994]

I'm sure he can do magic without using words ;)

[@s.storumus8620]

I like the sounds from all of them, but I think the flute noise from POA should have been saved exclusively for the patronus charm to make it sound more different and special, but I still like it. I noticed with the fourth movie, they went and combined the explosive sounds from CoS with the flutey noise in POA, and the other movies had the spells sound quicker.

[@bramlelieveldt]

Simply amazing, You managed to show me a part of The cinematic Harry Potter series which I had never noticed! Thank you a lot

[@timetologoff1780]

If you ignore the fact that the sound changes for technical reasons, you could almost view it as the magic maturing with the main characters. At first there are many different kinds of sounds because magic is new to them, as they get used to magic but are still excited by it the sounds become similar but still with that exiting explosion. In the third film the magic sounds more mysterious than exiting which is probably how Harry (at that age) would have viewed it; it's a mystery to him that he is used to, he doesn't know how it works but he doesn't seem to wonder it either. Magic is more of a human thing to him now, so it has human voice undertones.

[@MaluzOrozco]

“They feel what they hear” That’s exactly why I’m a sound designer 😎

[@ackerwoman16]

What's it like I wanna know (if you don't mind )

[@shaunm6383]

Tell us. We need to know.

[@dark_ranger1951]

she really left us wanting

[@jontywbridge7218]

seeing the goblet of fire duel straight after the deathly hallows duel shows just how different spells look in the films too

[@manuelunger6386]

06:21 'People understand what they see, but they feel what they hear'

[@JoshHenderson16]

What an amazing video. Your examples were so on point and made me appreciate the spellcasting on a whole other level. Incidentally, the very point about spells being an extension of the person and really resonating with the incantations is an aspect I feel was very clearly missing from FB.

[@IAmGeorgeLucas]

One day they'll remake the Harry Potter movies and all of us will hate it.

[@matthewfrancis4511]

Bit rich coming from you George

[@IAmGeorgeLucas]

@@matthewfrancis4511 At least the prequels were original. Can't say the same for the Mouse...

[@user-ly2ll5od1r]

@@IAmGeorgeLucas i'd rather take decent movies with unoriginal ideas that doesn't do anything fantastic rather than the shitty stinking hot turd garbage prequels. Anyone with iq above 50 could make an "original" movie.

[@SubscribersWithoutAnySubscribe]

I really hope they do, because I hated everything after the second movie. First Dumbledore lost his blue eyes and gentle demeanor, then John Williams stopped doing the music scores, and then directors just started doing progressively more stupid stuff like having characters punch each other, and not bothering to read up on what spells actually do. It just got worse and worse until finally death eaters and order members were somehow wisps of corporeal smoke flying around and I switched off completely. Started off great, ended up like the fight scenes from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

[@SubscribersWithoutAnySubscribe]

@Zach Arbogast It was the third best you... peanut plundering.. dustbin doll.

[@triplechocolate887]

Just finished a Harry Potter marathon last Sunday, I loved this

[@Robbscarey]

As much as the book loyalist in me doesn't like how in the last few films the incantations went kinda out of the window. the film student in me loves how in the later and more recent movies, particularly deathly hallows pt1, the wand battles have the aesthetic and intensity of close quarters gun battles. really great directing choice from yates.

[@rayaqin]

i think it is atrocious and horrible what they have done with wand battles... but it could definitely have been better in the books as well anyway, the best part of all the movies is that few seconds/minutes when voldemort and dumbledore fight in the ministry, it is VERY well done

[@franks8462]

This seems like the similar case between the Shining film/book debacle. The book is great and so is the film, but I would much rather see a hedge maze on screen than silly topiary animals prancing around. If we put the books through a "real world" lens, incantations are clunky (and rather silly).

[@Robbscarey]

I think it's very much a case of what's cinematic and what makes sense on the page. You don't get the feeling of being in the room in a book that you do with a films use of sound design and visuals. In a book you have to do the visualisation for yourself and it feels more like you're being told a story than actual being there. Both approaches work in their particular mediums but when adapting the page to the screen the film makers do need to take the more cinematic approach to make the pace of the film better (there's a really good essay here)

[@Erika-gn1tv]

To be fair, the books establish that that is possible.

[@pbft.j]

This is an amazing topic to cover. Little things like this are what make your channel so freaking cool man. Good job.

[@artloveranimation]

I love how harry potter uses music for memorable magical moments, like when Harry first casts a patronus.

[@liamburke1436]

Thank you for putting so much thought and detail into this video. This video was a breath of fresh air from most other content on youtube!

[@Soulindex]

"Let's end with Voldemort instead" *twisted wilhelm scream*

[@takui3802]

I love this video! It is intriguing that just pure sound effect design play a big role in how people feel and makes the fight seen very powerful. I just watched your another video about harry potter and both of the videos inspired me to look into filming more seriously.

[@Tondadrd]

5:50 You know, Harry is around very often when the Death Curse is being cast...

[@liv97497]

A huge part of the change is just because in PS they tried really hard to stick to book descriptions. When Hagrid gives Dudley the pig's tail (first time Harry sees a spell being cast) the sound described is literally of a firecracker. PoA deviated so much from the book that it really had complete freedom to reimagine a lot of things.

[@ohyeayea68]

Me: Voldemort is the most intimidating villa- Voldemort: HUHVRIVAKUHDABRA!! Me: ...nevermind.

[@emopeterparker7]

burst out laughing when it came on im sorry voldie

[@Double-R-Nothing]

My favorite duel in the movies next to Voldemort and Dumbledore is the cafe fight. At that point, the spells are like gunshots.

[@CED3]

“The Sound of Magic”, the Harry Potter musical, coming soon.

[@mambojambostudio]

You did a really good job on showing your examples but not spoiling anything.

[@calebconnor850]

Nerdwriter1 + Harry Potter is always good

[@TusharSundarka]

0:40 The star wars lightsaber and blaster sound was my first idea. Imagine how offended I was when he says that was the sound they were trying to avoid in the next minute

[@_baert]

Unrelated to HP, but my favorite sound in a movie ever is the seismic bomb in the Star Wars prequels, but also the complete silence before it goes off. The absence of sound can be just as impactful as it was shown again in The Last Jedi.

[@rodrigofernandez5825]

What an amazing video essay. The script for this is just perfect.

[@MadKingOfMadaya]

*_6:21_**_ ”Who said that?”_* *_Nerdwriter1: ”Me...”_*

[@ginapellegrini4934]

I wish more thought was put into sound consistency for spells throughout the series. The same spell has different sounds from movie to movie, making each film seem separate and not part of a cohesive series. It would have been cool if we could identify spells based on their sound during unspoken magic (much like I imagine the characters could)

[@MAZaini93]

To be honest one of the main reasons why I wasn't a big fan of every Harry Potter from Goblet of Fire onward is because I feel like they became too "pew-pew" with the spell sounds. The first 3 movies really made you feel like magic was happening when a spell was cast, it was always unique and creative. Then you move onto the movies after that and it just became mindless colourful flashes with bland noises. Wands basically became guns. For me the eclipse of all magic in the series was Harry casting that patronus charm in Prisoner of Azkaban. It was truly magical.

[@whenthedustfallsaway]

Yes in the last two films it seems like everyone was having a war with Avada Kadabra

[@robbegeens2885]

@@whenthedustfallsaway yes in GoF I thought the killing curse was super hard and only the best of the best could perform them but in the next movies it just seems too easy, still great movies though

[@jimchoong1215]

@@robbegeens2885 you needed to mean it which most people couldn't, but in a situation of war this can change making the urgency to kill the enemy stronger

[@matthewcooper4248]

Given that they were using the spells to fight, it makes sense that they would sound more like that. And no, they did not sound like guns, at least not any real world guns. They were made to sound fast and weighted, but not made out of real material. That's what they did. He even brings up the different sound profiles of the killing curse in the later movies. Honestly did you even watch the video or did you just want to write your comment and move on?

[@BlackXSunlight]

David Yates definitely has an eye for dramatic shots, grand sets, and tighter action, but the worst thing he ever did to Harry Potter was make the magic an indistinct gumbo of wand flicks. There’s a point where you don’t hear incantations anymore, all spells are little jets of white mist with similar effects. Stupification being red is iconic and a missed opportunity visually.

[@divyenduraina]

I think the choir-y music in the patronus spell of the Azkaban movie wasn't supposed to be the part of the sound of spell but just the BG music to give a sort of angelic and ethereal feel because that's the aesthetic the visuals of the spell also potray.

[@BUDGETBALLER]

My favorite sound designs are definitely 2 and 3 The latter movies commit the sin of making magic sound like electricity

[@ellentheeducator]

Also, the later movies leaned a bit too much into making wand fights just blaster duels. (And I won't talk about the Harry/Voldemort showdown)

[@henreebee6561]

Allen Baker yeah, I hated how they portrayed the battles between Harry and Voldemort, where their wands connected. They tried to make it look exciting with a lot of camera cutting and movement but if you were just watching that in real life it would look lame. They’re just standing in place and yelling!

[@videosfavoritosdegle]

Henry Barbee you mean like the fight of Gohan vs Cell in Dragon Ball Z? 🤣

[@scifigeek14]

its interesting that the 3rd film changed the sound because I think I subconsciously noticed it without realizing I had. the 3rd film is my fave for many reasons but also because I can instantly recall scenes from it. the most iconic to me being the opening scene with lumos and nox. THAT is the sound I associate with magic in HP.

[@ElizabethRainey]

Still incredibly mad about how they changed Sirius' death from him falling into an object so mysterious and impossible to explain and disappearing from earth, to just getting hit by the killing curse like thousands of others before and having his body evaporated.

[@FroodTooth]

I just finished marathoning the films during Christmas period. I guess I will have to watch them again to appreciate the sound designs