Review by Jon Donnis
Every generation of Harry Potter fans dreams of two things. Sneaking around Hogwarts under an Invisibility Cloak and catching the Golden Snitch at the final moment to win the Quidditch Cup. Thanks to the clever folk at WOW! Stuff, both of those fantasies have been brought to life in surprisingly impressive fashion.
Let's start with the Harry Potter RealFX Junior Invisibility Cloak. On first glance, it looks just like the one Harry unwraps from Dumbledore's Christmas parcel in the first film. The outside has that familiar silvery pattern we've seen countless times on screen, while the inside is a rich green that hides the tech magic behind it. The trick is simple but effective. Using the free app, the cloak's inner lining works like a portable green screen. You just slip it on, open your smartphone or tablet camera, and suddenly you're gone. Well, on screen at least.
It's easy enough for children to use, which makes it ideal for younger fans, though adults of smaller stature will probably give it a try too. The app includes backgrounds of classic locations like the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, so you can really look as if you've stepped straight into the films. It's the kind of toy that gets more entertaining the longer you play with it. You start with a simple disappearing act, then move on to directing entire scenes. The included stand helps to get the perfect shot, and before long, you'll be filling your phone with wizarding selfies and videos that would make even Fred and George jealous.
It's also, quietly, a neat introduction to how green screen effects work. It's educational without trying to be. And for under £35, it's one of those gifts that feels genuinely magical when you first see it in action. It's easy to imagine it being a big Christmas hit for families with young Potter fans.
Available on Amazon now at https://amzn.to/3KJurdZ
Now, the Mystery Flying Snitch is a different kind of magic. There's no screen involved here, just a bit of trickery worthy of any member of Dumbledore's Army. The Golden Snitch itself looks beautiful. Delicate wings that flutter, a gold sheen that catches the light, and the same slightly mischievous energy the prop had in the films.
The flight illusion uses invisible thread, the same kind of thing stage magicians use, and it really does work once you get the hang of it. Out of the box, it can be fiddly, but once you master the rhythm, the Snitch seems to hover and dart around you as if powered by pure magic. It's oddly satisfying watching it spin between your hands, especially when someone walks in and can't quite work out how you're doing it.
It's the sort of toy that rewards patience and imagination. Younger children might need a bit of guidance, but older kids, and anyone with a flair for showmanship, will love perfecting the illusion. When not in flight, it sits neatly on the display stand, complete with a Quidditch at Hogwarts collector's poster, which adds a nice finishing touch.
Put simply, both products manage to capture a bit of the joy that made the Harry Potter series so enduring. The Invisibility Cloak brings the visual wonder, the Snitch adds a touch of performance magic, and together they make brilliant gifts. Whether for a birthday or under the Christmas tree, these are presents that feel properly enchanted.
Available on Amazon now at https://amzn.to/3KLDTgQ
Part of the WOW! Stuff range in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, both the RealFX Invisibility Cloak and the Mystery Flying Snitch deliver what fans really want. A little piece of the Wizarding World, right there in your living room.
Thank you to WOW! Stuff for providing the toys for review.
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