ORLANDO, Fla. – Harry Potter fans know it all started with a book.
Thanks to the creative minds of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, certain things that were first introduced in the books can be seen in the films, on merchandise, or at a theme park.
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The designers behind the graphic props from “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” say in order to create iconic pieces — such as The Maurader’s Map —they had to treat them as characters, much like how author J.K. Rowling did in her storytelling and knowing very well that during the early stages of design, readers had a different idea of what certain props looked like.
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“When we started having contact with the Harry Potter films at first, people used to come to us and say, ‘Oh my God, the Marauder’s Map is exactly how I imagined,’” said Lima.
“It was a great sort of testimony,” said Mina. “We felt very honored that if it had ended up with this consensus that, that’s what it should be like, then we’ve done our job.”
The Marauder’s Map, the Hogwarts Acceptance Letter, and The Daily Prophet are just some of the iconic props the duo has brought to life. The pair started working together in 2001 to create the graphic universe of the “Harry Potter” film series. With that success, they were able to launch the MinaLima brand in 2009.
“When we finished Harry Potter, we’re just like, ‘Why, are we going to break this? Let’s carry on working together.’” Lima said.
It’s not just the films: the studio spent two years designing all the graphic elements for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando. Mina and Lima will return to the theme park and make a special appearance at the “House of MinaLima” pop-up store at Universal CityWalk on Saturday, March 23.
All of the products are designed at the House of MinaLima flagship headquarters in London. The same building houses the gallery and store, which sells prints, books and other items from the Wizarding World.
The same magical creations will be highlighted at the Saturday pop-up shop event. Mina credits Univeral Orlando with helping launch the MinaLima retail and calls the event a homecoming and meeting fans has been essential to their business.
There have been plenty of times when fans have shown off their passion for the graphic artists in the form of body art.
“Sometimes people will come to the event who have come fresh from the tattooist, so it was all red,” Mina said. “We’ve seen strange things like Bertie Botts, sometimes really random things that we designed as a background piece.”
“We never thought we’d see someone in passing with a Marauder’s Map tattooed on their back,” Lima said.
Lima says it’s also rewarding when fans tell him they chose graphic design as a career because of MinaLima.
Saturday’s event marks the first visit since the pair attended the Celebration of Harry Potter in 2018. The MinaLima Pop-Up shop is located inside the Universal Studios Store at Universal CityWalk. Guests will be able to meet and take photos with Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima from 1 - 5 p.m. Autograph signings will not be available.
For more information on the store, click here.
Women’s History Month and the Wizarding World
News 6 ended the interview with Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima with a question about Women’s History Month, asking what character or real-life heroine they find most inspiring.
For Lima, it’s Bellatrix Lestrange and Dolores Umbridge.
“I love the beloved ones because there are so many layers of those people.”
Mina and Lima both agree that Stephanie McMillan — who was the set decorator for the Harry Potter films — should also be recognized.
“She passed away, but she did so much to bring that world to life.”
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