by Donald Wood
Last updated: 2:31 PM ET, Mon May 6, 2019
To build authenticity for its new Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure roller coaster, Universal Orlando announced it has created its most lifelike animated figure for the attraction.
When the ride opens on June 13, the exact reproduction of Hagrid will guide guests through their adventure into the Forbidden Forest as they encounter some of the wizarding world's rarest magical creatures.
The Hagrid animated figure was created by the Universal Creative team, which spent thousands of hours creating the doppelganger with a level of detail that has never been done before. The theme park also worked with actor Robbie Coltrane, who portrays Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series.
The animated figure features an extensive motion profile of 24 different body movements and facial expressions; extensive recreations of Coltrane's head, face and mouth; a costume designed by the same team that created his on-screen wardrobe; and a custom script for his new adventure.
At 7 feet 6 inches tall, seeing Hagrid will be a significant part of his new roller coaster ride.
"Hagrid is such an iconic character and an integral part of the Harry Potter franchise, so we were excited to develop a truly innovative and authentic animated figure to bring him to life for this experience," Universal Creative Senior Vice President Thierry Coup said in a statement. "We worked tirelessly to make sure Hagrid's full essence was captured with the utmost attention to detail for our guests to feel completely immersed in this all-new adventure."
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