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masterofmystery · #1 (**permalink**) 04-15-2013, 07:23 PM

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London announced on Monday that for a week at the end of May through the beginning of June, the Harry Potter Leavesden studios will host some of the most famous animals in the series, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione's pets - Hedwig, Pigwidgeon, and Crookshanks, respectively. More on that can be read here.

This May, animal actors from the Harry Potter film series will make a special appearance at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – which highlights the talented training teams that helped create the performances of the 250+ live animals that appeared across all eight films.

From Saturday 25 th May to Sunday 2nd June 2013, a selection of animals, trained by Head Animal Trainer Julie Tottman, will revisit the incredible sets they frequented when working on the films.

Visitors will be able to pose for a picture with one of the snowy owls who played Harry Potter’s letter-delivering owl Hedwig as she sits outside 4 Privet Drive or watch as she flies across the Studio Tour’s backlot. A selection of\ owls, including the one that portrayed Ron Weasley’s pet Pigwidgeon, will be showcased in the backlot throughout the week and will also feature outside the shop front set of Eeylops Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley.

One of the cats that played stealthy Mrs Norris and one of the ginger cats that played Hermione Granger’s bandy-legged feline Crookshanks will prowl the Gryffindor common room. Visitors will also be able to learn how rats and toads were trained behind-the-scenes as the animal actors, who played Neville Longbottom’s toad Trevor and Ron Weasley’s rat Scabbers, were.

During filming, 40 kittens were brought to the studio to be filmed in front of a blue screen for Dolores Umbridge’s porcelain kitten plates which can be found at the Studio Tour in Umbridge’s Ministry of Magic office. The kittens were adopted after the shoot and their current owners have no idea that their pets once starred in one of the Harry Potter films. Visitors will discover firsthand how these scenes were filmed as the Studio Tour recreates a blue screen set complete with kittens.

A Neopolitan Mastiff, trained like those who played Hagrid’s loyal dog Fang, will be stationed outside the half-giant’s hut and visitors will be able to compare him to the incredibly lifelike figure that currently sits in the Gamekeeper’s hut.

Tickets must be pre-booked in advance and can be purchased from www.wbstudiotour.co.uk.