On November 5th (Thursday), students from Class 7 of the second-year Media Art Course visited the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London in Leavesden, located on the outskirts of London, and toured the facility.

This facility showcases the actual studio where the “Harry Potter” film series was produced, open to the public as-is. Through their visit, students came into contact with the work that has been accumulated behind the scenes and experienced firsthand the backstage of this “created world.”

The facility displays numerous sets that were actually used in the films, including the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest, and Platform 9¾. As the students were amazed by the sight of the film world unfolding before their eyes, they viewed with great interest the costumes, props, special and visual effects, creature designs, filming models, and blueprints.

For the Media Art Course students in particular, this was a valuable opportunity to experience the production process leading to the completion of a film work and to touch upon the art and design techniques that pay attention to every detail. Students were observed making new discoveries while connecting what they saw—such as the color schemes of the sets, lighting, camera work, and special effects—to what they learn in their regular classes.

After the tour, students enjoyed fish and chips, a representative British dish, in London city center. In addition to experiencing local food culture, students had practical experiences in various everyday situations, such as attempting to order and pay in English.

The next day, students are set to depart from London. Through their learning and encounters with different cultures at the destination, students have received much stimulation and are broadening their individual perspectives. We hope that the experiences gained during this school trip will lead to their future school life, studies, and career paths.