This is the first of a 3-part series on how to replicate the Priori Incantatem effect from the Harry Potter films. In this part, we will take a look at matchmoving our shot and using the data to create a 3D camera inside of After Effects, as well as starting to create the particle animation. Along the way, we’ll also go through a few quick tips on how to speed up workflow by using expressions to automate animation.

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This is the second of a 3-part series on how to replicate the Priori Incantatem effect from the Harry Potter films. In this part, we will explore how lights work alongside Trapcode Particular to give us more control of the direction of the particles’ motion. We will finish off the animation of our particle effects, and create the beams of magic squirting out the end of the wands.

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This is the third of a 3-part series on how to replicate the Priori Incantatem effect from the Harry Potter films. Our final tutorial will take a look at making the effects fit into the shot. We will make our particles glow and give them a bit of color, as well as adjusting brightness, matching grain and adding heat distortion. There are a lot of possibilities for extending the effects in this shot, I encourage you to explore these ideas further and leave a link in the comments section below.

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