The Magic Wardrobe Series: A Fashionable Journey

The magical wardrobe series is a collection of fantasy novels written by J.K. Rowling. The series follows the adventures of a young wizard named Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley as they attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The story begins with Harry discovering that he is a wizard and being whisked away to the magical world of Hogwarts, where he learns about his past and battles against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. Throughout the series, the magical wardrobe plays a significant role in the lives of the main characters.

Lucy Pevensie’s discovery of the magic wardrobe in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has teased generations of readers with the notion that the way into Narnia might be hiding in plain sight.

Lucy Pevensie s discovery of the magic wardrobe in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has teased generations of readers with the notion that the way into Narnia might be hiding in plain sight. Lewis had an English country home of his own, and he took in children who were fleeing London because of the German air-raids, much the same as the Professor did.

Throughout the series, the magical wardrobe plays a significant role in the lives of the main characters. In the first book, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," the wardrobe in the Gryffindor common room serves as a portal to the hidden platform at King's Cross Station, where students catch the Hogwarts Express to the school. This magical feature ensures that only those with magical abilities can access the train and the wizarding world.

What the Magic Wardrobe Should Look Like

Lucy Pevensie’s discovery of the magic wardrobe in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has teased generations of readers with the notion that the way into Narnia might be hiding in plain sight.

Bringing the Wardrobe to the Screen

“Anyone who loved the book is going to want to see the wardrobe,” Director Andrew Adamson said. “By covering it with that sheet for a moment, you get to hold on to that pleasure of anticipation a moment longer.”

For the movie, Production Designer Roger Ford drew some inspiration from the wardrobe designed by C.S. Lewis‘s grandfather, which is now on display at the Marion E. Wade Center. The result is impressive and imposing. Its shape is majestic. The carvings are intricate and seem to tell a story (readers of the books will recognize scenes from The Magician’s Nephew).

When Lucy (portrayed by Georgie Henley) enters the room, she seems to immediately sense magic emanating from the wardrobe. The chipper Oh Johnny tune is abruptly replaced by a low frequency rumble. Transfixed, she steps forward and removes the drop-cloth (in slow motion) and is visibly impressed with what lies underneath.

Back to the Book

Part of the magic of Narnia, in my opinion, is the idea of the awe-inspiring and the fantastic hidden behind the mundane.

Wanderer Between Worlds – NarniaWeb Forum

In the original story, the wardrobe apparently appears unremarkable to the Pevensie children. Peter says “Nothing there!” and leaves the room. Lucy stays behind, but only to check if there are fur coats inside.

The Next Wardrobe

Much as I love the ornately carved wardrobe in the Walden film and all of The Magician’s Nephew references, I think it would be truer to the book to have the wardrobe appear like an ordinary piece of furniture.

Reepicheep775 – NarniaWeb Forum

With more Narnia adaptations on the horizon from Netflix, there may be an opportunity to do another version of the famous wardrobe. And perhaps restore a small detail that the 2005 movie removed.

“I was worried about the fact that I didn’t have a mirror in the door because it’s described that way in the book,” Director Andrew Adamson said. “But Don McAlpine (Director of Photography) would have killed me if I’d put a mirror anywhere on that wardrobe because it’s so impossible to shoot around.”

I’m not sure why I was so wanting a looking glass in the door, but the fact that it was absent made me very sad. I would love to see it included. I think that little bit of extra effort would win over a lot of trust from die-hards like myself.

Sun-muffin – NarniaWeb Forum

Join the Discussion

What did you think of the wardrobe in the movie? What should Netflix do differently? Share your thoughts in The NarniaWeb Discussion Forum.

7 Responses

in my opinion netflix should not do a reboot anymore, netflix is more on modern this days which makes me feel they’re going to destroy the magical story, the first movies will be better and will always be

Looking Glass = My Trust 😉 O.K. Not really, but if Netflix reboots the whole franchise, even after 2 WHOLE YEARS of inactivity, a simple, lovingly-made wardrobe with a mirror in it – a faithful rendition from the books – would get me excited for the Netflix reboot. (I’m a fan of sticiking to book descriptions of things, NOT the illustrations, unless the author drew them. Ex. Severus Snape does not have a beard. 😉

Silence doesn’t necessarily mean inactivity. 🙂 Matthew Aldrich was hired as the Creative Architect in June 2019. And COVID has certainly complicated things in the entertainment business.

I agree. And Netflix is notorious for releasing very little news until 2 or 3 months before the release date, when the promotion goes to full swing. I *hope* that we can get news and images fed to us, but I am guessing they would not make a change just for the Narnia adaptations. Although maybe the presence of Narniaweb and other Narnia fan communities would be the reason, because it will be a form of promotion for them.

I’m going to be devil’s advocate here and say I actually prefer the movie version of the wardrobe. Digory couldn’t bear the idea of the apple tree just becoming firewood, so I feel like him commissioning a special wardrobe that depicts the story around the apple tree is just as likely as him commissioning a plain wardrobe. Also I just prefer when movies really up their visuals in comparison to the source material. Like the most comic accurate Captain America suit is probably the one he wears in the first Joss Whedon Avengers movie, and it looks pretty lame. The ones in Winter Soldier and Civil War are less accurate but because of the extra detail, the muted colors, and the sort of weight the fabrics seem to have make the suits less like they were bought at party city and more like something you can fight in while still being an American icon/technically a propaganda tool.

I totally agree with you there. I too believe that Digory could have put some good effort into making the wardrobe memorable beyond just being the wood from the apple tree. And I do appreciate when movies take something good and use creative liberties to make it great!

In the second book, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," the magical wardrobe in the Weasley house plays a crucial part in connecting the Burrow to Diagon Alley, a hidden street in London where wizards and witches purchase their school supplies. This allows the Weasley family to conveniently travel to and from Diagon Alley without being seen by muggles. In the third book, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the magical wardrobe in the Hogwarts hospital wing is transformed into a secret passage leading to the Shrieking Shack, a haunted building located near the school. This wardrobe serves as a means for Harry and his friends to secretly travel to the Shrieking Shack and confront the notorious prisoner, Sirius Black. The magical wardrobe series showcases the creativity and imagination of J.K. Rowling, as she incorporates various magical elements into the story through the use of wardrobes. These unique pieces of furniture not only serve practical purposes in the wizarding world but also add an element of mystery and enchantment to the narrative. Overall, the magical wardrobe series is a beloved and iconic part of the Harry Potter books. The inclusion of wardrobes as magical objects adds depth and intrigue to the story, further captivating readers and immersing them in the fantastical world of Harry Potter and his friends..

Reviews for "The Timeless Appeal of the Magical Wardrobe Series"

1. John - ★☆☆☆☆

I found the "Magical wardrobe series" to be incredibly cliché and unoriginal. The characters were one-dimensional, and the plot felt like a rehashed version of other fantasy stories I've read before. Additionally, the writing style was lackluster, with repetitive descriptions and dialogue that felt forced. Overall, I was highly disappointed with this series and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and engaging fantasy read.

2. Emily - ★★☆☆☆

I had high hopes for the "Magical wardrobe series" based on the promising premise, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The world-building was poorly executed, leaving me with more questions than answers. The pacing was also off, with slow and dragging sections that made it difficult to stay engaged. While there were a few interesting moments, overall, I found the series to be underwhelming and forgettable.

3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆

I struggled to connect with the characters in the "Magical wardrobe series." Their personalities felt cliché and predictable, making it hard for me to invest in their journey. As the series progressed, I found myself losing interest and skimming through pages just to finish it. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat for me. I wouldn't recommend this series to anyone seeking compelling and relatable characters.

4. David - ★☆☆☆☆

The "Magical wardrobe series" felt like a poor attempt at imitating other successful fantasy novels. The writing lacked depth and substance, and the storytelling felt rushed and disjointed. There were countless plot holes and inconsistencies that left me frustrated and confused rather than intrigued. Overall, I was thoroughly disappointed with this series and would not recommend it to anyone who appreciates well-crafted fantasy literature.

5. Karen - ★★☆☆☆

The "Magical wardrobe series" had a promising concept, but the execution left much to be desired. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, making it difficult to stay engaged. The dialogue felt forced, and the writing style was lackluster. While there were a few redeeming moments, I ultimately found the series to be mediocre and forgettable. I wouldn't recommend it to readers looking for a captivating and memorable fantasy adventure.

The Magic Wardrobe Series and the Power of Imagination