In 2016, the first prequel of the Harry Potter series was released: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In the following years, several more films went public.
No doubt, this series of J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World is incredible. However, the plot is complex. To many people, there are too many stories and characters. Also, the times are different in every movie.
Don't worry, in this article, we will show you the time and plot of each Fantastic Beasts movie. We made five timelines for the series and one more for the Harry Potter series. Just to make you understand the whole storyline of this Wizarding story. Let's start!
In this article
Timelines of the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter
As said earlier, Fantastic Beasts is a prequel to the Harry Potter series. New fans can even watch Fantastic Beasts before Harry Potter. After all, the Fantastic Beasts movies are set decades before the events of Harry Potter. Together, these stories shed light on the history of the Wizarding World and its key characters.
The Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter timelines share the same universe and creative process. They also complement each other's gaps and loopholes. This makes the Wizarding World feel like a world that's alive. However, it's essential to delve into the individual events of each timeline. This way, you'll have a better understanding of the Wizarding World.
1. The Fantastic Beasts Series
The story of the Wizarding World technically starts with the Fantastic Beasts' timeline. Check out the templates made with EdrawMind below for each significant series period to help you get started. Try to duplicate them or create your own using the program.
Early Events (pre-1926)
The Wizarding World was already rich with history and lore even before the plot points of the Fantastic Beasts series. Key figures such as Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald were establishing their places in the magical universe. Newt Scamander was already attending Hogwarts and preparing for his life during this period. He was also developing his interest in magical creatures, which would later become central to the plot.
Since many parts of the Wizarding World's early history exist, a winding timeline like the one below is recommended. This way, you can include as many critical events as possible.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (1926)
The series starts with Newt Scamander's arrival in New York City. He brought with him his suitcase that was full of magical creatures. However, an accident occurs with his suitcase, which leads him to numerous problems and events which unravel the plot.
This introduced key characters like Tina Goldstein, Queenie, and No-Maj Jacob Kowalski. Most importantly, this movie hinted at the rising power of Gellert Grindelwald. It ultimately set the stage for the later conflicts found in the series. Use a timeline integrated with photos of the key characters to make everything easier to comprehend, and add details on specific days to explain what happened with subtopics. Check out the template below.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (1927)
In 1927, Newt was in Paris, tasked by Albus Dumbledore to find the escaped dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald. Amidst this, Newt had to deal with the repercussions of Grindelwald's manipulative tactics, which led to a profound revelation about Credence Barebone's true identity. This marked a significant shift in the Wizarding World, and the consequences of these events would ripple out into the future.
Since The Crimes of Grindelwald has a straightforward plot, a winding timeline like the one below is also great. The photos embedded in the timeline make it richer and easier to visualize the story and give you an impression of the characters.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (1932)
This period in the Fantastic Beasts timeline explores further the complex dynamics between key characters such as Newt, Dumbledore, and Grindelwald. As secrets unravel, alliances are formed and tested, providing a deeper look into the motivations and actions of these characters. This timeline also delves into the world of politics within the Wizarding World.
This timeline adds the logos of the relevant institutions within the Wizarding World. In this way, you can know which organizations are involved in this film and see how they promote the plot with only a glance.
Later Events (post-1930s)
The aftermath of the events from the Fantastic Beasts series would heavily influence the later periods, including the rise of Lord Voldemort and the events of the Harry Potter series. As the timeline progresses into the 1930s and beyond, the impacts of Grindelwald's reign, the secrets revealed, and the lessons learned from the adventures of Newt and his companions would echo in the Wizarding World for years to come.
Similar to the early events of Fantastic Beasts, a winding timeline like the one below is recommended. This makes it easy to add new details to prepare yourself for connecting the dots between Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter.
2. The Harry Potter Series
The Harry Potter series follows the life of Harry Potter. It covers the discovery of his magical heritage up to the defeat of Lord Voldemort. The series spans seven books (and eight films!) documenting Harry's time at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It also highlights his friendship with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley and their fight with the dark forces.
The Harry Potter timeline began in 1981 when his parents were murdered. He was the only one who survived the Killing Curse. This event sets Harry on a path to face Voldemort and ultimately defeat him. The series contains several important events, such as the discovery of the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, and the rise of the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry Potter meets its conclusion with the return of Voldemort, the introduction of Horcruxes, and the climactic Battle of Hogwarts.
3. The Wizarding World
The installation of the Fantastic Beasts timeline ties up loose ends in the Wizarding World. It weaves through the original Harry Potter plot and introduces a new yet familiar story. For example, Albus Dumbledore plays a vital role in both timelines, as he has mentored the two main characters: Newt and Harry. Magical creatures from Fantastic Beasts also appear in Harry Potter and play vital roles in its story development.
The story around Grindelwald also sets the stage for Harry Potter. With Dumbledore's defeat of Grindelwald, the rise of Voldemort is foreshadowed. Fully understanding the timeline of Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter helps fans appreciate the connections between the series.
Fans can better understand the Wizarding World's narrative by examining the two series' significant events. However, since Fantastic Beasts is relatively new in the real world, it can be hard to catch up on. Try to create timelines using EdrawMind to connect the dots that make up the beauty of the Wizarding World.
Part 2: How to Make a Timeline for the Fantastic Beasts Series
A timeline that tells a movie series's whole storyline is great. We will be less likely to get confused by the long and complex story of Wizards.
Also, it will be a great tool to introduce the movie series to others like friends and families. If you're a huge fan of Harry Potter, you must want to share the fantastic world of Wizards with your loved one. And you can enjoy the movies together! A detailed timeline for the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter can surely save the time of getting familiar with the story!
In this section, let's start to make a timeline for the Wizarding World. We need a timeline maker.
EdrawMind - A quick timeline maker
EdrawMind is a versatile mind-mapping and diagramming software. It lets users create visual representations for brainstorming, project planning, and knowledge organization. It supports real-time collaboration and is well-integrated into multiple software and platforms. You can work on your mindmaps anywhere and at any time for Windows, macOS, and Linux devices.
The following are some of its features that can help you create your own Fantastic Beasts timelines.
- Pre-made Templates: EdrawMind has a bunch of beautiful pre-made templates. This makes it convenient to start creating timelines. The great thing is that EdrawMind has a Fantastic Beasts timeline template built-in.
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: You can add photos, videos, and other elements that make your timelines more immersive and detailed by simply using the drag-and-drop feature of EdrawMind. This might be useful for adding photos of the numerous characters introduced in the series.
- Unlimited Canvas: EdrawMind offers a virtually infinite canvas for your timeline. This way, even longer stretches, the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter timelines can be visualized and organized.
- Zoom and Pan: The number of details in the Wizarding World you put in your timelines makes it hard to view everything. EdrawMind has a Zoom and Pan feature to check the rest of your work.
- Import and Export Options: Export your work to various file formats like Microsoft Office or the Internet for others to enjoy. You can also import other files to make your research more immersive.
- Collaboration and Sharing: EdrawMind magically lets teams build timelines and mindmaps together. Pair up with your Potterhead friends to create a timeline you can all work on, Hogwarts style.
Creating a Fantastic Beasts Timeline With EdrawMind
To start creating your own Wizarding World timeline, follow the steps below.
Step 1:
Download and install EdrawMind from the official website or the below button.
Scan Now
Step 2:
On the application's homepage, choose the Vertical, Winding, or Horizontal Timelines. In this example, the Vertical Timeline is used.
Step 3:
Double-click the Main Idea box and edit its text. In this example, the topic is "The Wizarding World Timeline."
Step 4:
Then, fill in the Main Topic boxes with information. Start with the earliest events of the Fantastic Beasts. You can customize the timeline template by changing theme colors, font, and the shapes of topics, borders, and branches on the right-side panel.
You can also explore the other templates available in EdrawMind, or check out the Mind Map Gallery. You can also customize your timeline to make it your own.
Conclusion
Understanding the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter timelines is essential to comprehend J.K. Rowling's magical universe better. Fans can immerse themselves in the captivating stories, characters, and themes of the Wizarding World. However, the lore can become harder to digest as the story expands.
Using EdrawMind can greatly enhance fans' exploration of the Wizarding World. By creating timelines with EdrawMind, fans can visualize the connection between the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter timelines. This can help deepen their appreciation of the universe. Embracing EdrawMind's powerful features allows fans to engage with the magical universe on a new level.