Thestrals are undoubtedly not like any actual horse: They are a long way thinner than would appear wholesome, with a black pelt stretched tight over their bones, giving them a skeletal look. Then there are their massive wings that resemble an enormous bat, sticking out out of each side of the thestral’s again. Alternatively, whilst their our bodies resemble horses — save the wings — their heads are extra dragon-like. In the books, the top is described as reptilian, with fangs, empty white eyes, and black manes. The motion pictures trade this up slightly, giving their heads options extra akin to a chook’s beak.
In accordance to the respectable Wizarding Global web site (which options a proof written by way of writer J.Ok. Rowling for the defunct web site Pottermore again in 2015) thestrals are local to the UK, but additionally are living in portions of France, Spain, and Portugal; different puts on this planet have magical species which can be other, however an identical to thestrals. As for his or her habitat, we all know that the herd at Hogwarts prefers the darkest portions of the Forbidden Wooded area. Plus, to make them even more strange, they are carnivorous and can consume animals like birds — even though Hagrid educated the Hogwarts herd now not to cross after the various owls handing over mail across the college. In “The Order of the Phoenix,” Harry found out they are additionally attracted to blood when a number of of them got here to lick it off his sleeve.
To create the thestrals for the films, the animators referenced most commonly horses, birds, and bats, but additionally checked out pictures of vultures, lions, and hyenas to depict a toddler thestral tearing into a work of meat. In a behind-the-scenes featurette, VFX Animation Manager Steve Rawlins defined that director David Yates added within the scene with Luna feeding the child thestral to illustrate that, regardless of their undead look, thestrals reside creatures.
