Has the Harry Potter merchandising campaign gone too far?

[Tigermoth]

I recently read that there will soon be Harry Potter computer games (so much for the books stimulating children to read) and a deal is being signed with one of the large soft drink companies.

Personally I am getting very fed up with seeing HP's little face on everything, though I think 'Bertie Botts Many Flavoured Beans' sweets are quite fun.

Is it just the money that JK Rowling is interested in? It certainly appears so. But can I blame her, would I really do any different?

Also, I am rather ambivalent about the film. We have just seen it and so my son now knows the story. We are reading Harry Potter and the Philisopher's Stone together - he does a bit and I do a bit. As he knows the story already this helps him follow the plot. But I'm sure it saps his imaginative ability - Hagrid is now always going to be Robbie Coltrane.

I have no real objections to the film, though. After all you can choose to see it or not. The merchandising is another matter entirely, IMO.

[Ariel]

Totally agree. My 6 yr old ds hasnt seen hp yet but hes already asking for the comp game. As were buying him a gameboy advance 4 xmas i looked into the price and was horrifeid,it ranges in price from £34.99 to £45.99,and as for all the other bits and pieces with hp face on thats selling at a crazy price,where will it end with apparently 3 more hp films in the pipeline it just seems endless.

[Winnie]

Tigermoth, as a parent with an older child who has at first struggled and then simply absorbed herself in Harry Potter (and as I was working in the booktrade as the 3rd book hit the stores to phenomenal hype) I would always maintain that Harry Potter has been a source of inspiration for individual children and the children's book industry in general. However, as we all know, there is a lot of other very good childrens literature out there too and the hype has been quite sickening. I believe, although I may be wrong, that JK Rowling would only sign with that soft drinks company if they agreed to plough a certain amount of money into literacy programmes in the US. As for all the other stuff, some of it is fun, most of it is overpriced and a good deal of it is simply unwarrented (IMHO). As for the film, it was good, and the two and a half hours didn't drag (thank goodness) but it wasn't fantastic (but I am not a child and it isn't aimed at me). All of the children I know who have seen it have loved it (although several have mentioned how pictures in there minds from reading the books are quite altered). I heard a discussion about Mary Poppins and Disney yesterday afternoon and Travers the author hated what Disney had done to her book, yet, surprise, surprise, all the children interviewed preferred the movie to the book. I am not sure what one does about that. I do think however, that HP may become a victim of his own success...

[Suew]

Winnie apparently although you are not a child the film is still aimed at you - according to the producer who was on MTV the other day on a Harry Potter film special. It's aimed at all the fans and they feel it's a success because they were fans and kept true to the story.

I can't comment on the film cos I haven't seen it but I am thoroughly sick of the merchandising. I'm sure I read somehwere in the past the JKR wasn't going to allow McD's to put out figurines - but she's let every other manufaturer get in on the act. I couldn't believe the 35 quid qidditch stick with some crappy (scuse the language) 'computer' game I saw in town earlier this week.

Marketing gone mad. But I'm sure she's very happy sitting back and counting the millions whilst parents are being nagged at by their children for the Hogwarts Lego set (sold out).

[Willow2]

My son isn't old enough to be a HP fan - but I am. I read all the books back to back - and bearing in mind I had just had a baby and was absolutely shattered that says something for JK's story telling prowess. They are fantastic, magical stories and the only thing I don't like about them is that I didn't think to do it first! (They always say to write about what you know so that you get your facts right... the wonderful thing about magic is that nobody can tell you you are wrong!). I have seen the film and loved it, although I would agree it is rather long. As for the marketing? What did you expect? This is the most popular fictional book of all time I believe. Kids want to be a part of it and if a plastic Nimbus 2000 or a golden snitch ball appeals to them it's no better or worse than the latest Barbie or Action man rubbish. As for JK raking in the millions, good luck to her. I think she is an inspiration for other mums (be they single or not) to have a go at indulging their dreams.

[Bexm]

Couldn't agree more. This is really merchandising gone mad. I love the books and have read them all several times (I am 30 !!) but I thought the film was pretty awful. Surely when we have descended to HP cake mix it only be cynical marketing... Shame.

[TigerMoth1]

Well, my son has just rejected down Harry Potter in favour of Beatrix Potter! He's rediscoverd the set of books we read to him as a toddler. Now he's trying to read them for himself, while HP lies abondoned for the minute.

I don't agree that JL Rowling-in-money is the best children's author by far. IMO her books are a very good read - for children especially - and, like the Narnia books, they succeed in creating a very vivid make believe world, but I don't think they are totally outstanding. However, they have, so we are told, made lots of children turn to books again, so I guess the effect is outstanding, even if the cause isn't.

This has reminded me of another book query I have ... I'll start a thread on it today sometime.