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When comparing books and their movie adaptations, books almost always prove to be better. One of the reasons is that a film does not always manage to convey the same imagery as a book in which emotions are blended with visuals. When reading, one can form a completely different image of a place or a character and have entirely another general feeling of a story. 

When creating a film adaptation, the cast is usually chosen according to the characteristics described in a book. However, the looks are not always so precise. With that in mind, one Vietnamese woman (to her followers known as MsBananaAnna) decided to use artificial intelligence to see what Harry Potter characters would look like based on book descriptions.

More info: twitter.com | imgur.com | Instagram

Bored Panda got in touch with the author of this idea to learn more about her and this project. The woman revealed that she's a 28-year-old "nerd" living in Melbourne. She has been a huge "Potterhead" since grade school. "I basically grew up with Harry, Ron, and Hermoine and remember waiting in line at midnight for the release of each book."

"I came up with the idea to recreate the characters when I tried to find some fanworks of Hermione. I watched the movies and though I like Emma Watson, I always thought she was too gorgeous to be Hermione. I couldn't find any renditions of her that I thought were accurate so I ended up making her myself. People seemed to enjoy it so much that I decided to make more characters."

#4

Severus Snape

Severus Snape

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Gareth Baus
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the biggest difference is that Snape was supposed to be significantly younger than the actor that played him.

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Smilodon, a Bad Cat
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is good, but outside of appearance, there's voice, intonation, attitude, body language, and the ability to carry the clothes. Alan Rickman was always my Snape, from the first turn of the page.

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Alisha Drohn
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. I love Rickman as Snape. I actually think having older actors to play characters like Snape, Black and Lupin even makes sense. Why? All of these characters had things in their lives (spying, Death Eater activities,bwar, Azkaban, being a werewolf, etc) that could likely cause premature aging. They'd all lived a hard life and things like that put a strain on a person's mind and body. Now the ones who should of been played by younger actors are James and Lily. They would of been 21 when they died and while yes they would of also had the stress of war and worry of Voldie being after Harry it was for a much shorter time than what the others dealt with so they should have looked closer to their age even early/mid 20's would of been better instead of looking in their 40's.

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*August Moon*
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think anyone could have played Severus Snape better than Alan Rickman did, he was absolutely brilliant!

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James Tuthill
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know it wasn't described as such but just because of that one illustration I always pictured him with a pointy goatee. I thought it worked with his fiery nature. This portrayal gives me the Alan Rickman super slow talking Snape vibes.

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Christine Will
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Regardless of the book descriptions, Alan Rickman nailed it as Severus Snape, including his voice. He embodied Snape.

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Tarah McKenna
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like he needs more of a sneer on his face but it looks so good

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Christopher Minshall
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everybody loved Rickman as Snape, although too old. This looks like Snape and Filch had a baby.

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kaci c
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Allan rickman isn't far off to be honest. He was also perfect for the role.

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Sabrina Sabrina Panda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a mix of Geddy Lee, Ric Ocasek, and the real Snape, Alan Rickman.

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Zach Brown
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do like this idea much better. More of the nasty vindictive approach that the book definitely captured, and I could hear Jim Dale's voice as Professor Snape as I continue to look at this.

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La Haza
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A little Ron Wood with a little dash of John Cooper Clarke.

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ssantgross
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1 year ago

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Anna Losonczy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But he wasn't THAT old. He was in his 30s when Harry started Hogwarts.

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Zoe Humpert
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I imagined him a crippled old man with a hood, a cane, and a nose that touched his top lip

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Andy Bo Pearce
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a young Argus Filch (or at least who they cast to play him in the film series)

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Lily Possum
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think anyone else could truly embody Snape as Alan Rickman has. He brought Snape's character to life, and it did brilliantly.

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Joshua Devey
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't the artist depictions in the book (chapter headings) show him with facial hair?

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Alex Magney
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus finally! I love Alan Rickman but I hated him as Snape cause that's not how Snape was supposed to look

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Thomas Daniels
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean... That's not that far off from how he did look, Rickman was just better looking

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Shewanda Pugh
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How much uglier are we gonna make this man? It’s a contest at this point.

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Barbara Altman
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sorry but he looks too old to play Snape. I have to go with Alan Rickman. I don't think there are any actors that could be as good as Alan.

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Miro Van Nunen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly he fits the character sooooo much better and looks has a more sinister look.

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Ricardo Peters
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It may be true to the author's vision but the movie Severus will always be in my head as the real Snape

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Scourge McCloud
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude, that's almost spot on what I saw in my imagination. It's like the artist is living in my head.

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AspieGirl88
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah. The eye-colour is just a bit too light to be Severus Snape. His eyes are supposed to be dark & dangerous. At least with Alan Rickman, his eye-colour was so close to black; when he focused on the camera, it felt like he was staring into my soul (chills every time)! Yeah, they definitely got the right person to play Snape, without a doubt! 😅

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Baleygr
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the first book he's 31. 38 in the last one. This guy looks 45-50. Also, there should be more strands of oily hair in his face.

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Amanda Murphy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like Grima Wormtongue had a baby with Alan Rickman. Exactly as I imagined. Rickman was too pretty.

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Bettina Jansen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not bad, but lacks the greasy hair; the yes are too light and (but that might just be me) he should have a unibrow, or close to one.

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joyous
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Scary how very much this art resembles Alan Rickman. Casting really got this one right!

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Eagle Girl
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Richman nailed it. Especially if you factor in his character in Die Hard

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Ivanka van der Reest
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. In the books he was about 31 when Harry started at Hogwarts. I know Sirius looked older because of Azkaban and Remus because of being a werewolf. But Severus has no excuse to look like a 50 yo. Okay he didn't groom himself well, greasy hair, but still. I know 31 year olds who despite having greasy hair and not grooming themselves well at least don't look like old men.

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Issey
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn't "closer" to the books than Alan Rickman. Still technically too old.

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Lady of the Mountains
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um his hair needs to look like he hasn't washed it since lily accidently touched it in 5th year

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Jack Carver
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2 years ago

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Kim Pacheco
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope can’t improve on the movie Snape but I have always been a big fan. Was hard watching him play such a nasty character. First watched him in Dogma

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Fabio Paolo Barbieri
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His nose should be both big and unshapely. And he should look greasier. We still are too much in Alan Rickman territory.

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While some characters look similar to the ones one sees in the movies, others look nothing like them. For MsBananaAnna, Sirius was the one she personally liked the most. "I thought that was plucked straight from my head. Artbreeder can be pretty limiting in what you can do and can be a bit twiddly so not all of the characters came out as I wanted, but I thought Sirius came out as I imagined him! Dark and regally handsome."

#6

Lily Potter

Lily Potter

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Cody
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure they give her realistic looking green eyes, while giving Harry those florescent orbs.

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The recreations of Harry Potter characters got a lot of attention on Reddit (here and here) where MsBananaAnna (or, as she calls herself on Reddit, lettuceown) posted them.

What looks are your favorites? Leave a comment and let us know!

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#9

Ginevra Weasley

Ginevra Weasley

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#10

Cho Chang

Cho Chang

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Rabbit Carrot
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her name though. 🤦‍♀️ When every other girl has a nice / interesting / exotic name the only Asian girl has the worst most stereotypical name going.

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#11

Charlie Weasley

Charlie Weasley

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Jayne Kyra
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still upset there was not more of him. He works with dragons! Dragons!! He looks handsome in this recreation, too.

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#12

Lucius Malfoy

Lucius Malfoy

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Zero
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kinda looks like an adult Tom Felton. Which makes sense of course.

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#22

Ronald Weasley

Ronald Weasley

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#23

Bellatrix Lestrange

Bellatrix Lestrange

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BA
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one really reminds me of an actor or actress. I can't really name it? It's like a mixture of famous people I know but I can't tell them apart. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP.

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#27

Petunia Dursley

Petunia Dursley

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Monday
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I forgot that Petunia was blonde. Odd that they wouldn't just make her wear a wig for her scenes.

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#28

Dolores Umbridge

Dolores Umbridge

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#29

Peter Pettigrew

Peter Pettigrew

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#30

Merope Riddle (Voldemort's Mother)

Merope Riddle (Voldemort's Mother)

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Kimberley McMillan
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why did the AI make wall-eyed? Was that described in the book? Book 6 isn't my fave so I've not read it enough to remember.((people have already pointed out the description that I wasn't recalling. Kinda don't need multiple comments restating the same thing))

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#31

Bill Weasley

Bill Weasley

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Gautam Balachandran
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Longer hair. Earring with a fang. More cool, less dorky. Probably got confused with Percy.

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#32

Minerva Mcgonagall

Minerva Mcgonagall

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Nicole Weymann
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, sorry, but even before seeing Maggie Smith in that role she was the spitting image for my personal McGonagall.

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#33

Pansy Parkinson

Pansy Parkinson

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Lil' Roo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forgive me, but she reminds me of an angry pig for reasons I cannot explain.

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#35

Viktor Krum

Viktor Krum

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Jill Sadler
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously where are everyones cheeks?! No one is fed in the books apparently. Chiseled jawlines and sunken cheeks.

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