Nifflers, Giggle-water, and exotic mating dances. We all thought we had finally left the wizarding world when Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part Two concluded Harry’s story in 2011. As we watched a matured Harry send his children off to Hogwarts, a trip back to the magical universe wasn’t likely in our eyes. J.K. Rowling, however, had other plans.

The spin-off prequel of the Harry Potter Films, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was first announced in September 2013 and it sparked a wave of excitement. Fans across the globe were excited for a new story set in 1920’s America with an entirely new cast of witches and wizards. The plot of the film is is new and exciting, not to mention the newest villain, Grindelwald, whose grim character is eerily similar to Lord Voldemort, the terrifying antagonist of the Harry Potter films.

Newt Scamander, an awkward, eccentric, and anti-social wizard, is the main protagonist of the movie, first seen on a boat holding a seemingly ordinary suitcase. From what the audience can tell, something alive is inside of it. As Newt departs from the boat and onto the streets of New York City, he meets Jacob Kowalski, an average joe who just wants to get along in life. After a fiasco in the bank, the two unknowingly swap suitcases and Newt’s beasts are released and cause mayhem in and amongst the streets of the city.

But what’s so special about this movie? It’s definitely different from the rest of the magical franchise and not just because “Harry Potter” isn’t uttered once throughout the film. For one, the world seems a lot smaller. The side characters were not as developed as we would have liked them to be aside from the four main characters we follow, Newt, Porpentina, Jacob, and Queenie. Credence Barebone, a troubled young man with a knack for destroying buildings, was a fantastic addition to the story, but his character lacked the depth we saw in so many others throughout the film. Percival Graves, a wizard auror with an unexpected twist at the end, was indeed intimidating and looked promising but we were unable to really fall in love with his character. He, like Credence, lacked the depth that so many Potter fans cherish.

Also, the tension between muggles (non-magical people) and wizards is more prominent than ever. In the movie, the American wizards are petrified of being discovered by the muggles, fearing it would lead to a revolt against them. They ultimately adopted a “police” mentality, which is a lot harsher than what we see in the Harry Potter films. The wizards in Fantastic Beasts have no problem with the death penalty.

So what does this mean for Potter fans? While many are disappointed Harry’s story has come to an end, an overwhelming number of people are ecstatic for an influx of new material. No one has any idea what is going to happen in the next four movies due to the actual book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, having no real plot. It’s completely new and there are no books to compare it to.

J.K. Rowling struck gold with Harry Potter, there’s no doubt she’ll be able to do it again with Fantastic Beasts.