Animation Charm

Animation Charm

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Piertotum Locomotor
Incantation	Piertotum Locomotor (PY-air-TOH-tuhm LOH-koh-MOH-tor)
Type	Transfiguration
Hand movement	Hold wand aloft
Light	None
Effect	Animates target

"And all along the corridor the statues and suits of armour jumped down from their plinths, and from the echoing crashes from the floors above and below, Harry knew that their fellows throughout the castle had done the same... Cheering and yelling, the horde of moving statues stampeded past Harry; some of them smaller, others larger than life. There were animals too, and the clanking suits of armour brandished swords and spiked balls on chains."

— Description

Piertotum Locomotor is the incantation of a transfiguration charm used to bring life to those artefacts that had, previously, been inanimate and unmoving. The target's movements can be controlled by the caster of the spell.

Practitioners

Bewitched statues and suits of armour defending Hogwarts Castle on 1 May, 1998.

"I've always wanted to use that spell."

— Professor McGonagall

• Albus Dumbledore
• Filius Flitwick
• Minerva McGonagall
• Peter Pettigrew
• Quirinus Quirrell
• Dobby (possibly)

Etymology

This incantation may derive from:

• Latin "pie", meaning "dutifully" or "affectionately"
• Latin "totum", which means "everything", "the whole" or "they all"
• Latin "loco", meaning "position" or "place"
• Latin "moto", meaning "moves" or "moving"

The whole incantation could, therefore, translate to "The whole position dutifully moves," or any other combination of the translations. A less rigid translation: 'I move thee forth, all dutiful [soldiers]'. 

Behind the scenes

• In the eighth video game, when Professor McGonagall performs this spell and gives her orders, her voice makes an echo throughout the night, most likely for dramatic effect.
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Professor McGonagall does not bring the statues and suits of armour to life onscreen.
• It is possible that the caster only have to hold the wand aloft when animating more than one at a time.
• In the eighth film, when Professor McGonagall casted this spell during the Battle of Hogwarts, she says eagerly to Molly Weasley that she has always wanted to use that spell.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (PS1 only) (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (First identified as Animation Charm)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)