Fear of the unknown is something that we all have. Whether it is moving to a new city or even just walking into a building you haven’t been in before. If you’re like me, you scout for the closest fire exits, see which windows are closest to the ground, what objects around you can be used as a weapon (just in case), among many other things. Or, if you aren’t like me (which is mostly everyone), you just walk in and embrace the chaos, the newness of the situation.
I’d like to be more like that, I guess. That’s why I was drawn to this awesome piece of art from our DeviantArt group.
This piece is called “Zelda in the Malice” by DeviantArt user Cometicon.
Now, if I was Zelda, I would be terrified in this situation. Like, multiple new pairs of pants terrified. But that’s not the Zelda we see in the trailers for Breath of the Wild 2. She’s the one leading the investigation into the depths of Hyrule Castle, the one who is searching for answers. The Malice that engulfs her in this image should scare her, but it doesn’t. Cometicon does an incredible job displaying wonder in this piece. Zelda looks on with some sort of awe and almost respect.
Just a few technical things I want to point out here. The depth in this image is done so well. You can really tell that the Malice doesn’t just exist around Zelda, but it is coming from all around the room. The subtle blurring effect on the bottom part of the piece does a lot to add that perspective. I also really love the art style of this piece. It’s cartoony without being outlandish, it really emulates the cel-shading of the games well.
Now, I may be saying something a tad controversial here, but I really love how the fire looks. It stands out to me in such a noteworthy way. It’s not very detailed, so it seems a bit like an afterthought, but I think it’s supposed to represent how fleeting safety can be. I imagine that, before the Malice showed up, it was bright, vibrant, and detailed. But, when she is attacked, her will starts to fade a bit, causing the fire to diminish and lose depth (yes, I know fire doesn’t work this way, but it’s ART). It’s a great little detail that makes this artwork even more fantastic.
I chose this piece to examine because I want to be like Zelda. I want to be brave and take the lead in dangerous situations. I want to look at the world with wonder, instead of fear. Yes, I also want to be beautiful and have great short hair I don’t want to be scared anymore. I want to be like Zelda.
Huge thank you to Cometicon for posting this to our DeviantArt group. Want to be featured in Yuga’s Art Gallery? You too can join our group and post your work! We have an awesome community of artists who love to share their work and chat about all things Zelda. Join today!
