A Cucco’s revenge is one of the few things in the Zelda series that manages to strike a perfect balance between absurd comedy and deadly terror. While the critters are awfully cute and extremely helpful when it comes to jumping over wide gaps, scorning a Cucco by smacking it with your sword reveals that they do indeed hold a grudge, and they have friends to back them up in their quest for vengeance. And as the offending player runs away from the screeching swarm of beaks and feathers, they find themselves asking a single question: “Why couldn’t I have just left my feathered friend alone?”
Through their piece entitled “Your Friend Can Be Your Worst Enemy”, C-Nacarat explores this uneasy friendship between Link and his perilous poultry pal.
The colors of Link’s tunic and hat give off the impression that the fabric is worn and faded, lending him an air of rusticity. Next to his ear, we see a little symbol embroidered on his hat that resembles both a window and a windmill, calling to mind Kakariko Village from Ocarina of Time. The art style reminds me a lot of older hand-drawn animation, with the elongated nose being particularly reminiscent of Disney movies like 101 Dalmations.
Out of all the elements that make up this version of Link, it’s his eyes and mouth that connect him the most to the Cucco. He is smiling, but his wary eyes are turned to the side, looking directly at the Cucco. It’s as if he’s happy to see his cute pal, yet nervous because he’s reliving the trauma of the last vicious Cucco attack he endured.
Following the hero’s line of sight, we see the adorable Cucco. The simple black eyes painted on its face contribute to its cuteness, and the pop of color from the scarlet comb atop its head is also extremely endearing. But what I like most about the Cucco in this piece is the fact that it’s looking forward. While Link is peering warily at his feathered partner, it’s anticipating the next adventure that awaits. Perhaps it’s easier to look ahead to the future when you know that you can summon a clucking calamity should trouble ever arise.
C-Nacarat does such a great job capturing the shaky alliance between Link and the Cuccos. After one peck too many and weeks of picking feathers out of his tunic, the hero knows that the feathered ones deserve his respect. On the flip side, the Cuccos continue to go about their lives, willing to help out those adventurers humble enough to admit that they don’t sit at the top of the pecking order.
