One of the most notable features of the Link’s Awakening remake for the Nintendo Switch is without a doubt its art style. In an unexpected yet already seen twist, Nintendo decided to go for a charming, chibi, clay-like style for this release. Personally, I think it fits just right. As with any other 2D top-view Zelda games, we don’t see Link or any character as depicted in concept art, but instead see a minimalist rendition in the form of a sprite to conserve only the most important details and remain visually appealing. My point being, having the characters look the way they do in the remake was the best way to go about remaking this game.
With that in mind, what better way to pay tribute to this game’s stunning graphic style than recreating a scene with what visuals resemble the most: clay!
That is exactly what YouTuber and dedicated clay artist ClayClaim did in this beautiful diorama depicting one of the scenes from the game trailer. I remember playing with clay when I was a kid and creating rough figures of characters or animals that only I, immersed in my sea of imagination, could identify what they were supposed to be — then I look at this artist’s work and think: “If only I was that dedicated and precise for anything in my life!”
The patience and passion this guy puts in his craft is outstanding, and it all shows in the finished work. The way he painstakingly works even the smallest details in the smallest pieces of the scene astonishes me, and how he comes up with tricks and techniques to build the different parts of the scene is proof of his experience and imagination.
It may be just a static diorama, but it sure is full of life. Every tree, every flower, every Cucco, BowWow, Link, even every blade of grass show off the dedication and meticulous work put into this piece. I would love to see him create more dioramas based on other parts of the game, but until he does we have a lot to enjoy for a good while in this beautifully detailed piece of art.
