High on a rock spire in the midst of Lanayru Sand Sea, Link searches Skipper’s Retreat for the Ancient Sea Chart, his only hope of navigating the dried up ocean in search of the mighty Sandship. Link examines the Skipper’s ancient abode and discovers evidence of the Skipper’s past life. Pictures on the wall show Skipper, his family, and his crew aboard the Sandship in all her glory.
As he passes from frame to frame, one picture distinctly stands out. Why does this look so familiar? Suddenly, players who were alive during the 90s are jerked out of the Skyward Sword experience and immediately reminded of one of the most popular and critically acclaimed movies of all time.
Originally released in 1997, Titanic is an epic romance/disaster movie written and directed by James Cameron. As the name suggests, the film is staged on a fictional version of the enormous real-life passenger liner, the RMS Titanic, which infamously sank after striking an iceberg while crossing the Atlantic Ocean on its maiden voyage.
The tragedy is primarily conveyed through the unlikely and short-lived love story of poor artist Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and well-to-do fiancée Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslet. Complete with state of the art special effects and memorable music, Titanic became an instant hit with audiences and critics alike. It became the highest grossing film of all time, an honor it held for 12 years (until another James Cameron movie, Avatar, surpassed it), and it won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
It’s hard to understate the cultural impact of Titanic. Abundant references and parodies were quickly incorporated into a variety of media. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” the film’s theme song, topped the music charts across the world and garnered a multitude of awards. Famous quotes instantly ingratiated into our vocabulary, including “I’m the king of the world!,” “Iceberg, right ahead!,” and “I’ll never let go, Jack.”
Iconic scenes were reenacted on and off boats across the world. Among the most recognizable of these is when Jack holds Rose on the bow as Rose outstretches her arms and gasps “I’m flying!,” all while the camera circles to show the melting colors of the sunset and while sweeping music elevates the romantic atmosphere. It really is a singular moment in film history.
The Skyward Sword development team seems to have agreed. One of the pictures on the wall of Skipper’s Retreat shows two ancient robots mimicking Jack and Rose’s famous pose on the bow of the ship. While the developers have not confirmed the reference to Titanic, the similarities to the iconic scene make it unlikely to be coincidence.
Other parallels strengthen the claim of an intentional reference, including that both the Sandship and Titanic were massive vessels that met with tragedy (though the Sandship’s is through piracy instead of a collision) and that Skipper is alive long after his family, found in his retreat, are gone (like how Rose tells the story of Jack over eight decades after the catastrophe in the film). Even 14 years after Titanic‘s release, when Skyward Sword hit the market, the cultural relevance was still strong.
So, it turns out the Ancient Sea Chart isn’t the only treasure to be discovered in Skipper’s Retreat. Another comes in the form of this reference to one of the most popular films of all time. I’m just glad Skipper didn’t ask Link to draw him like one of his French girls.
