In the summer of 2016, my career as a hobbyist voice actor reached its peak when I joined the cast of Zelda Universe’s Twilight Princess English Dub. Though I ultimately ended up voicing three characters, my primary role was that of Talo, the rambunctious little scamp from Ordon Village who gets himself lost in Faron Woods at the beginning of the game. Portraying the enthusiastic, rowdy boy allowed me to bring him to life in a whole new way, deepening my appreciation for a character I only had a passing interest in previously.
However, one mustn’t forget that Talo, while fun and energetic, mostly serves as an immature, arrogant bully who wishes to assert his dominance over other children. I was the awkward overachiever in middle school often on the receiving end of harassment from kids like him, so I feel a strong sense of kinship with anyone, real or fictional, who also has to contend with childish antagonists. Therefore, a rather unexpected side effect of playing Talo was that I got to reconnect with his main victim, who happens to be one of my favorite unsung heroes in the entire Zelda series. I am, of course, talking about Colin.
With his bashful posture and perpetually worried expression, Colin immediately presents himself as a timid little boy with limited exposure to the dangerous world outside Ordon Village. Though he possesses a similar stature and physique to those of his slightly older contemporary, Colin lacks Talo’s daring and forthright nature, shrinking into himself whenever he feels intimidated; thus, Talo views him as a weakling who can be readily teased and manipulated to serve his needs. And unfortunately, even if Colin were to stand up to his tormentor, Talo has his precocious younger brother to help cut the poor boy down with quiet, searing remarks that are sure to leave a lasting mark. The snobby Beth also sends a clear message that the boy is too pathetic for her to bother with, so to say that our towheaded little friend is a loner among his peers would be a bit of an understatement.
But unlike so many other children in his position, Colin doesn’t succumb to societal pressure and start emulating the popular kids in order to fit in. His meek exterior belies his strong moral code and sense of personal integrity, as he tries to understand why the other kids enjoy roughhousing and swordplay while simultaneously distancing himself from activities he knows he doesn’t enjoy. Instead, he chooses Link and Ilia as his role models, admiring their kind, gentle nature and talent for handling animals. While this may not help him win battles on the playground, at least he has kindred spirits who can help him flourish as a human being.
Nevertheless, Colin is quite aware of his shortcomings and wishes to improve himself, striving to become “strong” like Link and his father Rusl. Based on his observations, and due in part to the naivete of youth, Colin believes that strength mainly has to do with physicality. But what can he do to prove himself when he’s constantly overshadowed by tougher, more adventurous children?
Colin doesn’t get a lot of time to ponder this conundrum before King Bulbin unceremoniously smashes through the gate to Ordon Spring and turns his otherwise idyllic life completely upside-down. He and Ilia are the first victims of the beast’s destructive rampage, snatched away from their safe haven and deposited into a frightening new world beyond anything they ever imagined before. We never get to see what happens during the time between Colin’s abduction and Renado bringing the children to his sanctuary in Kakariko Village, and honestly, that’s probably for the best. Trying to picture the terror in Colin’s eyes as he finds himself utterly alone in this alien land, surrounded by grotesque, mindless abominations of the Twilight, is simply too heartbreaking an endeavor.
When Link finally catches up with the kids, he finds them hiding from the Shadow Beasts in the aforementioned sanctuary with Renado, his daughter Luda, and Barnes, the proprietor of the local Bomb Shop. Being the bumbling, tone-deaf nimrod that he is, Barnes indulges his own paranoia by reciting a horrific story about how the town shopkeeper supposedly transformed into a monster upon being attacked. Traumatized and exhausted, young Beth breaks down sobbing as Renado chastises Barnes for his insensitive behavior. But the bleak mood is temporarily broken when Colin reaches out his hand in comfort to Beth, reassuring her beyond a shadow of a doubt that Link is on his way to rescue them.
When I first played this game as a teenager, this scene rocked me to my very core and instantly solidified my affection for Colin as a character. In spite of all the horrors he has borne witness to thus far, his first instinct isn’t to wallow in despair or close himself off emotionally. The pain of his compatriots, even the ones who have treated him poorly, compels him to offer words of encouragement and hope. And even though Talo scoffs at his declaration, Colin remains steadfast in his unwavering faith that their hero will save them from this nightmare.
But as most of us know, this is just the beginning. After Eldin Province is freed from the Twilight’s stranglehold, Renado and the children implore Link to find out why the once-peaceful Gorons of Death Mountain have started lashing out against humans. Link, whose light frame doesn’t stand a chance against the barrage of angry rock people hurling themselves at him, must return to Ordon and receive sumo wrestling lessons from Mayor Bo, the one human who could best them in the ring (albeit by cheating). During his absence, a sinister cloud begins to descend once again over Kakariko Village.
Talo and Beth are casually wandering around the dusty derelict town when they hear an ominous rumble in the distance. They turn around just in time to see the monstrous King Bulbin rounding the corner, charging towards them at breakneck speed. Having come face-to-face with these vile creatures only a short time ago, Talo immediately sprints away in a panic. Beth, on the other hand, is transfixed by terror, unable to tear her eyes away from the approaching menace.
Meanwhile, Colin is finally alerted to the presence of the beast and starts to run for shelter as well. But then he catches sight of Beth, realizing that if she doesn’t move, she will most likely be trampled to death by the giant boar King Bulbin is riding. Thus unfolds a critical moment of reckoning for the young boy: What kind of person is he going to be? Will he default to passivity and flee, counting as he usually does on another savior to step in and fix everything? Or will he answer the call to heroism, knowing perfectly well that this could mean the ultimate sacrifice? Forget about how Link would handle the situation — what should he do?
In one of the most intense, heart-stopping scenes in the entire Zelda canon, Colin makes his decision.
A wave of darkness quickly envelops the child as the encounter renders him unconscious, with King Bulbin claiming his limp body as a trophy and departing for East Hyrule Field. Therefore, he is largely unaware of the violent clash between Bulbin and an enraged Link, culminating in a thrilling showdown atop the Bridge of Eldin. When he emerges from the depths and awakens, he finds himself being cradled in the arms of his beloved friend, the village quiet and peaceful as before. And once again, instead of crying out in pain or patting himself on the back for his righteous deed, Colin asks if everyone else is safe, apologizing to Beth for shoving her so hard. Even in his darkest moments, this caring, compassionate little boy continues to put the well-being of others first.
With his incredible act of selfless heroism, Colin ceases to be a pitiful but likable character and transforms into a truly inspirational champion for the downtrodden. At long last he has earned the respect of his peers, even teaching Talo a lesson in humility that ultimately reforms him into a more mature, responsible person. From this point on, Colin is no longer content to sit on the sidelines; he works diligently to heal the wounded Prince Ralis and reminds Link to stay focused on his mission to save the land from turmoil, the plight of his brethren always at the forefront of his mind. But most importantly, the courageous boy has come to understand a vital truth about life: he doesn’t need to be physically strong or talented in combat to make a positive difference in the world. As long as he stays true to his warm, benevolent nature and continues to advocate for others in his own special way, then it doesn’t matter that he can’t lift giant boulders or skillfully wield a blade.
So when he grows up, he will not be just like Link. He will still be Colin through and through, a brave hero in spirit and a reserved, gentle young man at heart. Who could ask for a better role model than that?
