The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap creates one of the most charming versions of Hyrule in the series. It introduces the drastically underused Picori who are simultaneously the cutest creatures in the series (sorry, Sidon!) and also extremely wise. It fleshes out the character of Vaati and finally brings us a villain who can…
It’s nearing the middle of September, so that means summer is almost over. Most have gone back to school already, the leaves are beginning to change, and there’s that hint of fall in the chilly air. Time to break out the cardigans and pumpkin spice! Now, I don’t know if it’s just me, but I…
Majora’s Mask is a game filled with unfortunate events and cruel fates, making it quite different from other Zelda games as the mask-wearing Skull Kid affects so many people, not only in the game but also players of the game. I had been told the game would be a pretty dark one compared to other…
A common theme in pop culture and literature is the challenge of facing one’s inner demons or fears. Often accomplished while in a vision, dream, cave, or forest, the hero must confront those things that haunt them and hold them back from achieving their full potential. In the Legend of Zelda series, no location more…
One thing I have always loved about The Legend of Zelda is the sense of whimsy and wonder that the characters invoke. For me, the character and enemy designs in The Wind Waker and its sequels have always been top tier. They have that cartoony fun that fits the game’s art style but are still…
Fun fact about me: I have thalassophobia: fear of the deep sea. The thought that the Earth is made up of so much water and we haven’t even begun to discover what lies waiting for us in the depths is terrifying to me. Myths and folklore of civilizations past are full of references to sea…
For all of the ways that the Zelda series is a hopeful adventure game for all ages, it can also get really dark. Any discussion of this inevitably sees the usual suspects filed in: The arising feeling of dread throughout Majora’s Mask’s Clock Town, the torturous imagery and nightmare fuel of Ocarina of Time’s Shadow…
For nearly as many years as I have been a loyal devotee to the Zelda series, the works of Hayao Miyazaki have touched my heart and captured my imagination. Miyazaki, the mastermind behind most of Studio Ghibli’s groundbreaking cinematic marvels, is an absolute genius when it comes to visual storytelling, using imagery both breathtaking and…
Once upon a time, there was a young boy who lived in a lush, green forest together with many other children and their fairy companions. The forest was protected by an ancient, wise tree who knew that the boy was destined for something great. It sounds like something out of a fairy tale, doesn’t it?…
In the years since Breath of the Wild, many artists have posted AU (or “alternate universe”) pieces of art featuring different versions of the princess and her protector. Sometimes the pair will be students at a high school or university. Other times, they’ll be members of a sports team. One of my favorite pieces of…
When I first attempted a playthrough of Ocarina of Time at the tender age of six, I remember climbing down the ladder of Link’s house to greet Saria and immediately being befuddled by the odd carving at the base of the tree. The etching, crude and amateurish, depicts a tiny stick-figure warrior confronting a ferocious…
A few things I associate with summer are long days and short nights, trips to the beach, and strolls in town with an ice cream in my hand. Unfortunately, I can’t go to the beach for a swim or admire city buildings at the moment. Instead, I look up at the sky as the sun…
When it comes to video game crossovers, there are some we always dream of and never get, some we never think of but are pleasantly surprised with, and some that only the most creative of us can ever imagine. This art by Seah Ozan falls into the third group, and then it quickly moves on…
Being the father of a daughter who is fascinated by science and the intricate patterns of nature makes me love the Princess Zelda of Breath of the Wild even more. Her intense interest and the joy she finds in studying the Sheikah relics of the ancient past reminds me of my own daughter and warms…
I must admit that I have a bit of a strange fascination with art that depicts non-human animated characters as humans. Whether they’re reworking a Rito, a wolf goddess, or even my favorite Shadow Siren from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, I love watching artists play around with skin tone, hairstyle, and clothing to bring…
