Omake: The Top Eight Zelda Moments
The Legend of Zelda series has been a staple of the Disney channel for decades now, with each new incarnation bringing just that bit more to an already enthralling franchise, and if rumors are to be belived, even now the adaptation to Breath of the Wildis being worked with at the moment.
However, despite the many great adaptations of Link, Zelda and Ganon, there is always that one that stuck out so greatly in ouir minds that no one can seem to remove from it's throne. I'm speaking of course of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
This game was made in response to what many at the time felt was not enough coverage for the game (something hard to understand nowadays) and had with it some of the best of the best in animation and voice acting at the time. Vic Mignona from RWBY and DBZ fame voiced Link, while Zelda Williams, Robin's own daughter and named after the so mentioned character, voiced Princess Zelda. The series had such talent as Brenda Chapman, Shinchiro Watanabe and Hideiki Anno working on the project, something that delighted fans and made it a true magical product, something that has yet to be repeated in the following adaptations.
So to all Zelda Fanboys and Fangirls out there, this is Jules from Whatculture.com and I bring you: The 8 greatest moments from Ocarina of Time: The Series.
***Warning: Spoilers Ahead!***
Number 8: The Great Deku Tree Dies (
S01 E03: Goodbye)
If there is one thing the series is remembered for is for not pulling their emotional punches. Link has been through the most harrowing experience of his life just after he finally thought that he could be accepted by his peers, he has killed the monster Gohma and saved the Great Deku Tree...Or so you'd think. Instead he discovers that the one person...Sorry, tree...for whom he suffered this much, the one who could be called a father for him, is already pass the time of expiration, and is just about to die. Link's grief is handled in a truly mature and realistic way, and you can clearly see the struggle in him as the desire to break down and cry battles with the desire to fullfill the last wishes of the Great Deku Tree. It all comes down to Link running after receiving the Kokiri Emerald, as Navi the fairy remains behind for a while, and delivers a final goodbye as the Great Deku Tree dies.
Number 7: Meeting Princess Zelda (
S01 E06: Royal Audience)
Many of the series before did Zelda differently, in the first show she appeared in random segments, and her first speaking lines were at the end, and some like the Link's Awakening adaptation had her not at all. In Ocarina of Time however we are introduced to Zelda aaannnd...She's a child. However we are shown something that no other entry did, showing her in a more vulnerable position. Meeting Zelda for the first time gives the impression of a child burdened with tthe entire weight of the Kingdom in her, yet still willing to trust and care for people. This became the first time Zelda was given a through fleshing out of her chracter, and thus became the definitive version of Zelda from that moment on.
Number 6: Link and Darunia defeat Volvagia (
S02 E11: Brotherhood)
Darunia was an instant beloves character, from his first presentation, to his final part when he helps seal Ganon away. But in no episode is he more explored and beloved than when he and Link teamed together in rescuing the Gorons and fighting the great dragon Volvagia. Initially Darunia had limited time in the first season, however this episode was able to truly flesh the character as he showed a true sense of brotherly affection with Link, treating him as family, and being the brother he never knew. Through the episode we can actually see Link start to open more and more to his "Big Brother", at some points even showing flashbacks to former episodes, and some scenes that did not make the cut for earlier ones.
Number 5: The Last Guardsman's Message (
S01 E20: The Sacred Realm)
The final episode of the first season was some of the most dramatic and hair rising episode of the entire series. Ganondorf had invaded, the princess was on the run, the entire marketplace, once vibrant and full of life, now deserted and barren, and Link as he wades through the place finds a lone guardsman, one that awakwns just long enough to beg for his help in protecting the princess before expiring. This was adeep and touching moment from one of the relatively unknown parts of the game, whcih truly sold the mood of the moment. For as much as Link had fought in the different lands of Hyrule, Castle Hyrule had always been a safe place. Not anymore, war had come to Hyrule, and thwere was no time to waste.
Number 4: The Bottom of the Well (
S03 E8: Historia Tenebris)
Link has gone through volcanoes, jungles, and even the bottom of seas and lakes, yet it was the time when he had to go back thorugh time and get to the bottom of the well in Kakariko when the most disturning part of the series begins. The animation team pulled forth their greatest work here, as every scene is showed to be creepy and disturbin without going to gory detail. Link who has faced monsters in his trvels is seen to be completely disturbed and terrified of what he finds as he discovers Hyrule''s dark history, fihgts the invisible monsters, and when he faces all the terrors that are hidden beneath a sleepy village in the top of a mountain. Now that is a good pitch for a Stephen King's novel right there!
Number 3: Meeting Lord Jabu-Jabu (
S01 E15: Saving Princess Ruto)
Link has gone against all matters of creatures in his travels, yet his biggest challenge and greatest feat of animation, was when they showed the truly titanic shape of Jabu-Jabu. I mean, this beast is HUGE!!! One no longer has to wonder why the Zoras worship this guy, right? And having to stand tall against him and even enter inside...I don't k now who has more courage, the boy entering to save the princess, or the princess who entered voluntarily herself. Credit where credit is due, they managed to make this titan to be huge and imposing, without making him cartoony or lessening his impact. This creature looks as if he could kill me with just a look.
Number 2: Meeting the Gerudo (
S03 E13: Desert Amazons)
Among the greatest scenes who can forget the sight of Gerudo Valley and Gerudo Fortress, while the game itself gave great hints towards Gerudo society and icnography, it was the series who fleshed it out, giving us enough clues as to actually understand their culture, hierarchy and even some explanation as to the nature of their society. Accepting Link as one of their own was given great importance and it is seen as how great an honor and concession it truly is. The scenes with Link sneaking into the fortress in order to rescue the carpenters (after he was captured no less!) are tense and full of suspense, as you wonder if he will get caught this time. Hats off to the screen writers, they truly raised the bar here.
Number 1: Zelda's reveal (
S03 E18: Endgame Part 1)
The reveal of Princess Zelda and the reunion with Link was one of the most emotionally charged episodes in the series. Through it all we had seen Link worry and wonder what would Zelda be doing, and the meetings with Sheik take a whole new meaning once the reveal is made (if you haven't played the game of course). The interaction itself feels intimate, yet still ambiguous enough for fans to wonder if their favorite ship is canon or not.
Well, there you have it. Do you agree with the results? Leave a comment below and don't forget to shit that subscribe button.
A.N: Tried to do something similar to what I usually see in those Youtube videos, don't know how successfull I was here. Hope you don't mind
@Cyberphilosipher since I took some info from your previous omake and made mention in mine. I really hope to be able to do some great Zelda cartoons, and if we manage to do it by combining Western and Eastern animation all the better.
I truly feel that we can do a good job with adapting the different Nintendo properties here, and expanding into Japanese animation (or borrowing and learning from it) can only be beneficial for the animation department for Disney. Having the Lion King give credit where credit is due can also help us in that regard.
Anyways, I leave this omake here, and hope you guys enjoy it.
@Slynnwen , what do you think, is it doable?