Nintendo’s future in animation is looking bright after the wild success ofThe Super Mario Bros. Movie. While no plans have been announced yet regarding the video game company’s future film plans, many Nintendo fans are eager to see which franchise gets an animated film next. One of the big ones fans are clamoring for is an animatedThe Legend of Zeldafilm.
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As one of Nintendo’s more story-driven franchises, there will be high expectations for a film based onThe Legend of Zelda. Fortunately, there are plenty of stellar games in the series to draw from, especially when it comes to their narratives or plot devices. These eightZeldagames would be ideal to reference in an animated movie for hardcore fans of the franchise.
8Ocarina Of Time
When it comes toThe Legend of Zeldastories, you can’t go wrong with a lot of the elements from the Nintendo 64’sOcarina of Time. As well as beingone of the greatest video games ever made, it contains many elements that return throughout the franchise’s future. Link begins as a young boy living in the forest who is called upon to save Hyrule from evil.
Additionally, there are characters and story elements that are simply essential for an animatedZeldafilm, from the use of time travel to Princess Zelda’s warrior alter ego Sheik, and even characters like Saria, Ganondorf, and the Great Deku Tree.Ocarina of Timeis probably the best candidate for a stellar coming-of-age animated movie by Illumination.
7Majora’s Mask
Of course, there are also lots of fans who’d love to see elements fromMajora’s Maskmake it onto the big screen in one way or another. Compared toOcarina of Time,Majora’s Maskcontains a lot more horror elements, which would definitely make it a much more mature animated film than the light-hearted nature ofThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Nevertheless,Majora’s Maskincludesone of the most iconicZeldavillains, Skull Kid, who becomes possessed by the titular mask and threatens to destroy the land of Termina. While the lack of Hyrule and Princess Zelda herself may squash its chances, it could be the perfect choice ifThe Legend of Zelda’s animated movie warrants a sequel.
6Skyward Sword
Given that an animated movie ofThe Legend of Zeldawould be introducing the franchise to those unfamiliar with the series, perhaps it’s best to start at the beginning. The Nintendo Wii titleSkyward Swordwas significant for establishing itself as the first entry in the much-debatedZeldatimeline. Its storyline also re-introduces many of the series' core elements.
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That being said,Skyward Swordis far from a fan-favorite of the series, even though it includes the fan-favorite character of Groose. Plus, the lack of Ganon being present in place of his predecessor, Demise, probably hurts its chances, too. Although, establishing Fi as the spirit of the Master Sword in any film would be a nice homage to the series.
5A Link To The Past
Similar toSkyward Sword,Super Nintendo’sA Link to the Pastmight be a good way to introduce the franchise to new fans. It contains many story elements that are already emotional enough for a feature film, including the death of Link’s uncle, his telepathic connection to Princess Zelda, and the existence of a darker, parallel world.
Additionally,A Link to the Pastmay be a clever way to introduce Ganon, through the villainous wizard Agahnim who threatens to unleash the sealed Ganon upon Hyrule. This may also be the perfect entry to establish the dynamics of Hyrule as a kingdom, which is a narrative feature that’s noticeably absent in many other entries of the series.
4The Minish Cap
Part of what makesThe Super Mario Bros. Moviea success is how it appeals to both fans of the franchise and kids who are being introduced to the plumbers for the first time. If Illumination and Nintendo decided to take this approach, perhaps a game likeThe Minish Capwould be a good choice to inspire an animatedThe Legend of Zeldafilm.
Along with its more cartoonish aesthetic,The Minish Capcenters ona race of tiny people known as the Picori, while also establishing Link as Princess Zelda’s personal protector. The introduction of Vaati as the main villain would also make for an ideal way to surprise fans who might be expecting Ganon as the antagonist of an animatedThe Legend of Zelda.
3The Wind Waker
The Wind Wakeris another one of the more beloved entries inThe Legend of Zelda, this time around focusing on Link exploring a sunken Hyrule via seafaring. It features many elements from the series that could translate into an animated film, from Link’s family to the presence of Ganondorf, and even Zelda’s alternate form, Tetra the pirate.
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Particularly,The Wind Wakeris alsoone of the more kid-friendly entries in the series, compared to some of its more mature successors. One can easily imagine getting lost in a world like the Great Sea on the big screen, while slowly learning about how the once-great kingdom of Hyrule became lost underwater and frozen in time.
2Twilight Princess
When it comes toZeldatitles that are already incredibly cinematic,Twilight Princessis one of the most significant. It strongly resembles a lot of howOcarina of Timebegins, with Link as a simple farmhand whose village is struck by monsters that come from the Twilight Realm. Along his adventure, he discovers thatthe kingdom of Hyrule itself has been overtaken.
WhereTwilight Princessmay lose its appeal as an animated film is how dark and mature its storyline is, especially with the addition of characters like Zant, Midna, and Ganondorf. However, fans of the franchise would certainly eat it up, even if Illumination has to temper some of its aspects that might alarm parents of small children going to see it.
1Breath Of The Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis considered by many to be one of the greatest video games in recent history. As well as giving the player a vast, open Hyrule to explore at their leisure, it also has a loose story incorporating many elements from across theZeldafranchise that could easily be adapted into a more structured animated film.
Given thatTears of the Kingdomis continuing the storyfromBreath of the Wild, it’s fair to say that Nintendo may see these two titles as the best to pull from in an animatedZeldauniverse. Not only do they incorporate many characters, ideas, and story elements from previous entries, but they feel most like whatZeldawas always meant to be.
More:Theories About The Story Of The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
