Legend of Zelda Creating a Champion

Princess Zelda

Daruk

Princess Mipl1a

Reva Ii

Urbosa

Guardian



Bokoblin
Kass

Master Cycle Zero

-

-···



........



59

60 Link

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DEVEL0PER'S N0TE We thought that the iconic green tunic and hat had become expected, so we
wanted to mix things up and update his look. Interestingly, though, nobody on
Link is the game's protagonist, so I've always thought we need him to look the team said, "Let's make him blue!" It just organically ended up that way.
cool. Yet, if we overdo it, the people playing the game might feel like they're
controlling an already accomplished hero, which I felt could get in the way of PRODUCER: EIJl AONUJ\1A
the players immersing themselves in the game. For that reason, this time I
decided we should make Link a more neutral character in a variety of ways.

61

~ Rough Designs '' '

--,

ODoo

\

In general, to create a new design for this game, an
artist would start by drawing a number of ideas in a
sketchbook and then, after choosing the best ones,
scan them, add color, and develop them into rough
designs. The sketches on this page are from the
beginning of development.

62 Link

DEVEL0PERS'N0TES

Producer Aonuma-san declared that we would be revising expectations by updating
Link for this game. He wanted Link to be a more neutral character that players could
see themselves as. You can feel how energized and excited the artists were about this
idea from the really interesting modern concepts they drew. There were close to one
hundred designs presented within the team for Link, and the number of sketches was
too great to count.

ART DUU!CTOR: SATORU TAKlZA\VA

The Link of this game was to be a traveler from the frontier who exudes a sense of
adventure, which is why there are a lot of designs that feature capes and bags.

At the beginning of development we drew a lot of landscape concepts. Link wearing
blue clothes appeared pretty early on because the blue stood out against the backgrounds
we were producing.

Did you notice that the Champion's Tunic that appears on page 60 has a different
pattern on the chest than the one from the start of development? Since the tunic is
unique to Link, it ultimately ended up being a symbolic representation of the Master
Sword. The story behind the Champion's Tunic is touched upon in the second DLC,
"The Champions' Ballad:'

SENIOR LEAD ARTIST, CHARACTER/ITEM: YOSHIYUKI 0YA.lltA

TH~~OF

TH~ ta-asn«

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This guita.r·playing, motorcycle-riding Link was
one ofthe early designs put forward at the start
ofdevelopment. The modern outfit of jeans and
a jacket was a totally new look for Link.

63

~ Rough Designs

l

64 Link

~ WOLF LINI{ (amiibo)

Wolf Link is the twilit beast form of Link from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. A Wolf Link amiibo
was released alongside the HD rerelease of Twilight Princess in 2016, and if you tap the amiibo into Breath
of the Wild he will accompany Link on his journey, search for shrines, hunt, and help fight enemies. He is
invisible to ordinary folk since he is a visitor from another plane of existence.

~ Rough Designs

, •• • -)-)
.L
NAVl(iATO~DO(i
•
(WOLF SPf~)

These sketches illustrate an early idea to
have a dog that would be Link's navigator
companion. Wolf Link did not end up
serving as a navigator, but the idea of a
canine companion fighting monsters with
Link came from these initial concepts.

SCREENSHOT

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This is the formalwear of the royal family,
worn inside the castle or during ceremonies.
This gorgeous royal-blue dress is adorned with
golden decorations. It does not appear very often
in Link's recovered memories.

67

This is Princess Zelda's fieldwork outfit, worn when she is
outside the castle conducting research on relics. The pants
and boots make this outfit easy to move around in .

•

~ ---

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tLOTH

68 Princess Zelda

-• a e •

69

-

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,

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Zelda wears this pure white maiden's outfit
while training to unlock the sealing power that
dwells within her. Calamity Ganon revives
immediately after her training session on
Mount Lanayru and she heads straight to
battle, which eventually leads to her power
awakening and Hyrule Castle, where she seals
Calamity Ganon away. That is why she is wearing
this outfit when she is freed and reunited with
Link one hundred years later.

DEVEL0PERS'N0TES I placed more emphasis on the fact that Zelda is a real girl who we can empathize
with than the fact that she's a princess. I wanted to show that she is a sensitive
The reason the memory fragments showPrincess Zelda'sthoughts and struggles person and at an age where she is struggling to find her place. I aimed for three
is because I wanted players to be curious about her, be invested in her well-being, outfit designs that Zelda would choose for herself based on the time, place,
and want to saveher. The storygoes that she is a princess who cannot use thesacred and occasion.
sealingpo,ver within her, and that came from the idea that Zelda and the hero were
defeated one hundred years prior. I think the reason this story carries so much LEADARTIST,NP Cs: H1Roa1To SHINODA
weight is because the series has so many earlier titles that set the stage for this one.
.-
CINEMATIC DESIGN: NAOKI Motu

'

~ Rough Designs "I thought I made It clear that I am not in need of an "If that was the only thing that you "Andshould Ganon ever show
escort. I, the person in question, am fine, regar1ness were ever told, I wonder then, would
of the klng's orders. Return to the casUe." you have chosen a different path?" itsell again, we'll be well
positioned to defend ourselves.•

-- --

•W' "But I don't hear ... or feel
anything!"
"So I really am just a failure!"
"I've lett them .•. all to die."
'4\9'
Even though Zelda is a sacred princess,
it was important that her expressions
convey that she has human weaknesses
and is a character with great emotional
depth. There are many images of her
facial expressions that were referenced
when creating the cinematic cutscenes,

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72 Princess Zelda

-

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•

•

---

~ CALAMITY GANON This is the form Ganon has taken since Princess spirit body formed of coalesced malice and
Zelda contained its power within Hyrule Castle. hatred that writhes around the castle. Though it

(MALICE) Calamity Ganon's corporeal form is sealed inside, has no physical presence, this awful sight reveals
but its evil is so strong that it has manifested a just how potent Canons evil really is.

~ Rough Designs

'•

•,

75

~ CALAMITY GANON

Calamity Canon'sphysical body is sealed away inside ofHyrule Castle. Princess
Zelda'sweakening powers and the hero's awakening have served as a catalyst for
Ganon's revival. When Calamity Ganon finally breaks Zelda'sseal, its form Is
incomplete. It resembles an enormous spider equipped with a variety ofweapons.
It has absorbed the ancient Sheikah relics used to attack it one hundred years ago,
and utilizes a beam attack that is not unlike a Guardians laser.

-

I

~ RoughDesigns

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76 Ganon /

~-·' -/' .r;- '

' ,,

~GANoN's

COCOON

Princess Zelda sealed Calamity Ganon in this
pupal state one hundred years ago, right before
its revival. It has remained dormant ever since.
Canon's Cocoon rests in the audience chamber
of the Sanctum of Hyrule Castle. It has waited
on the cusp of revival for a century.

77

~ DARI{ BEAST GAN ON

Just as it seems Link has Calamity Ganon on the ropes, it unleashes its
tremendous po,verand transforms into its true form. Its gigantic boar-like
body is on par with the colossal Divine Beasts. The black and pink flames
are pure malice, and cause injury to the hero if touched.

j

,•

78 Ganon

~ Rough Designs

....

• • •• ••

•

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DEVEL0PER's NerE of hatred and malice incarnate. Dark Beast Ganon takes the shape of a boar like
the Ganons ofprior games but ended up being very large compared to Link since
W11en Link first battles Calamity Ganon, it's in an incomplete state. It could we wanted the game to end in the vast open plain ofHyrule Field. This might be
not fully revive because Princess Zelda bas been actively suppressing its pow·er. the biggest Ganon in the history of the series.
However, when Link gains the upper hand in their battJe, it loses its tenuous
control of the pure malice within and transforms into a raging beast. The pink ENE!\fY ARTIST: YUKI HAMADA
and purple tar-like malice that appears all over Byro le was designed first, and,
based on that idea, I decided to make Ganon's entire body into a monster made

79

~ PHANTOM GANONS

Phantoms created by Ganon one hundred years in the past that entered
the four Divine Beasts and killed their Champion pilots. They all have
fiery red hair and have absorbed ancient weapons.

~ Fireblight Ganon

~ Waterblight Ganon •

•

•
•

FlOATING UPRIGHT
Please rnalCe Its body Skinny and bony. not oveity
muscular. Itsllouldn~ be skin and bones, but the
musdesshould be wiry,not bulky.

•

VC) 2-way rotation:
vertical and horizontal.

DEVEL0PER'S N0TE of Ganon's obsessive hatred and fixation on revival,
so I designed them with that horrfble thought in
Throughout this lengthy open-world game, I wanted mind. I included the red hair to make them visually
players to feel Ganon's presence at all times. I believe reminiscent of Ganon.
that having manifestations of Ganon appear in each of
the Divine Beasts creates a sense that Ganon is always LEADARTIST, ENEMIES: °Lu<AFUMI KlUCHl
right there next to Link at every step. They were born

80 Ganon

~ Windblight Ganon •

••

~ Thunderblight Ganon

•

Toe base of the shield is like a spherical
joint and the wrist portion can move.



~ RoughDesigns These are concept sketches of the Champions from the beginning of development. The rough
character designs were created by imagining a common person ti-om each of the races who would
become the foundation of that race. As you can see at the bottom, in place of a Rito Champion,
there is a character who resembles a Kokiri from Ocarina ofTime.

IF ~ELDA IS t:,o/Nt:, TO VSE' THIS POSE!

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83
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I

~MIPHA

Princess Mipha is King Dorephans daughter. She was selected as one of the
Champions due to her special ability to heal others' wounds. She is kind and
soft spoken, but deep down she is also incredibly strong. She fights to protect
her people and aJI the people ofHyrule as the chosen pilot of the Divine Beast
Vah Ruta. On the day of the Great Calamity, she was attacked in the Divine
Beast by Waterblight Ganon and lost her life. She is doomed to remain trapped
there in spirit form until Link slays the demon that took her life.

84 The Champions

\ B~teLrr] eLEPHANTPA r r E~

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TIA~

VIEW FROM
ABO Ve

~ Rough Designs

DEVEL0PERS' N0TES I ended up using a dolphin as the inspiration for Mipha'sdesign,but I also
considered several other ideas, including using an oarfish or a rockfish as a
I wanted Mipha to be a female character with a different relationship with motif. Her outfit incorporates the delicate design of the Zora in her accessories,
Link than Princess Zelda. She is the complete opposite of the princess, who as well as an ephemeral feeling that reflectsMipba'spersonality.
cannot use her sealing power. 'Ihe fact that she and Link have a past informsher
character. She's known him since childhood, and, as a result, their relationship LEADARTIST, NPCs: HIROHITO SHINODA
ended up being almost too intense. I tried to balance things by makingher into
a quieter person. The Zora are longer-lived than the Hylians, so I intended the
reversal of the perceived age gap between her and Link to feel very emotional.

CINEMATIC DESJGN: NAO KI MORI

85

CHEST ti.ASP

i'lADE OF /llETAL

I AB-OVE

I

BEL-OW

I

'

~ Rough Designs ~DARUK

A. Daruk has the special ability to create a force field
around himself to defend against all manner of
attacks. Because of this power, he was selected to
be a Champion. Though he may appear gruff, he
is tremendously kind. He fondly calls Link "little
guy" while also acknowledging his unparalleled
skills.Daruk was chosen to pilot the Divine Beast
Vah Rudania, but, before he could bring the beast's
po,verto bear on Calamity Ganon, he was attacked
by Fireblight Ganon and killed-his spirit sealed
within Vah Rudania,

B,

DEVEL0PERS'N0TES I wanted him to feel like an experienced leader you can count on. The
hair growing all over his body looks like armor. I focused on his overall
Daruk is reminiscent ofDarunia from Ocarina of Time. Daruk calling bodyshape to give him a powerful, muscular physique, since he's bulky
Link "little guy" is an homage to Darunia calling the hero "brother:' I but not out ofshape.
designed him to have the straightforward nature of the Gorons while
also being the elder spiritual leader of the Champions. LEAD ARTIST, NPCS: HIROHITO SHINODA

CINE!\IATICDESIGN: NAO KI MORI

86 The Champions

BAlK HAffl. fl.~r,fol/~D

• He has broader-than-normal shoulders and a sturdy build.
• He has muscles like a statue forged in fire.
• His face is a little bit small.
• His shoulderhair resembles armor (shoulder pads).

87

The decorative leathers used in his
shoulder pads are real leathers.

HEAD:

f/t()IJT

JJ,/() IAfK

The green ring accessories
are made of jade.

~REVALI that Link was chosen to stand against Calamity Ganon instead
of him. He was chosen to pilot the Divine Beast Vah Medoh
Revali is a particularly skilled Rite warrior who was chosen but was attacked, killed, and had his soul imprisoned in the
as a Champion. He developed the ability to generate updrafts beast by Wind blight Ganon.
to propel himself into the sky. He is prideful and has absolute
faith in his own abilities, which is why he was so unsatisfied

88 The Champions

OPeN "10vrH

THc METAL Sl#FA(c IS SMOOTH

hJI> SIIOVLI>N'T Be SHIN'f.

VNDeft.THe S(A"

HIS BIWI>S SHOvLI> too« LIKE THO' HA'+lc
IIJBBONS WO'+lcN INTO THEM.

~ Rough Design DEVEL0PERS'N0TES

• RITO CHAMPION The Champions are meant to be a bit of a throwback
to characters of previous titles, but among the four
·,·,.,/M "'ore u,pabk f-'4,n 'ltN, are. pilots, Revali is the most original. I thought it would
st..lL f pro11e ,Y:!SJ/ttp ro/.eJ J/,'ft. 1«e and Jee "'4f 4rppellJ.• be interesting to have a character that didn't just
accept Link as the most exceptional like the others
did, so I created the character around that concept.
However, I wanted to make sure that he wouldn't end
up disliked for being overconfident.

CINEMATIC DESIGN: NAOKI Moru

The core design for the Rito hadn't been set before
production started, so finalizing Revali defined how
the rest of the Rito would look. I experimented with
a number of different bird motifs, like swallows and
woodpeckers, but settled on birds of prey. Creating
a design that communicated a character that sees
Link as a rival- but could not be honest with himself
about it-took a lot of trial and error.

LEADARTIST, NPCs: HIROHITO SHINODA

89

~URBOSA

Urbosa has the ability to control lightning itself, and because of that awesome
power, she was chosen as the Gerudo Champion. She has a dignified demeanor
befitting a Gerudo warrior but also has a softer side, acting like an older sister and
being a gentle support to those around her. She piloted the Divine Beast VahNaboris
but fell to Thunderblight Ganon. Like the other pilots, her spirit is trapped in the
Divine Beast and awaits the coming of the hero to free her.

THf PAT'Te/l.N

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OF TH< aot».

HcR SHcATH

WtU ATTAlH TO

THc es» IJcLT.

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90 The Champions

• A more feminine, molherly appearance lhan other Gerudo.
• Slightly less muscular than the others.
• Possesses the slrength of both a warrior and a molher.

~ Rough Design

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DEVEL0PERS' N0TES

In Princess Zelda's memories I showed Urbosa saving her from the Yiga and serving as a
spiritual mother to her as Zelda becomes more and more overwhelmed with stress. Not only
is Urbosa kind and relaxed, l gave her a little bit of sass as well. Tue Gerudo tribe birthed the
central villain of the series, as seen in Ocarina of'Iime, so 1 drew on the expansive nature of this
series and its rich history and made Urbosa, the Gerudo chief, feel responsible for their part in
that. Similar to Daruk, we see a side ofher in the DLC we weren't able to show in the main game.

CINEMATIC DESIGN: NAOKI Moru

She exudes the tough beauty of the Gerudo as well as being a mom with moxie. I took extra
care exploring how to make her outfit look fitting for someone of her station-a person an
ordinary Gerudo would look up to.

LEAD ARTIST, NPCs: HIROHITO SHINODA

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~THE OLDMAN • He HAf. A f.Pt.cNDID, INTcNf.c BcA~.
• A BfT HcFT(, BIIT ~tJ<,.
He is the first person Link encounters upon waking from his restorative slumber
and the only person that lives on the Great Plateau. He asks the amnesiac Link • Hlf. EYcf. f.HOW A ~N4 WILL
to investigate the ancient shrines and provides him with crucial knowledge on
how to survive in this ruined world.

Tiff (fNrr/t (OME'S

r TO A SUC,HT POINT.

A <HE'AA'f reee .,,.,.-'? • ABOIIT sor« YcA~ OLD•
• Hlf. (LoTHcf. Afl.c TATrrfl.cD WITH
ATTMHE'D
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) • THc MITAL A((cf.SOfl.lcf. 4r/c THc

l"1Pfl.Ef.f.lON OF Bc/N<, Hl4H tLAf.f..
• HIS BcATcN-VP BOOTf. AND 4LOVcf.

AM PAT(HcD WITH LcATHcfl. AND
fl.c/NfO(l.(cD WfTH LcATHcfl. STfl.lN4.

93

~KINGRHOAM -

King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule was the last
king of the kingdom of Hyrule and Princess
Zelda's father. His spirit remained in the plain
of tbe living after bis deatb, and be disguises

himself as a common old man to pass on the
truth of the destruction of the kingdom to Link
when he awakens.

METAL

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DEVEL0PERS'N0TES From the beginning of development, King Rhoam was going to be located in

TI1eHylians are good, common folk, so I gave their clothes a calming, relaxed the Great Plateau and act as a guide for Link and the player, neither of which
look. The Hylians' and Sheikah's faces were individualized via a special tool,
and they were changed almost daily during development. There are characters have any knowledge of Hyrule at this point. Conceptually, he was the wise king
whose faces changed so much from where they began that you could say that of a fallen kingdom who was hiding himself from the world. I designed his look
they ended up being entirely different characters at the end of development. when he is in disguise and when he is operating as king to be polar opposites.
Personally, my favorite is Branli, who studies the "bird-men:' I made him at Bolson (page 96) also originally had a larger physique, but we kept slimming
the end of development. him down and eventually settled on his design.

NPC ART: MANABU HIRAOKA LEAD ARTIST, NPCs: Hmonrro SHINODA

94 The Hylians

~BEEDLE • CHANGE PLATE

This traveling merchant wanders Hyrule with an enormous
pack full of merchandise on his back, stopping at stables to
set up shop. He may never change his outfit, whether he's in
scorching heat or frigid tundra, but the wares he sells change
based on what is necessary in the area he is in. He loves beetles,
as is evidenced by his beetle-shaped backpack.

•

• SIMPLE PARASOL • WATER BOTTLE • BAMBOO POLE
fi>lds up. like the bamboo Pole that Bottle mouth: metal 11 will be a lime 1~cky, blll
holds his sign, ii is fixed wtth rods lo Stopper. cork priori1ile 1he appearance
the interior of the backpack. Bladder: leather and slick ft In a gap in lhe
Exterior: snail shell rucksack 10 hold It In place.
• LIGHT BULB
The light bulb hangs ~,ed• HERBS (MEDIUM) • SLEEPING SET
from a leather together with a string. Place 111 between 1tie hOms.
band on one of the
parasol's arms. Basket tie
close-up

• FRUIT BASKET

• HERBS (LARGE)
Bundled together wtth a string.

~l{ILTON Kilton operates a shop called the Fang and Bone. He moves the shop even dresses in monstrous garb. ln exchange for monster parts, he
just outside major towns by using a hot-air balloon and only operates offers Link a special currency called mon that can be exchanged for
at night. He's an odd fellow who loves monsters so much that he the monster-themed items he sells.

ti« HOOC>'S 1./NI~ IS WIN rne IIITTON
FILLrr> WfTH lOTTON. IS (MOKrl>.

Tllf HOLr IS PATlHfl>

FMM rne INSIC>f Wmt

ILVf lLoTII.

111rsr Ll>O,:: u« FAIIICiS. Nr ~

IDIIM./.'( PMIIT'rO ONTO HfS LIP.

~ Rough Design

95

~ BOLSON CONSTRUCTION ~ Bolson

These three are the carpenters who run • HAMME~
Bolson Construction out of'Hateno Village.
O!lOAATfl/! V!l!SION
In order to be an employee of the company,
FftCM BEHIND
you must have a name that ends in "son:'
Bolson is the president, boss, and designer
for Bolson Construction, and he and his
newest hire, Karson, offer to improve the
house Link buys from them for a reasonable
price. Longtime employee Hudson sets off
for Akkala by himself to found a new town.

~ Rough Design •

• HYLIAN CARPENTER: BOLSON

VISUALS OF
BOO'( 8V/LO

STVtJBOIW FP-OM SID(
LOOK/NC,

r.TOMAlll llANC,S SVMO
OV(P- THE' BE'lT. SVIU>

~Hudson ~Karson

, Karson had long hair in his
..___ final design, like something
a trendy young person might
have, but it was changed to
a buzzcut when he was put
into the game.

96 The Hylians