The Legend of Zelda (animation): Difference between revisions

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[[File:zeldashowcover_5691.jpg|frame]]
[[File:zeldashowcover_5691.jpg|frame]]


Right around the time of airing of the ''[[Super Mario Bros Super Show]]'', DiC had also produced a short series of cartoons based on the [[The Legend of Zelda (Video Game)|first]] [[Zelda II the Adventure of Link|two]] games in the ''[[The Legend of Zelda|Legend of Zelda]]'' franchise (which were the only ones in existence at the time). Like the games, the animated series features Link's continuing adventures in the kingdom of Hyrule, battling the evil forces of Ganon alongside Princess Zelda and a [[Fairy Companion]] named Spryte. It shared a number of details in common with the [[The Legend of Zelda (Comic Book)|comic book series]] produced by [[Valiant Comics]] around the same time.
Right around the time of airing of the ''[[Super Mario Bros Super Show]]'', DiC had also produced a short series of cartoons based on the [[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|first]] [[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|two]] games in the ''[[The Legend of Zelda|Legend of Zelda]]'' franchise (which were the only ones in existence at the time). Like the games, the animated series features Link's continuing adventures in the kingdom of Hyrule, battling the evil forces of Ganon alongside Princess Zelda and a [[Fairy Companion]] named Spryte. It shared a number of details in common with the [[The Legend of Zelda (comics)|comic book series]] produced by [[Valiant Comics]] around the same time.


Thirteen cartoons were aired in total, and they would usually run during the Friday afternoon episodes. There presumably would have been more, but when ''SMBSS'' was cancelled, the ''Zelda'' segments went with it. The characters of Link and Zelda, along with their respective voice actors, were then adopted into the cast of ''[[Captain N the Game Master]]'', where Link had a rivalry-turned-friendship with the titular Captain.
Thirteen cartoons were aired in total, and they would usually run during the Friday afternoon episodes. There presumably would have been more, but when ''SMBSS'' was cancelled, the ''Zelda'' segments went with it. The characters of Link and Zelda, along with their respective voice actors, were then adopted into the cast of ''[[Captain N: The Game Master]]'', where Link had a rivalry-turned-friendship with the titular Captain.


The thirteen original episodes can be purchased in a DVD box set and [http://www.hulu.com/the-legend-of-zelda are viewable on Hulu.]
The thirteen original episodes can be purchased in a DVD box set and [http://www.hulu.com/the-legend-of-zelda are viewable on Hulu.]
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* [[Bomb Jump]]: Link does one during a chase scene.
* [[Bomb Jump]]: Link does one during a chase scene.
* [[Bungling Inventor]]: Doof, the castle handyman, in "A Hitch In the Works."
* [[Bungling Inventor]]: Doof, the castle handyman, in "A Hitch In the Works."
* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Spryte and King Harkinian (the latter of which would reappear in [[The Legend of Zelda CDi Games|the CD-i games]]).
* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Spryte and King Harkinian (the latter of which would reappear in [[The Legendof Zelda CDI Games|the CD-i games]]).
** Spryte herself may be a [[Canon Foreigner]], but the concept of a [[Fairy Companion]] to Link [[The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time|eventually became]] a [[Canon Immigrant]].
** Spryte herself may be a [[Canon Foreigner]], but the concept of a [[Fairy Companion]] to Link [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|eventually became]] a [[Canon Immigrant]].
* [[Captain Obvious]]: Oh so much. "Ganon's up to something!" You ''think''?
* [[Captain Obvious]]: Oh so much. "Ganon's up to something!" You ''think''?
** [[The Legend of Zelda CDi Games|I just wonder what Ganon's up to!]]
** [[The Legendof Zelda CDI Games|I just wonder what Ganon's up to!]]
* [[Catch Phrase]]: Link has "Well excuse me, Princess", for when Zelda gets annoyed at him, and "This always happens", when he and Zelda fail to kiss.
* [[Catch Phrase]]: Link has "Well excuse me, Princess", for when Zelda gets annoyed at him, and "This always happens", when he and Zelda fail to kiss.
** And Link's demanding Zelda to "kiss me" repeatedly, which is said almost as often as above's quote.
** And Link's demanding Zelda to "kiss me" repeatedly, which is said almost as often as above's quote.
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* [[Cool Crown]]: Zelda's main outfit includes a tiara.
* [[Cool Crown]]: Zelda's main outfit includes a tiara.
* [[Cool and Unusual Punishment]]: In "Cold Spells," Zelda dispatches one of Ganon's creatures by forcing it to smell Link's dirty laundry.
* [[Cool and Unusual Punishment]]: In "Cold Spells," Zelda dispatches one of Ganon's creatures by forcing it to smell Link's dirty laundry.
* [[Cursed With Awesome]]: Link is turned into a frog, but does gain the ability to crawl on walls and ceilings, helping infiltrate Ganon's lair.
* [[Cursed with Awesome]]: Link is turned into a frog, but does gain the ability to crawl on walls and ceilings, helping infiltrate Ganon's lair.
* [[Demoted to Extra]]: Spryte more or less became this, getting at least a certain amount of screentime early on. In later episodes, she is sometimes completely absent, with no explanation at all. One of the episodes that doesn't feature her explains her absence with her being on vacation.
* [[Demoted to Extra]]: Spryte more or less became this, getting at least a certain amount of screentime early on. In later episodes, she is sometimes completely absent, with no explanation at all. One of the episodes that doesn't feature her explains her absence with her being on vacation.
* [[Depending On the Writer]]: Ganon's goals varied from getting Zelda's hand in marriage to getting the Triforce to getting Zelda's hand in marriage ''and'' getting the Triforce.
* [[Depending on the Writer]]: Ganon's goals varied from getting Zelda's hand in marriage to getting the Triforce to getting Zelda's hand in marriage ''and'' getting the Triforce.
** Zelda is either a sassy action girl or a sassy damsel in distress.
** Zelda is either a sassy action girl or a sassy damsel in distress.
* [[Distressed Damsel]]: Zelda, but less often than the games. She's often quite effective in combat, when the script lets her be.
* [[Distressed Damsel]]: Zelda, but less often than the games. She's often quite effective in combat, when the script lets her be.
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* [[Ermine Cape Effect]]: Despite Zelda's usual outfit not being especially fancy, it does come with a tiara.
* [[Ermine Cape Effect]]: Despite Zelda's usual outfit not being especially fancy, it does come with a tiara.
* [["Everybody Laughs" Ending]]: More than once.
* [["Everybody Laughs" Ending]]: More than once.
* [[Everything's Better With Princesses]]: Zelda, of course, but also Spryte; in "Kiss 'N Tell," she informs the others that her father is the king of the fairies.
* [[Everything's Better with Princesses]]: Zelda, of course, but also Spryte; in "Kiss 'N Tell," she informs the others that her father is the king of the fairies.
* [[Everything's Better With Sparkles]]: The Triforce of Wisdom sparkles, as compared to the Triforce of Power, which appears to be perpetually on fire.
* [[Everything's Better with Sparkles]]: The Triforce of Wisdom sparkles, as compared to the Triforce of Power, which appears to be perpetually on fire.
* [[Everything's Better With Spinning]]: Link has a habit of twirling his sword around in his hand. In "The Missing Link," when he's non-corporeal and can't hold the sword, Zelda uses it -- and does the exact same thing.
* [[Everything's Better with Spinning]]: Link has a habit of twirling his sword around in his hand. In "The Missing Link," when he's non-corporeal and can't hold the sword, Zelda uses it -- and does the exact same thing.
* [[Evil Twin]]: In the episode "Doppelganger," Ganon creates an identical copy of Zelda, whose job is to seduce Link into helping her steal the Triforce of Wisdom.
* [[Evil Twin]]: In the episode "Doppelganger," Ganon creates an identical copy of Zelda, whose job is to seduce Link into helping her steal the Triforce of Wisdom.
* [[Failure Is the Only Option]]: Getting Zelda to kiss Link.
* [[Failure Is the Only Option]]: Getting Zelda to kiss Link.
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* [[Fanfare]]: The Hyrule overworld theme got played as a full fanfare for the first time here.
* [[Fanfare]]: The Hyrule overworld theme got played as a full fanfare for the first time here.
* [[Family-Unfriendly Violence]]: Normally the show's fights are pretty safe, but in one episode, Link kicks two snakes, and ''blood spurts out of their mouths.''
* [[Family-Unfriendly Violence]]: Normally the show's fights are pretty safe, but in one episode, Link kicks two snakes, and ''blood spurts out of their mouths.''
* [[Fun With Acronyms]]: When Ganon's mooks kick him out and try to take Hyrule on their own, they identify themselves as the Brotherhood of Underworld Monsters (B.U.M.)
* [[Fun with Acronyms]]: When Ganon's mooks kick him out and try to take Hyrule on their own, they identify themselves as the Brotherhood of Underworld Monsters (B.U.M.)
* [[Fully-Absorbed Finale]]: Link and Zelda would appear in several episodes of ''[[Captain N]]'' after the cancellation of their own show. One episode involved them trying to prevent the resurrection of Ganon.
* [[Fully-Absorbed Finale]]: Link and Zelda would appear in several episodes of ''[[Captain N]]'' after the cancellation of their own show. One episode involved them trying to prevent the resurrection of Ganon.
* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: Link, Spryte, and even occasionally Zelda each have their share of pervy comments throughout the series that [[Parental Bonus|went over the kids' heads]].
* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: Link, Spryte, and even occasionally Zelda each have their share of pervy comments throughout the series that [[Parental Bonus|went over the kids' heads]].
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* [[She Is Not My Girlfriend|He Is Not My Boyfriend]]: Invoked by Zelda in "The White Knight," when meeting Prince Facade for the first time. She introduces Link as a string of titles, causing his status to deteriorate down to "someone I know slightly." Later in the same episode, she actually ''forgets he exists'' while talking to Facade.
* [[She Is Not My Girlfriend|He Is Not My Boyfriend]]: Invoked by Zelda in "The White Knight," when meeting Prince Facade for the first time. She introduces Link as a string of titles, causing his status to deteriorate down to "someone I know slightly." Later in the same episode, she actually ''forgets he exists'' while talking to Facade.
* [[Heroic Mime]]: Inverted by this incarnation of Link, who is by far the most chatty of the three main characters.
* [[Heroic Mime]]: Inverted by this incarnation of Link, who is by far the most chatty of the three main characters.
** Indeed, the cartoon and the [[The Legend of Zelda CDi Games|CD-i games]] are often cited as the reason ''why'' Link should never talk.
** Indeed, the cartoon and the [[The Legendof Zelda CDI Games|CD-i games]] are often cited as the reason ''why'' Link should never talk.
* [[Horseback Heroism]]: In a few episodes.
* [[Horseback Heroism]]: In a few episodes.
* [[Hypnotize the Princess]]: In "A Hitch in the Works," Ganon captures Zelda and puts a necklace on her which allows him to manipulate her mind. His plan, which actually almost ''works'', is a simple one -- [[And Now You Must Marry Me|marry the princess]] and get her Triforce.
* [[Hypnotize the Princess]]: In "A Hitch in the Works," Ganon captures Zelda and puts a necklace on her which allows him to manipulate her mind. His plan, which actually almost ''works'', is a simple one -- [[And Now You Must Marry Me|marry the princess]] and get her Triforce.
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* [[Offscreen Villain Dark Matter]]: Ganon has a lot of it, thanks to the Triforce of Power.
* [[Offscreen Villain Dark Matter]]: Ganon has a lot of it, thanks to the Triforce of Power.
* [[Opening Narration]]: Each episode begins with a sequence in which Zelda explains to Link (and thus, the viewer) what Ganon's hoping to accomplish.
* [[Opening Narration]]: Each episode begins with a sequence in which Zelda explains to Link (and thus, the viewer) what Ganon's hoping to accomplish.
* [[Orcus On His Throne]]: Ganon frequently prefers to send his (largely useless) minions to do his dirty work.
* [[Orcus on His Throne]]: Ganon frequently prefers to send his (largely useless) minions to do his dirty work.
** He mentions at least once that his powers wane in Hyrule proper and that he is only at full power in the Underworld.
** He mentions at least once that his powers wane in Hyrule proper and that he is only at full power in the Underworld.
* [[Pants-Free]]: Averted in the daytime; however, whenever Link is shown after he's gone to bed or just gotten up, he's only seen wearing a nightshirt.
* [[Pants-Free]]: Averted in the daytime; however, whenever Link is shown after he's gone to bed or just gotten up, he's only seen wearing a nightshirt.
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* [[Pun-Based Title]]: More often than not, the individual episodes have rather punny or descriptive names. The episode "Sing for the Unicorn" features a character named Sing who is trying to rescue her unicorn. "A Hitch In the Works" is about Ganon kidnapping Zelda to force her to marry him. And then there's "The Moblins Are Revolting"...why yes, yes they are.
* [[Pun-Based Title]]: More often than not, the individual episodes have rather punny or descriptive names. The episode "Sing for the Unicorn" features a character named Sing who is trying to rescue her unicorn. "A Hitch In the Works" is about Ganon kidnapping Zelda to force her to marry him. And then there's "The Moblins Are Revolting"...why yes, yes they are.
* [[Purple Is Powerful]]: Zelda's dark purple shirt, and light purple tights. Not only does it fit her royal status, but also fits her being an action girl in this series.
* [[Purple Is Powerful]]: Zelda's dark purple shirt, and light purple tights. Not only does it fit her royal status, but also fits her being an action girl in this series.
* [[Red and Black And Evil All Over]]: Gannon makes an evil doppelganger of Zelda, and the only visible difference is that her top is black with a red vest instead of purple with a white vest.
* [[Red and Black and Evil All Over]]: Gannon makes an evil doppelganger of Zelda, and the only visible difference is that her top is black with a red vest instead of purple with a white vest.
* [[Respawning Enemies]]: Given an in-universe explanation by the Evil Jar.
* [[Respawning Enemies]]: Given an in-universe explanation by the Evil Jar.
* [[Rhymes On a Dime]]: When the Triforce of Wisdom speaks, it always does so in rhyme, at least in theory. Sometimes the rhymes are a bit of a reach; for instance, "wise" and "advice." In "Cold Spells," Zelda responds with a sarcastic rhyme of her own.
* [[Rhymes on a Dime]]: When the Triforce of Wisdom speaks, it always does so in rhyme, at least in theory. Sometimes the rhymes are a bit of a reach; for instance, "wise" and "advice." In "Cold Spells," Zelda responds with a sarcastic rhyme of her own.
* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]: Zelda qualifies when she actually helps out.
* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]: Zelda qualifies when she actually helps out.
** Prince Facade is an adventurer, and is easily just as competent as Link as a fighter, even arguably superior in close combat despite having a crossbow as his chosen weapon. He's just too vain, and as such puts his looks above the lives of others.
** Prince Facade is an adventurer, and is easily just as competent as Link as a fighter, even arguably superior in close combat despite having a crossbow as his chosen weapon. He's just too vain, and as such puts his looks above the lives of others.
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* [[Shirtless Scene]]: Link, while taking a bath in "The White Knight."
* [[Shirtless Scene]]: Link, while taking a bath in "The White Knight."
* [[Smooch of Victory]]: Link always wants one, but Zelda usually rejects him, which leads him to say one of his catch phrases.
* [[Smooch of Victory]]: Link always wants one, but Zelda usually rejects him, which leads him to say one of his catch phrases.
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: [[The Legend of Zelda CDi Games]] seem to have borrowed from this series (both having a King Harkinian who says "[[Memetic Mutation|Mah boi]]," for one example). Of course, despite fans' varying opinions on the animated cartoon, they will invariably admit that compared to those games the cartoon is pure gold.
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: [[The Legendof Zelda CDI Games]] seem to have borrowed from this series (both having a King Harkinian who says "[[Memetic Mutation|Mah boi]]," for one example). Of course, despite fans' varying opinions on the animated cartoon, they will invariably admit that compared to those games the cartoon is pure gold.
* [[Spot the Imposter]]: Fake Zelda kisses Link, while the real Zelda slaps him.
* [[Spot the Imposter]]: Fake Zelda kisses Link, while the real Zelda slaps him.
* [[Stalker With a Crush]]: Ganon seems to feel this way toward Zelda, as evidenced by his actions in a number of episodes.
* [[Stalker with a Crush]]: Ganon seems to feel this way toward Zelda, as evidenced by his actions in a number of episodes.
{{quote| '''Ganon:''' ''I want that princess!''}}
{{quote| '''Ganon:''' ''I want that princess!''}}
** In "That Sinking Feeling," he explicitly states his intention to make her his queen once he conquers Hyrule.
** In "That Sinking Feeling," he explicitly states his intention to make her his queen once he conquers Hyrule.
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