FEATURE: Here's a Pile of Anime to Get You Hyped for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Are you all hyped for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s imminent release? I know I certainly am; after all, its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, stands as one of my all-time favorite video games, calling to mind the same sense of joy and discovery that enraptured me as a kid playing Ocarina of Time. Breath of the Wild’s utterly open-ended approach to exploration and even character movement offered a sense of freedom other games are still catching up to, while its scattered villages full of quests and charming characters ensured there was always something worth seeking on the horizon. It’s a feeling that’s hard to replicate outside of interactive media, but today I’m going to do my best and offer a collection of shows that all reflect some aspect of that Zelda spirit. Let’s bide the time until Link’s return with some lovely Zelda-like productions!
First off, one of my central, consistent wishes when it comes to Zelda games is that Zelda herself gets something meaningful to do. Occasionally she gets to be an active player in disguise (Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker), but rarely do we see the princess herself taking command. I enjoyed seeing her ambiguous relationship with her destiny play out in Breath of the Wild, and if you’d like more stories like that, I emphatically recommend Yona of the Dawn. Yona is an extremely Zelda-like character with a fantastical quest of her own, sending her from one unique village and challenge to another as she assembles a team capable of claiming her kingdom. It’s a propulsive show with an endearing, dynamic heroine, demonstrating precisely why Zelda should always be an active character.
For another fantastical travelog that more precisely echoes the particularly bright, whimsical tone of The Legend of Zelda, I’d also recommend Ranking of Kings. Given the show’s outstanding production and overall recency (a spinoff is airing right now!), I imagine you’ve already heard of this one.
If not, let me be the first to tell you that Ranking of Kings is outstanding on all fronts: a great cast of characters, an inventive and insightful narrative, beautiful art design and consistently dazzling animation. The rambling journey of Bojji and Kage encompasses as many diverse landscapes and unique cultures as any Zelda adventure, while the bond between the two of them echoes the peaks of Link’s relationships with his various partners. Ranking of Kings is an easy recommendation for anyone, but if you’re looking for Zelda vibes in particular, it’s a perfect choice.
Of course, The Legend of Zelda isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Equally important to its appeal are moments of mystery, wonder, and even fear, whether expressed through the overhanging dread of Majora’s Mask or the consistent dangers of the Lost Woods. The best Zeldas convey a sense of nature as something that cannot be fully contained, and if you’re looking for that sort of tone, MUSHI-SHI is the show for you. Contemplative, atmospheric and consistently gorgeous, MUSHI-SHI tells the story of a man who wanders from village to village engaging with their local spirits and hopefully unraveling the natural friction of mankind bumping shoulders with the supernatural. If you love Zelda’s moments of untamed, unknowable wonder, MUSHI-SHI bottles that feeling into perfect episodic packages.
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Perhaps you’re more engaged by Zelda’s mechanical dimensions, and in particular, the sense of scrounging, strategizing, and frequent ignominious defeat attendant in Breath of the Wild’s sandbox approach. If you want to recapture that feeling of blowing up a Moblin nest only to also set yourself on fire, I highly recommend Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions. Though it’s technically an isekai, Grimgar plays out more like a fantasy adventure starring absolute novices who collectively struggle to kill even a single goblin. Gaining proficiency with their weapons, scouting out their prey, attacking from a position of advantage — all of the incidental challenges of being an adventurer, which often get overlooked in pursuit of grander excitement, are respected and prioritized here. The end result is a fantasy drama where nothing feels effortless and danger is omnipresent, matching up quite well with the thousand challenges of Breath of the Wild.
Finally, while Breath of the Wild bowled me over in all sorts of ways, it still left me hungry for more genuine romance between Link and Zelda. Heck, Link’s relationship with Mipha always felt far more intimate than his bond with Zelda, while Zelda herself seemed closest to Urbosa.
If you’re also seeking genuine romance in a Zelda-like fantasy shell, I’d recommend Maoyu, the story of a legendary hero who ends up falling in love with the queen of demons, leading to a whole mess of trouble for everyone. From this quirky high-concept introduction, Maoyu builds a genuinely charming rapport between its two leads, each of them pursuing a greater peace between realms using all the skills they once brought to battle. If you’d like to watch a story about what might happen after a given Zelda game, when Link and Zelda are more concerned with statecraft and each other than saving the world, Maoyu’s an excellent choice.
Those cover my recommendations, but I’m sure you all can think of plenty more Zelda-reminiscent shows. I hope you’ve found something that seems interesting among my choices, and please let me know your own favorite Zelda-like stories in the comments!
Nick Creamer has been writing about cartoons for too many years now and is always ready to cry about Madoka. You can find more of his work at his blog Wrong Every Time or follow him on Twitter.
By Crunchyroll feed
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