When the news came out that the wispy, mildly busty Zelda of Smash Bros. Brawl was sporting brown hair instead of yellow, Joystiq mocked any/all potentially shocked fans. Granted, it seems off to get angry about the color of pixelated locks, but the princess of Hyrule has always been blond. So there! Then there’s the fact that in Twilight Princess, Link was rocking a similarly darkened do. It’s like a hair color conspiracy up in here. Seriously, what’s the deal, Nintendo?
Maybe these hair color changes were implemented just to switch things up, but maybe–just maybe–we can totally over-analyze them and draw crazy conclusion from them. So be it! We could say, for example, that Link’s brown hair in Twilight Princess was supposed to make him look older, more mature than other versions of Link–like Wink Waker Link, who’s distinctly and blindingly blond. Then again, the Link of Brawl is very grown-up looking, but also very yellow-haired. Similarly, Zelda’s brown hair might help to distinguish her aesthetically from Link. Of course, it makes sense that no two characters should look too much alike. But I prefer to think that the shift is really about not having a Zelda and Link who could be brother and sister. That way, there’s always the possibility they might still mack it mid-fight…
My biggest problem with this whole hair dying nonsense though is how–dear God, how–can Zelda’s hair be brown and Sheik’s hair be yellow? Either that’s some serious bad planning, or her cross-dressing outfit comes complete with blond bangs.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:04 am
In the original Zelda for the NES, Link’s hair was brown. I remember I used to have a Legend of Zelda sticker book, and just as I type this I miss it dearly. (Check it out at http://www.trsrockin.com/zelda_stickerfun.html) Then his hair got changed to pink in Link to the Past (although it appeared dirty blond in the art,) and to yellow in Ocarina of Time, the beginning of Common Era in the franchise.
I kind of like Zelda’s brunette turn, especially in that outfit; the traditionalist in me says no, but it makes her look kind of Mediterranean to me, and I dig that. Mostly because the whole ‘Aryan hero saves Aryan princess from menacing psuedo-Arab’ motif of the post-3D games always unnerved me.
February 9th, 2008 at 5:03 am
That’s an interesting point: taking away her blonde-ness away also takes away some of her traditional princess-ness. She’s still pretty pale, but at least she’s breaking the mold a bit.
Also, TrannyGetYourGun, I adore your name :).
February 10th, 2008 at 4:18 am
eh, I personally don’t care that they’ve changed their haircolors so many times, especially with the confusion fanboys of old have always had with the offical artwork for the Zelda series (Link has reddish brown and dirty-blond in Zelda 1, 2, and 3, yet in-game, Link has purple-pink hair and Zelda’s a brunette, despite her blond hair in the official artwork).
If anything, I welcome the change.
March 14th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
well.. i think that Zeldas hair is better as brown and link better stay blond ;) cute couple and i love how nintendo did that :) i have to say tanks :P
June 11th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Why is the Zelda-to-Shiek hair color change a big deal? Her eye color changes from blue to red. Hell, her -gender- might even change.