The Legend of Zelda (2010 film)

***The Legend of Zelda*** is a 2010 computer-animated action-adventure fantasy film based on the video game franchise of the same name by Nintendo. The film is directed by Carlos Saldanha, Pat Casey and Josh Miller and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Pat Casey and Josh Miller based on a screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger.

The film is written by Daiki Iwamoto, Pat Casey and Josh Miller and stars the voices of Yuri Lowenthal, Grey Griffin, Clancy Brown, and more. The film follows the journey of Link, a brave hero, who embarks on a quest to save the magical kingdom of Hyrule from the evil clutches of the demon king, Ganon.

## Plot

The film opens with a brief history of the Triforce, a sacred relic consisting of three golden triangles, that was created by the goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore to bring peace and prosperity to the world. It is said that whoever possesses the Triforce will have unlimited power and eternal life. However, the Triforce was hidden away, and only those who possess the three sacred artifacts of courage, wisdom, and power can unlock its secrets.

The story begins in the peaceful kingdom of Hyrule, where Link, a young boy living in the Kokiri Forest, is summoned by the princess, Zelda, to help her retrieve the Triforce from Ganon, the demon king who has taken over Hyrule Castle. Link, armed with his trusty sword and shield, sets out on a perilous adventure to rescue the princess and restore peace to the kingdom. On his journey, Link encounters many obstacles, including treacherous mountains, vast deserts, and treacherous forests, where he must fight off evil creatures and solve puzzles to progress. Link also receives guidance from various characters along the way, such as the wise old owl, Kaepora Gaebora, and the mysterious Sheik, who teaches him new skills and techniques to help him overcome his enemies.

As Link ventures deeper into the heart of Hyrule, he uncovers more about Ganon's plan to unlock the power of the Triforce and use it to rule over the kingdom. He also discovers the truth about his own destiny and his connection to the legendary hero who once wielded the Master Sword, the only weapon capable of defeating Ganon. In a dramatic showdown at the foot of Hyrule Castle, Link and Ganon engage in a fierce battle that tests their strength, courage, and wits. With the help of the Triforce and the power of the Master Sword, Link emerges victorious and saves the kingdom from the clutches of evil.

After defeating Ganon, Link and Zelda are finally reunited. Zelda thanks Link for his bravery and sacrifice, telling him that he is a true hero. Link, humbled by the praise, tells her that it was his duty to protect the kingdom and its people. As they make their way back to the castle, they find it in ruins. The people of Hyrule are in a state of panic, and many have fled to the neighboring kingdoms. Zelda is devastated by the destruction and is determined to restore her kingdom to its former glory.

Link, realizing that his quest is not over, offers to help Zelda rebuild the castle and the kingdom. Together, they travel across Hyrule, seeking out skilled craftsmen and warriors to join their cause. Along the way, they encounter new challenges and enemies, but Link's courage and Zelda's wisdom help them overcome every obstacle. As they work to rebuild Hyrule, Link and Zelda grow closer and begin to develop feelings for each other. However, their duty to the kingdom always comes first, and they put their personal feelings aside to focus on their mission.

After months of hard work and determination, Hyrule is finally restored to its former glory. The people are overjoyed to see their kingdom thriving once again, and Link and Zelda are hailed as heroes. In the end, Link and Zelda realize that their journey has taught them more than just how to defeat evil. They have learned the value of courage, wisdom, and compassion, and they vow to use their newfound knowledge to protect Hyrule and its people for generations to come. The film ends with Link and Zelda looking out over their kingdom, ready to face whatever challenges may come their way.

## Cast

* Yuri Lowenthal as Link, a Hylian youth who characteristically wears a green tunic and pointed cap, and serves as the main protagonist of the film. He has pointed ears and the Triforce symbol on his left hand. Each incarnation of Link is humble, hard-working, brave, and worthy to bear the Triforce of Courage.
* Grey Griffin as Zelda, Hyrule's princess and the guardian of the Triforce of Wisdom. While older titles require Link to save Zelda from Ganon, she, since Ocarina of Time has been mostly shown to be capable in battle, using magical powers and arrows, to aid Link.
	+ Griffin also provides the voice for Fi, a female humanoid representation of the Goddess Sword, which later evolves into the Master Sword, in Skyward Sword. Fi serves as Link's logical-minded companion and assists him throughout the game.
* Clancy Brown as Ganon, the main antagonist who is seeking the Triforce for power and destruction, and kidnapping Princess Zelda as a means to that end.
* Tara Strong as Midna, an imp-like creature and the princess of the Twili race who serves as Link's companion, much like Navi in Ocarina of Time. Initially Midna shows contempt for Link and uses him to further her own goals; however, she grows to like him and continues to help him on his quest. Midna is shown to be a kind-hearted character, even though she was born in the Twilight Realm.
* Cree Summer as Impa, a caretaker to Princess Zelda. There are many incarnations of the character named Impa throughout the Zelda series, all being from the head family of the Sheikah Tribe, just as there are multiple incarnations of Link and Zelda. As with Link and Zelda, all incarnations of Impa share certain personality traits.
	+ Summer also provides the voice of Ruto, a Zora and the Sage of Water; she is the Princess of the Zora people. The Zora refused to follow Ganondorf's rule, so he punished them by sealing their entire domain in ice. The mysterious Sheik saved Ruto and traveled to the Water Temple to break Ganondorf's curse.
* Kevin Michael Richardson as Darunia, leader of a tribe of rock-eating giants known as Gorons, and the Sage of Fire; he considers Link a "Sworn Brother" after Link helps his people by defeating King Dodongo, who had taken over the Goron's mines causing a food shortage. Seven years later, the Gorons resisted Ganondorf's rule after he took over Hyrule; as punishment, he captured nearly all of them and prepared to feed them to the monstrous dragon Volvagia in the Fire Temple.
* Johnny Yong Bosch as Ghirahim, a cruel sadist with a dangerous short-fused temper. He arrogantly toys with Link in their first two battles, then reveals his full power in a final battle prior to Demise's release. With his mission accomplished, Ghirahim is revealed to be the spirit of Demise's sword, given life so he could resurrect his master.
* Laura Bailey as Lana, a supporting character in Hyrule Warriors. The light counterpart of the dark sorceress Cia, Lana manifested when Ganondorf twisted Cia's feelings for Link into an obsession for conquest. Fleeing into the Faron Woods, Lana created a resistance to fight Cia's growing power. After meeting with Link, Lana pledges to aid and protect him in any way, in part due to her own feelings for him.
* Mark Hamill as Zant, the enemy of the Twili who willingly offered himself to Ganondorf, whom he saw as a god, so he could dispose of Midna and invade Hyrule. Though Midna recruits Link to help her collect Fused Shadows so she can regain both her original form and her birthright as the ruler of the Twili, Zant reveals his curse on Midna was placed by Ganon after being fatally wounded.
* Jennifer Hale as Sheik, a recurring character in The Legend of Zelda series. He appears to be a male Sheikah but is in fact a persona of Princess Zelda. Princess Zelda disguises herself as Sheik for most of Ocarina of Time, revealing her true identity only at the end of the game.
* Kari Wahlgren as Aghita, a cheery ten-year-old girl who calls herself the "Princess of Bugs" and lives in a house in Hyrule Castle Town. Agitha asks Link to help her collect twelve pairs of Golden Bugs for a ball she is having, with the promise of awards for his help. She returns in Hyrule Warriors as a playable character, armed with her parasol and using her golden bugs to fight for her.

## Production

In 2007, Imagi Animation Studios, which had provided the animation for TMNT and Astro Boy, created a pitch reel for a computer-animated The Legend of Zelda film. Nintendo did not accept the studio's offer due to the memory of the failure of the 1993 live-action film adaptation of Super Mario Bros.[274] In 2013, Aonuma said that, if the development of a film began, the company would want to use the opportunity to embrace audience interaction in some capacity.[275][276] In June 2023, it was said that Nintendo was close to closing a deal with Illumination and Universal Pictures to produce a film adaptation of the franchise following the success of their film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie,[277] but Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri denied these reports later that month.[278]