Nintendo, art, katsuya terada, nes, the legend of zelda, wii, zelda

Katsuya Terada Zelda Artwork: Save, Cherish

You'll be pressed to find bigger fans of cel-shaded Link than me or Luke Plunkett, but these classic renditions of Link by famous illustrator Katsuya Terada are enough to put the whole realistic vs. cartoony argument to rest. Rescued from a fading edition of Nintendo Power, they are yours until your computer crashes, the bombs drop or Ganon plunges us into a world of darkness.

Avoiding cheesy fantasy hyperbole while still capturing an exciting world of the unknown, I'd love to see a Zelda title look just like this. Hit the link for even more shots.

Here, have some amazing Zelda artwork [Livejournal via Gaming Today]

1:00 PM on Thu Apr 10 2008
By Mark Wilson
10,548 views
63 comments

Comments

mangomonkeyboy at 01:12 PM on 04/10/08
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These are fantastic!
QC8472 at 01:15 PM on 04/10/08
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really nice. I think they are in the official Zelda 3 manual (referencing older zelda games). Time to find it. :)
Cruithne at 01:15 PM on 04/10/08
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Simply beautiful, a wonder to behold.
gundamtotoro at 01:18 PM on 04/10/08
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This brings back some fond memories of trying to draw everything that looked remotely cool out of a Nintendo Power as a kid. Thanks!
latemporisateur at 01:18 PM on 04/10/08
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you guys just made me so happy. . . thank you :)
Mr. Fap☆Fap! at 01:19 PM on 04/10/08
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Connectedness Index: 192

I would pet kittens all day long if Nintendo would make the next Zelda's art style look like the official art from A Link to the Past with a water color look, a la that Valkyrie game Sega is making.

[gallery.zeldalegends.net]
[zs.ffshrine.org]
J. Kyle at 01:19 PM on 04/10/08
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Wow, that's a nostalgia trip. I haven't seen these illustrations in years.
The-Blur at 01:20 PM on 04/10/08
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Thank you Kotaku for making my day.
Mr. Fap☆Fap! at 01:21 PM on 04/10/08
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Connectedness Index: 192

@Mr. Fap☆Fap!:
Hmm...I don't think the image feature is working yet...or I'm just stupid.

Apparently if I don't close the tags they show up...
Vehks at 01:22 PM on 04/10/08
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@Mr. Fap☆Fap!: Oh yeah, those two pics right there sure bring back some memories thanks for the post fap.
geekgrrl at 01:22 PM on 04/10/08
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i remember these.. not that impressed. link kinda looks like a ventriloquist's dummy in the top pic.
Wreckoner at 01:22 PM on 04/10/08
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Wow, God, I think I remember these. I had tons of Nintendo Power back in the day, but I think they're in various boxes across the world (or my father's garage) now. These are awesome.
Fyren at 01:23 PM on 04/10/08
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Yea, I am archiving those. Thanks a bunch ^^
Zoobear at 01:23 PM on 04/10/08
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Those pictures remind me of the Zelda game that never was: Shadow of the Colossus.
Homard at 01:25 PM on 04/10/08
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Hotness artwork.
Modus_Operandi at 01:28 PM on 04/10/08
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Makes me want to watch the LOTR and play Zelda again tonight. The mood will fade in a hour.
Gam3r at 01:28 PM on 04/10/08
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This art is > all of the Zelda games art combined. Hopefully, someone steps up and delivers another tour de force game in terms of its artistry.
ruba-dub-dub at 01:29 PM on 04/10/08
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that Horse Knight was from Zelda II...
Ma1agate at 01:32 PM on 04/10/08
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Oh my god. I remember that Horse Knight picture. I have a tattered copy of that very issue tucked away somewhere.

Oh the nostalgia.
NeoAkira at 01:33 PM on 04/10/08
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Connectedness Index: 200

Funny thing is I was Stumbling and came upon an article with these pictures. And then I came on Kotaku and here they were.

And the images are amazing. I hope the next Zelda game has more "primitive" monsters like the ones in these pictures as opposed to the ones usually seen in Zelda games.
Lokno at 01:34 PM on 04/10/08
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They look great, and frankly its because they aren't realistic. Realism implies photorealistic textures and lighting. This work has some serious style, which would make for some wonderful visuals in a game, although it would obviously be challenging to render.
metadae at 01:39 PM on 04/10/08
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Link's got some major leg muscles going on there...
ninjafetus at 01:45 PM on 04/10/08
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Yay for Zelda 2!
Gray665 at 01:50 PM on 04/10/08
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Ugh, some of these brought back painful memories of trying to play through Zelda 2 as a kid. Man those horse guys used to piss me off.
deathsyth8888 at 01:50 PM on 04/10/08
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Great Zelda nerdgasam, thats some great artwork! I would love if they put out an art collection book like that. Plus that kind of art direction would be great in the next game. That or like future/steam punk realm would be awesome as well.
Go Team Venture at 01:58 PM on 04/10/08
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at full out graphic novel based new zelda frontier would a be dream for all...
Reason at 01:59 PM on 04/10/08
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Someone needs to make some desktop pictures out of these.
ProfWho at 02:00 PM on 04/10/08
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Why don't they cell shade the next game like that?
Machete_Bear at 02:00 PM on 04/10/08
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@Mark Wilson: I challenge your love of Cellda good sir, with the fury of ten thousand twirly explosions.
Hazzy at 02:04 PM on 04/10/08
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Heck yes! Someone besides me remembers the ball-throwing-pillar-destroying from Link's Awakening!
I really like the coloring in these...probably the best part. The perspective in the one that depicts the beach rescue scene from Link's Awakening is slightly messed up though.[/nitpick]
Erwin at 02:10 PM on 04/10/08
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Connectedness Index: 258

@Machete_Bear: Twirly explosions forever! There was nothing as good looking in all the Zelda games as the cel-shaded enemy implosions though. Wind Waker was, and still is, a fantastic looking game.
MikeTheSpike at 02:37 PM on 04/10/08
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@Mr. Fap☆Fap!:
I love the Zelda 3 manual. *That* is the Link of record for me; not quite a boy, but not some Poochie-like hardcore adult.

The best is that picture of him walking along that mountainside. I've scoured the net looking for it to no avail, but you know what I mean.
z357x at 02:43 PM on 04/10/08
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Wind Waker Link own's all.
gunbu at 02:50 PM on 04/10/08
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Love the bold use of color!
Brain_Craters at 02:52 PM on 04/10/08
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Reminds me of the art style employed in Frank Miller's "Dark Knight", with just a bit of God of War thrown in. Cool indeed.
rupinderpaul at 02:54 PM on 04/10/08
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I've been saying for years that this is what Zelda is and not what it has turned into over the years. Link to the Past was the last Zelda game that captured what I thought Zelda was supposed to be.

Miyamoto may have had different ideas in later years, but to me the essence of Link was always his eternal, solitary quest. The beauty of the character was that he endured the hardships of being the hero of time alone while pitted against horrible monstrous enemies.

You guys remember when you defeat Agahnim in A Link to the Past? You drove the ultimate evil from Hyrule and what was your reward? It was awakening to a sundered and horribly disfigured Hyrule where all the goodness of the land looked to be long forgotten. What thoughts would come as you descended the steps of the golden pyramid to the tune of the 'Dark World Theme'. It kinda like that, that's what Zelda is.
Raven.Nights at 02:58 PM on 04/10/08
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I haven't seen these in years...
Snappywave at 03:03 PM on 04/10/08
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simply awesome. I remember there was really cool Zelda comic in Nintendo Power back in the early 90's. There was a cool character named "Roam" or something. Wish I could find a pic of him.
Vorpal at 03:06 PM on 04/10/08
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These are so great. The color-work is just amazing.
Snappywave at 03:07 PM on 04/10/08
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@Snappywave: Should find a pic of him in http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.zeldaelements.net/other/comics/zelda_c12_p11.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.zeldaelements.net/comics_alttp.shtml&h=778&w=571&sz=122&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=NzQGVyhEhQWdIM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Droam%2Bzelda%2Bcomic%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS235US236%26sa%3DN
Snappywave at 03:08 PM on 04/10/08
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@Snappywave: Sorry, here's a proper link... http://www.zeldaelements.net/comics_alttp.shtml
_Ted_ at 03:12 PM on 04/10/08
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This style kind of reminds me of that movie Heavy Metal. I have to say that a Zelda game like this would be amazing.
JokesJokes at 03:14 PM on 04/10/08
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Man...I hate toon Link.
solar_tf at 03:15 PM on 04/10/08
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Classic style! Some of it is actually a lot like Frank Miller.
-HeyWowItsFelipe- at 03:17 PM on 04/10/08
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As long as the Zelda series stays alive, Im almost certain Nintendo will eventually release something like this.

I'll be here waiting...
Shuricain at 03:18 PM on 04/10/08
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@solar_tf:

That's it! I was trying to put my finger on where the images get that epic yet gritty feel to them. If only they could make The Legend of Zelda into a modern day graphic novel without all the kiddy crap...
Oyn at 03:28 PM on 04/10/08
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@QC8472: Ehhh... no they aren't, I just looked.
Moonchilde at 03:30 PM on 04/10/08
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I'd love a proper Zelda II remake in this art style. Today's hardware can certainly handle the 2D that would be required.
Existonfile at 03:38 PM on 04/10/08
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Is this the same artist that did the amazing artwork in the Nintendo Power Dragon Warrior guide? The style is very similar.
KM91 at 03:48 PM on 04/10/08
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It seems to have more of a western artstyle...
hrabbit at 03:51 PM on 04/10/08
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oooo so pretty \(♥o♥)/ a Zelda game like that would rock!! they need to be really dark and evil >:}
soap_box at 04:00 PM on 04/10/08
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Did anyone else find themselves humming along to the Zelda theme while scrolling through these? Dum-dumm, da-daddla daaa...
Green-clad Gamer Dude at 04:54 PM on 04/10/08
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According to one of my Zelda timeline theories, the artwork here for Link's Awakening is not canon...
SagatSon at 04:55 PM on 04/10/08
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These pictures remind me that "Shadow of the Colossus" truly was the last great Zelda game.
chungo at 05:47 PM on 04/10/08
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Oh great... now I'm going to have to go rummaging thru boxes in my basement looking for the original nintendo powers just to see what shape I can find these pictures in. Earliest copy I have was a Solomon's Key one I believe... so chances are good I'll find it. Wonder what other things I'll find.

Ooo.. anyone remember that little comic book that came with either Zelda or one of the first Nintendo Powers?
pandafresh at 06:09 PM on 04/10/08
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pretty awesome stuff here
DiscipleofJamzy at 07:20 PM on 04/10/08
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[img.photobucket.com]

This is in a different style, but it's great to see him actually carrying all his equipment from the original game in a somewhat believable way. It makes my 8-bit loving inner child happy.
kyouteki at 07:35 PM on 04/10/08
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I recognize all of these. They're from the official Player's Guide of Link's Awakening.
SSJPabs at 07:39 PM on 04/10/08
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Oh.... oh God, I always loved his stuff and bought some of his other work. LOVED his Zelda stuff. In fact I turned the pages so many times on my Zelda 3 strategy guide that they fell out!
SSJPabs at 07:42 PM on 04/10/08
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BTW, sorry, but did he do the art for the Secret of Mana series in Nintendo Power? Those always seemed like a similar style and just as beautiful.
Chillblain at 08:12 PM on 04/10/08
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Amazing art, truly epic.
Blah8 at 10:04 PM on 04/10/08
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Pretty cool art, that is. My one friend could still easily out-draw that, but it's got it's merits.

[toasttycoon.deviantart.com]

That's his DeviantArt page.
Danj3ris: man of many... at 07:08 PM on 04/11/08
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@kyouteki: Absolutely. I just pulled out my player's guide. Its all there for me, on paper. :)