One of Happy Mask Salesman’s Masks Influenced Majora’s Mask’s Mirror Shield Design
Posted on March 02 2015 by Rod Lloyd
Most of us already know about the uncanny similarities between Majora’s Mask‘s unique Mirror Shield design and a specific mask found on the back of the Happy Mask Salesman. It’s safe to assume that one of these designs influenced the other, but the game was unclear as to which came first. In an interview with Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Eiji Aonuma explains how the Mirror Shield was actually based on the HMS’ distressed mask and how the development team felt about this choice.
Nintendo Dream asks Aonuma about the shield and mask’s similar designs:
“ND: The Happy Mask Salesman has a mask which shares its design with the Mirror Shield.
Aonuma: That’s right. The mask came first.
ND: Is that so?
Aonuma: When the Mirror Shield was being designed, we wanted to have some kind of pattern for the reflection. Having said that, it was hard to come up with a pattern for the shield. We clearly couldn’t make it like the shield from Ocarina of Time as the shape is too detailed and it wouldn’t fit the image of this game. But the Happy Mask Salesman is carrying a mask which has a face of distress, so wouldn’t it be interesting to use that one? Therefore, the Mirror Shield was born from what was previously a mask of Happy Mask Salesman.
ND: So you adapted the design which was originally for a mask.
Aonuma: Back then I was surprised like: ‘Are we putting a face on the shield!?’ But it fit the look of the world. (laughs)
ND: Come to think of it, the face of an Elegy of Emptiness statue is also great.
Aonuma: Ah, seeing that for the first time made a strong impression, too. Like: ‘What’s this? This really looks like an empty shell.’ “
The answer provides some interesting insight on how the Majora’s Mask team designed the Mirror Shield. To think, the team could have experimented with other HMS masks to create the shield. How great a Mario mask Mirror Shield would have been. Aonuma’s explanation also points out how the shield’s strange design (and the Elegy of Emptiness statue) fits in with the overall tone of the game. I doubt the game would have been the same without these strange, unsettling images.
What are your thoughts on the Majora’s Mask‘s Mirror Shield? Would you have liked to see a different design in the game? Let us know!
Source: Nintendo Dream (via Nintendo Everything)
Rod Lloyd is the Editor-In-Chief at Zelda Dungeon, overseeing the news and feature content for the site. Rod is considered the veteran of the writing team, having started writing for Zelda Informer in 2014 as a Junior Editor. After ZD and ZI officially merged in 2017, he stepped into the Managing Editor role and has helped steer the ship ever since. He stepped up to lead the writing team as Editor-In-Chief in 2023.
You can reach Rod at: rod.lloyd@zeldadungeon.net
