That Romantic Spark Part VI – Developer’s Intent

Romantic Spark VI

We’ve been through each individual game in The Legend of Zelda series, taking a look at Link’s potential love interests, and yet, there is still more to be addressed. As well as everything we see in-game, there are other factors to be taken into account when making conclusions on relationships. I speak here of developers quotes. There’s no better way to get answers than to ask the creators themselves.

Through the words of Shigeru Miyamoto, series creator, and Eiji Aonuma, series producer, we can get a different perspective on romance in Zelda. Just take the official art from the 1986 original in the banner image above – doesn’t that give quite a hint at Link and Princess Zelda’s relationship, beyond what we see in game? It sure does, and it was authorized by the developers. With that said, let’s see what Zelda’s creators have to say on romance in the series.

In a 1997 interview with Famimaga 64, conducted leading up to the release of Ocarina of Time, the magazine asked Miyamoto “Does Link have a girlfriend?” The series creator responded firstly by mentioning that “if it was Princess Zelda, it would be great”, showing somewhat of a fondness towards the notion of the two primary protagonists being an item. Miyamoto went on to say to that “this time Navi is jealous of Zelda. So within the story Navi feels something for Link”.

Interestingly, this implies that Link has some romantic feelings towards Zelda that makes Navi jealous. We should be well aware of the attachment between Navi and Link, of which in-game Zelda seems like a bit of a third-wheel. In the words of Miyamoto though, Navi is either jealous of who Zelda is, or Link’s feelings towards the princess. Perhaps Navi just wishes she was a human like Zelda so that she was capable of being closer to Link.

Staying on the topic of Link’s feelings towards Zelda in Ocarina of Time, let’s now jump ahead to a 2008 Nintendo Power interview with Aonuma. Commenting on the Nintendo 64 classic Aonuma says “when Link wakes up seven years later, he’s extremely concerned about what has become of Zelda.” Yet again, an emphasis of Link’s feelings towards Zelda is made; if not romantically, at least as childhood friends. Aonoma goes on to say that if Link had found out Zelda’s fate straight away it “wouldn’t be very interesting”, which is why Sheik was conceptualized.

The series producer continues, “if he [Link] didn’t know [of Zelda’s fate] until the very end … that would be even worse.” As well as referring to the pacing of the game’s story, Aonuma is also referencing how distraught Link would have been if he “learned that she’d [Zelda] been captured by Ganon all that time”. There are so many ways to interpret this – from Link’s concern for his kingdom’s princess or as simple friendship – before taking it romantically.

Earlier, in 2004, Aonuma was interviewed by GameCube Advanced on Twilight Princess. The interviewer asked “Will Zelda and Link ever be involved romantically?” Laughing, Aonuma responded by saying that the game is “dealing with a teenage Link, and as you know, teenagers are very emotional beings, so there are definitely possibilities of seeing Link showing his feelings towards the princess.” In other words, Nintendo likes to provide subtle hints – but they may not be more than a mere teen-attraction. He concludes by admitting that “we don’t know what the future holds.” In true Nintendo fashion, they like to leave interpretation open.

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Aonuma would later make similar remarks about Twilight Princess containing an “adolescent storyline” and that Nintendo “try to present it as it should be” – meaning full of “teen-emotion”. He notes Link’s more cocky attitude such as how he “holds the sword” as reflecting his teen nature. Aonuma ends by saying that “it’s true that teenagers have these [romantic] relationships – and we would love if it could happen with the princess – but I can’t talk about anything yet.” It appears as if the developers are all for a Zelda and Link romance, but don’t want to definitively commit to that beyond mere hints in the games.

Back in 2002, in the History of Zelda Documentary, Miyamoto commented on the story of Ocarina of Time being “a little romantic”, further noting that such “is not very Zelda-like”. To me that’s a statement that really sums up the developers take on romance in the series. Romantic love – although they admit such feelings are in the characters – is not something that makes the Zelda series what it is. The romantic hints don’t make up Zelda games like the gameplay or epic fantasy storyline.

The hints are there, but people playing The Legend of Zelda aren’t there for a love story – or at least, they shouldn’t be. Miyamoto and Aonuma acknowledge that everyone loves a bit of romance and Zelda has hints, but to make definitive conclusions is not something The Legend of Zelda does. Conclusions are for the fans to make, just like the timeline. The series has a “timeline document”, but the lack of a “romance document” furthers the point that it’s for us to decide – even more than the timeline.

So, in a broad perspective, the developers support the idea of a Link and Zelda pairing, or at least find their expression of “adolescent” feelings towards each other as “great”. Amongst all of the Zelda and Link talk, we do get an explicit mention of Navi’s feelings, so if she hadn’t departed at the conclusion to Ocarina of Time there may be more to make of her and Link.

An interesting point to note is the nature of Link and Zelda’s relationship in Spirit Tracks, and how it is a direct result of the development team. Spirit Tracks was made by a younger team of developers, who had grown up as fans of the series. Just like us fans, many of them had been waiting to see Zelda and Link together for a long time. That is exactly what they did in Spirit Tracks.

In Skyward Sword we are seeing the advertising campaign purposely highlight the apparently romantic side of things, especially with the “Romance Trailer” – which is something purposed by the developers. Soon we’ll all know the full details of what Skyward Sword offers romantically. Nevertheless, we can be sure that it will be alike to the rest of the Zelda series: ambiguous at best. It isn’t hard to draw the intended conclusion from what Miyamoto and Aonuma have said. It is thus: when it comes to romance in Zelda, fans get to piece together their own interpretations of the legend. Bluntly: make up your own damn minds!

In the aftermath of Skyward Sword, Part VIII will be released covering everything romantic in Link’s latest adventure. In the meantime, stay tuned tomorrow for the final installment before Skyward Sword hits: “That Romantic Spark Part VII – Chronological Perspective”.

Disclaimer: Please note that due to the extremely dense nature of The Legend of Zelda series’ games, although this article series covers most of the possibilities, it is not entirely comprehensive. This series will address more significant characters, and not all characters with minor roles. The large amount of female characters means that there are lots of out-there ideas for relationships amongst fans, of which this series will not address. This will also only focus on straight relationships, with homosexual and other relationships addressed in the “Link is Gay” article mentioned below.

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