View source for Skull Kid

{{Infobox|character
| image		= [[File:Skull Kid OoT Offical.png|215px]]
| caption	= Key art from ''[[Ocarina of Time]]''
| game		= ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]''
| location	= [[Lost Woods]]<br/>[[Clock Tower]]<br/>[[Sacred Grove]]
| attack	= '''''Ocarina of Time'''''<br/>{{H|.5}} Shooting projectiles via flute
}}

'''Skull Kids''' are recurring characters in [[The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]] that first appeared in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''. It is believed that children whom become stranded in the [[Lost Woods]] are transformed into Skull Kids, and it is this area that they are primarily known to habitate.{{Ref|OoT|678|[[Navi]]}} They are typically very childish in nature, similar to the [[Kokiri]], and are often friendly with those of an equal naivete. Skull Kids are very distrustful towards most adults, however, and are known for playing tricks on those that they encounter.{{Ref|OoT|669|[[Navi]]}} They are small in stature and wear pointy hats along with what seems to be makeshift clothing. Their face's complexion and texture varies between portrayals, as does whether or not they sport large beaks in place of mouths.

''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'' features the most notable of all Skull Kids, as he assumes the role of main antagonist. He is possessed by the titular [[Majora's Mask]], granting him immense power, but also warping his mind and judgement. The Skull Kid's actions plunge all of [[Termina]] into a state of chaos, and, additionally, incurs the land's destruction by way of setting the [[Moon]] on course to collide into it. 

==''Ocarina of Time''==
Skull Kids first debuted in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', in which there are three individuals, and can be encountered in the [[Lost Woods]]. They are playful creatures that each possess a penchant for playing the flute, and [[Link (Ocarina of Time)|Link]] is able to befriend them if he is in his child form. The Skull Kid residing nearest to the forest's entrance will offer to buy the [[Skull Mask]] from Link, and, moreover, will award him a [[Piece of Heart]] if Link performs [[Saria's Song]]. Further into the forest, a pair of Skull Kids will award Link a second Piece of Heart if he successfully memorizes their song and plays it back to them. Though random, this song always consists of eight notes.

If Link happens upon Skull Kids when he is an adult, they will be hostile. They attack with their flutes by way of spitting projectiles towards Link, and are immune to all weaponry aside from his sword of choice. Skull Kids are tricky opponents in that they are able to instantly transpose themselves into different positions around Link's vicinity, making them very unpredictable. When defeated, they yield an [[Orange Rupee]], holding a valuation of two-hundred, the same as the Huge Rupee. Skull Kids are the only means of obtaining Orange Rupees in ''Ocarina of Time''.

==''Majora's Mask''==
[[File:Skull Kid Artwork (Majora's Mask).png|thumb|140px|right|The Skull Kid wearing [[Majora's Mask]].]]
''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'' prominently features an individual simply known as "Skull Kid." He is implied to have met [[Link (Ocarina of Time)|Link]] during his quest in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', the very same Skull Kid who had requested a performance of [[Saria's Song]] from him.{{Ref|MM|3921|Skull Kid}} The Skull Kid steals [[Majora's Mask]] from the [[Happy Mask Salesman]] and is promptly corrupted by its power. Some time after, he ambushes Link in the [[Lost Woods]] with his fairy friends, [[Tatl]] and [[Tael]], intending to steal his things. Link pursues him and soon finds himself in [[Termina]].

The Skull Kid begins to act very erratically once Link meets him again in Termina, atop the [[Clock Tower]]. He treats Tatl and Tael very harshly, estranging the both of them.{{Ref|MM|4079|[[Tatl]]}} Traveling around Termina, it is apparent that the Skull Kid is the causation of many of the land's troubles. Various characters make mention of the Skull Kid's mischief, and it is through him that Majora's Mask provokes the [[Moon]]'s swift oncoming toward Termina.{{Ref|MM|5076|[[Kafei]]}}{{Ref|MM|880|[[Great Fairy]]}}{{Ref|MM|1445|[[Koume]]}} After Link dispatches the evil within Termina's four temples, he confronts the Skull Kid again and plays [[Oath to Order]], summoning the [[Four Giants]], whom delay the Moon's collision with the land. Majora's Mask then separates itself from Skull Kid, confirming it to have had a life of its own all along, and the Skull Kid merely a convenient puppet.

After Majora is defeated, the Skull Kid is seen to have reverted back to his normal disposition. He expresses his guilt to the Four Giants, whom he was close with long ago, and is shocked to find that they still consider him a friend. It appears that Tatl and Tael have forgiven him, and he shows gratitude toward Link for rescuing him from the clutches of the mask. He asks to be Link's friend, and a scene following the credits depicts a carving on a tree stump of the two smiling together.

===Friendship with the Four Giants===
The Skull Kid's relationship with the [[Four Giants]] is briefly witnessed after Link's triumph over Majora, but is further elaborated upon if Link chooses to listen to [[Anju's Grandmother]]'s stories. By equipping the [[All-Night Mask]] and requesting the story of the Four Giants, it is divulged that they are the creators of Termina and had been close friends with an imp, whom can be assumed is the Skull Kid. The Skull Kid is devastated by the Four Giants' sworn guardianship of the land, as they must leave him to do so. He disperses his anger throughout all of Termina, much akin to his actions during Link's adventure. He is quelled when the Four Giants threaten to harm him, thereby banishing him "to the heavens."

==''Twilight Princess''==
[[File:SkullKid.png|thumb|150px|right|<center>The Skull Kid from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'']]
''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'' features one Skull Kid. It is encountered within the [[Sacred Grove]] where it leads [[Link (Twilight Princess)|Link]] through the forest via a game of hide-and-seek. The direction in which the Skull Kid's lantern glows as well as the faint sounds of its instrument are of great use to Link during his search. However, the Skull Kid is able to endlessly summon hordes of [[Puppet]]s in order to complicate Link's progress. It will begin playing [[Saria's Song]] once Link is in close proximity, and striking it with a weapon or as a [[Wolf]] will cause the Skull Kid to change location. After Link strikes the Skull Kid three times, it will initiate combat with him, during which he must strike it three times more. The Skull Kid never attacks Link directly and instead relies on its summoned Puppets.

While the Skull Kid may initially seem to be an adversary of Link's, it is possible that it is attempting to aid him in his quest, albeit amusing itself while doing so. On Link's first foray into the Sacred Grove, the Skull Kid's antics lead him to the resting place of the [[Master Sword]], a weapon essential in Link's fateful slaying of [[Ganondorf (Twilight Princess)|Ganondorf]]. As a result of their second encounter, Link finds himself at the entrance to the [[Temple of Time (Twilight Princess)|Temple of Time]].

==Non-Canon Appearances==
{{Non-Canon|section}}
===''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U''===
The Skull Kid seen in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'' makes an appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U]]'' as an Assist Trophy. When summoned, the Skull Kid can inflict various confusing effects onto the battlefield. He may flip the game's perspective upside-down or mirror it, reverse players' directional inputs, or cause all fighters to become transparent.

===''Hyrule Warriors''===
{{HW-Stub|section}}
{{quote|This mysterious imp draws his power from his stolen mask and wields an ocarina on the battlefield to protect his treasured friends.|Skull Kid's ''[[Hyrule Warriors]]'' [https://www.zelda.com/hyrule-warriors/character-detail/#!Skull-Kid Official Website description]}}
{{clear}}
The Skull Kid that appeared in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'' is a playable character in ''[[Hyrule Warriors]]''. He is accessible via the Legends Character Pack DLC on [[Wii U]], ''[[Hyrule Warriors Legends]]'' on [[3DS]], or ''[[Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition]]'' on [[Nintendo Switch]].

===''Cadence of Hyrule''===
In ''[[Cadence of Hyrule]]'', the Skull Kid serves as the protagonist of [[Symphony of the Mask]]. Not opting to use typical weapons, he wields an arsenal of masks with varying abilities. His quest leads him into battle against [[King Dobongo]], [[Synthrova]], and eventually [[Ganon]], who steals the [[Skull Mask (Cadence of Hyrule)|Skull Mask]] in his pursuit of power.
{{clear}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Skull-Kid.png|A Skull Kid from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''
File:SkullKid_OoT.gif|A Skull Kid wearing the [[Skull Mask]] from ''Ocarina of Time''
File:Skull-Kid-Mask.png|Artwork of a Skull Kid wearing the Skull Mask from ''Ocarina of Time''
File:Skull-Kid-Model.png|The Skull Kid from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]''
File:MM3D-Skull-Kid.png|Artwork from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D|Majora's Mask 3D]]''
File:SkullKidBox.png|The Skull Kid in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]''
File:Hyrule Warriors Artwork Skull Kid.png|Key art of the Skull Kid from ''[[Hyrule Warriors]]''
File:Hyrule Warriors Artwork Skull Kid Ocarina.png|Artwork of the Skull Kid holding the [[Ocarina (Hyrule Warriors)|Ocarina]] weapon from ''Hyrule Warriors''
File:CoH Skull Kid No Mask.png|The Skull Kid's sprite from ''[[Cadence of Hyrule]]''
File:Coh-skull-kid.png|Key art of the Skull Kid from ''Cadence of Hyrule''
File:Skull Kid - SSB3DS Trophy with EU-AUS text.png|Trophy from ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]''
File:Skull Kid - SSBWiiU Trophy with EU-AUS text.png|Trophy from ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''
</gallery>

{{References}}

{{Listbox|Ocarina of Time Characters}}
{{Listbox|Majora's Mask Characters}}
{{Listbox|Twilight Princess Characters}}
{{Listbox|Twilight Princess Bosses}}
{{Listbox|Hyrule Warriors Characters}}

{{Cat|Ocarina of Time Characters}}
{{Cat|Majora's Mask Characters}}
{{Cat|Twilight Princess Characters}}
{{Cat|Twilight Princess Mini-Bosses}}
{{Cat|Twilight Princess Enemies}}
{{Cat|Hyrule Warriors Characters}}
{{cat|Cadence of Hyrule Characters}}
{{cat|Super Smash Bros. Series}}