An Art Style Idea for a Future Zelda... trapped inside Link's Mind...

Anyone seen the amazingly animated intro sequence to Kung Fu Panda? If not, here are some breath-taking images below:



Also, the credits in the movie feature that kind of art style too:


WHAT IF the next Zelda (or the one after the next one, the one for the successor of Wii), incorporated a "cel shaded" design scheme like this? Just look at those environments... to me that is beautiful. Lots of color too! I like that intro more than the movie itself and it is just a 2D intro to the movie.

If a Zelda game had this kind of style wouldn't it be awesome? I'm saying this kind of style with a mature theme (adult Link and not child link). With a nex-gen console maybe it would work (probably not as likely with Wii but maybe).

Imagine it like this, Ganon or some other new bad guy invades Link's mind, thus the explanation for the "surreal" environment. This is his way of taking Link out of the equation... to take over Hyrule. This allows for a new land to be explored other than Hyrule... and fantastical new enemies that are created by Ganon/Joe Badguy in his head. Link's quest is to escape this madness in his mind and return to normal. Or something of that sort. Any kind of storyline allowing for a "dream like" place for Link to explore such an environment would suffice.

This could open up crazy ideas... and the art style would look badass. Just imagine Link in that art style like in those photos... the scene of Panda on the wooden platform with red flags is reminiscent of the Gerudos valley and that uhhh desert you run through in OOT. Imagine a glowing blade like in that bottom pic.

I think this would be awesome with a nex-gen hardware powering the cel-shading art style and allow for new enemies, lands, weapons, etc. I mean if it was "in his head" or in a "dream" then anything can really happen. There could be a temple that shape shifts as you traverse it, so it's a puzzle/maze. One room could transform as you are in it or something. I mean really... crazy stuff.

I dunno it just sounds UBER COOL to me and different, and I think that art style would even out-do Wind Waker in that it would take advantage of art in telling the story/look beautiful and aid in the storyline... plus give you something different that we haven't seen in a Zelda.

I mean here's a cool title:
The Legend of Zelda: Emissary of Dreams

Emissary being someone sent on a mission to represent others. So it could be talking about Link entering someone else's mind or a character like Navi/Midna that aids Link in the "dream world" he is stuck in.

I like the idea so much it makes me want to just work for Nintendo and make it happen. I know I'm just being geeky but I really want to play a game like this!

... haha, anyway. What do you guys think?

Okami had an art style, similar to what you mention. Environments in Okami were breathtaking, let me show you some of the gameplay screens and environments.





Looks like a painting, doesn't it? Okami was a very lovely game, and I would say the art style, if applied correctly, would be quite awesome in Zelda.

Oh yes, Okami looks very awesome. I vaugely remembered hearing something about it when it came out but I never really checked into it. I really like the idea, but the graphics would really need to be better than they look in Okami. They look good, but I think if done on Wii... or especially on the next Nintendo console if it were on the level of say PS3... the cel-shading could be more up to part with the animation style of the Kung Fu Panda intro. It would have to be very vivid, fluid and realistic (as far as animation goes) and colorful), to work well.

And a mature theme with a dark and twisted "dream world" would certainly make it an interesting Zelda. Does nobody else think it's a cool idea?

I mean really. I think it would work wonders. I'm not talking cartoony cel-shading like Wind Waker. I had a friend of mine say "I don't think anyone wants another cel-shaded Zelda..." but I really don't see why not... especially if taking a different route than that of WindWaker? Cel-shading can be beautiful... I say better in some cases than the "realistic" approach... but I'm not against that either.

Oh and I'm so geeky I even made up my own "Emissary of Dreams" town music, well it sounds like Zelda town music to me... lol:

Emissary of Dreams - Town Music

I would absolutely love to see a Zelda game in that style. If you really think about it, Okami was originally designed for the PS2's hardware, which is hands down inferior to the Wii's. I have full confidence that something on-par with Kung Fu Panda's intro sequence can be produced.

As for the setting, it could work, but I see it as more of a spin-off than part of the main story.

This is a great open minded idea. Most people want to only see a more serious realistic zelda game with the same basic OoT formula but I'm all for this idea. As far as Link being a child or an adult I really dont mind. The one thing that I dont like is the idea of the whole game being in the dream world. If it were like that then I guess that would be like saying technically nothing ever happen.. in Hyrule's reality.

I would say that the game should allow Link to travel back and fourth between the dream world and real world instead. the game would have maybe ten temples? Five which would be in the dream world and the other five would be in the real world. First you would start out in the dream world and throughout the game you would travel back and fourth. Somehow the events in the dream world effects what goes on in reality. The diffrence between the dream world and reality world would be Link having diffrent special abilities. Example: In the dream world Link would be able to do numerous things such as talk to animals, fly, turn invisable, etc. In the reality world you would see the exact same places you seen in the dream world except you cant do any of those special ablilities because...well....your awake! Lol.

In the end, Ganon or whatever type of villain you fight, you must fight three times in the dream world and again three times in the reality world. After breaking free from the mental chain that was casted upon you, you would still have to confront the evil behind it back in the real world.

The ideas are just endless! I love the whole idea of the graphics being more simular to Kung Fu panda's intro. Even if the whole game were set in Link's mind it would still be pretty sweet nonetheless. I love it!

i think it could work, and would be amazing, besides. it would add to the mythological sense of the game, since it IS a "legend"

it would be amazing if they would go for it.

Originally Posted by Happy Mask

This is a great open minded idea. Most people want to only see a more serious realistic zelda game with the same basic OoT formula but I'm all for this idea. As far as Link being a child or an adult I really dont mind. The one thing that I dont like is the idea of the whole game being in the dream world. If it were like that then I guess that would be like saying technically nothing ever happen.. in Hyrule's reality.

I would say that the game should allow Link to travel back and fourth between the dream world and real world instead. the game would have maybe ten temples? Five which would be in the dream world and the other five would be in the real world. First you would start out in the dream world and throughout the game you would travel back and fourth. Somehow the events in the dream world effects what goes on in reality. The diffrence between the dream world and reality world would be Link having diffrent special abilities. Example: In the dream world Link would be able to do numerous things such as talk to animals, fly, turn invisable, etc. In the reality world you would see the exact same places you seen in the dream world except you cant do any of those special ablilities because...well....your awake! Lol.

In the end, Ganon or whatever type of villain you fight, you must fight three times in the dream world and again three times in the reality world. After breaking free from the mental chain that was casted upon you, you would still have to confront the evil behind it back in the real world.

The ideas are just endless! I love the whole idea of the graphics being more simular to Kung Fu panda's intro. Even if the whole game were set in Link's mind it would still be pretty sweet nonetheless. I love it!

I like that idea, traversing back and forth between the real world and the dream world... perhaps in the dream world... since anything can happen you could get more crazy uses out of the wii mote that wouldn't be available to Link in the real world.

Also... it would allow for the best of both worlds... if only the dream world was in that art style and the real world was more traditional graphics.

I'm seeing crazy stuff in my mind, like... a large empty valley with a single tree in it with leaves blowing in the wind (in the dream world) and then all of the sudden the leaves turn into a thousand flying enemies that Link must fight. lol.

I dunno, part of me feels like they should be trying to move as far away from Okami comparison's as possible, rather than essentially imitating it.

The style doesn't look bad though.

I must say that I am quite impressed with your idea. I'm one of those guys that can't help but dream up these sorts of things myself, and I didn't come close to something this awesome...

As I was reading the above posts I thought that it would be cool if the game consisted of Real World and Dream World, and in the RW you have your obligatory guide. i.e. Navi, Midna...

Midna might work best for this idea, but anyway, once you reach the RW counterpart of the next Temple you are met by your guide or a sage, an enemy, or someone who induces sleep on you. You wake up right where you fell but in the DW.

This allows for, say, 10 Temples that are all different. 2 Forrest Temples, 2 Shadow Temples, etc. The cool thing is that you must do the DW Temple first, so if you're making up a Temple in your head it wouldn't be what was really there because you've never been there.

I hope that all made sense.

This would also be a good platform for players to play as other main characters for the first time. (Well, CD-i asside) Zelda could reach you in your dream and then you end up seeing yourself as Zelda. Similar to MM, I suppose.

Originally Posted by Hey! Listen!

I like that idea, traversing back and forth between the real world and the dream world... perhaps in the dream world... since anything can happen you could get more crazy uses out of the wii mote that wouldn't be available to Link in the real world.

Also... it would allow for the best of both worlds... if only the dream world was in that art style and the real world was more traditional graphics.

I'm seeing crazy stuff in my mind, like... a large empty valley with a single tree in it with leaves blowing in the wind (in the dream world) and then all of the sudden the leaves turn into a thousand flying enemies that Link must fight. lol.

Yea! And in the dream world imagine Link having a completely diffrent look rather then the green tunic. He would have maybe more of an Oni Link look. Maybe he could wear a long green coat like Vash. You would see it blowing in the wind along with the ripped up bandages he have hanging from his arms. There would always be a shadow over his eyes and if you did happen to see them, they would be a glowing white color. Link sword could be longer and more sleek.

Link design would look like a mix between these characters.

Afro Samurai wallpaper / Afro Samurai Wallpapers

http://media.animewallpapers.com/wal...gun_19_640.jpg

http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs10/i/20..._Plague52x.jpg

But of course when Link wakes up into reality he would change back to the traditional green tunic Link.

Yeah yeah! You guys are starting to get it! .... that's the kind of stuff I'm talking about! It could be awesome!

Inside the mind kind of like Being John Malkovich?

Well, the Panda's intro was superbly superb and awesome, and I think it could fit Zelda.

But eh, I'd rather like something else than the usual "Two Worlds" theme. I think it's already milked dry.

Originally Posted by Otuz

Well, the Panda's intro was superbly superb and awesome, and I think it could fit Zelda.

But eh, I'd rather like something else than the usual "Two Worlds" theme. I think it's already milked dry.

In my original idea the whole game would take place in the dream world... but ya know, I guess he would need to wake up from time to time. The two world idea seems cool to me in this case because you could see how things actually are... and how they are in the "dream world" all warped, oddly colored, surreal...

Originally Posted by Machina

Okami had an art style, similar to what you mention. Environments in Okami were breathtaking, let me show you some of the gameplay screens and environments.





Looks like a painting, doesn't it? Okami was a very lovely game, and I would say the art style, if applied correctly, would be quite awesome in Zelda.

I think that art style would go perfectly with Zelda.

Yeah. It would be cool if the next Zelda used that art style. Its really good for it.