Hyrule endures many tragedies throughout the Zelda series, and one of the most poignant is, without a doubt, the Great Flood that occurs hundreds of years prior to the events of The Wind Waker. Due to the absence of the Hero of Time and Ganondorf breaking free from the Sacred Realm, the Goddesses resolved to flood Hyrule in order to halt Ganondorf’s progress in conquering the kingdom and claiming the Triforce.
It feels like such a lose-lose situation for the inhabitants of Hyrule, but was nevertheless essential for preventing a worse outcome. Equally tragic is that the land remains flooded even after Ganondorf’s defeat in The Wind Waker, so that Hyrule’s descendants have a chance at a future. Artist Nna depicts this despondent situation perfectly in her piece entitled “When Hyrule Drowns”, which got me reflecting on the tragedy that is the Great Flood.
Nna’s piece is drawn in a style very reminiscent of The Wind Waker’s own cel-shaded graphics, blended with the artwork used for the tapestries at the beginning that explain the downfall of Hyrule Kingdom. Nna’s choice of style therefore immediately connects us to the backstory and overall tone of the game. She goes one step further, though, by integrating an abstract, grainy effect alongside the block colors and lines, giving the piece more texture and depth. This is important for capturing the weight of the events we’re witnessing, and makes the scene feel like a slowly-decaying memory – much like Hyrule itself, which, following the flood, becomes a distant memory buried within the ocean.
The composition of this piece is also fantastic, with the foreground structures and background archway expertly framing the piece’s central figures: Zelda and the shadow of Ganondorf. As waterfalls rush relentlessly down the walls of what we can assume are Hyrule Castle, Zelda kneels and despondently overlooks the downpour. This imagery alone for depicting the tragedy of the flood is clear, but the addition of Ganondorf’s shadow hovering menacingly behind her is the perfect additional symbolism for the scene. The threat of his presence – looming over the princess of Hyrule who is forever destined to face him – is why this tragedy is necessary. It’s one or the other, and all Zelda can do is allow it to happen.
