The Legend of Zelda (TV series)

The Legend of Zelda
Title screen, shown at the beginning of the show
Genre	Action, adventure, fantasy, comedy
Created by	Shigeru Miyamoto (original characters) Bob Forward (adapted to TV)
Written by	Bob Forward Phil Harnage Eve Forward Marsha Forward Dennis O'Flaherty
Directed by	John Grusd
Voices of	Cyndy Preston Jonathan Potts Len Carlson Colin Fox Elizabeth Hanna
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Andy Heyward Robby London (co-executive producer)
Producer	John Grusd
Editors	Lars Floden William P. Magee
Running time	15–16 minutes
Production companies	DIC Entertainment Sei Young Animation Co., Ltd. Nintendo of America, Inc.
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	September 8 – December 1, 1989
Related
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989)

The Legend of Zelda is an American animated series based on the Japanese video game series The Legend of Zelda by Nintendo. The plot follows the adventures of Link and Princess Zelda as they defend the kingdom of Hyrule from an evil wizard named Ganon. It is heavily based on the first game of the Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda, but includes some references to the second, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The show was produced by DIC Entertainment and distributed by Viacom Enterprises in association with Nintendo of America, Inc. It comprises thirteen episodes which first aired in North America from September 8, 1989, to December 1, 1989.

Show premise

The opening credits quickly glance over the show's premise: "This is the Triforce of Wisdom, Link. The evil wizard Ganon has the Triforce of Power. Whoever gets both Triforces will rule this land forever! You must help me, Link!"

Every episode of The Legend of Zelda follows the adventures of the hero Link and Princess Zelda as they defend the kingdom of Hyrule from an evil wizard named Ganon. Most episodes consist of Ganon (or his minions) either attempting to capture the Triforce of Wisdom from Zelda, kidnap Zelda, or otherwise conquer Hyrule. In some episodes, Link and Zelda are assisted and accompanied by a fairy-princess, Spryte.

A common running joke of the series is Link's repeated failure to convince Zelda that he deserves a kiss for his heroic deeds. Whenever it seems they are going to kiss, they are interrupted.

While Link saves Zelda in a few episodes, she often fights beside him using a bow and arrow or a boomerang.

Link usually meets Zelda's remarks with his sarcastic catchphrase, "Well, excuse me, Princess!". In the episode "Kiss'N Tell", Zelda uses a more elegant version reflective of her royal upbringing, "Well! Pardon me!"

The series was to be continued, but was canceled along with the Super Mario Bros. Super Show!. The series is one of only seven productions in which Link talks, the others being the CD-i games, manga series, comic series, the episodes of Captain N: The Game Master, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (only the phrase, "Come on!"), and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (only hinted at).

Game references

The TV series is based heavily on The Legend of Zelda. While direct referencing of the game is loose, the series features some recognizable monsters, items, sound effects, tunes, and locations. Some references are also made to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. For example, in "The Ringer", Ganon is seen riding a Lowder, a beetle-like enemy seen in Zelda II.

Although there is no direct explanation for how Link and Zelda are able to carry seemingly infinite numbers of items, the TV series shows that the items they carry magically shrink when they are placed in pouches or pockets.

Rupees appear, but are called Rubies. Rather than arrows, the bows in the cartoon shoot beam-like projectiles, as does Link's sword (which happens in a few Zelda games when Link's hearts are full). Link's beams can destroy most monsters, but not people, as shown in the episode "Sing for the Unicorn", when Link zaps Sing during a fight, but to no avail.

DVD release

North American airings/DVDs

The Legend of Zelda was featured on every Friday episode of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! in place of the Super Mario Bros. cartoons. Each episode ran for about fifteen minutes. The series was made in association with Nintendo of America, produced by DIC Entertainment, and distributed for syndicated television by Viacom Enterprises (now CBS Television Distribution). Due to its syndicated nature, only one season of sixty-five episodes of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! was made and Zelda was aborted after thirteen episodes. However, slightly modified versions of the characters of Link and Zelda, together with their original voice actors, were later transplanted into NBC's Saturday morning program Captain N: The Game Master, also produced by DIC Entertainment. In 1992, the episodes were time compressed (sped up) and played in double episode format on the Captain N & The Video Game Masters syndication block. Zelda episodes were rarely shown, but at least once, the episodes "Underworld Connections" & "Doppleganger" aired with the titles switched around. It was played in this block from 1992–1993 in syndication, and from 1993–1995 on USA Network.

Clips previewing the episodes were shown in the middle of the live-action segments when the Mario cartoon was shown. These clips were cut out of the video releases and Yahooligans! TV, but were restored for the Super Mario Bros. Super Show DVD set (except for "King Mario of Cramalot").

Zelda was first released in the early 1990s along with the Super Mario Bros. cartoon. It was produced in the form of two-episode VHS tapes in four volumes; the gold color of the VHS slipcases matched that of the original NES games. The series was released on DVD in two volumes by the animation company Allumination FilmWorks The first DVD, Ganon's Evil Tower, was released on July 22, 2003, including three episodes of the Zelda cartoon and two of Sonic Underground. The second DVD was released on September 27, 2005, titled Havoc in Hyrule, containing a further five Zelda episodes.

The complete Zelda series was released on October 18, 2005 by Shout! Factory and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, with extra bonus features such as interactive DVD games and line art from the series. However, it did not include all of the associated the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! live action segments; some were included as bonus features. This release has been discontinued and is out of print.

NCircle Entertainment re-released the complete series on May 22, 2012.

United Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda was originally shown in the early 1990s on the early morning TV show, TV-am. They were not commissioned for a second run. They were also shown on CITV in the 1990s within the Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, and on Channel 4 on its Sunday morning kids line up, which included shows such as Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors.

In 1992, Tempo Video released a set of two VHS tapes with three episodes per tape. The Legend of Zelda shared a tape with Captain N: The Game Master, which included the episode Underworld Connections.

There are currently no plans for a Region 2 DVD release.

Zelda eventually did have a second run on Pan European Cartoon Network UK at 5:30am in the morning. This version was majorly improved as it was a proper standalone non Mario version and had its own end credits with Link and his sword stance and a Triforce on the picture with a more fitting heroic sung song rather than using the unfitting Mario Bros. theme song. This proper version is still nowhere to be seen on a proper release. The only way someone would have to see the end credits of that version was if they were lucky and recorded it back in 1997.

Germany

PIDAX FILM released a Region 2 DVD of the show on December 2, 2016. The 2-DVD set includes all 13 episodes in German and English Dolby Digital 2.0 audio.

Voice cast

• Jonathan Potts as Link
• Cyndy Preston as Princess Zelda
• Len Carlson as Ganon and Moblins
• Colin Fox as King Harkinian
• Allan Stewart-Coates as the Triforce of Power
• Elizabeth Hanna as the Triforce of Wisdom
• Paulina Gillis as Sprite and Sing
• Don Francks as additional voices
• Marvin Goldhar as additional voices
• Christopher Ward as additional voices

Series overview

The Legend of Zelda series overview

Season	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	13		September 8, 1989 (1989-09-08)	December 1, 1989 (1989-12-01)

Episodes

The Legend of Zelda season 1 episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
1	"The Ringer"	John Grusd	Bob Forward	September 8, 1989 (1989-09-08)	101
Link has grown bored with his lifestyle in Hyrule and seeks a true 'hero's' life, finding Zelda the only comfort worth having. Meanwhile, Zelda holds a wizarding competition and Ganon uses it as a plan to sneak into the castle and steal the Triforce. After he is discovered, Link and Zelda set aside their differences in order to stop him from escaping.
2	"Cold Spells"	John Grusd	Phil Harnage	September 15, 1989 (1989-09-15)	102
It's spring cleaning in Hyrule and Link has to pitch in, but he quickly fakes a cold in order to get sympathy, which works on Sprite. While at the market, Ganon secretly augments her powers to cause chaos at the castle in a very Fantasia-like manner, allowing him to steal the Triforce.
3	"The White Knight"	John Grusd	Bob Forward	September 22, 1989 (1989-09-22)	103
Link and Zelda face off against an ambush of Tinsuits and an Octorock when Prince Facade, a prince from a neighboring kingdom called Arcadia, arrives and sweeps Zelda off her feet. Dejected by this "Prince Charming", Link quits his duties and prepares to leave, but Ganon knows Facade's one weakness and plans to exploit it in order to kidnap Zelda.
4	"Kiss'N Tell"	John Grusd	Phil Harnage	September 29, 1989 (1989-09-29)	104
Zelda happens upon a damsel in distress, who insists on a handsome hero to rescue her from a Gleeok. When Link arrives and saves her, she rewards him with a passionate kiss, but she turns out to be a Gibdo in disguise who curses Link into a humanoid frog. Unable to be a hero in this form, Link takes the Triforce of Wisdom's advice and seeks help from the "Witch of Walls" for an answer after Zelda is kidnapped by Ganon.
5	"Sing for the Unicorn"	John Grusd	Bob Forward	October 6, 1989 (1989-10-06)	105
Link's plans to romantically deliver flowers to Zelda are dashed when Ganon appears, attacking on the back of a unicorn. He kidnaps the king and they go to rescue him, meeting Sing, a woman from whom the unicorn had been stolen. Together they must face Ganon's traps, and rescue both the unicorn and the king from Ganon's capture.
6	"That Sinking Feeling"	John Grusd	Dennis O'Flaherty	October 13, 1989 (1989-10-13)	106
After a romantic picnic is ruined by Ganon, Zelda resolves to lay an assault on his lair, but as soon as they leave, the castle, along with the king and Sprite are pulled underground by a giant magnet and they need instead to rescue their friends before Ganon finds them.
7	"Doppelganger"	John Grusd	Bob Forward & Eve Forward	October 20, 1989 (1989-10-20)	107
Zelda receives a magic mirror, which suddenly creates an evil double of her. With the real Zelda kidnapped, the fake is tasked to trick Link into taking the Triforce of Wisdom into the underworld, where it will be easy for Ganon to capture.
8	"Underworld Connections"	John Grusd	Bob Forward	October 27, 1989 (1989-10-27)	108
Link's sleepwalking is put to a stop before he can sneak into Zelda's bedroom chamber, but with the tower the Triforce is in is unguarded. A trio of Vires use a bomb to shatter the Triforce into three pieces to carry. They obtain one piece, and Zelda uses it in order to seek clues where the other two have been dropped, they venture into the Underworld to reunite the Triforce again.
9	"Stinging a Stinger"	John Grusd	Bob Forward	November 3, 1989 (1989-11-03)	109
Sleazenose, a traveling merchant, is rescued by Link who stops bandits from robbing him, and in gratitude, he gives Link a beautiful bejeweled sword in exchange for his current one. Using it in battle, Link realizes the sword is a fake and he and Zelda are kidnapped. They find they need to work together with Sleazenose to outwit Ganon once again.
10	"Hitch in the Works"	John Grusd	Bob Forward	November 10, 1989 (1989-11-10)	110
Not believing a story Link told her of Moblins attacking the castle when she found him unconscious and "sleeping" when he is supposed to be doing chores, Link has the house maintenance man make fake Moblins to attack her. She overhears the plan and does not react when the real Moblins come to kidnap her. Ganon puts a collar on her to force her to do his bidding; including marry him.
11	"Fairies in the Spring"	John Grusd	Bob Forward and Marsha Forward	November 17, 1989 (1989-11-17)	111
The king is having a water park constructed to help his subjects cool off in the summer heat, when water monsters attack the construction crew. Zelda and Link investigate, but are startled to find the water monster doesn't belong to Ganon. When the King arrives to check their progress and while inspecting the pools of the water park, another monster pulls him in and vanishes. The pair collect the Triforce of Wisdom and return to the waterpark to find the King and the source of the disturbances.
12	"The Missing Link"	John Grusd	Bob Forward	November 24, 1989 (1989-11-24)	112
Ganon tries to use a magic wand in order to kidnap Zelda, but she deflects the attack and it hits Link instead, sending his physical body to the Evil Jar. Her guilt is short lived after Link's spirit reveals himself to her, although no one else can see him. They realize that they need to travel into the underworld to reunite Link's spirit with his body trapped in the Evil Jar.
13	"The Moblins Are Revolting"	John Grusd	Eve Forward	December 1, 1989 (1989-12-01)	113
Ganon demonstrates a new wand that makes a bubble around its victim that can only be popped by the Triforce of Power. Fed up with Ganon's orders, a Moblin uses the wand to trap Ganon in a bubble and throws him down a bottomless pit. The Moblin opens the Evil Jar and the monsters collectively decide to storm the castle of Hyrule, but are too incompetent to accomplish anything without Ganon's leadership.

Broadcast history

• United States: in syndication (1989–1991), Family Channel (1991–1992)
• United Kingdom: in syndication (Rare standalone legit end credits version) (1997–unknown) Cartoon Network UK (1997–unknown)

Edited versions of the episodes were a part of "Captain N and the Video Game Masters" from 1992–93.

International broadcast

List of broadcasts
Australia Nine Network ABC Kids Colombia Canal A United Kingdom CITV (27 December 1989 – 4 September 1990) GMTV (1993–1995) Channel 4 (1993–1995) ITV2 Brazil TV Globo Portugal RTP Spain TVE2 France TF1 Italy Italia 1 (8 September 1989 – 1 December 1989) Greece Nickelodeon Sweden FilmNet Germany RTL (1993)

Reception

The series is notable for its negative reception. IGN rated the DVD release of The Legend of Zelda a 3.0, or "Bad", citing poor writing, repeated plots, and over the top acting. Link's catchphrase, "Excuse me, Princess!" is a meme and commonly used in-joke used by video game players, and is spoken by Link on 29 occasions throughout the 13 episodes.

James Rolfe of Cinemassacre has shown a more positive response to the series. While acknowledging that the dialogue "can make you cringe", he favored Link and Zelda's characterizations and found the action satisfying. He labeled "The White Knight" as the best episode for showing Link's heroic nature against the more pompous and vain Prince Facade, but felt that the following episode "Kiss'N Tell" as his least favorite for Link complaining throughout the episode.

External links

• The Legend of Zelda at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com show