A Journey Through Hyrule: A Zelda and Studio Ghibli-Inspired Fan Film

25 years on, Ocarina of Time meets Studio Ghibli in this wonderfully animated fan film.

The announcement of a live action Legend Of Zelda movie is exciting film and video game fans alike. While we wait for Sony Pictures and Wes Ball to work their magic, we have talented fan projects to enjoy in the meantime, that capture Hyrule in their own style.

This animation comes to us from YouTuber RwanLink. It is a short fan-film retelling the early events in Ocarina of Time, in the style of a Studio Ghibli film. The Japanese animation studio well known for multiple animation films such as Howl's Moving Castle and The Boy and the Heron has captivated the hearts of many with their fantastic animation work, their excellent storytelling and phenomenal score. Hayao Miyazaki, director of Studio Ghibli, is a master at world building and creating full of life characters in his work.

RwanLink takes all this inspiration and more in an 18-minute video which took him six hundred hours within a four-month time span to make. It recreates the opening act of the game where main character Link ventures into Castle Town to find Princess Zelda. The Nintendo 64 classic breathes new life through jaw-dropping animation and beautiful music that makes the original look even more dated 25 years after its release. As RwanLink puts it,

"As a passionate admirer of Studio Ghibli films, I drew inspiration from their aesthetic and seamlessly incorporated it into the world of Zelda Ocarina of Time, paying homage to the game's 25th anniversary".

Here is the video in all its glory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXBzTyaFeg