Zelda veteran reacts to Ocarina of Time art and Miyamoto’s puppet show influence
If you don’t know Takaya Imamura by name, you’ve probably encountered his work. He is the visionary artist responsible for crafting iconic characters like those in Star Fox and lending a signature dark aesthetic to The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Over his 32-year career at Nintendo, Imamura shared a deep, collaborative bond with Shigeru Miyamoto, and his artistic decisions often reveal a profound appreciation for the art of puppetry.
Imamura believes that the sometimes divisive art style of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake reflects Miyamoto’s enduring love for puppet theater. This fascination is not just a passing thought; it’s a foundational element woven through his history with the franchise.
This connection is strongly evidenced by the original Star Fox. Back when Star Fox was marketed, it utilized a visual style reminiscent of puppets, a nod to the very influence that permeated Miyamoto’s design philosophy. This heritage of puppetry seems to have subtly reappeared in subsequent artistic treatments, even prompting discussions among fans about the modern designs of Link.
When examining the updated Link model, Imamura points to a deeper kinship with marionettes. Comparisons drawn between the new Link design and Japanese TV marionettes reveal a striking similarity, suggesting that the principles of puppetry were a significant inspiration guiding his work on the Zelda series.
This connection to puppetry is a defining thread in Imamura’s visual language. Whether it is the retro charm of Star Fox or the detailed character design of Zelda, the underlying sensibility—the way form and motion are handled—remains rooted in this appreciation for staged performance and visual storytelling.
Despite the artistic debates surrounding these design choices, Imamura remains enthusiastic about the classics. He is currently looking forward to revisiting the original experience, noting that he hasn’t played Ocarina of Time since the 3DS version, and he is excited to experience the game again. He finds the color palette and lighting of the remake simply fantastic—as expected!
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