The recently revealed gameplay for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has sparked discussion, particularly concerning its character models. Nintendo veteran Takaya Imamura, who previously served as art director for Majora's Mask, suggested on Twitter that the new designs might be a reflection of legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto's fondness for puppetry.
Imamura noted that the character models, especially Link's, brought to mind Miyamoto's "love of puppet dramas (ningyogeki)" which he believes is "strongly reflected here too." While Imamura clarified this was speculation, Miyamoto's appreciation for puppets is well-documented. This aesthetic has appeared in various Nintendo properties and promotions over the years.
The character designs have drawn comparisons to traditional Japanese bunraku and modern Japanese puppet television series. Specifically, some commenters have noted a resemblance to NHK's "The New Three Musketeers" and a 2014 puppet version of "Sherlock Holmes," both featuring puppets crafted by Studio Nova. This studio also created the physical models used for Dragon Quest 7 Remake. Elements like oversized, plastic-looking eyes and pronounced facial features in the Ocarina of Time remake have also reminded some players of the 1982 film "The Dark Crystal."
Miyamoto's affinity for puppets has been evident in previous Nintendo projects. The character designs for the Star Fox series, for instance, bear a stylistic resemblance to The Muppets, and the original Star Fox game's 1993 TV advertisement campaign even utilized actual puppets.
A notable instance of this influence was Nintendo's 2015 E3 presentation, where the company collaborated with The Jim Henson Company to transform Miyamoto, Reggie Fils-Aimé, and Satoru Iwata into Muppet-like figures. At the time, Fils-Aimé told IGN that Miyamoto's childhood hobby of making puppets inspired the collaboration. "So that led to a series of brainstorms and it led to our little collaboration with Henson studios and creating the Nintendo muppets," he recalled.
The visual direction of the Ocarina of Time remake is poised to be a point of contention for fans, as is often the case with updates to beloved classics. The extent to which these puppet-inspired aesthetics will define the remake's reception remains to be seen.