Among the myriad reasons to anticipate the forthcomingThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, one is definitely getting to rejoin theongoing battle between Link and antagonist Ganondorf. Although gamers typically see Ganondorf—known colloquially as Ganon—represented in the various art styles ofZeldagames, one fan thinks the big baddie could use a cross-franchise makeover,Paper Mario-style.
Known colloquially as Ganon, Ganondorf of the Gerudo has been around since the start ofThe Legend of Zeldaseries. He doesn’t make an appearance in every game in the franchise, but he’s usually involved in the storyline somehow. Players were introduced to Ganondorf as a large pig monster, possibly inspired by a half-man, half-pig called Zhu Bajie in the 16th-century Chinese novelJourney to the West. According toZeldacanon, Ganondorf was born into a group of survivalists and thieves known as the Gerudo Tribe, where he learned to fight and sneak. Later, Ganondorf was raised by the witches of Koume and Kotake, who taught him sorcery, ensuring he has a number of strengths.
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A redesigned Ganondorf appears in thefinalTears of the Kingdomtrailer, prompting the internet to do what it does and lust all over this “rehydrated” Ganon. The new version has Ganondorf in a samurai-styled outfit boasting positively yoked muscles—and generally looking more humanoid than, say, the scary pig he is inA Link to the Past. The new design has inspired tons of fan art, but Reddit user Busy-Ant-2921 looked to a different Nintendo franchise for inspiration, recreating the character in the whimsical style ofPaper Mario.
Not only is the image a dead-on approximation of thePaper Marioart style, but it’s also a testament to whyZeldaworks just fine with its continuedcartoon aestheticand should probably never make theFinal Fantasyleap to more photo-realistic characters. Link, Zelda, and Hyrule look just fine in their cute, exaggerated state, precisely because everything from the gameplay to the mythology is developed as a flight of fancy. After all, it is hard to imagine collecting a new weapon inBreath of the Wildand not hearing the adorable two-tone musical signifier, or cooking a meal without the ingredients tap-dancing atop the cauldron.
Perhaps the art style would be an issue if the series failed to convince players of the stakes and the sense of danger waiting around every corner, anyone whoencountered a Lynel too early inBreath of the Wildknows whether the game feels like child’s play. And so, fans continue to eagerly anticipate the new Ganondorf, who many suspect won’t look especially cute or fetching when players finally have to face him with nothing but a few breakable swords and their wits to protect them.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomlaunches July 20, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch.
