Meet Makar, the Wind Sage.
In a world brimming with charming characters, it’s impressive that any one character could stand out among the menagerie. In the world of Wind Waker, I believe that standout character is Makar, the little Korok violist. Like his Korok brethren, Makar speaks with a uniquely formal grammar, always referring to Link as “Swordsman” and keeping a mindful eye on the Great Deku Tree. Makar is the only musician of the group, and composes a new melody every year for a festival in which the Great Deku Tree sprouts seeds that are carried to islands across the Great Sea. Makar is sheepish and hesitant, and tends to get himself into hot water quickly. He gets himself captured by monsters in the Forbidden Woods—which Link must rescue him from—and again in the Wind Temple. After being rescued from his cage prison, Makar can be controlled by the Song of Command and helps Link through the dungeon.
The Koroks are descendants of the Kokiri, and Makar himself is the spiritual successor to Fado, who had helped to seal Ganondorf so long ago. Once the evil king had escaped, he killed Fado while invading the Wind Temple. Once Makar realized he was the successor to Fado, he readily accepted the challenge of staying the Wind Temple to help empower the Master Sword during Link’s battle with Ganondorf. Fado and Makar share a similar taste in stringed instruments.
Despite his perchance for getting into trouble, Makar is an adorable and memorable character in Wind Waker, and is one of my favorite characters in the history of the Zelda franchise.