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A Legacy of Personality: The Characters of the Legend of Zelda

Tingle (Zelda as a whole)

by Pedro Hernandez - May 30, 2011, 6:31 pm EDT

To close this feature, Pedro looks at the one Zelda character that has caused the most ruckus in the legacy.

Out of all the characters that have been created for each and everyone of the Zelda games, the one that has created the most controversy, hate and confusion has to be the one and only Tingle. Why is that? Because unlike the other characters, Tingle has broken away from the Zelda mythos in order to expand his own universe, and that drives some people nuts.

Tingle first appeared on The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask as an auxiliary character. He would sell Link the maps he would paint for his father. But rather than just being another shop keeper, he was very exuberant about it. He claimed to be a fairy boy just like Link (even though he is really a guy in his thirties), jumps around pretending to be someone magical, wears green tights and red briefs, and has a balloon that allows him to fly around.

For most players, meeting Tingle for the first time was scarier than the moon

Weird, right? Regardless, he didn't seem to cause much ruckus till after the release of Majora's Mask. Since then he has made appearances on other Zelda games, most notably Wind Waker. In that game, he has a bigger role as far as supporting characters go. One of the sidequests you could partake in was freeing him from captivity in an island. Once you did, he gave you the Tingle Tuner, a device that allowed Tingle to help Link out during his adventure. This was a neat gameplay mechanic that used the Game Boy Advance to GameCube link cable presented as a guidance tool for younger players unfamiliar with the Zelda gameplay. Not only that, the Tingle Tuner yielded some quests that revealed that Tingle has brothers that work on a desolate island.

If Tingle is your assistant, then you are better off adventuring on your own

Much like their sibling, they dress up in colorful suits and share the same liveliness that has made Tingle...unique in the franchise. Some of them spent their days working hard by spinning the giant Tingle totem in the middle of the island. No reason, just cause they could.

Yes, much to our shock, Tingle was indeed normal once...as normal as he could be of course

Tingle was apparently so popular that he got his own DS game, Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland in 2006. The game serves as an explanation as to why Tingle exists in the Zelda series, why he is obsessed with Rupees and why he dresses up as a fairy. Tingle then appeared in Tingle's Balloon Fight, an update of the classic NES game Balloon Fight featuring the character for the DS, a DSiWare App and a sequel to the first DS game.

With this in mind, you would think that Tingle is a very beloved character. Well, in Japan he may be popular, but in North America? Not so much. The other question is, why? I would explain it, but it would mean I would have to dive into some very controversial and messy topics. The short of it all is that he is weird and flamboyant, TOO weird and flamboyant for some.

The other reason players might hate him is because they feel that he has gained underserved popularity. The entire Zelda franchise is filled with some amazing characters, some are of the supporting kind, others have a big role in the development of the story. And yet, these deep, complex and genuinely fascinating characters have been left to stay in their respective games forever, while the little weirdo just keeps appearing time and time again with no real or defined characteristics other than he is just a creepy man with a thing for Rupees and fairies.

If you dress up as Tingle for Halloween, prepare to get hit with rotten eggs

Such is the hatred for Tingle that it prevented the release of his first DS game in North America, and Nintendo even had to confirm that he wasn't in Twilight Princess (though the character of Purlo resembles Tingle in a way).

Long story short, Tingle is a character everyone loves to hate, and because of that he has been around for a long time. Love him or hate him, he is proof that a minor Zelda character can be so captivating in his or her presence that on a rare ocassion they can break away from the boundaries of the game and into out gamer culture, whether we like it or not.

Images

Talkback

TurdFurgyMay 19, 2011

You got the quote wrong. It's "It's Dangerous to go alone! Take this.", not "It's Dangerous to go alone! Take this!" FOR SHAME!! :)
Anju and Kefei where great characters. It truly was a beautiful moment when they were reunited.

AVMay 19, 2011

I loved that subquest in Majora's Mask. Majora's Mask is an incredible experience

RABicleMay 19, 2011

Will this feature mention perhaps Zelda's most enduring recurring character; Kiki the monkey?

Ryan CannonMay 20, 2011

Heh, Zelda's had some pretty colorful characters...

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 20, 2011

Quote from: Ryan

Heh, Zelda's had some pretty colorful characters...

And this is just starting! Just wait till you see who shows up :p

StogiMay 20, 2011

The Great Fairies?

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 20, 2011

Here is today's character: The Happy Mask Salesman
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26329

TurdFurgyMay 20, 2011

"It doesn't help that he had an uncanny resemblance to Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto..."
Are you saying that all Japanese look the same? You sir, are a racist. :)
But I have to agree. I was legitimately afraid of that character as a child. The dudes psycho...

Mop it upMay 20, 2011

I think the old man in the original Legend of Zelda is the real hero of the game. Not only does he provide you with three different swords from his personal collection, but he also follows you around and climbs into dangerous spots in dungeons just to give you hints. Sure, he'll charge you hefty fees if you burn his various trees around the world that somehow act as doors, but you should just consider that payment for the all-powerful Magical Sword.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 21, 2011

Quote from: TurdFurgy

"It doesn't help that he had an uncanny resemblance to Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto..."

Are you saying that all Japanese look the same? You sir, are a racist. :)

But I have to agree. I was legitimately afraid of that character as a child. The dudes psycho...

I remember reading somewhere (either Nintendo Power or some other magazine) that the Mask Salesman was somewhat inspired by Miyamoto, hence why I made the comment. If you have learned about Miyamoto, then learn about the Mask Salesman you realize that maybe the development team was saying something about Miyamoto indirectly with this character. Miyamoto HAS been known for kidnapping random people, you know :p .

I also heard that the creepy Link statue from Majora's Mask (the one that appears when you play the Elegy of Emptiness, this statue:http://images.wikia.com/jadusable/images/a/a2/359px-Link_Statue.png) was also inspired by Miyamoto.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 21, 2011

Today brings us our first character from Wind Waker, courtesy of Zach Miller:
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26330

Killer_Man_JaroTom Malina, Associate Editor (Europe)May 22, 2011

I must congratulate you on the articles so far. By the end of the feature, I think you might convince some of the naysayers who claim that Zelda never has interesting characters to reconsider their stance. Although there's one correction to be made: the abstract for the latest entry, 'Meet Makar, the Earth Sage', is wrong, as he's actually the Wind Sage -- the Earth Sage is Medli, the Rito girl.

Makar gets kudos from me simply because he was responsible for some of the best music in the game. The forest ceremony scene, and the scene where Link, Makar and the spirit of Fado all play the Wind God's Aria one last time to power up the Master Sword are both very memorable, largely because of the amazing little Celtic violin pieces that Makar plays during them.

As for the other characters, all I'll say is that the quest to reunite Kafei and Anju has to be the longest and most convoluted side-quest of any Zelda game, even trumping the various trading sequences. I don't think I ever managed it without an FAQ.

Kudos for including Makar, he's one of my favorites as well.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 22, 2011

Thank you very much for the kind words! Though, Andrew Brown, Zach Miller and Josh Max helped out on this as well, so they too should receive some praise.

I checked the page and the correction has been made. Thanks for letting us know and sorry for the confusion.

Yeah, the Anju and Kafei sidequest is easily the biggest in Majora's Mask, perhaps just as big as the main quest itself. But it is also the one that uses all of the characters effectively and ties itself into the narrative better than the other side quests.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 22, 2011

Here's today character: The Shop Keeper from Link's Awakening:
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26331

StogiMay 23, 2011

This feature kicks ass. Though it could go on for ages.

CericMay 23, 2011

We all know that Bow-Wow was the most interesting character in Link's Awakening.

TurdFurgyMay 23, 2011

Purlo? That's an interesting choice. I agree with Unagi, this could go on for a while, of course I personally wouldn't mind if every single character was done. :)

AVMay 24, 2011

man i totally forgot about purlo. I loved that clawshot mini-game

StogiMay 24, 2011

Hmmm...I would have picked Jovani from TP (the guy who sold his soul for wealth) simply because of his creepiness and the seriousness of his topic, but purlo's a good choice too.

The Yeti wouldn't be a bad choice either.

CericMay 24, 2011

Agitha.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 25, 2011

Sorry for not updating this, but here you go, today's character:
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26333

CericMay 25, 2011

Link's Uncle is a good character.  This is the first time Link has Family and I don't think he has any again till Wind Waker, I haven't played most the mobile games so someone can correct me.

TurdFurgyMay 25, 2011

Link's uncle didn't die. At least, I don't think he did. I'm pretty sure I seen him in the credits with link. But up until that point I think we all assumed that he died.

CericMay 25, 2011

Quote from: TurdFurgy

Link's uncle didn't die. At least, I don't think he did. I'm pretty sure I seen him in the credits with link. But up until that point I think we all assumed that he died.

No Pics Didn't Happen :P

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 25, 2011

Actually, you guys are both right. Link's uncle DID die...but was brought back to life using the power of the Triforce.

CericMay 25, 2011

Quote from: NWR_pap64

Actually, you guys are both right. Link's uncle DID die...but was brought back to life using the power of the Triforce.

Spoiler Spoiler....

Mop it upMay 25, 2011

I've always wondered how he would have finished his sentence of "Zelda is your..." Sister? Destiny? Only hope? We may never know... and perhaps that is the beauty of it.

CericMay 25, 2011

Quote from: Mop

I've always wondered how he would have finished his sentence of "Zelda is your..." Sister? Destiny? Only hope? We may never know... and perhaps that is the beauty of it.

"Zelda is your..."
Mother.
Time Travel for the Win.

ToruresuMay 25, 2011

"Zelda is your..."

For some reason I always thought he could've said "sister".

Quote from: Ceric

"Zelda is your..."
Mother.
Time Travel for the Win.

In some timeline, Link is his own father, mother, grandfather and the bartender to which he's confessing the first 3.

CericMay 25, 2011

Quote from: Shaymin

Quote from: Ceric

"Zelda is your..."
Mother.
Time Travel for the Win.

In some timeline, Link is his own father, mother, grandfather and the bartender to which he's confessing the first 3.

I actually trimmed that down.  It was going to say that OoT Link was his father and keep going from their.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 26, 2011

Here's today's character...

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26334

Ian SaneMay 26, 2011

I always figured Link's uncle was going to say something to the effect of "Zelda is your... responsibility now" or something like that.  At the time I took it to mean that he was entrusting the quest to rescue Zelda to Link.

AVMay 26, 2011

Quote:

In this game, he can be attacked by dropping various seeds down the loo, or even bombed. To make him even creepier, if Link manages to fall down his hole, he does not survive the drop. Was it the smell? Did ??? eat him? Nobody knows.

WHAT !!!!!!! I didn't know that. :cool; :Q

TurdFurgyMay 26, 2011

That hand scared the living doody out of me the first time I saw him. I say "doody" because I was a wee lad at the time. I mean it scared me. Like some demonic soul appeared out of nowhere just to drag me to hell. Now older and somewhat wiser, I can find the strange humor there.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 27, 2011

Here is today's character, from Wind Waker it's Medli!
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26372

Mop it upMay 27, 2011

Medli is okay but she sure is ugly.

Quote from: Mop

Medli is okay but she sure is ugly.

I always thought her character design was really cute.

CericMay 28, 2011

Quote from: Mop

Medli is okay but she sure is ugly.

I think you're jealous.  Does she show up in any of the other adventures this Link has?

GoldmundMay 29, 2011

Just registered to say: I love this feature. I had almost forgotten about how much in love I was with the characters of Wind Waker, or Zelda games in general. There's been so much fighting about art styles in the wake of Twilight Princess (and Skyward Sword, later on) that what's been drawing me to these games in the first place took a back seat. I could walk around Windfall Island for hours on end. In fact, I will, right now.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 29, 2011

Sorry for the delay of today's character, I was out yesterday and came home to sleep. Here is today's character:
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26374

TurdFurgyMay 29, 2011

That kid is intimidating.

gbuellGrant Buell, Staff WriterMay 29, 2011

Malo is one of the freakiest Zelda characters ever.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 29, 2011

Since yesterday I was late with the Malo page, here is another page, Aaron talks about the infamous I AM ERROR from The Adventure of Link:
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26431

TurdFurgyMay 30, 2011

I just beat Fracktail a few days ago and I totally missed that!
But yeah, It's pretty cool how such a small character is so famous.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 30, 2011

Well, the final character of this feature has been posted... It's Tingle
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/26444


Before anyone says anything, I decided to write about him because I feel he is one of the few characters in the franchise that has gained so much notoriety. This feature is about how the characters, big or small, can leave a deep impression on the game and the player, and Tingle has done that, regardless if we want to admit it.

TurdFurgyMay 30, 2011

Are you ending this feature already? But you just got started. :(
...anyway, Tingle never bothered me that much, but he most certainly leaves an impression.

StrawHousePigMay 30, 2011

I think Tingle's great. Lettin' it all hang out, drunk as a skunk and rocking some wicked gin blossoms.

gbuellGrant Buell, Staff WriterMay 31, 2011

Tingle's hilarious, and anyone who is truly upset by his existence needs to lighten up.

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