Summary
The Legend of Zeldamovie is underway, but details around its story and characters remain relatively sparse. When considering all the different games, locations, and cultures that feature in the franchise’s long history, there is one species that shouldn’t be overlooked when depicting the franchise onscreen.
The Legend of Zeldahas a historic plethora of humanoid characters occupying the lands of Hyrule and beyond. Other than the human-like Hylians and the desert-Amazonian Gerudo warriors, the games feature different species that typically resemble animals or wildlife.The Rito are akin to birds, the Zora are similar to fish, and the Koroks are essentially tree saplings given life. These distinct societies have always played a significant role in shaping the events of the series. Oftentimes during his adventures, Link will have to venture into their regions of Hyrule and retrieve great objects of power. Among Hyrule’s beloved denizens is one species that absolutely needs to feature in the film: theGorons.
Who Are The Gorons?
Living near the volcano Death Mountain, these rounded and odd-looking creatures don’t share the other species' affinity for direct comparisons with real world animals. Instead, the Gorons are a rock-like people that oftenreside on or in Death Mountain. Possessing significant strength and durability, they have the ability to thrive in extreme climates.
Their inclusion in the film is crucial, as they add a huge amount of humor and heart to anyZeldastory. In a classic bit of Nintendo unorthodoxy and whimsical charm, the species with the toughest exteriors have the most compassion in the land. Gamers will usually find some ofthe most heartfelt sidequestswhen interacting with these mountain-dwellers in the games. Not to mention, they have a historic loyalty to Link. Gorons are one of Hyrule’s only communities that will consistently view Link as an ally, honorary brother, or hero. This opens the door for them to play a significant role in the story of aLegend of Zeldafilm.
How Have The Gorons Shaped The Zelda Timeline?
The Gorons first made their appearance inThe Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of Time.It was their defining moment, solidifying their part in the overarchingZeldalore. During the game, Link travels to Death Mountain and befriendsDarunia, the patriarch of the Gorons. After Link completes the Fire Temple, Darunia becomes the Sage of Fire, one of the essential Six Sages required to seal Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm at the end of the game.
Being linked to the Sages transformed these goofy mountain dwellers into some of the most important players in Hyrule’s ongoing mythology. The Sages are recurring characters whose hereditary powers are passed down through a lineage. They are often tasked with protecting the Triforce or helping the Hero defeat a great evil. More recently, the Gorons returned to their Sage-ly roots inTears of the Kingdom,playing a significant part in the Imprisoning War.
The Zelda Movie Shouldn’t Rely On CGI Alone To Bring The Goron To Life
The Legend of Zeldamovie is set to take place in live-action, which will certainly be a challenge for the special effects department.The film’s director, Wes Ball, will either have to go down the default Hollywood CGI route, or put his make-up and costume department into overdrive. In any case, depicting this huge, inventive variety of Nintendo characters will be a monumental task. Given that the Gorons are rooted in the Earth element, and are deeply connected to their surrounding environment, it would be preferable to see practical effects used to bring them to life.
Star Warsfilms and TV series in recent years have demonstrated that sophisticated, practical puppetry is far from dead. If the creative minds in Hollywood can bring Grogu to life inThe Mandalorian, it’s not too much of a stretch to see a crew using larger puppets to bring the Gorons to life, and a practical element would help keep them grounded in reality. They are such a towering, imposing species that seeing them rendered fully in CGI would leave them feeling disconnected to Link and the other Hylians during exchanges.A Minecraft Movierecently used a mixtureof large costumes and CGI to bring the Villagers to life onscreen. Perhaps this method of combining visual effects would make more sense in a world where film studios are wary of growing budgets and diminishing returns.
Even compared to the other animal-like species across Hyrule, the Gorons are by far the strangest visually and a real challenge for theZeldafilm crew. Regardless of how Ball manages to bring them to life, the Gorons have been a crucial part of theZeldagames for decades, and seeing them in live-action would be a treat. Audiences will have to find out for themselves whenThe Legend of Zeldamovie releases on July 18, 2025.
