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please let the zelda movie be good please let link be at least a quiet protagonist if not silent please let the zelda movie be good
Why You Should Consider Link Being a Silent Protagonist:
Silent Protagonist ≠ always no dialogue
Silent protagonist does = minimal dialogue, grunts, sparse moments of communication, or no dialogue at all. It’s a spectrum.
Mute people are relatable beings you can empathize with
Quiet people are relatable beings you can empathize with
Link is narratively described as quiet and has story reasons for being reserved in the 2 latest iterations of Mainline Zelda and its part of his character development that he opens up and DOES speak more. It’s literally acknowledged in the most popular zelda title (BOTW).
Let me reiterate- its part of his character to say very little or to have story reasons for not speaking up at first!
Link is silent in EOW for Plot Reasons, pointing to this being a possibility continual in plot recognition
Link is pointed to as THE example of silent protagonist outside of like, Gordon Freeman. Nintendo literally is acknowledging that in its most recent and popular zeldas.
The movie will draw a lot of inspiration from BOTW and TOTK and you would be in denial if you thought elsewise
Childrens cartoons, blockbuster action movies, art house films, comics, games, and more have characters who chirp their name more than speak or barely speak at all
Some of the most Lucrative characters in media fall into this category and some would argue make more money than any plot or franchise. R2D2, Chewie, and Grogu are a HONEYPOT and Lucas could probably speak ad nauseam about this if he wasn’t busy weeping about how he’s not getting all of it
Young children’s media does not rely on a lot of words to convey concepts
His Windwaker Design is literally inspired by kids cartoons and animation that relies on emotion not words
As a person who spent decades studying children’s media I can tell you kids respond to action and story that relies on physical acting, facial emotions, cause-and-effect, observation, and may things that do not need words
Samurai Jack, Grogu, Chewie, R2D2, Snoopy, Gromit, Pikachu, Groot, Boomhaur, Onion, Schnitzel, Animal, the Minions, Silent Bob, Driver (from drive), Mad Max (fury road), are all examples of popular characters who chirp, babble, or barely speak and people love the piss out of them
Movies started without audio and again the foundational concepts of most storytelling in movies happened *without dialogue at first*
Physical acting is a theatrical medium that both adults and children respond positively to
Physical acting is the foundation of fight scenes, chase scenes, stunts, and action in general- things that will be highly features in this movie
Animation, Illustration, and Visual story telling LIKE MOVIES is based on *showing, not telling* for 90% of its time.
James baxter, norman rockwell, charlie chaplin don’t need words to carry bankrolls and make you piss yourself in tears. James Dean also inspired an entire hollywood casting standard based on *staring in vibes*
Some of the most emotionally grappling movies and moments in cinema come from no dialogue in the mix. Up is still fucking you up, and the Piano is a rollercoaster of turmoil because of its silent protagonist. There is literally a No Dialogue cut of Fury Road that fucks and is highly praised
We literally have examples in the GAMES where support characters and other protagonists carry the weight of exposition, conversation, and explanation.
Zelda is right there you twerps, she can do the talking even if she is not with link physically. We literally have examples of this in game too. Midna is also right there, carrying the stone cold plot of Twilight Princess on her quipped up bitch noggin
This whole conversational point about it being hard or impossible or a bad idea is an insult to writers, illustrators, musicians, actors, directors, editors, stage designers, story boarders, makeup artists, cameramen, dancers, game designers, extras, special effects artists, puppeteers, marketing departments, toy designers, STUNTMEN, comic book artists, Miyamoto, audience members, children, adults, quiet people, mute people & their loved ones, the established zelda lore, link’s OWN DAMN CHARACTER IN CANON, and yourself if you believe that
have a better imagination, you deserve it!
Be more curious & open hearted, you deserve it!
There’s no excuse for him to not be quiet in some way other than “they didn’t feel like it, creatively” which is valid and totally acceptable and not a big deal, and could absolutely result in a wonderful portrayal of Link!