Totally Sweet Zelda Artwork by Katsuya Terada -- Now with other art!

***Marilink*** · 10-14-2011, 03:24 PM

I've seen some of these here and there, but I've never seen them all at once. This album rocks. It's out of order, but encompasses the first four Zeldas (LoZ, AoL, LttP, and LA). Check it out brosephs.

Legend of Zelda artwork - Katsuya terada - Imgur

Daos · 10-14-2011, 05:11 PM

Wow, awesome find. I wish they still made artwork like this.

**Crazyswordsman** · 10-14-2011, 05:27 PM

I'm blessed to actually have a copy of the LttP Player's Guide, which is full of this artwork. With 3-D games they actually have to make the artwork look like the character that appears in the game, while in 2-D games they had more freedom to draw more impressive art since they didn't have to make it match perfectly in the game. -CSM

CuccoLady · 10-14-2011, 07:17 PM

Wow. I really, REALLY wish they still put so much effort and depth in artwork. That's just breathtaking.

Looking at that art makes you feel like a total badass when you play those parts of the games because they look so EPIC.

**Valigarmander** · 10-14-2011, 07:45 PM

Did someone post this last year or something?

Cool artwork, nevertheless.

**X-3** · 10-14-2011, 07:48 PM

^I remember a 'dat ~~ass~~ Link' picture being made out of the cyclops, so yeah.

Some of these pictures are hilarious. Let me add text and ruin them or something.

unfunny and unholy and has a bad word oh no

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-15-2011, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marilink

I've seen some of these here and there, but I've never seen them all at once. This album rocks. It's out of order, but encompasses the first four Zeldas (LoZ, AoL, LttP, and LA). Check it out brosephs.

Legend of Zelda artwork - Katsuya terada - Imgur

It never felt more like Nintendo cared about their fans when this and other amazing art commissions were showing up in the official Nintendo Power-made guides. Terada is a brilliant artist whose Dark Horse works seriously upped the ante for a new generation of illustrators.

They could do no better than to hire him as lead designer, IMO.

***Marilink*** · 10-15-2011, 11:41 AM

Cool pictures, but...what's that last one from?

**Valigarmander** · 10-15-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marilink

Cool pictures, but...what's that last one from?

You know.

Just for reference.

***Ace Mercury*** · 10-15-2011, 12:05 PM

That should've been the cover for Twilight.

Cool pics. Reminds me of those old covers for fantasy and sci-fi novels with their washed out colours and confident lines.

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-15-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marilink

Cool pictures, but...what's that last one from?

It's a piece from his portfolio, probably something to do with Blood: The Last Vampire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Missing Link · 10-15-2011, 12:57 PM

Haha yes. Those are all the pictures from the LttP and LA Player's Guides that Nintendo Power released. I never actually knew who made the pictures before then. XD

Quote:

Originally Posted by WITH GRUBS

It never felt more like Nintendo cared about their fans when this and other amazing art commissions were showing up in the official Nintendo Power-made guides. Terada is a brilliant artist whose Dark Horse works seriously upped the ante for a new generation of illustrators.

I have to admit that I agree. Well, even back with LttP, the manual that NoA crafted for their players back then showed some painstaking love poured into it. Their Player's Guides and manuals these days are pretty much whitewashed corporate statements, partially because now every manual is mandated to be trilingual and that it's just an explanation of things since the actually GAME ITSELF will be the backstory and everything else.

Which is a huge shame because I always felt like there was such artistry that Nintendo got to express when they did this stuff... back when Nintendo didn't feel like this faceless corporate conglomerate... when Nintendo was burgeoning in the Americas and Japan gave them the freedom to do what they needed.

Sigh. I miss the old days.

***Marilink*** · 10-17-2011, 05:02 PM

Didn't want to start a whole new topic, but I need to post this picture somewhere.

Feel free to post your own pictures as well!

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-18-2011, 12:50 AM

Nice one, I'm really digging the style.

***Marilink*** · 10-18-2011, 09:54 AM

Me too. It's got a cool...I dunno, hispanic flare or something. Can't quite put my finger on it.

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-19-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Missing Link

I have to admit that I agree. Well, even back with LttP, the manual that NoA crafted for their players back then showed some painstaking love poured into it. Their Player's Guides and manuals these days are pretty much whitewashed corporate statements, partially because now every manual is mandated to be trilingual and that it's just an explanation of things since the actually GAME ITSELF will be the backstory and everything else.

Which is a huge shame because I always felt like there was such artistry that Nintendo got to express when they did this stuff... back when Nintendo didn't feel like this faceless corporate conglomerate... when Nintendo was burgeoning in the Americas and Japan gave them the freedom to do what they needed.

Sigh. I miss the old days.

High five for awesome childhood memories.

***Marilink*** · 10-19-2011, 09:04 PM

***Cosmonautical*** · 10-19-2011, 11:00 PM

That one's pretty awesome, although the light source(s) seem a little bit conflicted. The background and the curved perspective are my favorite parts.

***Marilink*** · 10-20-2011, 12:34 AM

It's true, the shading is all over the place in that one. The tree probably has a lot to do with it, I'm guessing. I like the style though.

***Heroine of the Dragon*** · 10-20-2011, 01:18 AM

Those are really cool!! Nice finding them and sharing, ML... *gives you marshmallows*

10-14-2011, 03:24 PM	#1
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	Totally Sweet Zelda Artwork by Katsuya Terada -- Now with other art! I've seen some of these here and there, but I've never seen them all at once. This album rocks. It's out of order, but encompasses the first four Zeldas (LoZ, AoL, LttP, and LA). Check it out brosephs. Legend of Zelda artwork - Katsuya terada - Imgur

10-14-2011, 07:48 PM	#6
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,947 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	this is the most productive thing I've done all week ^I remember a 'dat ~~ass~~ Link' picture being made out of the cyclops, so yeah. Some of these pictures are hilarious. Let me add text and ruin them or something. unfunny and unholy and has a bad word oh no Last edited by X-3; 10-14-2011 at 08:18 PM.

10-14-2011, 05:11 PM	#2
Daos Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Earth Gender: Posts: 6,228 Thanks: 146 Thanked 245 Times in 179 Posts	Wow, awesome find. I wish they still made artwork like this.

10-14-2011, 05:27 PM	#3
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	I'm blessed to actually have a copy of the LttP Player's Guide, which is full of this artwork. With 3-D games they actually have to make the artwork look like the character that appears in the game, while in 2-D games they had more freedom to draw more impressive art since they didn't have to make it match perfectly in the game. -CSM

10-14-2011, 07:17 PM	#4
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	Wow. I really, REALLY wish they still put so much effort and depth in artwork. That's just breathtaking. Looking at that art makes you feel like a total badass when you play those parts of the games because they look so EPIC.

10-14-2011, 07:45 PM	#5
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Did someone post this last year or something? Cool artwork, nevertheless.

10-15-2011, 11:41 AM	#8
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	Cool pictures, but...what's that last one from?

10-15-2011, 12:05 PM	#10
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	That should've been the cover for Twilight. Cool pics. Reminds me of those old covers for fantasy and sci-fi novels with their washed out colours and confident lines.

10-17-2011, 05:02 PM	#13
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	Didn't want to start a whole new topic, but I need to post this picture somewhere. Feel free to post your own pictures as well!

10-18-2011, 12:50 AM	#14
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,103 Thanks: 2,158 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Nice one, I'm really digging the style.

10-18-2011, 09:54 AM	#15
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	Me too. It's got a cool...I dunno, hispanic flare or something. Can't quite put my finger on it.

10-19-2011, 09:04 PM	#17
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts

10-19-2011, 11:00 PM	#18
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,103 Thanks: 2,158 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	That one's pretty awesome, although the light source(s) seem a little bit conflicted. The background and the curved perspective are my favorite parts.

10-20-2011, 12:34 AM	#19
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	It's true, the shading is all over the place in that one. The tree probably has a lot to do with it, I'm guessing. I like the style though.

10-20-2011, 01:18 AM	#20
*Heroine of the Dragon* The Grinnie Fool! ♥♥♥ VGFCodes Staff Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Twinklebutton Wintersprout Gender: Posts: 31,454 Thanks: 864 Thanked 851 Times in 632 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Those are really cool!! Nice finding them and sharing, ML... gives you marshmallows