One fan of Nintendo’s classic Nintendo 64 adventure game The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask found a unique way to pay tribute to that game’s masked menace, creating an impressively animated 3D model of Skull Kid. Serving as a somewhat dark, twisted reflection of the familiar kingdom of Hyrule, the bizarre land of Termina from Majora’s Mask was created by the mysterious Skull Kid who antagonizes Link throughout the game.
Released only two years after 1998’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time brought the fan-favorite franchise into full 3D for the first time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask expanded on many of the gameplay elements introduced by its predecessor. Set shortly after the events of the previous game, Majora’s Mask sees Link caught in a 3-day time loop as he tries to save the land of Termina from being crushed by a rapidly falling moon. Although the time loop mechanic proved frustrating for some players due to its occasional reliance on repeatedly revisiting areas and NPCs in order to progress, Majora’s Mask is generally regarded as one of the most unique games in the franchise and has seen rereleases on both the 3DS and Nintendo Switch.
In a new post on the r/Zelda subreddit, user VioLXIV showed off the impressive, animated 3D model they created of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask’s mysterious masked troublemaker Skull Kid. Featuring a bright, colorful, and blocky art style that harkens back to the Nintendo DS Legend of Zelda titles, the 3D-modeled creation is a great tribute to the iconic character. As the animated antagonist spins around slowly, wearing the most powerful of the 24 masks from Majora’s Mask, he’s accompanied by his fairy companions Tatl and Tael.
Redditors responding to the impressive fan creation enjoyed the unique take on the troublemaking Skull Kid, with several comments complimenting VioLXIV on their use of the retro-inspired art style. One commenter, impressed by the animation, remarked that they had “always loved DS-era 3D models,” while another simply stated “If Skull Kid was in Phantom Hourglass.” Other responses praised VioLXIV for the surprising amount of detail packed into the Skull Kid model, and several commenters shared a desire to revisit Majora's Mask after seeing the unique fan art.
For fans of the sometimes-odd, but undeniably charming, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, this impressive fan animation could trigger a wave of nostalgia for the classic adventure title. And with the recent announcement that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom costs $70, some gamers may opt for one more run through Termina before opening their wallets for Link’s latest adventure.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is available now for Nintendo 3DS, N64, and Nintendo Switch.