Comments on: Is The Legend of Zelda Racist?

By: jamie

jamie — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:32:59 +0000

lol a story about a blonde boy from the woods travelling across the world and ruining a tanned guy from the desert plans of global domination i guess could be seen as racism but who cares this game is awesome end off

By: O. Donaghy

O. Donaghy — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:21:48 +0000

OMG! This is so wrong.Speaking as a black man i totally disagree. Since when was ganondorf Black, in no point in any of the games is he described as so, in fact in games he is portrayed as green. so if Zelda is racist to martians form outer space then im sure nintendo is very sorry. And in majoras mask the fee is charged based on weight/hieght so that spoils that idea. And if we are going to say that zelda is racist then what is the world coming too, lets focur on racism in our on world first and fantasy video games later! OK?

By: ITSASECRETTOEVERYBOD

ITSASECRETTOEVERYBOD — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:16:49 +0000

Ganondorf's pig form is usually blue. Ganondorf's Gerudo form is green. The Gerudo were based on people from the Middle East. If anything, it is implying that Ganondorf is a religious terrorist.

I didn't notice much racism in Majora's Mask, it seemed more like a kid-price adult-price thing. Also, which would you believe more: a young plant-child or a strong adult Goron? The "race" issue in Zelda isn't about race, Deku Scrubs and Zoras are different species, it has nothing to do with "race"

By: Gavin

Gavin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:21:47 +0000

Well its racial profiling, and its to be expected. In almost any tv show or video game imaginable, the darker guy is always the bad guy, even in Aladdin! If you don't believe me then just try imagining the protagonist being darker, and the bad guy white. If you saw it it would throw you off a little.

Almost every black person on American television is an idiot, or a joker, or unsuccessful, a successful idiot, or a criminal. On Japanese television what they see of black people is of criminals getting chased down. That's the way the world works, the world isn't an equal place, the heads of Corporations are "white".

By: Reed

Reed — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 13:27:28 +0000

Sorry for the late reply. But let me share some info with you.

I don't think Nintendo was trying to aim this at black men. I think they were stereotyping arabs. They imply that they live by the sword and live "backwards". If they see anyone not in their tribe they throw them in jail, and a stereotype of arabs is that they have a "torture chamber in the basement". Ganondorf also has arab features. The shape of his nose, what he wears. Whereas Kokiri forest has light skinned people and is a peaceful place. So pretty much, Link who has European features (Light skin, blonde hair, blue eyes) is the good guy, but Ganon, who they are implying is a terrorist and lives in what looks like afghanistan (Yes it's what gerudo fortress looks like) is the bad guy.

I hope this helps some, and again sorry for the late reply.

By: Corwin

Corwin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:52:54 +0000

For some reason, the Star Wars racism rant from Chasing Amy comes to mind. :)

By: Craig

Craig — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 06:02:17 +0000

Hey in the WindWaker it is revealed that the reason he sought to gain the triforce all along throughout history was cos the scorching sun burnt them in the desert… thus causing them to tan – i think ganondorf being the leader protected his gang and took the full blast – thus plotting to steal the triforce and change the world to what he wants and get the lifestyle the outside regions has.

By: Inkwell

Inkwell — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:28:40 +0000

One other thing I should have mentioned. Though the Hylians are the ones predominantly in charge, the other races aren't without their own kingdoms. The Kokiri don't really seem like a kingdom, but they like and seem to need to keep to themselves, and have the Great Deku Tree in charge. In Ocarina of Time, you have to save the Zoran princess for the Zora King. If memory serves, there was a kingdom with a heirarchy for the Gorans too, though as you go through it seems like Ganon had already trashed the place. The Sheikah you don't get to know about because they are all but gone already, and were very mysterious in their ways that you wouldn't have been told much about them if they were still around. And with Ganon being the "King of Thieves", they don't actually say if he was the Gerudos actual king or not. Or for that matter if he was given the title or simply proclaimed himself king. Because as I said, he's power mad. Maybe if he is the Gerudo's leader, the reason why they are poor or even made to be thieves. Another thing to consider him seperately from his fellow Gerudo's is that when you go to their desert kingdom, they're all still there. Wouldn't you see them around the country-side, as a form of enforcer for Ganons rule, or at the very least in Hyrule castle, if they were in fact loyal to Ganon and his personal war on the Hylians and lust for more power. And considering that all the races have their own kingdoms but Hyrule is ruled by the Hylians, maybe that's because they actually do a good job at it. You don't go through the world hearing anyone else complaining, or talks of protest or declarations of war. So they must be doing a good job if no one has a problem but Ganon.

By: Paddy T

Paddy T — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 02:17:14 +0000

Gannondorf is not black. They made the Gerudos simply look like they are from the desert with no specific relation to an actual human race. You say not to take this too seriously, but you obviously do if you think he's black. His skin isn't that dark!

By: pieoftruth

pieoftruth — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:54:59 +0000

arent the gerudo just supposed to be tan? i mean… they ARE in a desert after all… lots of sun? adaptation? yeah… also i thought the symbol on the mirror shield from oot would have been brought up.

By: Inkwell

Inkwell — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:02:58 +0000

Thank You C.W., that was extremely frustrateing to read! How can anyone else not see that Gannondorf is actually Green! I mean really. And as for the Gerudo being desert dwelling Black people, let's think that one over again. Dark skinned women, living in the desert, vailed clotheing, and weilding scimitars, hmmm, who does that sound like? Maybe, Arabian peoples!? And since in Ocarina of Time you DO encounter a Gerudo woman who helps you and eventually is shown to be a Sage herself, clearly not all of them are ment to be shown as evil thieves. That part is clear. As for Ganons role, he was mentioned back in A Link to the Past as being the King of Theieves and always a malicious, greedy, power hungry madman. And the reason why the Hylian race is predominantly in charge is because the Hylians were the ones who built up the kingdom. The previous games mention this! And, as was stated in Twilight Princess, there are a race of people yet mentioned who are closer to the gods than the Hylians are. I have trouble with this whole articles foundation in racism. There's no need for it haveing been written. Because it shows a clear disregard for underlying facts, and was written by someone who can't tell what color the bad guy really is anyway.

By: Soliloquy

Soliloquy — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:32:52 +0000

I'd say you had a point if the creators of the games were white. But they're Japanese.

By: c.w.

c.w. — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 23:35:26 +0000

ganondorf isn't black, he's green!

By: DVE

DVE — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:09:45 +0000

I noticed it right away. I thought I was the only one who saw racism.

By: Linked

Linked — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:44:15 +0000

I don't really see it like that. I mean yea there are different races, but so what. Do you expect there to be all the same looking people across the whole world? Would it be weird to see normal Hylians in Zora's Domain? Yes, gamers would ask why some Hylians can live underwaters. I never saw Ganondorf as a black man, but rather a dark skinned Gerudo. Gerudo's live in the desert sun all day so there skin would be darker than the Kokori who are shaded by the trees or the Hylians who spend alot of their time indoors. Everyone knows Nintendo is based in Japan, however, they chose Link to be a blonde, white male. I don't think they have any prejudices. You can take any facts and skew them into anything if you try hard enough.