Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Director Imagines Ganondorf as a Charismatic Villain That “Men and Women Would Fall For”
With the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the horizon, the director of Tears of the Kingdom, Tatsuya Kitamura, has revealed how he wanted to reimagine the iconic villain Ganondorf. During a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Kitamura said, “[Ganondorf] was a charismatic villain that men and women would fall for. I imagined him as a cool-looking person who looks different from what other villains look like.”
Kitamura continued, “The challenge for us was how to portray an intimidating enemy while also making him attractive. In Tears of the Kingdom, we did this by adding a few unexpected details to make Ganondorf even more compelling. For example, we focused on his regal and elegant nature by incorporating details such as his gray hair, a cape, and a stylish demeanor.”
Kitamura elaborated on how he wanted to add a bit of mystery to Ganondorf’s character. Kitamura said, ”Ganondorf never fully reveals his true agenda so he remains an unpredictable character. He’s mysterious and has an air of mystery about him. At the same time, he can be persuasive when he needs to be and he has a sense of humor that adds to his charm. All of these elements combined help to make him a more compelling villain.”
Kitamura also explained that while Ganondorf’s motivations are never fully revealed, the team at Monolith Soft wanted to make sure that players could connect with and understand Ganondorf’s actions. Kitamura said, “We wanted to tap into the part of him that resonates with players and allows them to understand why he is the way he is – even if they don’t agree with his methods or actions. We wanted to create a villain who has a strong backstory but still carries an unexpected charm – something that goes beyond a stereotypical villain.”
As the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time approaches, fans can look forward to getting to know the reimagined Ganondorf as they further explore the world of Tears of the Kingdom.