Why doesn't Link's voice sound like it used to?

If you listen to Link's voice in Zelda Ocarina of Time, he sounds REALLY different from how he sounds in Breath of the Wild. So, what's changed in the last 20 years?
PATREON - / thomasgamedocs
TWITTER - / thomasgdocs
SOURCES
Fujiko Takimoto
- • 【瀧本富士子さん】瀧本さんが"安定のショタボ... Talks about Link being in Smash Ultimate
- www.cyzo.com/2016/02/post_263...
Nobuyuki Hiyama
- • Anime North 2017 - Nob...
Akira Sasanuma
- web.archive.org/web/201109302...
- • Yuu Asakawa and Akira ...
Kengo Takanashi
- seimaga.jp/item30.html Interview about his history with VA
CDi Voice Actor
- / link_speaks_an_intervi...
- www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Int...
Interviews about Link not speaking
- nintendoeverything.com/aonuma-...
- nintendoeverything.com/kondoa...
- nintendoeverything.com/aonuma...
- www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-o...
MUSIC
- Music via Epidemic Sound, Nintendo

[@ThomasGameDocs]

link may be hot, but you know what makes you ALMOST as hot as him? follow me on twitter twitter.com/thomasgdocs

[@Player-jh4ko]

No

[@gustavrepa7109]

I will! 👍

[@otxyungluis9684]

You can hear young links voice clips in A Link to the Past too

[@om_o4780]

Nope

[@thatoneguy6318]

You should do fox from super smash bro’s

[@ToonGohan]

Every time Link gets a new voice actor I’m always like “yeah that sounds like link”

[@nahor88]

I honestly didn't even realize they were changing the actor since OOT/MM and TP, aside from Toon Link. The Young Link in LBW sounds an awful lot like OOT/MM Young Link. The adult Link in SS and Botw sounds an awful lot like TP Link.

[@dogeo1719]

@Base Bass Forte both

[@FrancisHD]

@Base Bass Forte No

[@alesbianhotmess]

Same

[@just_kuroo6204]

IMPOSTER

[@kano2444]

"please dont sound too japanese" Procede to make the most iconic japanese reaction noises of all time

[@LittleFlame23]

It's the T before the vocalisations

[@crystalalumina]

Nah, just compare it to Yuki Kaji's Link, that's definitely a Japanese sounding Link

[@SolDizZo]

Still my favorite most recognizable hyats of all time

[@Kuroo9]

*hya's in Japanese*

[@tychopanda]

"Toriyah!"

[@Y20XTongvaLand]

The toon Link VA did an incredible job if making the "Come on!" understandable but also sound like it might not be English. Kind of like Simish.

[@keiyakins]

Huh, really? I thought it was a very natural performance, it even sounds shortened to "C'mon!" the way a native American English speaker might

[@GameyRaccoon]

@@keiyakins your pfp is cute!!

[@mylem6234]

@@keiyakins Nah it sounded very unnatural

[@SatanEnjoyer]

Agreed

[@Meg_88]

@@mylem6234 disagree

[@BladeDevil]

I love how wind waker went from the most hated during development and release to one of the most beloved years later. I always loved the game.

[@tor2919]

Same. I was in my early 20s when WW released and hated how the teenagers wanted a “mature” link. To me nothing could be more adolescent/immature than the notion of “mature” Zelda. It’s the same nerds that think shit like Assasins creed and Call of duty is cool. Favourite links are breath of the wild and wind waker.

[@gabrielladavidson2938]

I live in a house with 4 people. My favorite is Phantom Hourglass, my partner's is Wind Waker, and my roommate's are Minish Cap & Spirit Tracks. They're my main LoZ friends so I was SHOCKED as an adult to know that most people didn't like the cel-shaded games out of the gate 😂

[@grantmckenzie787]

@@tor2919 woah hold on why are you going after assassins creed for no reason? That series is pretty cool

[@retrolinkx]

It's because all the kids who played it in their childhoods are now in their 20s on the internet lol. It happens all the time with stuff. Skyward Sword might start seeing a resurgence in popularity and love in 5-6 years.

[@mollusksmusk8111]

​@@retrolinkx it seems like it's already happening

[@deadexcel9583]

"this is the voice of link, take a listen.." AHHHHHHHGHHHHGHGHHHHHH

[@Angel-Wulff]

Pov : you missed the cobwebs in the great deku tree

[@greenberrygk]

hahahahahahahahaha

[@Swordian]

True

[@Scrunkles]

@@Angel-Wulff Don’t remind me

[@sharjiljafric-3184]

You forget to add "Well excuuuuuuuse me princess".

[@pavloverboy]

Link's voice might have changed, but one thing has stayed the same: HYUH

[@ThomasGameDocs]

iconic

[@subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234]

@@ThomasGameDocs Do donkey Kong's voice

[@MuscarV2]

I don't see which of his common sounds that is trying to represent. Got an example of what you do to make him do that sound in any of the games?

[@MuscarV2]

@@subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234 firstly, why say that as a reply to an completely unrelated reply Thomas made another comment? Just comment like normally, like it makes sense to do. Secondly, do you really think saying that is needed? Obviously that's been said/asked about many many times on each on the voice changes videos. All you're doing is saying what doesn't need to be said more times in places it should be... The KZbin comments really are exhausting, the level of idiocy and lack of even the most basic comprehension about things is astounding. No mäter what you expect, people always find ways to be even more stupid and say stuff that makes no sense to a point of getting diszzy trying to see how that could possibly happen.

[@tinycorvid]

@@MuscarV2 wow you're so smart and cool, jokes on them for making a joke. Everyone is dumb except for you huh?

[@3dcookie515]

Couple of my favourate Link lines have to be Wind Waker's "Agh-ts-ts-ts-uh" (when sliding on ice) and Breath of the Wild's "Huh-tu-diat!" (one of the spin attack sounds).

[@PassTheSnails]

I love tp “HEYYEIGHT” during spin attack, and toon link “WAAAAAAAA” when falling a large height And a HUGE shoutout to my favorite link sound of all time, Toon Link “Eeyup-“ as he picks up a large pot

[@ankiyaanimations7196]

The link's va changing actually makes more sense when you realise that those are different people. It's not just one guy in different games, it's different guys, sometimes blood related sometimes not. They all have different personalities and different lives, all they share is a name. They only changed the va when the link changed. Wind waker and phantom hourglass link are the same person, spirit tracks link is another person from a few generations later. Oot and mm links are also the same person.

[@M.F.Hafizhan]

Don't forget the shared soul

[@ankiyaanimations7196]

@@M.F.Hafizhan wanted to mention that until i realised adult timeline links probably don't share a soul (since oot link got transported to another timeline) and didn't wanna overcomplicate

[@deoxysoverlord8710]

Literally this video: "They were the voice of Link." *"Until they weren't."*

[@leoplays8118]

LOL

[@fart_smella1]

lol

[@Gilly_NillyGaming]

Lol

[@go460]

haha lol creative comment

[@chipbean5395]

LOL

[@TeamBlueToad]

It kinda makes sense that they don't sound the same. Like, they're canonically not the same Link.

[@subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234]

He should do Donkey kongs voice

[@tr4sh37]

Except that Four Swords Link is voiced by the same Voice Actress of Windwaker Link. 🤔

[@reemademashki7656]

True.

[@boxpin8967]

Actually, they’re not even all named Link. They’re named whatever the player named them, except for BOTW link.

[@ssjgotenks2009]

@@boxpin8967 no ntiendo siad mm is link so i oot and iwnd wkaer so sotp there aoll called link

[@Ari-hk7oi]

Hearing the soundclips of nothing but grunting shrieking and shouting made me laugh every time haha.

[@user-ih9tg9io2m]

I really like the last scream from oot adult link, so funny.

[@Kuhmuhnistische_Partei]

Whoever voices Link, you can always be sure they had a great time just screaming weird noises into a microphone.

[@kahp1072]

I love that almost every Link has a different voice, it shows that almost every Link is a different reincarnation.

[@ender7278]

> Almost *Cries in Four Swords Trilogy*

[@hanjinhazirdejose4494]

Your profile is link

[@IKR_C]

They simply reused OoT's young link voice on the GBA versions of Four Swords and A Link to the Past.

[@zorrasuperliminal18]

They are not the same.

[@JayJay16501]

...bruh

[@TonyStarkCLC]

"They all would speak in hylian" -Aonuma Toon Link in WW in the tower of Gods: "COME ON!".

[@Aflay1]

Counter Argument: Link knows can read, write, and understand Hylian, but only knows how to speak English.

[@anzaia2164]

I wish they all spoke Hylian, that'd be so rad

[@jaakkojarvela7571]

Actually link can speaks, when an NPC ask something and you select one of the available answers, it can be assumed that link said the selected answer, but this can't be achieved if Link had voice just like Mario. Talking about this, the objective in Zelda games is cast serious sentiment on the player rather than making them laugh just like in Mario games

[@kurozikoasu1887]

brUHHh

[@Schwarzorn]

Techinically Hylian is pronounced exactly as Japanese, just with a different writing system, with some unique words and such. And Geldoan (the language of the Geldo, mistraslated as "Gerudo" in Ocarina of Time) is just English, but with a different writing system (with some unique words and such). So Link is speaking Geldoan when he says "Come on!". Same with Navi saying "Hey!", "Listen!", and "Watch out!" in Ocarina or Time. Tetra and her crew speak full "Hylian" in Tetra's Trackers for Nintendo GamCube. As for Breath of the Wild, we can assume that Japanese is the truest voice option to Hylian.

[@inafridge8573]

Learning about the people behind the voices is so cool. Seeing what the Adult Link VA actually looks like, him being told to "not sound Japanese" and then seeing the work he actually did. And really he did a great job. I'm glad they changed the voices because I feel the voice for both young and adult link are better than the ones they were working with during development. I especially love Young Link's voice, it just sounds so cool it fits him perfectly imo, and its unique too, it doesn't sound like a regular old real life human being, you know, he sounds like a character, in the same way that Mario and Mickey Mouse don't sound like a regular old real life human, you know. And I love what they did to it in MM adding that spooky ghostly echoey effect that made it sound badass and magical and i think its effectiveness hinges on the unique qualities of the work already done for OoT.

[@CorvineAftermath]

I really love how the art style changes each game

[@cthoolhoo1441]

The only "silent protagonist" who's been played by too many voice actors to count on one hand.

[@GameyRaccoon]

Hes not even silent he talks all the time

[@GreenEyedDazzler]

@@GameyRaccoon what are you on

[@hydrochloricacid7927]

@@GreenEyedDazzler he's right though, you just aren't allowed to hear his voice

[@MarshallZPie]

​@@GreenEyedDazzler Link literally talks to everyone in BotW and TotK.

[@yl3716]

​@@hydrochloricacid7927 when you call a character a "silent protagonist" its in reference to the audience, not the characters, every silent protag talks to the characters, they're not mute

[@bathilra5364]

Young links voice actress be like: yeah my smash bros main is myself

[@mide8845]

Actress?

[@mide8845]

I didn’t watch enough of the video before I commented lol

[@bartelvandervelden9894]

So she likes playing with herself? 0_0

[@Muip]

@@bartelvandervelden9894 you just made my day a little worse

[@bartelvandervelden9894]

@@Muip you're welcome!

[@MissAshley42]

Wow! This has happened so gradually over so long a period of time that I never noticed. Each voice actor seemingly bases their timbre off their predecessor. It's like a 20+ year game of telephone! Also, it's weird to think about the first young and adult Links having different voice actors. In my mind, I just think "Yup, that's the same person somehow aged up."

[@SonicSega0964]

I’m confused how that’s weird in your opinion? Not being disrespectful but as males age up ya’know what happens to their voice

[@claudevalentine8657]

Its always been a dream of mine to voice Link at least once. It'll never happen of course but it's just one of those fun fantasies to think about. It'd be a true honor to voice Link after all the memories and nostalgia The Legend of Zelda has given me.

[@Bloodmoon_Daisho]

Anything can happen. Dont say it'll never happen, because possibilities are endless. I hope I get to hear you voicing my childhood character someday in the future

[@nanapoohsmom4927]

I wanna be a voice actor someday, and my dream is to do a character like Link, where he or she only “speaks” in grunts or growls and I have no clue why I wanna do that so bad 😂

[@Moussaka47]

Let's send this guy for an audition at Nintendo's!

[@nicocchi]

"Why doesn't Link's voice sound like it used to?" because it's almost never the same Link

[@yasminefinales1009]

exactly, theyre almost all different people as they are reincarnations bruh

[@aidenzorn8322]

They’re all linked

[@cashwin45]

Yeah literally idk why someone asked that tbh and honestly some of them don't sound *that* different so unless you were specifically trying to find a difference in voices you wouldn't notice. For example, Toon Link (Wind Waker) and Young Link sound pretty similar so I doubt anyone who played OoT would be like "OMG WHY DOES LINK SOUND DIFFERENT" when they play WW. They would just be like "Noice" (Btw ofc ik like TP link sounds different from Toon Link but I was saying *some* of them sound too similar to even notice)

[@jabreo]

Found it lowkey annoying how he acted shocked eachtime as if they should keep every actor, like what about zelda and ganon ig those are fine to him?

[@docfallout7361]

@@aidenzorn8322 😏

[@LuckyOwl_7]

Imagine being an anime voice actor and just being paid to make a bunch of grunting noises

[@Hydelsius]

Isn't that what they do half the time anyways? xD

[@no1GIRluvr]

well in anime they do those too so theyre used to it probably

[@ridhoardipratama7978]

Koga aoi as komi san and akari ito as nezuko may have a word with you

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

The reason the actors were told they would only be making grunting noises after they got in the booth is because otherwise that particular casting call is probably code for "hentai"

[@zunumae]

Aether and Lumine agree as well.

[@anxia-tea5846]

the voice actresses for the young link and toon link did so good.

[@GreenFiireVOD]

10:41 never realised how anime link in TP sounds like

[@revolution2762]

It’s weird how most of the Mario characters started out sounding not that great and got better over time, but literally every single link has just been perfect. They all sound different and yet they all sound like link.

[@kendothugs]

yes exactly

[@KmanZAG]

you can think Eiji Aonuma for that. He and his team approach games very differently than the rest of Nintendo.

[@wiffgunderwanted]

Besides Mario Sunshine I really can't recall Mario voice acting not being iconic and awesome.

[@revolution2762]

@@wiffgunderwanted yeah you’ve got a point but I was more talking about the characters who have had voice actor changes over the years. I’m pretty sure Mario has been the same dude since the start.

[@wiffgunderwanted]

@@revolution2762 yea true I guess bowser and peach have had improved voice acting over the years

[@jazzra6540]

I just wanna shoutout the voice actor who did Beedles iconic " YAYA" in botw. Truly magnificent.

[@ggizhere5638]

And Beedle's Wind Waker "THHHAAAAAaaankk youu"

[@magnet_taco]

and botw beedle's "SAAAH, SAAAAAH!"

[@crimsonxavaandoozie5359]

And then there's the, "Oh"

[@trashmann1081]

also the overly-dramatic WOW

[@rifatbobos]

And his sad "oooohh" followed by mumbling and evil chuckle whenever I refuse to sell my energetic beetle

[@sam1866]

10:07 Can we talk about that exit sign tho

[@goeuldi]

10:25 even with this crappy audio quality & unserious nature of the conference it really sounds like Link.

[@frankcastle8363]

They could’ve kept the “well excuuuuse me, princess!” as Link’s catchphrase

[@mamamiaawoodenboy]

Lol

[@lexierosevideos]

Oh hell nah

[@dumbledorethegreyhobbit6055]

Imagine at the end of botw 2 he just says it out of nowhere lol

[@jaeheekanghan]

@@dumbledorethegreyhobbit6055 HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH u made my day thx Why I've been laughing at this for almost 10 minutes I'm imagining it- bruhlmao

[@anyacollins8791]

Baha 😂

[@CarthusDojo]

Waiting for Thomas to make a video about my voice before and after puberty.

[@ThomasGameDocs]

once i burn through all the nintendo characters then anything is up for grabs lol

[@tord5363]

about to spam jjba stuff

[@WhoEvenIsAndr]

@@ThomasGameDocs you sure are burning through them!

[@funkingalaxy1710]

@@ThomasGameDocs When Kirby characters

[@Noah_Kai2]

@@ThomasGameDocs sheeeeesh

[@cosygracegames]

That was an incredible video, I learned so much about the series as a whole and I learned to appreciate the great voice acting in these games!

[@joshuapittman4663]

It makes sense that there would be different voice actors since in Zelda’s lore, Link is the reincarnation of the hero and isn’t just 1 person. Similarly, Princess Zelda is a different character in every game because she is the reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia. The only returning character in Zelda who is a single person is Ganon.

[@Batman-jm7np]

Toon link saying " come on!" > Everything else.

[@johnshedIetsky]

i peed my pants

[@Melont06]

BREAKING NEWS: Young boy in green says "Come on!"

[@GrimReaperAngelWolf]

The best is the grunted one when you're pulling "c'MON"

[@adventurebro101]

Here you go lmao 9:21

[@OneBeastSOUL]

The raspiest

[@ceeb420]

It's odd his Twilight Princess VA didn't like his performance. I think he's my favorite. Definitely the most intense Link, it fits the vibe the game was going for perfectly, imo.

[@johnjapannn3961]

If Nintendo decides to make a remake of Twilight Princess I hope they reuse his lines

[@Caren4]

same here he fits him so well its great

[@inafridge8573]

I actually found him to be the least expressive Link when listening to them back to back. and i remember feeling back in the day that TP Link always seems a bit detached/unimmersed in the situations that he finds himself in. He did a great job but if you look at it a certain way you may see it lacks something the others have.

[@Caren4]

@@inafridge8573 tbf i feel like its just more realistic and dark, just as the games feeling is. The rest Links are a lot more animeish or cartoonish so they need to be a lot more expressive

[@inafridge8573]

@@Caren4 thats a good point. it was probably intentional

[@ejlegaspi9439]

I love the humming that Link does while cooking in Tears of the Kingdom.

[@RandomJayne]

If you wanna hear adult OoT Link sing, Hiyama Nobuyuki was also the voice of Hiei on Yu Yu Hakusho, which had a few tie-in albums with songs performed by the voice actors.

[@ppleakage2785]

We over time got so used to Link not speaking that hearing him speak sounds pretty cursed

[@IdaeChop]

come on!

[@anonymousfellow8879]

Nah, I’d be fine with it. And the “they’d be speaking hylian!” is obviously such a copout-we know that characters in SFF genres don’t really speak the same language we do, yet it doesn’t break our emersion. And the Voice Acting in BotW sounded just fine to me -I love the job the American voice actors did, but I’m also curious to hear how the OG Japanese ones did, too-

[@sillygoose2878]

I CANT WAIT TO BOMB SOME DODONGOS

[@noctis1333]

@WhatThuSmell only acceptable words spoken by link

[@LunexLunertic64]

Well if you wanna hear what Adult OoT Link sounds like if he talks, albeit in JP, listen to Nightmare's JP voice from Soul Calibur 2 , same guy who voices Adult Link from OoT.

[@diegogonzalez8506]

I had no idea Twilight Princess Link's actor struggled so much. I genuinely think he has the best and most definitive voice for him

[@juandirection3751]

Manliest of them all for sure, maybe only beaten by Ocarina's

[@genevievefuchs4574]

Maybe he was a perfectionist and needed more guidelines (like dialogue) to feel like he was doing good enough?

[@samoria7530]

He’s the best adult link. Wind Waker is by far my favorite link voice overall

[@kuukylvrr]

same

[@kohga1475]

I like how it’s all just breathing, grunting, yelling and screaming

[@__dane__]

It’s kind of insane to think that they created such a vast and expressive game as the Wind Waker as the next entry after Majora’s Mask. What an insane level up

[@Joskilani]

I mean, the reason they kept switching Link's actor is easy to figure out. Every time Link gets a new actor, that's also a new incarnation of Link. The different Links are different people, so it makes sense why they have different voices.

[@toon4416]

They reused Oot links voice for other links, so not exactly

[@Random1567]

Link is reincarnated tho, so they could’ve still used the same voice actor if they wanted to.

[@Egg-zactly]

@@Random1567 is reincarnation? The hero's shade (I think is it's name, we call it "la sombra del héroe" in Spanish) and in twilight princess, who happens to be Link from Oot. And Spirit Track's Link is just a new hero once again. More even, Link from Wind Waker cannot be the reincarnation from Oot link, cuz Oot Link is in the child time line.

[@TwilightWakerofTime]

Yeah, except FSA Link has WW Link's voice and TMC and (GBA) LttP Link have OoT Link's voice. So occasionally different incarnations have the same VA. But yeah I dunno why Thomas keeps saying "I don't know why they recast him!" when he even mentions they're different people at the beginning lol. EDIT: And Switch LA Link is the same voice as ALBW Link!

[@Joskilani]

@@Egg-zactly The Hero's Shade is OoT Link, I think TP is also supposed to be a descendant of him too? Also, Wind Waker Link wasn't a reincarnation. He was just chosen by the gods when the Hero decided to just not reincarnate in that timeline

[@Blu_Moon_VA]

"HEYAH!" The most inspiring quote in gaming...

[@zeldafan200]

Sniff so inspiring 😢

[@Helix-dn9oh]

😭 inspiring, wait LINK?!

[@zeldafan200]

@@Helix-dn9oh im gay.

[@juliemaejavier6451]

@@zeldafan200 Shouldn't you just say "Hiyah" as a response, either way?

[@zeldafan200]

@@juliemaejavier6451 hyah heysh hup hip hiyah raaur ah eh hup heeee your mom gay hyah hip hup

[@Gnurklesquimp]

2:49 ''Here he is as young Link'' *Fights noisiest enemy in the game*

[@KamiKitsuneVA]

I really love the idea of every Link having their own voice actor, which so far seems to be the case. The N64 Links were the same Link, so it works there. Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass have the same Link as well, but Four Swords Link is a different one. So it really does seem like all these instances where the same voice actor is used have the same Link. Pretty damn cool ngl

[@HEALORDER]

i don’t think i’d like a talking link to be honest, the whole silent protag thing feels so right for him. he has so much emotion in his expressions and random yelling that him talking would take away from that, i think.

[@sharjiljafric-3184]

At least he should be able to say "Well excuuuuuuuse me princess".

[@Bonovasitch]

@@sharjiljafric-3184 Or bemoaning about how it sure is boring around here

[@d3va383]

I personally think it’s time for a voiced link. In BOTW, the silent thing kind of just feels off with other voice actors actually talking. It worked a bit for lore reasons, but I think he should talk now that he finished his quest or whatever. The worst part is, in all Zelda games he talks to other characters, we just don’t hear his voice saying words except for in wind waker and in BOTW he talks to npcs and has conversations with them, him not talking just wouldn’t really make sense anymore

[@sharjiljafric-3184]

@@Bonovasitch He should also be able to say a lot more things like "Oh boy smooching time" & "Looking good princess, especially from this angle".

[@Nina-ko5tc]

@@d3va383 ur opinion is wrong

[@jakezepeda1267]

OOT are the voices that sound like home to me.

[@lovekittys1239]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH -link

[@PhoenixOfTheNight]

Agreed

[@misa80209]

Same

[@PleaseDontShoveMeUpYours]

HELLO!!!!!!!! -Navi

[@DoomRater]

Yes, but not when used on NIGHTMARE of all people!

[@mochann1133]

I’m fairly into Japanese VA’s but I’ve never played or looking into any rule warriors, so when you said Link was voice acted by Yuki Kaji my jaw dropped lmao

[@vero4472]

part of the reason his voice changes so much is also bc the creator wants to keep link as androgynous as he can so anyone can connect with him. he has a muscular body but feminine facial features, a strong voice but a curvier body (botw), etc. the idea was so you can see a hero as anyone.

[@terriblecacti]

Honestly, I think changing voice actors for each iteration of Link justs fits the idea of the same hero being reincarnated time and time again so perfectly. It really adds to the newness and atmosphere of each different Link so much. Especially with Takanashi giving such a perfectly fitting performance. Remember when everyone was confused about Link's gender when BOTW was revealed? Even the voice acting was about as androgynous as you can get LMAO

[@Mucrush]

This exactly. Also, Link wouldn't get a new voice for BOTW2, since its the same Link from the first game

[@MattPerrette87]

@@geox8485 He looked female in the reveal trailer. How have you not seen it?

[@fortniteshouldlearn6595]

@@MattPerrette87 You clearly haven't seen guys with pony tails.

[@Mario-rc4oc]

@@geox8485 This comment is amazing

[@MattPerrette87]

@@fortniteshouldlearn6595 I am a guy with a ponytail. Link looked female in the first trailer. There's was speculation that you could choose Link's gender which future fueled the fire.

[@ProjectTony]

Me: "Link, whisper sweet nothing in my ear." Link: "HYAH!!!"

[@TheHeavyWing74]

Hey cool, obscured by clouds.

[@ProjectTony]

@@TheHeavyWing74 my favorite album

[@TheHeavyWing74]

@@ProjectTony yes, Pink Floyd’s short venture into the world of cohesion before deciding psychedelia ultimately suited them better. While not my personal favorite, I’ll never forget the feeling that I had discovered a hidden gem that very few have when I first listened to it.

[@YoYofua]

At first I was expecting the classic top ten but I gave it a try when I saw the 20m, and I really liked it, very nice and interesting video, I literally got sticked xD, I'm gonna watch ur content from now on

[@freddogrosso9835]

18:00 I know it's probably for saving money, but I think it's really sweet how they do it.

[@FrostBeauty]

I found it way more professional and qualitative that they record almost every time the voice of link in every game era It is better to have a neat and matching voice for every link aesthetic/character.

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

Not to mention the fact that if BOTW still had the old bit crushed N64 audio we probably wouldn't be too happy about it...

[@HelloHamburger]

@@Kevin-jb2pv "I said we wanted CLASSIC sound and gameplay. Not old and archaic sounding."

[@mildlydispleased3221]

"The new design for Link was tall and manly" *Exhale*

[@Melont06]

Me: *Swoons*

[@eazyonice]

Me: *Swoons*

[@kistertheartist]

Me: *Swoons*

[@gillyfretwell4971]

@@totally_a_duck6982 . ? . omitted p]

[@soapaku9356]

Me: Swoons

[@lilywinter9986]

Ocarina of Time Link has to be my favorite voice for both versions of him, they just sound so perfect for him. I also love Toon Link's voice in WW and can't decide if I prefer it to BOTW which currently would rank just under OoT

[@StarryScribbles]

I do believe that nintendo has always liked the idea of hiring many different VA's for their games to expand opportunities to more actors, like with how splatoon gets new talent for each game with the idols. It's pretty cool for them to do this

[@KratosAurionPlays]

Link's voice is such an oddity really. So few lines yet so many voice actors lol

[@pearlgalaxy]

I mean. It's not the same Link in every game. That's just why.

[@was6.9]

link & nezuko voice actors: *getting paid for not talking*

[@wisnu7846]

Grunt intensefies

[@kyubei9979]

Scream for money1

[@andiprayoga4708]

And the main characters of every monster hunter style games

[@RedDeadDevilTrigger]

I’ve finally found your channel again after a year of not watching it

[@benjaminparker5044]

Really cool how long Takimoto's voice has stuck around and it's very cool that she got an amiibo

[@Kohakuchan]

One thing that Nintendo does seem to keep consistent is that each incarnation of Link has a different voice. It explains why Ocarina of Time and Majora's mask share the same voice, but also why Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass share a voice. Spirit Tracks takes place 100 years after Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass and is thus a different Toon Link, so it makes sense to have a new voice actor.

[@firionkaiser8291]

Yes although of course some Links reuse previous voices such as in the ALttP Remaster/Four Swords game, Young Link's voice is reused for Link in ALttP Remastered

[@alovo4655]

@Serena Nintendo xd?

[@Busterbalz]

No link will ever be as CHAD as OOT Link. Those shouts are fierce.

[@Ixckar]

Young or Adult Link?

[@Busterbalz]

@@Ixckar yes

[@a-bombmori7393]

OOT Link is significantly the most muscular Link there's ever been. A lot of people think BotW Link is rather twinkish, but that's a pretty unmerited belief, considering if you actually take his shirt off you can see that he has abs and pretty defined delts (you can see his physique best during the animation when he enters the trial of the sword). I'd say he easily takes 2nd place, but he still pales in comparison to the sheer muscle mass of the Hero of Time. For goodness sake, you can actually see his rhomboid and he appears to have a serrated serratus. I'd also say he preforms the biggest feat of strength in the series when he flips over the giant black pillars in and around Ganon's castle with the golden gauntlets. (he also has the best hairstyle in my opinion)

[@williamhollaway1960]

"Chad" ....psssh lame

[@SaitohYatate]

If you like OoT Link's shouts, then check out "King of Braves: GaoGaiGar". Or get a King of Fighters game and one-man the whole game with Joe Higashi. Oh yeah, and Young Link's VA also did Taki from Soul Calibur.

[@immagical7036]

Breath of the wild is the only Zelda game I’ve ever played and I’m glad I’m getting to hear the other link voices and such

[@cosmic9511]

Twilight Princess has a very very special place in my heart as the first Zelda game I ever played by myself. Mr. Sasanuma's hard work paid off and his is the voice of the Link who will always be my favorite!

[@carlosfranklinponcealvarad2919]

Wait, you're telling me that we got Eren's voice as Link in 2014 and I never knew about it? Man that's some Link's royalties

[@mikona9582]

Ikr!!!

[@franck4727]

He's also Narumiya Mei

[@justaceilingfan7881]

I literally can’t unhear Eren when I here Hyrule warriors Link

[@snailiesnail]

MY HEART DROPPED WHEN I FOUND OUT

[@a_not_so_amazingperson9900]

He also voices Johnny Joestar in the jojo games 💀

[@Vitor20XX]

Ocarina of Time Link voice is so unique for me, that i can't imagine someone dubbing him lol. I can just imagine Link dubbing himself.

[@GameHopperME]

Lmao same

[@PanickinSkywalker]

Yeah I just imagine link in a booth with headphones on his pointy ears recording his own voice 😂

[@Pixiesfairiedust]

@@PanickinSkywalker😂😂😂😂

[@penntopaper9305]

i fucking love the consistency of making every link thats technically not the same person have a slightly different voice. lore accurate.

[@Darentei]

OoT Link is iconic. I'd like for nothing more than his voice, and even his design, to make a return.

[@chloehandy3516]

Absolutely!! I always always dye one of my more hylian outfits green so I can pay my own homage to my favorite game ever

[@OSDisco]

I appreciate all the Detective Conan clips interspersed with OoT's child and adult link talks.

[@daejonmoody3304]

Conan kun 😂🙌🏾

[@aaronjames3228]

@@daejonmoody3304 what

[@daejonmoody3304]

@@aaronjames3228 ahh that’s how Ren says his name in the anime lmao I always found it to be funny lol

[@AlexG32777]

"we're planning on selling this game overseas so please don't make it sound Japanese" I'm American and I don't know what that means only imagine how confused this poor guy was

[@jayyemm69]

There’s a distinction between Japanese and American voices, even if it’s just screaming/grunting. Watch an anime sub and dub. Huuuge difference.

[@jaakkojarvela7571]

@@jayyemm69 remember, by that time there was no a really developed internet communication so they didn't know how much their culture was accepted outside of Japan

[@andrewbay8891]

I mean it makes sense

[@stanstanstan2597]

Makes sense. Anime voices are weird, even if you’re a big fan you can admit that.

[@northernspade1727]

Anime/Japanese acting has a certain nuance that's easily noticeable to anyone outside of Japan (not that it's a Japanese voice per se, just that it's a bit weird). Not to say that it's bad, but I get what they meant when they asked to actor to be subtle about it. You can still easily tell all the Link VAs are Japanese, though. The only one that's remotely subtle is BoTW Link. I think it works though, the over-exaggerated grunts of Link work way better for him and what little of his character he has.

[@tree_0550]

I cant even imagine these voice clips even being performed by real people at this point.

[@Dro0zzy]

I took my time to hear those multiple times and I can't get over by how good Twilight Princesse's dub sounds

[@SuperWiiBros08]

Idk why I didn't think Link had so many voices btw, You should talk about the many voices pacman had

[@3maic]

Honestly he should, because his voice has changed so much.

[@aaronjames3228]

@@3maic is this a joke?

[@3maic]

@@aaronjames3228 no he really did like the shows and stuff

[@mariomuncher44]

Hi, Wii

[@thefangirlray]

WAKA WAKA WAKA WAKA WAKA WAKA

[@kaitlins4482]

link not talking in his games is actually a very important feature of his character, for me at least. i would be really disappointed if they gave him lines

[@cashwin45]

Yeah like even if someone starts a tradition in a game and it doesn't make sense, they should at least continue it. Because it would be worse having a weird tradition that suddenly changes every other game than it would be to just have a weird tradition and maintain it. That's why even tho I don't exactly think Link not speaking is 100% the way to go, since it has already been established, they might as well continue it.

[@abcd18802]

i like how silent he is, it really brings out his "humbleness" even tho i think talking a lot isn't a bad thing either - it can be nerdy or confident, but i think link has his own charm with him being quiet and still kindhearted and courageous

[@benbenben123ben]

@@cashwin45 Metroid other M comes to mind. Lol

[@skateorpie]

The “come on” line in WW caught me off guard when I played but I loved it. I think Link saying short lines randomly more often would be cool

[@benbenben123ben]

@@skateorpie Yea, I wouldn’t mind it actually.

[@xXTigerWaveXx]

Although I never play Ocarina of Time, I like the Adult Link and Young Link voices the most Mainly because those were the voices they used for Super Smash Bros Melee They voices felt more crisp and felt like a more active Link

[@Nate_the_Nobody]

Nobuyuki Hiyama's screams were ingrained in my mind since I grew up at a very early age playing OOT and Smash bro's, it was awesome as shit to then later hear him in some of my favorite anime screaming exactly like he did for Link, most notably Hiei from Yu Yu Hakusho, Nobuyuki Hiyama from Kill La Kill, and Viral from Gurren Lagann

[@AkiraLionPilot]

I’m so glad you brought up Jeffrey Rath. His voice for Link, while not official, is one of the more interesting things about the history of Link’s voice

[@symtrick4782]

Im So HuNgRy I cOuLd EaT aN oCtOrOk

[@cupcakkerares]

Twilight Princess’ link voice actor has such a great talking voice. There’s also an audio of him singing!

[@Anths_art]

yeees wasn't he singing in that one anime Hetalia?

[@cupcakkerares]

@@Anths_art yes that one! Gosh everything about TP is so great.

[@Anths_art]

@@cupcakkerares trueeee it even has a great Water dungeon 😂 not my favorite (That's Great Bay Temple) but still great

[@elfiefox1100]

@@Anths_art Hes the very iconic Austria! I was absolutely shocked to hear Link talk in such a gentleman-ish way --check the show and him out!

[@BBWahoo]

PLS LINK...no pun intended

[@fabianbandaiii3304]

I enjoy looking at the waves of the voice audio lol

[@fabiancamargo5545]

thanks for your videos, bro :') they are amazing, you don't overact your voice, so hearing you is nice. The quality of the videos is very good and the information seems well put together. I love it! +1 sub +1like

[@nicholasfriar8612]

For ocarina of time link, I literally cannot separate the voice from the character and imagine the voice actor. It’s too iconic

[@mikejr7727]

You answered the question in the first 30 seconds at least, I enjoy that.

[@aeolus15]

4:08 This Link will always be my favorite💚😎😍the one that got me into Smash Bros. Melee which got me into Ocarina of Time, which then got me into Soul Calibur II and man that Link still holds that #1 spot for me. Twilight Princess Link is my #2😊

[@Leo-xh8pp]

My favorite too ! Soul calibur 1 for Dreamcast also has this actor's voice !

[@WarningStrangerDanger]

OoT Adult Link "swearing" when he fell is a highlight for me.

[@sdrawkcab_emanresu]

He swears? I just hear screaming

[@CasualCuber_]

I also hear swearing. I'm also the guy who hears the melee narrator say the F-Word when he says Fox.

[@treeman73272]

I hear Link scream Shiiiaaaat

[@WarningStrangerDanger]

When he busts his knees after a fall from a serious height he angrily strings out a series of very angry unintelligible Hylian words.

[@WarningStrangerDanger]

@@sdrawkcab_emanresu Climb to the lookout tower in Kakariko Village and jump off. (Or any very high place you can still survive the fall from.) He will scream all the way down and when he lands he'll drop Hylian expletives while squatting. Looks like it hurts his knees.

[@itsanoldmeme]

But to this day we will still have the same iconic line in every game *"Hiya"*

[@matilda7965]

HYUH!!!!!

[@itsanoldmeme]

@@matilda7965*" HIYA"*

[@VanAlexi]

Hearing Link yell “Come On” in Wind Walker blew my mind!

[@megusato2212]

I love the Detective Conan clips you kept showing here ❤ I'm a big fan of the show

[@Wyatt_Brown]

"Knowing Nintendo, there's always a chance they recast. You just never know." I mean, it's not like they change his voice randomly. If it's a game featuring the same Link as a previous game (OoT/MM, WW/PH, BotW/AoC/BotW2 etc.) he keeps the same voice. If it's a new Link, he gets a new voice. Triforce Heroes is the only one that breaks that pattern, but I mean, it's Triforce Heroes. The whole game is basically an easter egg. Edit: Oh and 4 swords, I guess it's a multiplayer thing.

[@MsDarkz123]

Also Minish Cap and A Link to the Past in the GBA reused the N64 Young Link clips.

[@bolicob]

Yeah its not that random

[@fghsgh]

@@MsDarkz123 Thanks. I was looking for this information.

[@elir9281]

Wait a minute… Link, the silent protagonist, has had different voices over the years? That’s a new one.

[@DeitySkullKid]

Funny thing about that, links adult oot voice has played a number of different Characters, like the Japanese voice for seigfried in soul Calibur, Hero in smash, and anime Characters like Guy Shishioh from GaoGaiGar It's neat to look into people IMDbs

[@WD_RatLad]

He doesn't actually say words. He only grunts

[@Mari_Izu]

Never heard the grunts while playing? Do you play all your games on Mute? That's a new one.

[@nathanbui7265]

@@WD_RatLad nah hes given a bunch of small voice dailogue options that the player can choose from in multiple games

[@NateBoiBoi]

@@DeitySkullKid he also was joe higashi from fatal fury 1 to kof 13, and batsu ichimonji from rival schools

[@RiversLiver]

I'm glad that there's a documentary that finally *fits my interests.*

[@elianna4754]

I can’t believe the amazing Kaji Yuki voiced link at one point! I’m a big seiyuu fan, and had no idea!

[@GigaMan91]

Every Link character is tied to their own voice actor, and that's really cool.

[@zeusifus]

You could even say they're...linked

[@steakwilliams4448]

​@@zeusifus except spirit tracks toon link

[@-memoria-2136]

​​@@steakwilliams4448 Actually he has his own VA as well lol

[@lemonov3031]

​@@steakwilliams4448Spirit Tracks is a different Link. It takes place way too far in the future. The game just uses the Toon design. Just like Minish Cap has nothing to do with Wind Waker, but uses the Toon designs.

[@MaxwelThuThu]

You forgot the best voice actor Link ever had... the "huh" sample from Link taking damage in The Legend of Zelda NES

[@HCkev]

SNES* On the NES it wasn't really a voice

[@eyeball226]

@@HCkev Technically it could have been, as the NES had a DPCM channel (often used to play drum samples). I agree it doesn't really sound like a voice though.

[@HCkev]

@@eyeball226 yeah it could have been, but what I meant in the "huh" voice was in ALTTP :p

[@eyeball226]

@@HCkev Well it's more of an "uh" sound, but even then I wasn't disagreeing with you. I was just saying it's possible that they really did mean the NES game because it might actually have been a really low quality voice sample. DPCM is so lofi that it's hard to tell either way. :)

[@Silcoonsixx]

I love the individuality of each link...! it really makes them all feel like their own persons.! This is neat. :0 Even the spirit tracks toon link vs windwaker/PH link, since he's the prior's descendant if i remember right. :0c

[@LeoEmpire]

They have been shockingly consistent matching voice actors with individual Links, I can only think of a couple of examples where that wasn't the case.

[@Raelilah93]

Canonicaly, it makes sense for Link to have a different voice in almost every game, as Link is rarely the same person. Rather, a reincarnation. So even though they are all named Link, they are all different people. And no 2 people truly have the same voice.

[@fledermausmann27]

Arguably not reincarnation either, just someone who possess the 'spirit of the hero'. This is evidenced by games where there is more than 1 Link in the same place (Twilight Princess, A Link Between Worlds), and the Wind Waker, whose Link could not have been connected to the original Hero of Time, as that hero left the timeline. The more you know.

[@Raelilah93]

@@fledermausmann27 this is the case in the fallen hero time line, however, skyward sword confirmed that link is a reincarnation in every game.

[@fledermausmann27]

​@@Raelilah93 I already explained how that's not possible. And it adds nothing anyway. If each Link is a "different person", then there's no point in being a reincarnation. Which Link is reincarnated in BotW then, which comes after all timelines? All of them? Do you see how that doesn't make sense? Plus, BotW is a soft reboot of the series anyway, something most fans have not picked up on.

[@SonicSega0964]

@@Raelilah93skyward sword specifically says the BLOOD (reincarnation) of the princess and the spirit of the hero (just a boy/man that has a heroic spirit and courage)

[@boomertiro1422]

@@Raelilah93 Acoording to the games themselves there is no fallen hero timeline, and Wind Waker in hyrule historia takes place on one of the timelines the hero did not fall. Hyrule Historia's three timelines is bullshit, it directly contradicts the games.

[@anonymousfellow8879]

BotW Link is one of the few times I’ve heard a Link actually laugh, let alone sing!! WW Link will probably always be my favorite kiddo Link-he’s got so much sass and it shows in his voice acting, too

[@elderadult8544]

Completely agree! Wind waker and BotW links are my favorite!

[@Tacocat_Backwards]

I checked and the same person who voiced link in breath of the wild does indeed voice link in tears of the kingdom.

[@supplespecimen725]

Ay that’s what i came to the comments section for, thanks

[@Tacocat_Backwards]

@@supplespecimen725no problem

[@chiyodesu]

The way I *gasped* when I saw Kaji Yuki in this video. I never knew, that’s amazing