Happy Mask Salesman

The Happy Mask Salesman is a recurring character in. He travels through different lands searching and collecting a wide variety of masks. He is most known for his erratic, sudden mood swings and is considered to be one of the more unnerving characters in the series, mostly because of his many mysterious and abnormal behaviors.

The Mask Salesman's origins are unknown, as he may either be from Hyrule or the parallel universe, Termina. Near the end of, Link travels to the Moon and meets masked children who resemble the salesman. One of them indirectly implies that they have met a Mask Salesman.

One of the more disturbing features of the Happy Mask Salesman is that he usually never stops smiling at any point; however, if Link does not have enough Rupees to repay him for a sold mask in, his eyes will turn red, and his expression turns to one of insane rage. He only frowns once for a short period of time during his "rage" scene in Majora's Mask.

Ocarina of Time
In, the Happy Mask Salesman appears within the Happy Mask Shop in the Market. He only opens his shop after Link delivers Zelda's Letter to the guard standing near the entrance to Death Mountain Trail. Here, he hires Link to be a "happiness salesman" by borrowing each of the shop's masks and then selling them, thus bringing "happiness to everyone." After selling all the four masks, Link receives the Mask of Truth which allows him to understand what the Gossip Stones say. Afterwards, he can borrow all the masks he has previously sold as well as four new mask models.

The Happy Mask Salesman is usually in a good mood, cheering Link on as he is selling the masks. However, if Link does not return with the money for the sold mask, the salesman's expression will suddenly turn to that of a deranged and berserk man. Strangely, his behavior will return to normal once Link enters the shop once again.

Once Link turns into an adult and the Market is destroyed, the Happy Mask Salesman is nowhere to be found. Despite this, he can be seen during the ending scene celebrating at Lon Lon Ranch.

Majora's Mask
In, the Happy Mask Salesman plays a more prominent role. Prior to the events of Majora's Mask, he was continuing his search of masks as he traveled through the woods. However, he was suddenly ambushed by the Skull Kid and his two friends, Tatl and Tael. While he was unconscious, the imp went through the many masks that the salesman possessed, and eventually took a cursed mask known as Majora's Mask.

Once Link arrives in Termina, he too is assaulted by the Skull Kid, who steals his in the process. A series of events occur and Link is turned into a Deku Scrub by the Skull Kid wearing Majora's Mask, and the young hero, along with Tatl, eventually make their way into the Clock Tower. The Happy Mask Salesman appears from out of nowhere and reveals that he has been following Link and his fairy companion since he knows of a way to return him to his former shape; first, however, he would need to claim back the Ocarina that was stolen from him. In exchange, the salesman asks that Link also retrieve the "precious mask" that the Skull Kid stole from him, but he must do this in just three days before he has to mysteriously depart from Termina.

Eventually, with just a few hours before the Moon falls, Link and Tatl confront the Skull Kid at the top of the Clock Tower where the young hero retrieves his Ocarina and plays the "Song of Time" as he remembers Princess Zelda. With the Ocarina of Time in hand, Link returns to the Happy Mask Salesman, who keeps his promise and teaches the young hero a melody called the "Song of Healing" that heals troubled spirits and turns them into masks. Link's Deku form is encased into a mask upon playing the tune which the salesman gratefully gives to him. Having fulfilled his promise, the Happy Mask Salesman asks for his end of the deal, but once he learns of Link's failure to retrieve Majora's Mask, he becomes severely perturbed and violently shakes Link out of frustration. He explains the great lengths that he went through to obtain the mask as well as the true nature behind it. He reveals that if the mask is not taken away from the Skull Kid, "something horrible will happen:" mainly, the destruction of Clock Town and Termina itself. He begs Link to recover the mask for him, once again stressing the fact that he must leave in just three days which is coincidentally the same day of the Carnival of Time, as well as the time remaining that the Moon has before it crashes into Clock Town. As Link and Tatl set off to recover Majora's Mask, the Happy Mask Salesman waits patiently inside the Clock Tower for their return.

Once Link successfully defeats the evil inside Majora's Mask, the Moon vanishes into thin air thus saving the land of Termina. The Happy Mask Salesman finally obtains his mask which has seemingly lost its power and is now an ordinary mask. Since he is in the middle of his travels, he bids farewell, and seemingly suggesting Link that he should return to Hyrule. Before disappearing into nothingness, the salesman bows and remarks of all the people Link has managed to make happy.

The Happy Mask Salesman seems to know a lot about Link and his previous adventures, mentioning that retrieving Majora's Mask should be of no difficulty to someone like him. Moreover, if Link wears a mask in and speaks to him with it on, he will say something about that mask: what emotion it is filled with, its rarity, or something special about it. This ability could possibly be to truly demonstrate the Happy Mask Salesman's expertise when it comes to masks.

He is also notorious for his volatile temper, his wacky theme tune (which is a remix of the "Song of Healing") and his eerie ability to change position without moving. This may be to further enhance the character's strange, surreal appearance. In one scene, the Happy Mask Salesman plays on a massive piano that seems to appear out of nowhere. This piano is used to teach Link the "Song of Healing." After Link learns the song, the piano mysteriously disappears.

In, the Happy Mask Salesman also gives Link the Bombers' Notebook.

Oracle of Ages
In, the Happy Mask Salesman owns a mask shop on the outskirts of Lynna City. He is starving and will give Link the Doggie Mask in exchange for something to eat, namely the Tasty Meat from the Tokay cook. His appearance is almost identical to previous games, the one notable difference being his ears which are rounded and not pointed.

Majora's Mask Manga
In the, the Happy Mask Salesman is quite different. Though his role appears exactly the same as in the game at first, towards the final battle with Majora's Mask, he is shown far more sinister than previously. After the battle, the Happy Mask Man appears before Link (still wearing the Fierce Deity's Mask) to take his mask. Link strikes out at him with his Sword and tells him to leave, slicing various masks in half, possibly in an attempt to strike Majora's Mask. He misses, however, and the mysterious man picks up the mask and fades away laughing.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In, the Happy Mask Salesman appears as a Sticker.

Trivia

 * Some people believe that the Happy Mask Salesman is, to a degree, based on Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Zelda series. This is due to the Happy Mask Salesman's hair and almost constant smile.
 * The Happy Mask Salesman's piano in Majora's Mask is often mistaken for an organ, because the instrument has a large vertical soundboard and a triple-manual keyboard. Organs usually have two or more keyboards, and the vertical soundboard can be mistaken for pipe registers.