Cameos in The Legend of Zelda

Cameos or Easter eggs are extras intentionally programmed into the games by the developers which have no meaning within the game itself. Throughout The Legend of Zelda series there are a number of Easter Eggs, commonly images taken from other Nintendo franchises such as the Mario series, as well as other well known figures. Easter Eggs are often an interesting break from the main storyline and this page lists some of the surprises to be found throughout the world of The Legend of Zelda series.

The Legend of Zelda
According to the Japanese manual, Manhandla is a large Piranha Plant from the Mario series and Digdogger is a giant Unira from Clu Clu Land.

A Link to the Past

 * Several houses in Kakariko Village have a portrait of Mario in their house.
 * In Turtle Rock and the Palace of the Four Sword, there are Chain Chomps, enemies originally from the Mario series.

"Princess" Christine
Christine is a goat that lives in Animal Village in Link's Awakening. During the game's trading sequence, Christine will give you a letter in exchange for a hibiscus flower. The letter can be delivered to Mr. Write, at which time it is revealed that the letter is apparently a love letter, and that Christine has enclosed a photograph. Although Mr. Write believes the photo to be of Christine herself, it is actually an image of Princess Peach from the Mario series.

Other

 * Tarin is loosely based on Mario. They look similar, love mushrooms, and can turn into raccoons. Incidentally, Mario only turns into a raccoon in Super Mario Bros. 3, and only through the use of a leaf.
 * The Cucco Keeper from Tal Tal Heights looks like Luigi.
 * Mr. Write is based on Dr. Wright from the SNES version of SimCity, who is in turn a cameo of SimCity creator Will Wright. The music in his house is a remix of Dr. Wright's theme from that game.
 * If you wait for the music to loop around in Richard's Villa, a new song will start to play. This is Totaka's Song and appears in several other games.
 * Mamu the frog is Wart from Super Mario Bros. 2. Mamu is Wart's Japanese name.
 * The Yoshi Doll is one of the items in the trade relay.
 * Madam MeowMeow has some pet Chain Chomps.
 * Richard, the character who lives at the villa, is the hero's rival from Kaeru no Tameni Kane ha Naru, a Japan-only game for the Game Boy. The villa's music is a remix of the Kaeru overworld theme and the frogs are from the game too.
 * Many enemies from the Mario series make an appearance, including Blooper, Boo, Cheep-Cheep, Goomba, Piranha Plant, Pokey, Shy Guy, and Thwomp, who reappears in the Oracle series and Four Swords Adventures.
 * In Eagle's Tower, there's an enemy called Anti-Kirby, whose name was simply Kirby in the original. It looks and behaves exactly like Kirby. It is also colored pink in the DX version.


 * The Sea Urchins resemble the Gordos from the Kirby series.
 * There are a few platforming areas within the game that feature Goombas and Piranha Plants. Much like in the Mario series, the Goombas are killed simply by jumping on their heads.
 * Creatures resembling Bob-ombs appear in several dungeons.

Malon and Talon's Bowser Brooch
The characters Malon and Talon, who can be found at Lon Lon Ranch for the majority of Ocarina of Time are wearing a brooch. This brooch bears a striking resemblance to Bowser from the Mario series.

Princess Zelda's Courtyard


In Princess Zelda's Courtyard within Hyrule Castle there are three windows, one on each wall that is not the doorway. The window straight ahead from the entrance is the king's throne room which Zelda commonly peeks at. Looking through the window on the right players will be able to see blurred portraits of Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Bowser hanging on the wall. In Ocarina of Time 3D, these images were replaced with a replica of the end of a level in the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Other

 * Talon and Ingo are loosely based on Mario and Luigi, respectively.
 * On the second floor of Dodongo's Cavern, there's a sign carved out of stone. The sign is identical to the one under the Stone Star in Peach's garden in Super Mario 64 - it is probably the actual texture used in Super Mario 64.
 * When hacked, an Arwing from Star Fox 64 will be discovered. It acts as an enemy.


 * The Stone of Agony resembles the N64's Rumble Pak, which the N64 requires for the item to be of any use.
 * In Ocarina of Time 3D, posters for Skyward Sword can be seen in Gerudo Fortress, in Lon Lon Ranch and in the Bombchu Shop.

The Happy Mask Salesman's Collection
The mysterious mask collector and seller from Majora's Mask, the Happy Mask Salesman, who spends his time inside the Clock Tower is seen wearing a massive back pack, most likely full of masks, but it also has some masks attached to it which some of are obvious Easter Eggs, whilst others are rather mysterious. These masks make a return in Ocarina of Time 3D, in the Happy Mask Shop.


 * 1) Humanoid face with a shocked expression - Identical to the face shown on the Mirror Shield.
 * 2) Stone-like face - While this mask is frowning, it's emotional opposite sits atop Mayor Dotour's chair.
 * 3) Humanoid face with sad expression - Possibly a reference to Elvis Presley.
 * 4) Red and black striped face - Believed by some to be a reference to Darth Maul.
 * 5) Mario - Certainly a reference to Nintendo's famous protagonist.
 * 6) Grotesque face (pale)
 * 7) Grotesque face (red)
 * 8) Red, green and black striped face - Similar to a mask worn by a Luchador.
 * 9) Blue and yellow striped face - Mostly resembles King Dedede.

Other

 * Farewell to Gibdos, the song playing at the Music Box House, sounds very similar to the music of the Merry-Go-Round located at in .
 * Mr. Barten is loosely based on Mario like Talon, though Mr. Barten is much more melancholy and somber than his Hyrulean counterpart.
 * In the Astral Observatory, near the Scarecrow, breaking the nearby pots will reveal a rough drawing of a dolphin. This is possibly a reference to the GameCube's codename, "Dolphin".
 * In the sewer inside the Clock Tower, there is a patch of algae that resembles a Nintendo 64 controller.
 * The Keaton Mask loosely resembles Pikachu, however it is supposed to be more based on a kitsune fox.
 * The 5 'Animal Masks' may very well be a reference to the Star Fox series. On the Mask subscreen (from left to right) they are: Keaton Mask: Fox McCloud, Bremen Mask: Falco Lombardi, Bunny Hood: Peppy Hare, Don Gero's Mask: Slippy Toad, and the Mask of Scents: Pigma Dengar.

Oracle of Seasons

 * Mr. Left is based on Dr. Wright from Sim City.

Oracle of Ages

 * In a Linked Game, Vire kidnaps Princess Zelda and takes her to the Black Tower. Link's rescue plays out like the original Donkey Kong game, with Vire as Donkey Kong, Princess Zelda as Pauline, and Link as Jumpman (Mario).

The Wind Waker

 * The Tingle Tuner looks like a modified Game Boy Advance. The "Ting" items that can be purchased with the Tingle Tuner might be a reference to the real-world drink mix, Tang.


 * The Hand-me Down Tingle Tuner similarly resembles a Game Boy Color.


 * The three stone statues on the triangle islands resemble the three original colors of Pikmin, with each statue having one of the three distinct features of the colored Pikmin they correspond with.

Four Swords

 * Bob-ombs return as an enemy.

The Minish Cap

 * Dr. Left is based on Dr. Wright from the SNES version of SimCity.
 * There are also enemies called Bob-omb and Lakitu — both Mario enemies.
 * The "growing vine" sound effect from the original Super Mario Bros. plays when a climbable vine is grown.
 * Chain-link platforms with flipping gates appear, which seem to be a reference to those found in Super Mario World and later games in the Mario series.

Four Swords Adventures

 * Thwomps, enemies from the Mario series, appear in the Palace of Winds.
 * A Thwomp-like creature appears in a platforming area, but does not act as an enemy.
 * A silver colored Chain Chomp appears in Kakariko Village, chained to a stake. It is invincible to all attacks, and causes the four Links to lose Force Gems when hit.

Twilight Princess

 * Fyer has a Bullet Bill on one of his sleeves.
 * Gor Amoto's name seems to be derived from Shigeru Miyamoto, which is further supported by his Japanese name, Don Shīgeru.
 * The Deku Toad's theme is somewhat similar to Penguin's theme in the old Batman TV show.

Dee Ess Island
In the southeastern seas of, Link can find Dee Ess Island. Both the name and shape of the island reveal this to be an obvious Easter egg of the Nintendo DS which is the console used by the Phantom Hourglass game cartridge.

"What´s with this island?! Sort of a different shape, don´t you think?!"

- Linebeck, upon leaving the island

Skyward Sword

 * Plants from the Pikmin series appear in various places.
 * One of the pictures on the wall within Skipper's house in Skipper's Retreat is a reference to an infamous scene in the movie, Titanic. It depicts Skipper holding another Ancient Robot over the bow of a ship, much like how Jack held rose Rose above the bow of the Titanic.

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland

 * Princess Zelda appears in Tingle's hallucinations of Rupeeland.
 * The Tingle Tuner, which highly resembles a Nintendo DS this time, makes a reappearance.
 * Lon Lon Meadow is named after Lon Lon Ranch.
 * A man who resembles Ingo is found loitering around Lon Lon Meadows.
 * Mount Desma appears be in the same place (geographically) as Death Mountain.
 * Tingle's fight against Captain Stalfos resembles the gameplay of the Punch-Out!! games.