10 Lessons The Legend Of Zelda Movie Can Learn From Super Mario Bros.

This article contains spoilers to The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

After the commercial success of The Super Mario. Bros Movie, the recently announced The Legend of Zelda Moviecan learn what to emulate and what to avoid from its predecessor while it’s still in development. Although The Super Mario Bros. Movie received mixed reviews from critics, it left a much better impression on audiences familiar with the source material and wound up being one of the top trending movies of 2023. However, despite The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s success, there are still a number of complaints The Super Mario Bros. Movie needs to address for the sequel, thus creating an opportunity for The Legend of Zelda Movie to surpass it.

The Legend of Zelda Movie would be the next in line to receive a movie adaptation of one of Nintendo’s most popular intellectual properties, and with the sheer number of video games across Nintendo’s various platforms for Hollywood to choose from, it remains to be seen which game will receive The Super Mario Bros. Movie treatment. Although the Super Mario Bros. franchise and the Legend of Zelda franchise are tonally different, they both center around headstrong protagonists embarking on whimsical journeys to protect their loved ones. From iconic weapons to proper renditions of classic characters, The Legend of Zelda Movie can learn a lot from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

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10 Make The Humor Unique And Not Distracting

The Super Mario Bros. Movie had funny and unique takes on the classic characters

One of The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s greatest strengths is its humor and how it’s implemented in even the most dire of situations. From Mario and Luigi’s relationship with their family to Donkey Kong’s incessant need to be validated by his fellow Kong’s to Bowser’s “Peaches” song give The Super Mario Bros. Movie an unexpected layer of humor that helps recontextualize the characters in ways never seen before. While Link and many of the other prominent characters in his franchise are more austere, the filmmakers can still inject the movie with a unique brand of humor to help give The Legend of Zelda a new identity.

9 Include The Right Weapons And Gadgets For Link

The Super Mario Bros. Movie included plenty of Mario’s classic weapons and items to great effect

One of the most identifiable qualities of The Legend of Zelda is the number of weapons, gadgets, and items that Link uses throughout each game. While Link’s Master Sword is arguably the most iconic blade in video game history, he also utilizes various bows and arrows for ranged combat, a boomerang to retrieve distant items, and his Hookshot gadget to climb surfaces. Moreover, Link’s arsenal helps express his character as they mark a distinct moment in his journey and helps display his growth. While there are plenty of options to choose from, The Legend of Zelda should include items that will help make a statement about his big screen iteration.

8 Appeal To Longtime Fans With Dozens Of Deep-Cut Easter Eggs

Easter eggs are a great way to boost engagement with the movie

From specific musical cues to cameo appearances from legacy characters, the obscure Easter eggs in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as well as the obvious ones are an excellent wink and nod to longtime supporters of the Super Mario Bros. franchise. The Legend of Zelda Movie can replicate its Easter eggs similarly, as each game boasts a piece of dialogue or musical motif that strongly resonates with viewers well acquainted with the action adventure franchise. A unique angle The Legend of Zelda movie can take is weaving the Easter egg directly into the plot or character, so that they function as much more than just cool references.

7 Properly Adapt The Music From The Games

The Super Mario Bros. featured excellent renditions of some of the franchise’s greatest hits

Composer Brian Tyler reinterprets the iconic Super Mario Bros. theme and various other songs prominently featured throughout the franchise, and the fruits of his labor result in an excellent take on composer Koji Kondo’s original pieces. The Hyrule theme featured prominently throughout The Legend of Zelda franchise is just as iconic among gaming audiences as the Super Mario Bros. theme because it perfectly captures the essence of a hero embarking on an arduous journey. As such, a proper rendition of the theme is necessary for recapturing a similar atmosphere for The Legend of Zelda Movie, thus boosting engagement with the movie.

6 Hire The Proper Voice-Over Cast

The right voice-over cast can breathe new life into classic characters

Another one of The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s greatest strengths is the handling of its voice-over cast. This is particularly impressive as most of the characters prominently featured throughout the Super Mario Bros. fanchise’s dialogue amounts to grunts, one-liners, and various other onomatopoeias. However, Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key deliver performances that help recontextualize audience interpretations of their respective characters. The Legend of Zelda Movie has an even greater challenge as the franchise primarily conveys speech through reading dialogue and Link’s perpetual yelling. With the proper voice-over talent involved, The Legend of Zelda Movie has an opportunity to breathe new life into its characters.

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5 Solid Animation Budget

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s animation set a new standard for video game adaptations

The Super Mario Bros. Movie benefits significantly from Illumination’s animation budget, as the Mushroom Kingdom, Jungle Kingdom, and even Brooklyn, New York are all visual spectacles for audiences. Furthermore, the lush 3-D animations replicate the sense of depth and scope that both the 2-D and 3-D video games provide gamers. The Legend of Zelda franchise sees Link traverse various forests, jungles, deserts, underwater caves, and even sky-based locations to express the intensity of his journey. Although it isn’t clear which studio is behind the Legend of Zelda Movie, securing a strong animation budget should be one of their top priorities.

4 Strategically Set-Up Future Franchise Potential

The Legend of Zelda movie should carefully strategize its franchise potential

The filmmakers behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie covered as much material as they could over the course of its ninety-two-minute runtime, but they found clever ways to include specific details that would organically set up potential franchise material. The scene in which Luigi runs away from the dry bones suggests he’ll receive a Luigi’s Mansion movie at some point. With the sheer number of content The Legend of Zelda Movie could cover, the wise thing to do is tell a story that has broad appeal to longtime supporters and newcomers while strategically referencing future games, events, or items by tying them to the first movie’s story.

3 Ganon As A Competent Villain

Bowser was an excellent villain who was also complex

Thanks to the brilliant performance of Jack Black, Bowser evolved from a standard big bad with no greater aspirations beyond kidnapping Princess Peach to one of the most complex villains by animated children’s movie standards, thus resulting in some of Bowser’s best moments in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Ganon is arguably one of the most recognizable villains in gaming history because of his appearance, powers and abilities, and long-standing rivalry with Link. While Ganon is another character who isn’t apt for words, the proper voice actor and characterization of Ganon as a threat to Link are crucial to The Legend of Zelda Movie‘s success.

2 Make Zelda More Than A Damsel In Distress

Zelda should have more agency similar to Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The Super Mario Bros. Movie excelled in making Princess Peach a competent and compelling character despite the fact she’s typically portrayed as a damsel in distress. With Any Taylor-Joy’s performance, Princess Peach was convincingly depicted as an intelligent leader, capable warrior, and compassionate friend to those in need. The Legend of Zelda franchise’s Princess Zelda is historically portrayed as a damsel in distress similar to Princess Peach, with instances of her having her own agency sprinkled in. The Legend of Zelda Movie will need to make Zelda an equally competent character with desires and flaws to avoid making one of its biggest mistakes.

1 Don’t Reinvent Classic Video Game Characters

The Super Mario Bros. Movie remained faithful to the source material

Arguably the strongest reason behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s success was its faithful interpretation of its central characters. Mario was heroic, Luigi was cowardly, Bowser was intimidating, and Princess Peach was caring. Even with full-blown dialogue, Universal Pictures didn’t make unnecessary changes to the things that make the iconic characters so beloved. While The Legend of Zelda Movie can benefit from reinterpreting its mostly mute and austere cast, The Legend of Zelda Movie would still need to retain Link’s sense of bravery and duty, Zelda’s sense of loyalty, and Ganon’s ruthlessness to avoid isolating and confusing both older and newer audiences.