Mage’s Nest

The Downfall Timeline

Zora have been a part of The Legend of Zelda series since the release of the original game in 1986. Due to the technological limitations of the time, their appearance in early titles was ambiguous. However, the game's official instruction booklet describes them as "half-fish, half-woman," providing one possible insight into their intended design. [Citation]

Thankfully, clearer understanding of their appearance can be gained by examining later games within the Downfall Timeline where the Zora are depicted in greater detail while retaining many of the characteristics established in the series' earliest depictions. 

One notable example is Queen Oren, the Zora Queen who appears in A Link Between Worlds. Oren is a distinctly full-figured character who features a prominent chest further emphasized by her shell-like bra. While her appearance is somewhat unique among the Zora seen in the Downfall Timeline, there is no indication within the game's canon that she is an exception to the species' biology.

Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask

The version of the Zora species most fans are familiar with today was introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) and later expanded upon in its direct sequel, Majora's Mask (2000). These games established many of the visual and cultural traits that would come to define the Zora for years to come.

While the majority of named Zora characters featured in both titles are male, players are also introduced to two prominent female Zora characters: Princess Ruto, the heir to Zora's Domain in Ocarina of Time, and Lulu, the celebrated singer of the Indigo-Go's in Majora's Mask.

Notably, both characters are depicted with traditionally feminine body shapes, including prominent breasts. This is evident not only in their in-game models but also in official renders.

Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess was the best-selling game in the franchise until Breath of the Wild dethroned it in 2017. The game was widely praised for its striking visuals, compelling storyline, and more mature tone. But although it possesses many strengths, one stands far above the rest in this writer's admittedly biased opinion: Queen Rutella. 

Despite her limited screen time, Rutela leaves a lasting impression. Her design is graceful and regal, while her role in the story is imbued with a quiet tragedy that makes her one of the series' most memorable supporting characters. (At least in my opinion 😊🩷)

More importantly for the purposes of this discussion, Rutela's design continues a visual tradition that had already been established by earlier female Zora.

Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom

The two most recent mainline entries in the franchise, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, are landmark titles whose influence can be seen throughout the gaming industry. Breath of the Wild in particular was celebrated for reinventing the traditional Zelda formula, embracing a level of player freedom and open-ended exploration not seen in the series since the original game.

Among its many innovations was a vast open world populated by a diverse cast of NPCs. This represented a particularly significant change for the Zora in particular, as in previous titles, most Zora NPCs shared a model. By contrast, Breath of the Wild introduced Zora with different body types, color palettes, silhouettes, ect- allowing players to recognize them as individuals and giving us a clear look at what constitutes the species' visual baseline.

And do you know what's included in that baseline?

That's right: boobs. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Female Zora throughout Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are routinely depicted with visible breasts of varying sizes. They are no longer reserved to important story characters. Once Nintendo finally moved beyond recycling a handful of generic models and began depicting the Zora as a diverse population, breasts became a standard feature of female Zora design.

And of course that's just npcs. Zora girls with more significant roles in the story (Mipha, Yona, Qia) share the same traits.

In Conclusion.