#skywardswordquote

PEOPLE:

Yuki Kaneko. NPC Designer on Skyward Sword.

QUOTE: Kaneko: For young Impa [in Skyward Sword] we referenced Impa and Sheik from Ocarina of Time. We also gave her an androgynous look, like a male role in an opera.

PEOPLE:

Hidemaro Fujibayashi, age 39. Director of Skyward Sword.

Satoru Iwata, age 51. President of Nintendo.

QUOTE: Fujibayashi: [With about two years left on Skyward Sword], we had to think about a number of things all at once … and the cinematic scene staff were beginning to join the team, so we were under pressure to make the hakogaki soon.

Iwata: The hakogaki is a rough synopsis of the essential points of the script.

Fujibayashi: Yes. Time was running out, so I told everyone that I didn't feel well and holed up at home one whole day to write it! [laughs]

Iwata: I can't condone such behavior, but you wanted to concentrate alone.

Fujibayashi: Yes. I locked myself in and from morning to evening did nothing but write the synopsis.

PEOPLE:

Takafumi Kiuchi. Enemy Designer for Skyward Sword.

QUOTE: Kiuchi: With the only instructions that it should be enormous and that “its vulnerability is on its head,” we were allowed to design the Imprisoned [in Skyward Sword] as we pleased. Its design looks more like a kaiju than a monster.

PEOPLE:

Ryūji Kobayashi. Player Design Lead in Skyward Sword.

Akiko Hirono. NPC Designer in Skyward Sword.

QUOTE: Hirono/Kobayashi*: [In Skyward Sword, Zelda] isn’t a princess, So the first thing we did was remove any sort of regal ornamentation from her head.

Afterward, her look was much too simple… We wanted her to look like a typical village girl, but we also wanted to establish her as a heroine at the same time, so this is what we decided upon. Her outfit is a pretty sky blue, and compared to previous iterations, we went with a dress that was more red than purple. We had a director who requested Goddess Zelda be dressed “simply, and in white.”

PEOPLE:

Hidemaro Fujibayashi, age 39. Director of Skyward Sword.

Eiji Aonuma, age 48. Producer of Skyward Sword.

QUOTE: Fujibayashi: There was one scene [in Skyward Sword] I wanted to do no matter what. It's toward the beginning. Zelda jumps down from Skyloft toward Link as he is flying on Loftwing, and Link panics and tries to catch her.

I wanted to portray Zelda's personality in this game all at once in that scene. She's bright and lively, emotional and impulsive. We made that cinematic scene, but when Aonuma-san saw it, he said, "It's so long… It's too long!" I thought, "Oh no! If it stays like this, he's gonna cut it!"

PEOPLE:

Akiko Hirono. NPC Designer for Skyward Sword.

QUOTE: Hirono: In the beginning it was decided that all residents of Skyloft [in Skyward Sword] would be modeled after birds. That’s where the idea to give Henya a rooster’s body came from.

PEOPLE:

Akiko Hirono. Character Designer for Skyward Sword.

Satoru Iwata, age 51. 4th President of Nintendo.

QUOTE: "Iwata: What were you given to begin working with [for Ghirahim’s design in Skyward Sword]?

Hirono: He is an opponent for sword battle, and a Demon Lord who has some sort of objective, and his personality was a little affected and vain.

Iwata: That was your assignment, and that's how he ended up?! [laughs]

PEOPLE:

Eiji Aonuma, age 46. Producer of Skyward Sword.