When IGN shared the fan-made short The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time x Studio Ghibli last year, it immediately captured the imagination of gamers and Zelda fans alike. Over 18 minutes, creator Rwan Link turned Hyrule into a world that feels lifted from a Studio Ghibli film — a deliberate move — while staying true to the classic Nintendo world.
“Imagine the world of [The Legend of] Zelda: Ocarina of Time and the visuals of Studio Ghibli together,” he says in the video. “I will show you four different environments I created in Unreal Engine 5”. The dedication is remarkable—he put over 600 hours into the project in just four months, all while maintaining a full-time job. Watch the video below:
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The visuals speak for themselves. Lush forests, sprawling castles, and mystical landscapes move with the kind of beauty that Studio Ghibli is famous for.
The video quickly amassed 1.8 million views and comments highlight how much fans would prefer this take over the upcoming official live-action approach:
“This is literally what Nintendo should have done with the movie,” one wrote, while another called it “the most impressive fan project I’ve ever seen.”
Some are already imagining a game in the same style: “This is unreal… I’d give anything to have this game wise! This is the perfect art style for OOT [Ocarina of Time]!” Others voiced skepticism about the upcoming adaptation, signaling that fan expectations are high.
However, Nintendo is moving forward with its live-action version of The Legend of Zelda. Shigeru Miyamoto recently confirmed the leads: Bo Bragason will play Princess Zelda, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth has been cast as Link.
The movie is being directed by Wes Ball (Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) in partnership with Sony Pictures and is scheduled for a May 7, 2027 release.
While fans await the first teaser, there's already plenty of debate among fans: can a live-action movie ever capture the same charm as the video games? With the success of Nintendo's The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) proving that animated adaptations can hit big, some are wondering if they're taking a step in the wrong direction with Zelda.
What do you think of this animated Zelda fan-made film? Are you excited about the live-action adaptation? Share your thoughts below!
