If you deem yourself the ultimate Zelda fan, no matter the quality of the product, then you should probably count The Legend of Zelda's '80s cartoon among your collection. Wait, you don't own it? Well, fortunately, DIC Entertainment's 13-episode run is getting a DVD rerelease later this year.
Pre-orders for The Legend of Zelda - The Complete Series went live on Amazon over the weekend (via @VideoArtGame) — we're honestly not sure how we missed it — and the rerelease will be out on 22nd October 2024. Should give you plenty of time to finish Echoes of Wisdom then, right?
If you've never heard of the Zelda cartoon before, the show aired between September and December of 1989 and is based on the two NES titles, The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Each episode is 15 minutes long and follows Zelda and Link as they attempt to stop Ganon and his minions from obtaining the Triforce of Wisdom.
It was shown as part of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'s run; where Mario got four days of the week, Zelda would round out the working week, airing on a Friday.
The Legend of Zelda's cartoon is... certainly unique (just watch the video compilation above) but the animation is pretty cool for the time. Amusingly, Link doesn't attack enemies directly with his sword, instead using a sort of sword-beam to hit foes. And the cartoon even goes out of its way to explain why Link can fit so many items in his pockets.
The show was cancelled after 13 episodes as it was deemed unsuccessful, but hey, it lives on here, and you can nab a copy of all 13 episodes on Amazon.
Last year, The Legend of Zelda's writers Bob and Eve Forward revealed that they drafted family members in to help pitch and write episodes. But the future of Zelda on the screen looks a lot brighter now, as we're getting a Legend of Zelda movie at some point in the future.
Will you be getting The Legend of Zelda - The Complete Series? Let us know in the comments.
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[source amazon.com, via x.com]
Comments 70
Hey Excuuuuuse me princess!
I can think of worse ways to spend $15.
Wow, history is something. How cartoons were then vs now. If you were born in the late 70's to 80's, then you are lucky to see just how much of your favorite franchises have evolved through the decades.
no thanks not watching cheesy 1980's cartoons..
@KayFiOS not sure i can
"Well excuse meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee princess!"
I'm all for this. The price is reasonable so I'm picking it up.
I remember watching this on Channel 4. I won’t be buying a copy myself. There is slight appeal as a Zelda rarity, like how some collectors may appreciate owning the 3DO game.
The Amazon link leads to a Zelda Fandom Wiki article from my end.
I'm a little confused, because I already DO own the DVD box set for Zelda. In fact, I specifically remember getting it at a Virgin Records Megastore going out of business sale, if THAT tells you anything about how long ago this was.
Is this a remastered version, mayhaps?
Nice. I don't think I will pick this up since I don't have any attachment to the Zelda cartoon, but now I do and will watch that Youtube video of the "Excuse me princess!" line across all the episodes.
There's a reason why the Super Mario Bros Super Show has influenced the main Mario universe, but this show is a black elephant on the Zelda series (I would argue the Zelda CD-i games had more influence than this show.) Though I would eat my words if there is a scene in the Zelda movie where Link says "Well EXCUUUUSE Me, Princess."
Certainly didn't see this coming and honestly I'm kind of tempted to get it (not sure if I'll actually do it as most likely I'd have to import it, but still) to actually watch this infamous series at last instead of just the "excuuuuuse me princess" parts and random clips of it!
@gb_nes_gamer 3DO? I think you meant the CD-I.
My primary response is kind of just, "Wait, that random fairy character was Rarity?"
Your Amazon link in the article just links to Fandom?
Anyway, did you know the Zelda cartoon actually invented bomb-shield jumping way before it was possible in any of the later games?
@RupeeClock By incorporating this move, I think we could say Nintendo has acknowledged the cartoon is canon!
Disappointing that there isn't a Blu-ray as this would have been hand-drawn/coloured and shot on film.
Excuuuuse me for asking, but why not give it a blu-ray release as well?
The better "well excuuuuuuuuse me princess" has arrived.
In the 1980s we had the Nintendo Cinematic Universe of Captain N. And it was glorious.
The Super Mario Bros Super Show along with Zelda and Captain N were such a big part of my childhood. I even got to meet Mario himself, Captain Lou Albano.
I was more a fan of the Mario side of the cartoon, personally. I sure would love to see a blu ray release that has the rights to the licensed music back in place.
Hmm, never actually seen the show before as I was watching PBS, sesame street, and winnie the pooh at the time... but I may pick it up. 80's cartoons don't really hit me right (but I'll watch 60's cartoons because those were in syndication when I was little lol) as I did most of my cartoon watching in the 90's but could be a fun romp.
@NatiaAdamo One thousand percent it will be in the movie.
It has to be.
Wake me up when they do Donkey Kong Country.
@dudujencarelli yes, I did indeed.
I've had this garbage DVD for a loooong time. Didn't realize it was such a rarity!
"Well paardooon meeee, Your Highness!!"
Did I get it?
I like the cartoon and have the Shout Factory set which is probably the best version, but it's OOP.
Being old enough to remember seeing this on TV, I appreciate it for the nostalgia. “Excuse me princess” was meme on the schoolyard well before YouTube ever existed LOL
That one where she pushes him down the watwrfall, tho. 💀
Ha! I used to watch this, didnt think much of this and Mario cartoon but certainly watched them anyway. The intro song to Mario still pops into my head now, as does the Super Mario Land single that came out and I find myself singing one or the other at the mention of Mario. I'm a little tempted with DVDs but honestly dont think I could sit through them anymore
Is it weird for me to admit I didn’t even know they made DVDs anymore?
@rio_j : As a physical media enthusiast, I wish DVDs had gone away at least 10 years ago as we're still getting DVD-only releases of stuff that was shot in HD, 4K or even resolutions beyond that.
Even older SD material could benefit from Blu-rays by using far fewer discs. It's insane to me that we're still seeing 100+ disc DVD boxsets when they could fit that all onto just a fraction of Blu-rays. Saves on physical space, materials, authoring costs, would be far cheaper to manufacture, and would make it a lot easier to remember what disc/episode you're up to.
Oh man.. my childhood 😂
After this, ganon put a spel on links mouth. He never spoke a word again 😂
I already own Zelda, all Mario and Captain N on dvd. They came out in the noughties on Region 1 dvd.
...I already have a DVD of this. I don't really keep track of different DVD releases, so I'm not sure what this new announcement really means.
I even watched it a year or so ago. I felt like I owed it to myself as a Zelda fan to actually see this cartoon.
...It was bad.
I did kind of like Spryte the fairy though.
Order placed, never owned this before
I would watch this just for laughs but definitely not pay for it 😂
I remember some of the music from this being very good
That video is easily the most irritating thing I've watched all year. Absolutely no way I'm watching this rubbish. Some things are better left in the past... not to mention the 80s was blessed with dozens of amazing cartoons that wipe the floor with this!
The Legend of Beavis dub on YouTube is a laugh riot if you’re curious.
As for this dvd release? You can bet your last rupee I’ll be buying a copy!
DVD? They still make those? I have not bought a DVD or blue ray in almost two decades.
Guessing this is US only? Can’t find anything on UK Amazon and the link in the article just takes you to a fandom page.
Ripped this to my server ages ago from my local library's copy. Definitely worth a watch for the camp. That one line has nothing on how hilarious the action and fight scenes are. And that's the hottest depiction of Zelda by far get out of here with the Botw derriere.
Just came here to make sure there are at least 10 posts that are some variation of “Well, excuuuuuuse meeee, Princess.” Good job, interwebs. Carry on.
@ThatZeldaNerd well exuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuze
me, PRINCESS!
"...a sort of sword-beam...."
You HAVE played a Zelda game before, right?
This cartoon is pretty rough though, and I remember it from being a kid. I was certainly excited to be surprised on Friday wtih a Zelda segment! I always did like the character designs, like Zelda's riding outfit type design.
Lol, “a sort of sword-beam”.
This show is so campy and fun! Makes me want to bust out my DVD copy. I remember I got it from an old point redemption program online, maybe it was GameStop Rewards?
I actually have this on DVD already, the version released by Shout! Factory. It comes in three discs instead of one. I remember seeing it advertised in an issue of Nintendo Power and asked my parents to get it for me for Christmas one year.
But it's not just the cartoon: it has several bonus features, like a downloadable art gallery, a Legend of Zelda trivia quiz, an interactive Legend of Zelda match game, and even select live-action segments from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
From the looks of it, this new DVD release is just the episodes, nothing else. If you guys want the definitive version of this series, I recommend you track down a copy of the Shout! Factory version.
This was good just for a pro-active, action-oriented Princess Zelda who wasn't afraid to get involved and jump into the action. Actually my favorite Zelda until the Tears of the Kingdom incarnation. Sure, she still got captured on occasion, as was the plight of boy-focused 80s cartoon shows, but this was still way better than a lot of what we'd gotten at the time.
@SillyG it’s pretty simple. DVDs still outsell Blu-Rays. Other than enthusiasts most people don’t have a Blu-Ray player, as digital/streaming took over, or THINK they don’t have one (not realising consoles might double up as one)
I got.the first release a few years ago at Best Buy, still watch it to this day.
@BrianJL Yeah I was going to comment the same. “Tell me you have never played the OG Zelda without telling me you’ve never played the OG Zelda”.
I don’t know if this is for me, but regardless, HUGE win for preservation right here!
We Excuse Me Princess.
@N00BiSH
Do you mean do a series? They did in the 90s.
@GameOtaku yeah that's what I meant.
A big fan of Blu ray but I would rather have a DVD copy than digital streaming. Digital media is like throwing your money out the window. You own nothing.
You can save yourself some cash and watch the whole 1 season series on Tubi. You're welcome.
Unironically my favorite versions of Link and Zelda. I am not joking. I grew up on this silly show and it is mad underrated.
Will it feature the beavis & butthead dub?
To be fair, this is a reprint of an earlier edition. It seems obvious that if Discotek Media were to release the Super Mario Bros Super Show on Blu-Ray, it would just have the Mario cartoons, their accompanying segments, and only the Friday segments, minus the Legend of Zelda cartoons. It seems obvious that there are some things even they can't get the rights to. I'll stick to my Shout Factory set, thanks.
Captain N, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show and this were my favourite cartoon shows as a kid! Even though I don't have a DVD player, I might be tempted to get this, lol...
It would be cool for this kind of thing to come to the NSO.
DVD? Whoooooo
Blu-ray would be better but hey, stick it on a streaming service.
This is why Link doesn't talk.
About what I paid for first run DVD set of the Zelda cartoon. Not a bad price at all.
I enjoyed the old Super Mario Super Show but always despised the Zelda cartoon, even back in the day. However, as someone who thoroughly enjoyed Metroid: Other M despite the supposed character assassination that Samus went through in that game, I guess I can understand how someone could enjoy this despite the genuine character assassination that Link went through here.
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