Hi, I visited your excellent site about the Zelda series, "Legends of Zelda," and I found it to be a supreme source of information for any gamer even remotely interested in this great series. The storyline for all of the games is, even if it is slightly incomplete, superb, and the articles make fascinating reading. I'm especially amazed at the amount of detail that has been lavished upon all of your insightful investigations. Anyway, besides commenting on your site, there's another -less crucial- matter that I would wish to discuss about the Zelda series: "Majora's Mask". Having just played through this marvelous game, and seeing the latest posts on the message board, I feel I had to say something about a few theories of mine. I know, I know, you said that if I had a new theory, I should post it on the board. However, I think that this e-mail is a bit too broad to put in any specific topic. Anyway, I believe, although you may scoff at this, that "Majora's Mask" is perhaps, with all the slightly surreal nature of the game, the game that provides us best with a very psychological insight into Link's adventures. Notice all of the small touches: the final six hours of the final day and the eerie underglow that pervades all of Termina, or the quick cuts -like when the Mask Seller is talking to you- and motion blur used in the many cinemas -for example, when you heal the spirits of the Transformation Masks (Goron, Zora, Deku). The end battle (including the trip to the Moon) is especially worthy of mention: it shows Link's insecurities about his role as the Legendary Hero, in the form of the questions asked by the eerie Mask-Seller-alike kids. Notice how everything that they say implies something about his assumed role: What it means to be happy, the notion of friends, "the right thing," your true face. In fact, it makes you think: how much of this is in Link's mind? I'll quote straight from the booklet story to ask a few things: "In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend. A legend held dearly by the Royal Family that tells of a boy... "A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, crept away from that land that had made him a legend... "Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A secret and personal journey... "A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend... "A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic destiny and took his place among legends..." You might think it's obvious, but just who is this "friend," presumably of Link's? The Skull Kid? And what is this mysterious "secret and personal journey" Link took? Is it referring to "Majora's Mask," or was it the one he was in the process of doing before the Skull Kid stole Epona and the Ocarina? Shigeru Miyamoto mentioned in a recent interview about "Majora's Mask" that, "If you believe that the elegance of the Japanese animation and Manga, I believe that it shows how each artist influenced the way the game ["Majora's Mask"] looks." With this in mind, could it be possible that "Majora's Mask" be sort of a tribute to, among others, the anime series "Neon Genesis Evangelion"? Through all of the game, I noticed a few details that alerted me to the overall feel of the game, most noticeably the Song of Soaring animation. But it's the ending that truly clinches it. It's very, very similar to "Evangelion"'s last two chapters -about the "Third Impact." The way that the children ask you complex philosophical questions, the intimidating knowledge of the upcoming end of existence, and the troubles of Majora's Mask... it's too much of a coincidence. On another note, I recently read your newest article, "What is Canon?" and I was very impressed, as always: you managed to convey the meaning of your article in a well-developed clear, and informational fashion. However, I have a small reservation about it -yes, it's about Shigeru Miyamoto. Let me start the discussion off with a quote from the article itself: "If you're trying to figure out how the Zelda storyline works, the only sources you can ever trust are the games and their instruction manuals. Anything else was written or said by someone who was not personally involved in Hylian history, so reject it." While I can plainly see why people like Dan Owsen, the game guides, comics, etc. are not canon, why not Miyamoto? "Dr. Miyamoto" (as fans over in Japan call him), as the director of the Legend of Zelda and Ocarina of Time and a close producer in all the games, has been in charge of the entire Zelda series since its inception, especially in terms of the storyline. In fact, why should we believe the manuals themselves, if they were, presumably, also written by people not "directly involved in Hylian history"? And the games themselves might also get themselves out of canon status. For example, I've already said that "Majora's Mask" might be the most "subjective" Zelda game yet. You probably don't believe me, but take the event when Link goes to the moon. You have stated that this most probably goes on in Link's mind, and you are very probably correct, but who's to say what really happened? The point I'm trying to make is, as Shigeru Miyamoto encourages you to do, that only you yourself can face the reality that is presented to you and accept what you consider is "the truth." So take the manuals and the games to be canon, but do not just reject real people's comments, like those of Shigeru Miyamoto or Takashi Tezuka; instead, take their comments and think about what they say. Choose which ones might prove "canon-worthy," just like with the games, and put them into your theories -as people directly involved with the creation of the games, they are probably some of the best to judge what is that makes up "The Legend of Zelda" series. Sorry for rambling, but I just had to get that off my chest. On a similar note, I also saw the storyline on http://www.zelda.com, and I was intrigued. I don't exactly agree with it, but it is thought-provoking. Putting "LA" right into "AoL" was an interesting move... But why do they feel they must keep Link alive for the whole series? Are they afraid of his death? I like the fact better that it's different Links in the series, especially with "ALttP." And the order also goes against Miyamoto's own, which surprised me. One other thing: have you tried finishing "Majora's Mask" for a second time? There are some interesting changes... Thank you very much for your attention, (and sorry for the long e-mail) David Aranda Teixeira e-mail: arada392@mac.com arada392@student.otago.ac.nz ICQ#: 91883065 AIM : arada392