Project: Clockwork Empire

"Clockwork Empire" by Dresden Codak cartoonist Aaron Diaz

[Previously: The Silmarillion Project]

Aaron Diaz easily makes the list of my top ten "internet famous" artists, not just because of his art style (which I love), but because of his fantastic taste in subject matter.  First, he pitched an animated version of The Silmarillion, now he's pitching a version of The Legend of Zelda in which Princess Zelda is the protagonist in practice, as well as name.  I would play the game, and I suspect plenty of others would as well.

"Inspired by Anita Sarkeesian’s Video Game Tropes vs Women, I wanted to pitch a Zelda game where Zelda herself was the hero, rescuing a Prince Link.

Clockwork Empire is set 2,000 years after Twilight Princess, and is not a reboot, but simply another iteration in the Zelda franchise. It just so happens that in this case, Zelda is the protagonist. I’m a very big Zelda fan, and worked hard to draw from key elements in the continuity and mythos.

This concept work is meant to show that Zelda as a game protagonist can be both compelling and true to the franchise, while bringing new and dynamic game elements that go farther than being a simple gender swap."  Read more >>