The character design for the Ganondorf who appears in Tears
of the Kingdom is extremely interesting. This is just speculation,
but I don’t think he’s dressed like a villain.
The golden ornaments on Ganondorf’s topknot, chest, arms,
and ankles reference the common portrayal of Fudō Myōō, one of the most widely
venerated deities in Japanese Buddhism. Fudō was originally a minor Hindu deity
called Acalanātha, who is
an avatar of the wrath of Shiva, the god who destroys so that new life may
emerge.
Like Fudō, Ganondorf wears long hair bound into a topknot,
golden sandals, and loose pants gathered at the knee. These are sartorial traces
of Fudō’s South Asian origins, and they serve to connect Ganondorf to the
Gerudo of Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, whose designs are inspired by
various cultures along the ancient Silk Road.
Fudō was especially venerated by the warriors of Japan’s
medieval period, so perhaps it’s fitting that Ganondorf’s costume alludes
to the dress of medieval warlords. His robe, with its
embroidered hem, crimson lining, and golden sleeve weights, would have been
extremely expensive to create and would only be worn by a wealthy domain lord.
The matte black of Ganondorf’s outer robe is an indicator of
high rank, as is its colorful interior. Toward the end of the medieval period,
black robes were sewn with gorgeous inner linings in order to demonstrate wealth, power, and
prestige. To me, Ganondorf’s robe reads as something that would be worn
by Oda Nobunaga, one of Japan’s most notorious warlords.
What’s interesting about Ganondorf’s design is that he
doesn’t come off as a deity or a warlord. A god would have no need for such a
sumptuous robe, while a lord would not reveal his skin or wear sandals. I’m
strongly reminded of the sort of rōnin famously played by Toshiro Mifune
in The Seven Samurai, a skilled but aging warrior who retains his
dignity despite his debased circumstances.
Ganondorf’s lower torso is wrapped in a haramaki to
reinforce his core strength, and his right arm is bare so he can wield his
sword without impediment. These are both very human touches, as is the cloth
covering his shins and soles so that his skin doesn’t chafe. A more godlike
character would not need these concessions, and a more aristocratic character
would not bother with them.
In previous games, Ganondorf was covered from chin to toe
in ornate armor or belted robes, signifying a lack of openness and vulnerability.
Meanwhile, the Ganondorf of Tears of the Kingdom literally bares his chest as he reveals
a number of contradictions. He is ornamented yet barefoot, and his regal black
robe has been peeled back to showcase a bright lotus pattern.
Even despite his
stern frown and clenched fists, I don’t feel that Ganondorf is visually coded
as a villain… or, at least, he doesn’t seem completely inhuman.
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