Toon Link

Toon Link is the incarnation of Link from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. In The Wind Waker, this version of Link goes on a quest to rescue his kidnapped sister, Aryll, and later becomes known as the "Hero of Winds" for his courageous efforts against the returning Ganondorf. In Phantom Hourglass, Toon Link is transported to a parallel world, where he seeks to rescue his friend Tetra from the curse inflicted upon her by the squid-like monster Bellum and return home with her.

While the art style associated with the "Toon" term was technically established during the development cycle of The Wind Waker and was depicted in 2D artwork alongside The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, the first usage of the term itself occurred in Super Smash Bros. Brawl to denote the Hero of Winds from The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass. However, the "Toon" term itself can nevertheless be used to describe the same art style, as Hyrule Warriors demonstrated in regard to the Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

Toon Link appears as a playable fighter in the Super Smash Bros. series starting with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and is treated as a separate character from Link and Young Link.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Link was originally supposed to cameo in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga as one of the many Nintendo characters (all of whom were replaced by Professor E. Gadd in the final) who would appear at the Starbeans Cafe to test out Mario and Luigi's latest Bean Juice. His sprite seems to have been modeled after the incarnation of Link as he appears in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Meeting Link would award the player the Triforce, which was replaced with the Great Force for the final version.

WarioWare: Smooth Moves
In WarioWare: Smooth Moves, there is a microgame called The Wind Waker which involves Link using his Deku Leaf to land on an island. This game uses the form "The Mohawk".

WarioWare Gold
The microgame The Wind Waker returns with Toon Link in WarioWare Gold, alongside a new microgame called Phantom Hourglass, in which the player must draw a path for Toon Link's Boomerang to hit Shock Switches.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl


In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Toon Link is a secret playable character. He can be unlocked by either finding a door in The Forest in The Subspace Emissary after beating the mode, playing Classic after clearing The Subspace Emissary, or by playing 400 Brawl matches, then defeating him in battle. His attributes and moveset are mostly similar to Young Link from Super Smash Bros. Melee, in that he is lighter than Link, but also faster than him. Toon Link's only unique attacks are his up smash, forward and back throws, and standard, forward, and back aerials.

Toon Link's special moves are mostly the same as Link's, though Toon Link's attacks use their The Wind Waker variants. The only different move is the Boomerang, which is the same as Link's Boomerang in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Toon Link's grab also uses the Hookshot from The Wind Waker, which like Link's Clawshot also has a ledge-homing property, though its range is not as far. They also share a Final Smash, Triforce Slash. Despite this, some of their other moves are different, and some of their shared moves have different properties, such as Toon Link's Hero's Bow having an arc to the arrows.

Toon Link's red, blue, and purple alternate costumes are based upon the copies of the Link from The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. He also has an alternate costume based upon the Link from the original The Legend of Zelda, as well as a Dark Link costume.

The Subspace Emissary
After beating The Subspace Emissary, in The Forest stage, if the player enters the first red door in the beginning of the level, they will be taken to the Pirate Ship. There, Toon Link will be looking out to the sea. However, once he sees the player, he's surprised. Thinking the player is an enemy, he attacks the player. The player then fights Toon Link, and if he is beaten, Toon Link is unlocked as a playable character.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U


Toon Link returns as a starter playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. His moveset remains unchanged from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, though with the game's new art style his design has been updated to more closely resemble his actual appearance in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Toon Link is faster than before, but in exchange, his damage output is lower.

One of Toon Link's additional alternate costumes in this game is based upon the appearance of the Link from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Additionally, the Toon Link from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (also known as "Engineer Link") appears as a background character, complete with his Engineer's Clothes to further differentiate him. Engineer Link appears on the Spirit Train stage in the Nintendo 3DS version, where he conducts the titular train. However, he is replaced by his mentor Alfonzo if Toon Link or Link are involved in the battle.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Toon Link returns as an unlockable playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He is now further differentiated from Link than in previous games, due to the latter now being the "Hero of the Wild" from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, Toon Link now shares more similarities with the returning Young Link. Toon Link's moveset is largely unchanged, though his forward smash is now a single upward slash instead of two slashes with his Master Sword.

Toon Link benefits from universal changes, such as having much faster mobility, lower landing lag for his aerials, reduced short hop timing, an extended recovery because of the reintroduction of directional air dodges, and the ability to use any ground attack out of a dash and use his aerials on ladders. However, his overall damage output is decreased even further.

Engineer Link also reappears as a background character on the Spirit Train stage. In comparison to the previous installment, he appears virtually identical to the playable Toon Link (save for his Engineer's Clothes), instead of using a polygonal model similar to his appearance in Spirit Tracks. As with the other The Legend of Zelda characters, Toon Link's victory theme is now a different arrangement of the main theme of the series.

Classic Mode route
Throughout the route, the player is assisted by a red and blue Toon Link, in reference to The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. If the player is playing as one of those Toon Links, that respective Toon Link is replaced by the default green Toon Link.

Hero's Bow


The Hero's Bow is Toon Link's standard special move, shared with Link and based upon the recurring Bow item throughout The Legend of Zelda series. Toon Link's Bow is designed after the Hero's Bow from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. When used, Toon Link fires an arrow from the bow which damages any opponent it hits. The player can charge the attack to increase the distance the arrow travels and its damage output by holding down the special attack button. Unlike Link, Toon Link fires his arrows at a higher angle, although his arrows do not travel as far and do not deal as much damage.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the first custom variant for the Hero's Bow is the Fire Bow, Young Link's variant of the move in Super Smash Bros. Melee; Toon Link fires an arrow that does not travel as far but instead burns on the ground until it disappears, which can damage opponents. The second is Piercing Bow, which fires an arrow that travels straight and quickly and can travel through enemies, but is not as powerful and does not go as far.


 * Names in other languages

Boomerang


The Boomerang is Toon Link's side special move, whose design is based on that of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. When thrown, the Boomerang damages any opponents it hits and automatically returns to the player once it hits an opponent or wall. The player can hold the control stick to make it fly farther, and it can also be thrown diagonally. The Boomerang can also fly up or down while it is active by tilting the control stick just before throwing it. Like Young Link's Boomerang, Toon Link's Boomerang does not travel as far and is not as powerful as Link's Boomerang, although it has better control.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Boomerang's first custom variant is the Floating Boomerang, which makes the Boomerang move more slowly as it returns. The second is the High-Speed Boomerang, which throws a faster boomerang than normal that can pass through opponents, but it is weaker than normal and does not home in on Toon Link when returning. In addition, one of the custom special moves for Link's Gale Boomerang is called "Boomerang", which gives it a similar effect to this move.


 * Names in other languages

Spin Attack


The Spin Attack is Toon Link's up special move, shared with Link and Young Link. The move is based on the Spin Attack move recurring throughout The Legend of Zelda series. When used, Toon Link spins around rapidly with his sword to deal damage. When used in the air, the move also gives the character some vertical and horizontal distance. When used on the ground, the move can be charged by holding down the special attack button. Unlike Link's Spin Attack, both Young Link and Toon Link's versions of the move can draw in opponents and deal multiple hits (although Young Link's has less range).

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Spin Attack's first custom variant is the Sliding Spin Attack, which gives the move a longer charging time, but it deals more damage, as well as allowing Toon Link to move across the ground, and giving the move more horizontal distance in the air. It offers less vertical distance as a drawback, however. The second variant is the Flying Spin Attack, which causes the move to end with a vertical slash that sends both Toon Link and the opponent into the air, also increasing the move's vertical distance.


 * Names in other languages

Bomb


The Bomb is Toon Link's down special move, shared with Link and Young Link. It is based on the item recurring throughout The Legend of Zelda series, although Toon Link's in particular are based on the ones from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, even using the more cartoon-styled explosion. When used, Toon Link pulls out a Bomb that can then be thrown at other characters to do damage, exploding on impact. Like other explosives, the Bombs also deal damage to the holder; it can also be caught and thrown by opponents, or detonate in the player's hands. Compared with Link and Young Link's Bombs, Toon Link's Bombs have a larger blast radius. The player cannot use the move while holding another item, as the bombs count as an item.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the first of the Bomb's custom variants is the Time Bomb, which does not detonate on impact, deal as much damage, nor fly as far when thrown, but increases the explosion's knockback. The second variant is the Short-Fuse Bomb, which explodes more quickly but deals more damage, has a larger blast radius, and launches opponents up.


 * Names in other languages

Triforce Slash


Triforce Slash is Toon Link's Final Smash. When activated, Toon Link's Triforce on his hand glows and he fires a beam of light directly in front of him. If an opponent is in the line of fire, they are trapped between two Triforces as Toon Link rushes forward to deliver several sword blows. After fifteen slashes, Toon Link rushes through the trapped opponent, launching them. While the Triforces can only trap one opponent, other nearby opponents can take damage by coming into contact with the sword slashes or the Triforces themselves. If the beam of light does not reach an opponent, the attack fails.

Unlike Link's Triforce Slash, whose range is almost the length of Final Destination, Toon Link's is less than half of that. Toon Link's attacks and knockback are also weaker than Link's, though Toon Link's final blow has a greater reach. The design of Toon Link's Triforces are also more cartoon-styled than Link's.


 * Names in other languages

Super Mario Maker
Toon Link appears as two Mystery Mushroom costumes in Super Mario Maker: one based on his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and one (named Totem Link) based on the trio of protagonists in The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. The former costume can be unlocked by scanning the Toon Link Amiibo or randomly after completing the 100 Mario Challenge on Normal difficulty, while the latter costume is unlocked after completing the "Tri Force Heroes" Event Course.

Snake's codec

 * Snake: Mei Ling, who is this kid with the cat eyes...?
 * Mei Ling: Oh, they call him Toon Link. Doesn't he look familiar?
 * Snake: Yeah, he looks just like Link.
 * Mei Ling: But you know there've been several people who've gone by that name, right? They all have certain things in common--green clothes, a sword, a shield... But they all came from different lands and lived in different eras. And yet the spirit of the hero of the Triforce is timeless. It's an essence that transcends history.
 * Snake: I think I can relate to that.
 * Mei Ling: Huh? What do you mean?
 * Snake: There's been more than one "Snake," too, you know...

Trophies
Red indicates the Trophy or description is exclusive to the 3DS version. Blue indicates the Trophy or description is exclusive to the Wii U version.

Palutena's Guidance

 * Pit: This guy's eyes are the size of my head!
 * Palutena: He must be the famous Toon Link.
 * Pit: Where'd he get that name from anyway?
 * Palutena: It's probably because he looks like he jumped out of a cartoon.
 * Pit: Ah, I see how it is. Hmph.
 * Palutena: What's the matter, Pit?
 * Pit: It's just not fair, Lady Palutena! One Link is handsome, and the other is adorable! They're cherry-picking the best bits!
 * Palutena: Awww! Is poor Pit feeling a little insecure today?
 * Viridi: Snap out of it, Pit! You have a fight to focus on. Here's the deal: Toon Link is quick but lighter than regular Link.
 * Palutena: Don't get distracted by his weapons...or his intense cuteness! Just calm down and plan the best counterattack.

amiibo

 * With big eyes and an expressive face, this version of Link is how he appeared in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker game. Link lived peacefully on Outset Island until a bird captured his little sister, and he came to her rescue. His green clothes were worn on his 12th birthday and are the lucky outfit of the hero of legend.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Super Smash Blog bio

 * He's smaller and faster than Link. His bombs explode with a unique anime-style. For his Final Smash, he emits light from his left hand and any opponents hit by it are trapped in the Triforce, subject to a punishing gauntlet of attacks.

Trivia

 * In an interview, Shigeru Miyamoto described this version of Link as "Cat-eyed Link".
 * Solid Snake also describes Toon Link as having cat eyes during his codec conversation.