Toon Link

Toon Link is a character that originated in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, and has since appeared in The Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures, Phantom Hourglass, The Minish Cap, and Spirit Tracks. In the games, this version of Link is a legendary hero and swordsman who saves the Great Sea from Ganondorf after the flooding of Hyrule. Toon Link makes appearances in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U as a playable fighter, and a separate character from Link, with a similar moveset to him.

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 coffee creation. 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".

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 Emmisary after beating the mode, playing Classic after clearing The Subspace Emmisary, or by playing 400 Brawl matches, then defeating him in battle. His statistics and move set are based on Young Link from Super Smash Bros. Melee, most likely replacing him because Young Link comes from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is an older game than Wind Waker; he is lighter than Link, but also faster than him. Link and Toon Link are very similar characters in the game, having almost the same move set in and the same Final Smash.

Toon Link's special moves are mostly the same as Link's, though Toon Link's attacks use their 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 Wind Waker Hookshot, which like Link's Clawshot also has a ledge-homing property, though its range is not as far.

Toon Link's red, blue, and purple alternate costumes are based upon the copies of 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 / Wii U. His moveset remains unchanged from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

One of Toon Link's additional alternate costumes in this game is based upon Link's appearance in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

Another rendition of Toon Link, reflecting his appearance from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks also appears as a background character. This Toon Link appears on the Spirit Train stage, in the Nintendo 3DS version. He is replaced with Alfonzo if Toon Link or Link is involved in the battle.

Solid Snake codec conversation

 * 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 exclusive to the 3DS 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.

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.