Link (The Legend of Zelda)

Link
The Legend of Zelda character
Various incarnations of Link, as seen in Hyrule Historia
First game	The Legend of Zelda (1986)
Created by	Shigeru Miyamoto
Voiced by (English)	Jeffrey Rath (CD-i games) Jonathan Potts (cartoon)
Voiced by (Japanese)	Child Fujiko Takimoto (Ocarina of Time - Majoras Mask, Super Smash Bros. Melee, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Hyrule Warriors The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes) Sachi Matsumoto (Wind Waker - The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes) Yūki Kodaira (Spirit Tracks The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes) Mitsuki Saiga (A Link Between Worlds) Adult Hikaru Midorikawa (Zelda no Densetsu Sound & Drama) Nobuyuki Hiyama (Ocarina of Time - Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee, Soulcalibur II) Akira Sasanuma (Twilight Princess - Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U) Takashi Ōhara (Skyward Sword - Mario Kart 8) Yūki Kaji (Hyrule Warriors)
Motion capture	Nobuyuki Hiyama

Link (Japanese: リンク, Hepburn: Rinku^?) is the protagonist of Nintendo's video game series The Legend of Zelda. The character appears in several incarnations over the course of the games, and also features in other Nintendo media, including its merchandising, comic books, and a cartoon series. He is one of Nintendo's main icons as well as one of the most well-known and popular characters in video game history.

Through The Legend of Zelda series, Link is depicted as a child, teenager, or young adult of the Hylian race, originating from the fictional land of Hyrule. Link often travels through Hyrule, defeating creatures, evil forces, and the series' primary antagonist, Ganon, while attempting to save Princess Zelda and Hyrule. To defeat Ganon, Link usually requires the mystic Master Sword and Light Arrows, or a similar legendary weapon, obtained after many trials and battles. In the course of his journey he will typically acquire various other magical objects or items, including musical instruments and weaponry.

Link has also made several cameo appearances in a few Mario games. He is a playable character via DLC in the newest installment to the Mario Kart series of games, Mario Kart 8. (He is available without a download in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.) He is also a playable character in the Super Smash Bros. series, being one of the eight original starting characters.

Link has almost no spoken dialogue in the game series, except for his grunts, gasps and shouts (not including the CD-i games). Prominent facial expression has only been visible since the series appeared on the Nintendo 64. Link's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto has said in interviews that his conceptualization of The Legend of Zelda, and of Link, was based on his childhood memories of books, movies, stories and personal experiences. He tried to make people identify with Link and have the opportunity to be heroes like the character. Although at the end of some games, Link becomes vastly talented in physical and magical arts, he usually starts off the game as a regular boy. On the origin of the name "Link", Miyamoto had this to say: "Link's name comes from the fact that originally, the fragments of the Triforce were supposed to be electronic chips. The game was to be set in both the past and the future and as the main character would travel between both and be the link between them, they called him Link."