The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

The Skull Kid’s character arc ties into the game’s central themes of grief and loneliness, as his actions in the game are his way of mourning his departed friends. Although his character is largely developed through the game’s main narrative, key pieces of his backstory are only accessible through sidequests. Only with that backstory does the motivation behind his actions make sense in full, as it reveals the full extent of the loss he suffered when left behind through his friends. The way Skull Kid grieves the departure of his friends also draws an interesting parallel to Link, as both of them suffered similar losses yet react to them very differently. It’s that difference that makes them a strong protagonist/antagonist pair.

The Skull Kid’s backstory recontextualizes his actions throughout the game’s main narrative. The primary source of this backstory is the tale told by Anju’s Grandmother in the Stock Pot Inn, which Link is only able to hear in its entirety by wearing an expensive mask that keeps him awake. According to Anju’s Grandmother, Termina was once guarded by four giants, and they lived together with the people of the land. When the day came that the giants decided to depart for the four corners of the world, they left behind their friend: a small, woodland imp. Feeling abandoned, the imp took out his anger on the people who remained with cruel tricks and pranks, but his schemes came to an end when the giants returned and cast him out of the land.

While there’s no direct verification of the old woman’s story anywhere in the game, it does match the main narrative’s events. Although the ‘imp’ is still present in the land, there are indeed four giants in the four corners of the world, and they come to Clock Town when called to stop a catastrophe. They recognize the Skull Kid as well, going so far as to call him ‘friend’ when they ask Tatl and Link to help him. When they return to Clock Town, the Skull Kid acknowledges them as his old companions, but he’s incredulous that they still remember him. Though they don’t respond with words, their presence is answer enough. Not only did they remember him, but they sought to protect him, as well.

With the Skull Kid’s backstory laid out, his actions do a solid job of emphasizing the game’s themes of grief and loss. Skull Kid, mourning the loss of his friends, was able to be controlled by the dark power of Majora’s Mask and used it to wreak havoc on the world he felt had wronged him. The depth of his anger is so great that he calls down the moon itself in vengeance, threatening every single person in Termina. Link’s countless loops through time prove that had it not been for the giants, the Skull Kid would have succeeded in his plans. For him, the antidote to his grief was nothing less than the return of his lost friends. This provides a stark contrast to Link, who takes a proactive approach in searching for his missing friend. Link can also put his search aside to help others, whereas the Skull Kid will go out of his way to hurt others as an outlet for his own pain. In the end, Link’s virtues are what throw the Skull Kid’s failings into the starkest relief, as Link’s compassion proves that he can work through grief without hurting others.