Remakes give developers a chance to revisit familiar characters and rethink how they should look with modern hardware. Sometimes, the changes are subtle enough that longtime fans might not notice them immediately, while other redesigns completely change the impression a character makes. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has given fans a look at many of the new character models, and while some are shocking, most are pretty accurate. One change is more of a “glow-up” than others, however.
The challenge with updating a highly-reviewed classic game like Zelda: Ocarina of Time is preserving the personality and visual identity that made its characters memorable in the first place. Ganondorf is a good example of how a familiar Zelda character can receive a dramatic visual upgrade, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom giving the fanbase “rehydrated Ganondorf” to run away with. One redesign in the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake takes a similar approach, although sans hydration.
The Wise Owl Receives a “Glow-Up” in The Zelda: OoT Remake
Kaepora Gaebora, the wise owl who guides Young Link throughout The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, has received a particularly noticeable redesign for the remake. The original Nintendo 64 version gave the character a relatively simple appearance, with a compact body, a prominent beak, and distinctive facial markings. Most importantly, its defining feature was its massive eyebrows. The new design is considerably more elaborate, featuring different proportions, more detailed plumage, and a softer expression that changes the impression the owl makes dramatically.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
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The redesign stands out because the owl is not exactly the character most players would expect to receive a dramatic visual makeover. In the original Zelda: Ocarina of Time game, the owl serves as a guide who offers Link advice and occasionally helps him travel across Hyrule. His long explanations and habit of asking whether Link wants to hear his advice again have also made him a memorable source of frustration for players over the years. The remake’s updated appearance gives him a noticeably different personality at first glance, even though it remains to be seen whether Nintendo has changed his dialogue or behavior alongside his design.
Ganondorf’s redesign in Tears of the Kingdom demonstrated how dramatically Nintendo could reinterpret an established character while retaining the features that make him recognizable. The owl’s new look takes a different approach in the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, but the underlying idea is similar: familiar characters can benefit from more detailed models, revised proportions, and a stronger visual identity. Whether players prefer the original owl or the remake’s more elaborate version will ultimately come down to personal taste.
The Ocarina of Time remake’s Kaepora Gaebora redesign is a relatively small detail in a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive game filled with recognizable characters, but it has become an unexpected talking point because of just how different the owl looks. Nintendo has yet to establish whether the visual changes are all that will change for the wise owl.
- Released
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November 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
