Fan-Made Rig Re-Imagines Sheik in Overwatch
Posted on June 14 2020 by Alexis S. Anderson
Overwatch took the gaming world by storm after its release in 2016 and has since become a mainstay of the esports industry. It’s no surprise then that some Zelda fans took liking to it, and one dedicated bunch decided to merge their two loves in a 2019 trailer showing off their 3D model of an Overwatch-styled Link. Well, 2020 has brought us yet another Zelda character re-imagined in the Overwatch universe: Sheik! The model was a collaboration between talented artists Shayleen Hulbert, Jack Hammer, and Square Enix’s Perry Leijten.
Hulbert — the character artist for the re-imagining — describes this Sheik as “a fearless non-binary hero, a lone wolf raised and trained by their guardian Impa in their small seclusive encampment.” The backstory continues:
“A surprise attack by Talon, looking for new ways to advance their own weapons, leaves the Sheikah hideout in ruins. With their sharp skills in Sheikah magic and the combative arts, Sheik works alone, abandoning their true identity to regain peace for their people and take back their sacred artifacts.”
Hammer provided Sheik’s concept art, and Leijten built the character rig. As pictured in the gallery below, Sheik is seen using dual-wielded daggers as well as a revamped version of their signature harp. The model is compatible with Maya 2017 through Maya 2020 and available to download for use in personal animation practice and show reel display.
What do you think of this re-imagining of Sheik? Would you like to see Zelda characters added to Overwatch on the Switch? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Twitter
Alexis S. Anderson is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon who joined the writing team in November, 2014. She has a JD from the UCLA School of Law and is pursuing a career in Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law. She grew up in the New Jersey suburbs with her parents, twin brother, and family shih-tzu.
