Happy Mask Salesman

I, too, have been wondering exactly who the salesman is. Appearing in both of the games for the N64, he obviously has to play a key role in Majora's Mask. As you pointed out, he has several arcane powers, which could hint that he's as much of a demon as Majora, but more or less a benign spirit searching for horrid objects to seal them away from the world. The fact that he doesn't have a duplicate in Termina is strange (then again, the skull kid doesn't either, but perhaps it's because spirits don't count). Honestly, he's a puzzling man, but he must have extreme powers to shift dimensions and transport evil objects without possession (case in point, Majora's Mask). Also as revealed, he's hiding his true nature...are there more worlds beyond Hyrule and Termina? I mean, Termina exists in another dimension, and he has the power to transcend dimensions...plus he calls himself a "traveling" mask salesman, so it could hint into a larger, more expansive universe for Zelda to fit into.

But that's just my opinion ;) If indeed what you say is true, we'll be seeing him again soon enough.

Well, first of all, the Japanese Manga is not considered canon. Its based on a fan's interpretation and has many additions not present in the actual games. For instance, the Manga actually attempts to give an explanation of how the Majora's Mask is formed when a worrier is able to kill a powerful beast and carve the mask out of its hide. In the game, there is no explanation given to the origins of the mask besides a tribe using it for hexing long ago.

Although I do not like the Majora's Mask Manga, it is however, intriguing to see one's point of view on Majora's Mask. Another mysterious scene with the Happy Mask Salesman is after Fierce Deity Link defeats Majora. After which the Happy Mask Salesman shows up, and Fierce Deity Link strikes him down with his sword. Quite a dark (but awesome) part of the Manga. (It was awhile ago that I read the Zelda Mangas and the site that hosted them did not require download. That site is long gone though, it was due to other sites stealing its content or something similar I think. That was a large problem back in the day with the Zelda sites, and closed a fair few down. Luckily, that problem has subsided thanks to sites such as Zelda Blog, but I digress.)

The Happy Mask Salesman is an intriguing character, mostly due to the limited information regarding him. He is a very important character in the plot since he was the one who found the mask and wishes to regain it, yet he also plays a very passive role. Only coming into play during the beginning and during the end of the game. He is never an active participant in the events that occur in Termina and seems even too surreal for the surreal world that is Termina, if that makes sense.:P The Happy Mask Salesman is definitely one of the more interesting characters in the Zelda series and another product of oddities of Majora's Mask.

I, too, have been wondering exactly who the salesman is. Appearing in both of the games for the N64, he obviously has to play a key role in Majora's Mask. As you pointed out, he has several arcane powers, which could hint that he's as much of a demon as Majora, but more or less a benign spirit searching for horrid objects to seal them away from the world. The fact that he doesn't have a duplicate in Termina is strange (then again, the skull kid doesn't either, but perhaps it's because spirits don't count). Honestly, he's a puzzling man, but he must have extreme powers to shift dimensions and transport evil objects without possession (case in point, Majora's Mask). Also as revealed, he's hiding his true nature...are there more worlds beyond Hyrule and Termina? I mean, Termina exists in another dimension, and he has the power to transcend dimensions...plus he calls himself a "traveling" mask salesman, so it could hint into a larger, more expansive universe for Zelda to fit into.

But that's just my opinion ;) If indeed what you say is true, we'll be seeing him again soon enough.

kryptofreak120

Well, one thing you said bothers me. The skull kid does have a replica. In OoT, he was the boy you gave the skull mask to. In termina, he was the skull kid. Just thought Id clear that up, meaning ONLY the mask sailsman doesnt have a replica.

[QUOTE="kryptofreak120"]I, too, have been wondering exactly who the salesman is. Appearing in both of the games for the N64, he obviously has to play a key role in Majora's Mask. As you pointed out, he has several arcane powers, which could hint that he's as much of a demon as Majora, but more or less a benign spirit searching for horrid objects to seal them away from the world. The fact that he doesn't have a duplicate in Termina is strange (then again, the skull kid doesn't either, but perhaps it's because spirits don't count). Honestly, he's a puzzling man, but he must have extreme powers to shift dimensions and transport evil objects without possession (case in point, Majora's Mask). Also as revealed, he's hiding his true nature...are there more worlds beyond Hyrule and Termina? I mean, Termina exists in another dimension, and he has the power to transcend dimensions...plus he calls himself a "traveling" mask salesman, so it could hint into a larger, more expansive universe for Zelda to fit into.

But that's just my opinion ;) If indeed what you say is true, we'll be seeing him again soon enough.seankulbeth

Well, one thing you said bothers me. The skull kid does have a replica. In OoT, he was the boy you gave the skull mask to. In termina, he was the skull kid. Just thought Id clear that up, meaning ONLY the mask sailsman doesnt have a replica.

Now that I think about it, you could be right...but at the end of the game, the skull kid says that Link looks just like the boy that gave him the Skull (or was it Horned?) Mask in the other game. Then again, he might've said something a bit different that could've meant otherwise. Still, it leaves much to discover.

[QUOTE="kryptofreak120"]

I, too, have been wondering exactly who the salesman is. Appearing in both of the games for the N64, he obviously has to play a key role in Majora's Mask. As you pointed out, he has several arcane powers, which could hint that he's as much of a demon as Majora, but more or less a benign spirit searching for horrid objects to seal them away from the world. The fact that he doesn't have a duplicate in Termina is strange (then again, the skull kid doesn't either, but perhaps it's because spirits don't count). Honestly, he's a puzzling man, but he must have extreme powers to shift dimensions and transport evil objects without possession (case in point, Majora's Mask). Also as revealed, he's hiding his true nature...are there more worlds beyond Hyrule and Termina? I mean, Termina exists in another dimension, and he has the power to transcend dimensions...plus he calls himself a "traveling" mask salesman, so it could hint into a larger, more expansive universe for Zelda to fit into.

But that's just my opinion ;) If indeed what you say is true, we'll be seeing him again soon enough.

seankulbeth

Well, one thing you said bothers me. The skull kid does have a replica. In OoT, he was the boy you gave the skull mask to. In termina, he was the skull kid. Just thought Id clear that up, meaning ONLY the mask sailsman doesnt have a replica.

He looks creepy happy in that picture.:xCelsius765

AND WHAT IS UP WITH THESE THEORIES EVERY WEEK?

[QUOTE="Celsius765"]He looks creepy happy in that picture.:ximnotwhite

AND WHAT IS UP WITH THESE THEORIES EVERY WEEK?

Interesting theory, but one thiing confuses me. Whats this talk about duplicates?ganondorf

Actually Majoras Mask was the first video game I bought myself....I just havnt played Ocarina...i know, thats like a sin around here.ganondorf

In ways, to understand the topic, you'd pretty much have to play both games (to understand the duplicate issue and all, plus to understand the end-game skull kid speech). The happy mask salesman appeared in Ocarina of Time, and reappeared as himself (not a copy) in Majora's Mask. This definitely points to the fact that he's not like everyone else that has a copy (which means everyone born in Hyrule or Termina). In fact...Twilight Princess features another (sort of) dimension, the Twilight Realm (I say sort of because it's not exactly a dimension, per say). Whether a dimension or not, there are more worlds beyond that of Termina and Hyrule, which is likely where our curious mask salesman came from (and likely Majora as well).

Hmmm...these are some very interesting theories.

BTW, the Happy Mask Salesman appears to have the ability to disappear into thin air, as shown at the end of the game. Strange eh?

BTW, the Happy Mask Salesman appears to have the ability to disappear into thin air, as shown at the end of the game. Strange eh?metalsamurai

Could be the ability to instantly shift the dimension he's in ;)

well. . . its just a happy mask salesman, he is not a big character, he doesn't  have any kind of special power, he is only a creepy  guy. 

Why do fan always like to complicate things??, I'm not trying to ofend you or anithing like that, its juts my opinion. believe that he can move phisical objects and travel between dimensions and that he can control majoras mask is just too much.

Here are 3 interesting theories I’ve created regarding Majora’s Mask after completing it today, enjoy.

Theory1 The mask salesman remembered Link from Ocarina of Time. As Link helped him sell masks the mask salesman unleashed the evil of Majora on the skull kid to help Link. The events that followed were all just a salesman’s game. This games end gave Link friends, as he couldn’t find the one he was originally looking for. All the spirits in the temples were masks, but they were played like puppets by the salesman. On the moon we see these “rested spirits” each is a mask which seems to cover the head of who appears to be the master, the salesman. After the masks were defeated (the temple bosses) the salesman used the last mask…Majora. However he unleashes too much power which resulted in knocking Link out. (I believe this happened when the 4 giants were holding up the moon.) The show down with Majora was a dream.

Link though he was dead. He saw his personal heaven on the moon, with long green grass and a calm blue sky. He then lived his personal hell, fighting Majora, whose final form looked like a devil with his large horns, sharp teeth and whip like lashing arms. In the dream we saw a child’s imagination. The second form of Majora’s mask was a joker, a trickster, who danced around in circles like a clown; the music was almost like circus music at this point in the game. We saw Links good side, “playing” with the children and his dark side, fierce deity Link. The salesman also helped Link find himself. Link could have chosen not to put on the over powered mask and fought like a traditional hero, as the underdog, however on the other hand Link could have chosen to be equally as power consuming as skull kid was, Link had a mask far greater than that of skull kids. When the fairies told Link to wake up everyone assumed Link had fallen from the moon, but the truth was he had never left Termina. He had been laying there the whole time. It also explains why the mask salesman was ready for Link as soon as he had awoken. Also the salesman knew that the evils done with the mask could be undone so he wasn’t afraid to unleash hell on Termina.

Theory 2   Or possibly the Salesman had used Link to clean the mask of evil which he already knew it contained, the salesman must have some how known that Link was the hero of time. He wouldn’t have left the task to any old person. He was confident in Link the whole time. Or Theory 3 He had originally planned to rule Termina with the mask. He attempted to destroy Link by unleashing the Mask, Link being Termina’s only hope. Maybe he had already taken other universes with that mask, maybe he had already caused many different moons to clash by finding many weak people he could use as the mask’s puppets, while not himself falling slave to it. At the end of the game he talked of meetings and partings opening up the possibility of meeting again. Did he vanish with the mask waiting for it to someday regain its energy? If this is true then this character may appear in a future Zelda game as the main villain. Any thoughts?     

I think the dream is quite possible. The power of Majora was great enough to bring down the moon in three days, so it wouldn't surprise me if it had the ability to manipulate the things in his dream and strike the warriors mind rather then his shield. Maybe Link had stronger focus and mind, something which led to the creation of the Fierce Deity mask not just in his mind, but in reality.  Maybe it had something to do with a courageous heart. After all the heart was the shape of the mask. The mask was physical but its evil forms weren't. It had to use "puppets". Is it possible that if the mask concurred Links brain, Link could have been the next puppet? It makes so much sense. It links with the idea of a childs imagination, his personal heaven and hell.  

He reminds me a lot of Hexadecimel if anyone is familiar with the old show "Reboot". She can only express her emotions in the form of masks which tortures her constantly. Her emotions exist only as the extremes. Very happy, very sad, very angry, with a few others tossed in there. It makes her very unpredictable and interesting. I think she and the Happy Mask Salesman have a lot in common.
Toribor

i used to love watching Reboot, i was so pissed when they cancelled it after the third season...but yes, Hexadecimel is quite a bit like the Happy Mask Salesman. that comparison leads me to think about how the HMS might follow the same path as Hex, achieving an apbrupt change in personality, switching sides as it were, and helping Link to defeat Ganondorf, possibly in a OoT/MM sequel

[QUOTE="Toribor"]He reminds me a lot of Hexadecimel if anyone is familiar with the old show "Reboot". She can only express her emotions in the form of masks which tortures her constantly. Her emotions exist only as the extremes. Very happy, very sad, very angry, with a few others tossed in there. It makes her very unpredictable and interesting. I think she and the Happy Mask Salesman have a lot in common.
zr122

i used to love watching Reboot, i was so pissed when they cancelled it after the third season...but yes, Hexadecimel is quite a bit like the Happy Mask Salesman. that comparison leads me to think about how the HMS might follow the same path as Hex, achieving an apbrupt change in personality, switching sides as it were, and helping Link to defeat Ganondorf, possibly in a OoT/MM sequel

I WANT THAT SHOW SO BAD!

And HMS and hexadecimal are so alike! their moods and faces and they ARE BOTH EVIL!

:lol: I remember watching Reboot in Canada. I think it's made in Canada actually :P

yup, canada:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBoot
nuck44

They need a game for that show!

[QUOTE="nuck44"]:lol: I remember watching Reboot in Canada. I think it's made in Canada actually :P

yup, canada:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBoot
imnotwhite

They need a game for that show!

One of the greatest shows ever. It just has to return! It left on such a cliffhanger.

[QUOTE="imnotwhite"]

[QUOTE="nuck44"]:lol: I remember watching Reboot in Canada. I think it's made in Canada actually :P

yup, canada:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBoot
Gary_Jinfield

They need a game for that show!

One of the greatest shows ever. It just has to return! It left on such a cliffhanger.

Where's dot..........(in out .....LMAO MAINFRAME)

I'm surprised I havent heard a geek bring up that show!

I WANT REBOOT!

[QUOTE="Gary_Jinfield"][QUOTE="imnotwhite"]

[QUOTE="nuck44"]:lol: I remember watching Reboot in Canada. I think it's made in Canada actually :P

yup, canada:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBoot
imnotwhite

They need a game for that show!

One of the greatest shows ever. It just has to return! It left on such a cliffhanger.

Where's dot..........(in out .....LMAO MAINFRAME)

I'm surprised I havent heard a geek bring up that show!

I WANT REBOOT!

Also the mask salesman says that the mask was hidden in a different dimension,so how did he get it.Also i did not know thet one of the kids in the moon said he wants to be a mask salesman.Great article!

hypothesis and possible spoiler: When on the moon doing the mini-dungeons for the fierce deity's mask, one of the little boys says "Masks... You have... a lot. You, too... Will you be... a Mask Salesman?" possibly telling us that these four are some how the past versions of the Happy Mask salesman. But, the one with the Majoras mask is sad and rejected. Why? I have no idea but it has something to do with the majoras mask. I hope we see more of the happy mask salesman in future games, i'm already sad due to the lack of masks and mask salemen in Twilight Princess. Hopefully our 2010 title won't let us down..

heh, I remember this. gawd what an anchient topic...

Here's a good read I posted on the front page awhile back on this subject: http://www.zeldainformer.com/2008/05/the-message-of-majoras-mask.php

I'll bet that he's on drugs. He always smiles, even when he's angry!

heh, I remember this. gawd what an anchient topic...

Here's a good read I posted on the front page awhile back on this subject: http://www.zeldainformer.com/2008/05/the-message-of-majoras-mask.php

metroid_dragon

Ah, yes. I remember.

I never actually completed MM, (nor OoT- my N64 controllers broke, I couldn't run, and so I never got round beating to Ganon) but I watched my brother work through most of both of them, and I never really thought about the Happy Mask Salesman as much as I have after reading this. *breath*

But now, he does seem rather intriguing, and I hope he will show up in future games.

ive never really thought anything of the happy mask salesman. might be because i never got past the part where you have to find all the kids for that code at the beginning of mm because mm was my bros and he sold because he found it to hard.

ive never really thought anything of the happy mask salesman. might be because i never got past the part where you have to find all the kids for that code at the beginning of mm because mm was my bros and he sold because he found it to hard.

Ads6

Haha, should have told him to buy a strategy guide. There's nothing shameful in that; if you need one to fully enjoy the game then you should do whatever you gotta in order to get the most out of it.

I highly reccomend purchasing it on the Wii's Virtual Console. Honestly it was probably my favourite Zelda in terms of pure substance, I probably only give LttP my #1 spot because it was my first.

[QUOTE="Ads6"]

ive never really thought anything of the happy mask salesman. might be because i never got past the part where you have to find all the kids for that code at the beginning of mm because mm was my bros and he sold because he found it to hard.

metroid_dragon

Haha, should have told him to buy a strategy guide. There's nothing shameful in that; if you need one to fully enjoy the game then you should do whatever you gotta in order to get the most out of it.

I highly reccomend purchasing it on the Wii's Virtual Console. Honestly it was probably my favourite Zelda in terms of pure substance, I probably only give LttP my #1 spot because it was my first.

trust me when i say this my bro acts like he is amazing at games but he sucks he really does even if he has strategy guides the only games hes good at are sport games.

unfortunately i dont have a wii YET will be getting one sometime in the future so when i do i will be getting twilight princess and mm. so ill be able to finally play mm which ive wanted to play for so long and ill be able to see more of the happy mask salesman