The Legend of Zelda (Animated)

The Legend of Zelda is an American animated series based on the Japanese video game series The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

(Nearly all Nintendo "base company console launch games" also got an animated series, to help sell the game, and the game helped sell the cartoon, and on and on.)

The plot follows the adventures of Link and Princess Zelda as they defend the kingdom of Hyrule from an evil wizard named Ganon. It is heavily based on the first game of the Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda, but includes some references to the second, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

The show was produced by DIC Entertainment and distributed by Viacom Enterprises in association with Nintendo. It comprises thirteen episodes which first aired in North America from September 8, 1989 to December 1, 1989.

This cartoon was broadcast within the "Super Mario Bros Super Show", being a "show within a show". Monday to Thursday airings would be "Mario and the Adventures of the Mushroom Kingdom", and Friday's airings would be "The Legend of Zelda" (which were promoted heavily during the previous week as well).