In the days since the most recent Splatoon 3-themed Nintendo Direct, fans have been unable to stop talking about one character in particular: the band member / Splatfest host Big Man. The enormous manta ray, who group Deep Cut, has already become the source of fan art, memes, and online conversations. Some fans have even prematurely declared their support for Big Man well in advance of Splatoon 3's first Splatfest. This surge of popularity for a cheerful aquatic male character has led some fans to draw connections to the similar popularity enjoyed by Prince Sidon from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Big Man 's group Deep Cut both performs music and hosts the news show "Anarchy Splatcast." Big Man's bandmates include an Octoling named Shiver, who is described as a shark tamer, and an energetic Inkling named Frye. Together, the group hosts the series' first ever three-team Splatfests, as well as performing high-energy music with a distinct kabuki inspiration. Although fans responded positively to all three Deep Cut members, Big Man quickly stood head and fins above the others in terms of popularity, bringing Breath of the Wild's Zora Prince to mind.
Sidon Stood Out For His Looks and Personality
First appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Sidon is the prince of the water-dwelling Zora people. He seeks Link's help in calming Vah Ruta, the rampaging Divine Beast responsible for the constant rainstorm over Zora's Domain and the surrounding riverlands. Sidon first helps Link travel down the river to Zora's Domain, then stands by his side as the hero attempts to gain access to Vah Ruta's interior. Link is even able to ride on Sidon's back as he dodges the Divine Beast's ice-based attacks. Sidon later appears in a flashback taking place one hundred years prior to Breath of the Wild, where he is shown as a baby alongside his sister Mipha.
Fans latched on to Sidon due to his positive attitude, as he is constantly shown encouraging Link and shouting positive affirmations with his signature twinkling smile. Another element that drew attention was his height - Sidon stands several feet taller than Link and is the tallest of the Zora characters other than his father, King Dorephan. Some fans expressed online that they found Sidon cute despite his shark-like appearance, quickly labeled him as their favorite character, and used the game's photo function to take many pictures of the cheerful Prince. Some players even rushed to Zora's Domain immediately upon starting the game simply, so they could encounter this surprisingly popular character.
Big Man Is Beloved For Being Unique
The similarities between Big Man's meteoric rise to popularity and Sidon's are many. Both are notable due to their size, as they are significantly taller than other characters with whom they frequently interact and thus stand out dramatically. Both are liked for their positive personality - Big Man has not been shown speaking much, but he has a constant smile on his face and seems eager to cheer on his fans during the upcoming Splatfest, in which he leads Team Scissors. In addition, both are found to be cute despite their fish-like appearances, with fans describing both as huggable and wishing to see stuffed animals and other merchandise of the characters.
In addition to his appearance, Big Man has drawn attention from the Internet because he is so different from the series' Splatfest announcers. Splatoon had the Squid Sisters, Callie and Marie, while Splatoon 2 introduced Off the Cuff featuring Octoling Marina and Inkling Pearl. Big Man is the first ever host in the series to be male; he is also the first to not be an Inkling or Octoling, making him stand out visually from his predecessors. He even speaks uniquely, seemingly only able to say the word "ay" which is then translated in brackets, so his actual meaning is conveyed.
This Comparison Could Be Good News for Big Man
Sidon's popularity among fans of Breath of the Wild ended up greatly benefiting the Zora Prince. First, Sidon made an additional appearance in the Champion's Ballad DLC, where his baby form - also found cute by the Internet - was revealed. Sidon later became a player character in the musou-style spinoff Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, where he travels to the past to aid Mipha and the other Champions. It is currently unknown whether Sidon will appear in the upcoming sequel to Breath of the Wild, but his popularity means that he would be a wise choice for Nintendo to include.
Big Man attracting such love from the moment of his reveal could definitely result in a larger role for the Deep Cut member in the future. The precedent is definitely there - Callie and Marie appeared as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, while Pearl and Marina will be making an appearance in Splatoon 3 under the new name Damp Socks ft. Off the Cuff. Perhaps Big Man too could join the battle for Splatsville - he could even become a player character or pave the way for less humanoid player characters in the future.
Splatoon 3 will release on September 9, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.