Skull Kid (race)

Skull Kids (スタルキッド) are a recurring race in the Legend of Zelda series. They are a race of diminutive, mischievous beings that reside in forests. When non-fairy folk get lost in Lost Woods, they are cursed to become Stalfos&mdash;but Navi suggests that when children get lost in the woods, they may become Skull Kids. While Skull Kids tend to be friendly toward children, they fear adults and will attack them on sight.

The physical appearance of Skull Kids varies somewhat across games, but their childlike size, tattered, reddish garb, and wide-brimmed hats remain constant.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Skull Kids can be found in the Lost Woods, where they play flute-like instruments. Their faces are entirely black, with glowing orange eyes and large lips. While Link is a child, he can interact with them; however, they become hostile once Link is an adult, firing small projectiles at him through their instruments. Link can kill these hostile Skull Kids, most notably with the Biggoron's Sword or the Giant's Knife due to the substantial reach these provide. Doing so earns Link a huge Rupee worth 200 Rupees.

There is one Skull Kid directly to the left of the entrance to the Lost Woods who will give Link a Piece of Heart if Link plays "Saria's Song" for him. If Link pursues the Happy Mask side quest, this Skull Kid will buy the Skull Mask, but will only pay half-price.

Deeper into the Lost Woods, there are two Skull Kids on tree stumps. Link can play the ocarina notes they provide for him to obtain a Piece of Heart. Interestingly, both of these Skull Kids will wear the Skull Mask after Link sells it to the Skull Kid elsewhere in the woods. It is unknown if this is a development oversight or if the two Skull Kids are meant to be illusions.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
A Skull Kid known simply as "Skull Kid" is the primary antagonist. Prior to the game's events, he steals Majora's Mask from the Happy Mask Salesman. Compelled by the evil within the mask, he uses its power to pull down the Moon and direct it toward the land of Termina, seeking to destroy the world after three days' time. At the game's end, it is heavily implied that this is the same Skull Kid Link befriended by playing "Saria's Song" in Ocarina of Time.

Unlike others of his race, the mouth of this Skull Kid is more reminiscent of a beak than lips.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
After Princess Zelda heals Midna and disappears, Midna and Wolf Link head to the Faron Woods to lift the curse Zant placed on Link. In the Sacred Grove deep within the forest they find a maze, which they navigate with the help of a Skull Kid. Link uses the light of the Skull Kid's lantern and the sound of his trumpet to follow him through the woods in a game of Hide-and-Seek. The Skull Kid releases Puppets that attack Link along the way, and allows Link entrance to the area where the Master Sword lies only after Link finds and attacks him enough times.

Later in the game, Link must return to the Sacred Grove. The Skull Kid again leads him through the maze, engages him in battle, and lets him into the Sacred Grove once Link prevails. This time, the Skull Kid thanks Link for the fun and invites him to come back and play again sometime. However, the Skull Kid does not appear upon further visits to the Sacred Grove.

The song the Skull Kid plays on his trumpet is, in fact, "Saria's Song"; however, the music in the background makes the notes sound almost melancholy compared to the upbeat melody of the Ocarina of Time rendition.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time manga
In "Skull Kid and the Mask", a two-part side story from the Ocarina of Time manga, it is stated that while his family was on a picnic, a young boy ventured into the Lost Woods to catch a Fairy. As he ran into the forest, his mother yelled at him to stop because he would get lost. Ignoring his mother's advice, the child entered the forest and indeed became lost within. Breathing the air of the dark forest depths caused the boy to gradually transform into a Skull Kid, the fate that befalls Hylian children who venture into the Lost Woods.

Theory
Skull Kids slightly resemble Imp Poes, with their small shape, mischievously violent nature and (in Twilight Princess) lanterns. This could mean that Skull Kids are Imp Poes' living counterparts. Interestingly, the Happy Mask Salesman and number of other characters refer to the Skull Kid from Majora's Mask as an imp.

It is also possible they have a good social structure, as the events of Ocarina of time and Twilight princess are years apart, and the twilight princess skull kid play's saria's song, and so does the ocarina of time one.

Skull Kid (raza)