The Truth Behind the Happy Mask Salesman - Zelda Theory 

"the mask salesman glitches from one position to another. it's unsettling, creepy, and this is the only game in which he does this" i object, in ocarina of time he switches to his angry murder face when you are unable to pay him, similar to how he does it in majora's mask

Brain: Hey, are you going to sleep? Me: Yes, I am. Shut up. Brain: The Happy Mask Salesman is a caricature of Shigeru Miyamoto, and the moon is a metaphor for the constricting time constraints on the game's development. Me: ('ʘ_ʘ')

Uh, nobody's gonna point out the freaking giant organ piano that he brings out when he teaches Link the healing song?

That mask salesman’s soul being stripped from him and him becoming a puppet for Majora is a really cool idea!!! Great theory!!!

I hope the happy masks salesman comes back in some future game he's such a recognized character

Did you notice the kid wearing Majora's mask at the tree? It's the masked salesman's hairstyle. 😳 There's definitely more to this than what was discussed in this video.

It is strange how Majora views the "Fierce Diety" as the 'bad guy' as if the fierce diety had something to do with its being sealed away.

You could say the happy mask salesman... was met with a terrible fate?

This is furder evidenced by Hyrule Historia explaining that Majora partially created the world of Termina

I like this theory. It tells that Termina existed and is more than just a "parallel world" which is why Termina is referenced in other games. But the Termina we know is a warped version of itself as the kingdoms around the Stone Temple fell to ruin.

I was about to think of the Happy Mask Salesman being a soul who was split from Majora's mask. Like the Majora's Mask having an Evil side while the Happy Mask salesman being the Good side.

I also find it interesting that Termina is in the Lost Wood's. Myth IRL speak of Fairies living in other dimensions in the Woods. Time is different there. Also, the Moon Children look like the Mask Salesman. It is as if the Mask reads the subconscious of beings it comes in contact with, and creates negative fantasies.

I always felt like the choppiness of his movements was supposed to give a sense that his face was itself a mask or at least mask-like in that it can only convey static expressions. It is not much of a leap to think this was a reference to the character Hexadecimal from Reboot. She was an earlier character who had a face based on theater masks who switched between static expressions to represent her mental instability. While there is no direct evidence that the reference is intentional, Reboot made international news as the first half-hour TV series animated completely using computer animation, so people trying to use 3D models in a cost-effective way might have looked to it early on for inspiration. It is a really cool effect which conveys the Mask Salesman's desperation very well.

I love this theory, major props! As a fun side thought, perhaps the Happy Mask Salesman sought out Majora’s Mask because he knew it could give him eternal life...but then he didn’t foresee how it would use him as its puppet.

Yes, I am aware there is a jumble of words pretending to be a sentence at the end of the video. I noticed this after rendering and didn't want to delay the video to fix it, soooo... yeah. Here's a readable translation: An official Miiverse message from 2015 teasing an appearance from the Mask Salesman in BotW.

When a theory makes so much sense, it scares you.

I like to think that the mask salesman was actually one of the people who helped create the mask and was the only surviving member of the group after the mask was sealed. This idea would actually work well with your theory that Major's Mask created Termina because it would explain why he is the only Hylian that appears in both worlds, especially since the entrance to Termina is in the Lost Woods, a place adult Hylians should not be able to enter .

I think this is my favorite happy mask salesman theory I’ve heard!! Really well thought out, I’m totally convinced

Why can’t he just be an happy guy who’s also and Mask salesmen? Why can the lore forbid that?

Hold up, The *C a l a m i t y* it caused? 🤔

I always found the idea of the HMS knowing and explaining the song of healing pretty creepy... like every single mask hanging off his bag could be a dead creature... even Mario :P

The statues in the opening room of the stone temple look like the head majora has in his third stage

How did the happy mask salesman even scale the stone tower temple? The Ikana king said that hundreds of his best soldiers couldn't topple it so how was he able to?

I wouldn't say the Mask sales man disappeared. It was running on a 64 bit engine with an expansion pack. Great video. Thumbs up.

i love the xbc music. this is one of my favorite tracks from the game. a destroyed city and lifeless guarded by machines. the music at night is so beautiful. i love the vocals

This video was awesome!!! I really like how it ties in aspects from all over the game. Majora’s Mask is my favorite Zelda game so I’m happy to see videos about it lol

I think Termina is the alternate reality version of the Dark World, or in Termina's case; The Sacred Realm. Think about it; LTTP and Majora's mask are the games set directly after OOT, depending on whether the hero is defeated or successful respectively. More specifically, MM takes place in the child era, which would explain how "Termina" could exists without Gandorf already corrupting it. This is further reinforced by the fact that the adult era (the time line that continues after Gandorf is defeated in OOT) does not have any alternate worlds for us to explore at all. The adult era goes right into Wind Waker and then into Spirit Tracks, but there are no alternate worlds because it's presumably just a waste land and there's no reason for any stories to be set within it. This is where BOTW comes in. It's place in the timeline presupposes a timeline convergence in which the three main timelines merge back into one over ten thousand years after the previous games. If this is true, then it would be the Dark World/Termina/Sacred Realm wasteland is now in a bit of a Shrodinger's cat scenario. This could have something to do with BOTW2's storyline if we indeed explore another world besides a more fleshed out Hyrule (which I sincerely hope we get to see!).

3:30 GREAT observation! I never noticed the majoras mask emblems in the stone tower boss battle

You didn't really present actual evidence for any of this, but I truly appreciate your enthusiasm on the subject. And I agree that there is definitely more to the mask salesman than meets the eye, I even have a theory of it myself. I'd love to have a face to face conversation about this.

I like to Believe that the Masked salesman was part of Demise's original army as his face is somewhat depicted in the intro of skyward sword. He was sealed in the whole game of Skyward Sword by the Goddess Hylia and her army (perhaps Majora's was a part of it? ) And the Happy Mask Salesman, who was in Hyrule playing as an innocent spy scanned Hyrule for the warp point to find Majora's mask. Come to think of it, the song of healing takes the soul of a person, and forms it into a mask allowing you to transform into said person. The Masked salesman is the only one who knew to play that song. Reason why I say soul is because of the Kamaro, and Gibdo Mask. We know that Majora's Mask is a single entity, and not really a healed-mask since the skull kid did not transform into Majora, but instead, Majora took over the skull Kid's body, not to mention he talks and floats around on his own. But the Fierce Deity mask... Ah. too much to think about ''

As the Happy Mask Salesman, I can confirm that the mask did not originate in Termina. I found it, not in Termina...but not in Hyrule. I found it in an ancient land. And I am from Hyrule...the same salesman you see in Castle Town. Every Hyrulean with a Terminan counterpart has a different name and profession...except for 1 - yours truly. And I can assure you that Majora's Mask did not create Termina. It cannot create. It can only play and consume and destroy. But I appreciate the admiration :D

I actually think this is a really sound theory

I like how plausible this theory actually is,it also leaves room for a rematch with Majora, since Ternina didn't go the way of a certain island,,,and the mask sailsman technically only said the evil left the mask,what if the whole battle was a trick to free the monster from it's container?

Great spooky theory glad I got back here to see it. Thanks for sharing

Ever notice the mask man's laugh as the game is loading?

One way to look at it is that Majora is Terminal's version of Demise, with the Fierce Deity being the counterpart of Hylia.

I don't think the HMS is immortal or anything like that, I do think he recently unsealed Majora's Mask, but the rest of the theory... fits the evidence disturbingly well. I absolutely love the idea that the Mask created Termina from the darkness it was sealed within. When we first enter Termina, is _is_ through a location in Hyrule, and not just that: it is within a location called the "Lost Woods", which is cursed that one will die and turn into another defender of what lies at the center. Perhaps the entrance was chosen for this reason, the Woods were cursed as another layer of protection, the power of the seal let some evil leak through? But Link finds his way in either way, and descends...through darkness. Runes passing by, until he reaches an area...almost unformed, as if on the edge of creation? Also, what if the Stone Tower Temple is both a creation of Majora and the Sages' final attempt to seal the Mask? The imagery idolizes the mask, gives a flaming finger to the gods in the sky, and desecrates imagery of the goddesses' most powerful artifact: the Triforce. We don't see Majora or the Triforce feature anywhere else that the Skull Kid hasn't directly meddled. The STT is the center of creation, radiating outward from the last ditch effort of the Mask's actual prison, the entire pocket universe of Termina. It grew starting over a thousand years ago from the arbitrary point the Mask existed within, with the Mask exerting direct power over either reality itself or the ancient Ikana people to create a giant "fuck you" to those who imprisoned it, but the temple was still a prison. The world expanded further and further, and eventually Majora - purposely or not - created the Garo people, who would try to steal the Mask from its prison and inadvertently free it. This failed, and all that was left of its machinations was a dead land. Then the Happy Mask Salesman, whatever his origins, came along...

I'm willing to believe that stone tower was where majoras mask was sealed

Me playing Majoras Mask and talking to the Mask Salesman= totally immersed in the game Me spots Marios Visage at the back of the Salesmans Backpack= immersion destroyed

Is it too much of a coincidence that the kid in the moon wearing Majora’s Mask looks like a kid version of the Happy Mask Salesman?

The weapon salesman in the bazaar in Skyward Sword looks like the happy mask salesman, though he does not sell masks.

Definitely a fun theory! Thank you for transporting me back to my first Zelda game :)

Happy mask salesman in OoT: I do not understand economics Happy mask salesman in MM: _The right man in the wrong place, can make aLL the difference in the world_

this is such a great theory!!!! good job my guy

Interesting Idea I had when you showed the Fierce Deity Mask, what if it was an ancient Shiekah who sealed Majora away and this idea of Good Guy's and Bad Guys is actually a recreation of his Banishment to Termina. That's why despite the mask being a culmination of every soul in Termina it visually looks like a Link Shiekah. Support for this also is the fact Yiga (ex-shiekah) in Botw use similar swords and armor to what the Fierce deity use. They're not identical due to colour and size but they are very similar.

Awesome theory! Just stumbled upon your channel; subbed.

Greetings from Germany and congratulations to a great theory. Although I disagree with a lot if points it was a cool perspective and made with a lot of heart and effort. Great work and can't wait to look into some of your other videos. ^^

This theory is sick Nice work man

Congrats on 10k!

This is a great theory and I found myself finishing your sentences before you did, just because….well it makes perfect sense. I’d love for Majora to have another adaptation in a game. Even if it’s not link fighting. Like a prequel to the game showing more of its origin. This game is by far one of the best they’ve ever made. Imo.

Very interesting. It's also interesting you said this was intended for last Halloween bc I made a Majora's Mask theory for last Halloween that also ranked #1 for the 'Zelda theory' search term immediately after it's release like yours has now ;)

I appreciate that your lore videos actually use GAME DIALOGUE unlike a lot of Zelda lore youtubers. They leave so much out that make me like “did you even play the game?”

This is actually a really great theory and makes a lot of sense!

This theory is insane, it makes sooo much sense... I love the idea that majora was out to be challenged by a worthy opponent in a game with somewhat fair rules

theres something to be said for the pieces of shigeru miyamoto that are left in these games; the happy mask salesman was based on him, and the elegy of emptiness statue was based on a childhood photo of him. the happy mask salesman's demeanor sheds interesting light on aonumas feelings towards him during the development cycle of mm

This is my favourite theory so far!

Nice theory it's good :) subbed Hoping for more hehe

I love vids about the mask salesman! I always hope for his return in new games bc I honestly think he is the most mysterious and unsettling character in Zelda. I also think Im theonly one who wants that darn owl back...

I know this may seem a little far-fetched, but is it possible that the Fierce Deity mask was made from the sages of Oot, or maybe, even holds their spirits? I just thought it up and wanted to throw it out there

Happy mask salesman has the exact same haircut and ears as the child in the moon wearing the mask.

God you give me chills. Keep up the good work.

Okay since there was no Termina in the past Zelda games, what if in Tears of the Kingdom, Link heads to Termina to practice using the “gifts” that his new hand gave him. Or he heads to Termina to try curing his malice hand.

This is a really interesting theory! :D

I've always thought that the Happy Mask Salesman, was a deity of sorts, be it a minor one certainly nothing compared to the Golden Goddesses, which explains how he teleports around, seems to know things that no one else knows, and how he can materialize an entire organ instrument out of nowhere. Perhaps he was put in charge of safeguarding Majora's Mask and hopefully one day finding a way to eliminate the evil inside the mask, and when it was stolen from him, it all worked out, though his disappointed because he didn't do it himself.

nice vid man, i legit thought you had like 100k subs, keep it up

The HMS is in the intro of SS, standing around Demise and his goon squad of demons, who came from “fissures in the earth”. Then you have ALBW’s MM Easter egg in Link’s house, the raving madmen in the town trying to become demons via masks(also appearing on the box art). It’s implied ‘the tribe’ in MM is probably a reference to these demons. The HMS flickering around light an old fluro light is due to his relationship with MM, like Smeagol in LOTR.... My theory is that either: A) the sentience/ consciousness of Majora, via carrying MM for so long affected the HMS to the point where although he was assisting Link, Majora was acting through him like a puppet (like Puppet Gannon or Twili ‘Puppet’ Zelda) and his actions weren’t noble; he was getting Link to help him free himself of Majora’s grasp. OR B) The HMS, in essence is Majora’s projected self/ consciousness/ spirit/ part thereof, which is why for most of the game he only exists in the Clocktower, is only seen by Link and Skull Kid (who both originate from Hyrule) and why he simply walks off and fades into thin air at the end (perhaps he/ his spirit either moved on or were released after Majora’s defeat).

It's a fun theory. Some of its parts feel like a big stretch, but it's still widely entertaining

Loved this theory! Majoras mask is such an interesting game

Anyone know the name of the piano song playing at min 8:15 and where it's from!? So beautiful and I hear it every now and again but don't know where it's from!

I thought this was great! Great take on the Mask salesman.

In the book, fierce deity link call the mask salesman a demon when he shows up. So yeah, it was he's game or a key ruler of it.

But if Majora's Mask created Termina, why doesn't it disappear when it's defeated? Also what about the giants?

One minor point, the Ikana Kingdom fell because of their war with the Garo, which brings up themes of anger and violence always leading to death and destruction. The fact that the ghosts of the royal guards still bicker and fight after Link defeats them is indicative of the stubborn, combative behaviour that led to their deaths in the first place. If you blame the fall of Ikana on the Mask Salesman those themes are lost. I don't think that he opened Stone Tower 1000 years ago, but that the kingdom is desolate because of its own ruler's despotism getting out of control. I think that opening the Stone Tower to get Majora's Mask merely led to its dark influence bringing the dead back as the undead monsters that are seen roaming around when Link first gets there and that disappear when he completes the Stone Tower and lifts its curse on the canyon.

Cool video bro!

What resolution are u using 4xnative or 5xnative?

If there were ever a superboss that Zelda could do that would be really hard it would a a mask salesman. Maybe not The Happy Mask Salesman, but a mask wearer. Like something in the upcoming botw sequel. You could have a really tough enemy who has tons of different mask they put on to change forms in a long aggressive fight!

1:49, good find.

He doesn’t glitch from one position to another. He was made like that.

I had always thought of the Happy Mask Salesman from Ocarina of Time and the one in Majora's Mask to be one and the same. Even suggesting such in a stop-motion mini movie I did a while back where the Mask Salesman in Castle Town is shown to have Majora's Mask in the back of his store and says that the mask is not for sale and that nobody should even bother asking if it is for say, with the screen fading to black, followed by a line saying "I mean it!" at the end. I had done a theory video more recently about how the mayor's receptionist at the residence could be Saria's terminian counterpart.

This was an amazing theory video. What is the image you have of the happy masks salesman for your thumbnail :o?

This theory is dope dude. Subscribed ✔

Great video

This made me look to the happy mask man with a whole new view. He will never be the same again. Good video! Fun theory!

I love it, great theory

If I enjoyed playing majoras mask then does that make me Majoras mask? Cause I enjoyed......*playing this game*

Great video! C:

This guy is EXTREMELY underrated ngl

I like a lot of the ideas you have but my questions would be about the giants. They always seemed like the creators of Termina so Majora creating them would seem contradictory to that and Majora's intentions. Would they be part of Majora's original game? What happened in Ikana is the most interesting mystery about Majora's Mask to me. We know the Giants told their people to call on them if they ever had problems or were in danger, yet the Giant of the Ikana region was never called, meaning he must have been trapped and sealed within the Stone Tower Temple ages ago for Ikana to have become a land of the dead so long before the other 3 regions got threatened in the present day/recent time period of the events of Majora's Mask. The Happy Mask Salesman seems like his face is a mask and the shifting/glitching of his face is him switching masks. I have ideas about what is underneath the mask that I've wanted to make my own theories of for years but the burden of video editing has so far prevented me from doing that.

Well done!

What's the song used at 3:17?

To me the glitchyness to the happy mask salesman felt like he was similar to a mask or puppet... Or that he was the avatar for something greater, something that we cannot see... Or maybe it's a little bit of all these put together...

I would be wondering if mask salesmen reincarnated just like link and ganon. He appeared in the fallen hero timeline, the child timeline, and maybe if you want botw as kilton. It might be a thought that majora reincarnates the salesmen Idk just a thought :)

I really love your videos

1:41 look closely and you can see the sheikah eye symbol on the wall, I believe the termina sheikah created the mask. Midnas helmet has a similar eye pattern from the mask and then a sheikah eye on the back. Coincidence?

Late to the video but it's great to hear!

Is it me or is the Happy Mask Salesman not just Miyamoto? He has the Mario mask

> "The Happy Mask Salesman: the hardest character to pin down in the entire Zelda series." You've never met Tingle, have you?

Termina is the result of Low-Rule being corrupted by the Darkness after it's queen destroyed their universes version of the Triforce

Interesting theory......fascinating.

the kid that wears the mask on the moon, has the same hair as the happy mask salesman.