TingleCast Episode 1 – The History of Tingle
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Tingle, Tingle, Kooloo-Limpah! Welcome, fellow forest faeries, to TingleCast – the ONLY twice monthly podcast devoted to the greatest The Legend of Zelda character of all time, Tingle! On this debut episode, recorded Sunday, March 31, 2013, Great Fairy Spike and Pink Fairy Slagkick discuss the history of Tingle.
Spike and Slagkick left the SS Game Buoy for the greener pastures of the gay Great Deku forest because they felt that they weren’t left of center enough just focusing on LGBT issues, feminist issues, and Japanese/import gaming with a focus on RPGs. So, they’ve decided to focus exclusively on the most unfairly hated creation in gaming – Tingle!
The episode starts out with a question that sounds more simple than it actually is: who is Tingle? Great Fairy Spike and Pink Fairy Slagkick explore the archetypes, metaphors, and mythos that are encompassed by this 35-year-old man who wants to be a fairy.
After that, the Faeries discuss Tingle’s appearance in Zelda games. From his prominent role as a supporting character in Majora’s Mask and Wind Waker, to his cameos in Oracle of Ages, Four Swords Adventures, Minish Cap, and Phantom Hourglass, Great Fairy Spike and Pink Fairy Slagkick note that Tingle is an essential part of Link’s journey, providing him with knowledge and valuable items to aid him on his quest.
It was only a matter of time before this captivating character starred in his own game. Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland is such a landmark game in the Zelda series that it deserves to be considered more than a spinoff. Before discussing this groundbreaking, innovative game, Great Fairy Spike and Pink Fairy Slagkick take a look at the other Tingle games that would follow this gem: Tingle’s Balloon Fight, Color-Changing Tingle’s Balloon Trip of Love, and the DSiware application Too Much Tingle Pack.
No discussion about Tingle would be complete without examining Tingle’s family. The Faeries talk about Tingle’s father in Majora’s Mask, the Pictograph Contest man, and wonder about the absence of his mother. Tingle’s Wind Waker family included twin brothers Ankle and Knuckle, but David Jr. – who is not actually related to Tingle at all – is perhaps the most interesting and controversial member of the Tingle family to date.
Great Fairy Spike and Pink Fairy Slagkick round out the discussion with two articles that portray different viewpoints of Tingle. IGN’s IGNcube’s 2004 “Die, Tingle, Die! Die!” Campaign is a look back at the darker days when Tingle hatred was at its height. Please be warned that this article contains violent imagery and hateful language. This reaction to the innocuous Tingle is shocking and, frankly, disgusting. Fortunately, Zelda in My Pocket’s What Makes Tingle Appealing? is a positive look at why the 35-year-old fairy loving man has captured the hearts of many gamers.
Finally, the Faeries wrap up their premiere episode of TingleCast by sharing how they would like to see the Tingle franchise evolve.
Thank you for Tingle Tuning in to TingleCast Episode #1, and please look forward to the next episode, where Great Fairy Spike and Pink Fairy Slagkick will be sharing Tingle cosplay tips!
Oh, and don’t forget to visit the mirror of Great Fairy Spike’s old GeoCities Tingle fan page – Great Fairy Spike’s Tiny Tingle Town. It was part of the #1 Tingle web ring, and an archived copy was able to be recovered for your enjoyment.
(Theme music courtesy of Zelda Reorchestrated)