Talented prop maker LittleJem has accomplished what many Zelda fans have only dreamed of—building a fully functional, life-size replica of the King of Red Lions boat from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. This impressive project brings one of gaming’s most iconic vehicles from the cel-shaded seas of the Great Sea into our reality as a seaworthy vessel that actually sails.
The boat isn’t just a static display piece but a functional sailboat that LittleJem has successfully taken on its maiden voyage, capturing the hearts of the gaming community who grew up navigating the waters of Wind Waker’s world. This project represents one of the most ambitious and well-executed video game prop replicas to date, combining woodworking skills with a deep appreciation for Nintendo’s beloved franchise.
The King of Red Lions is more than just a boat in The Wind Waker—it’s a talking sailboat who serves as Link’s companion and guide throughout the 2025 Nintendo GameCube adventure. This dragon-headed vessel with its distinctive red hull and decorative sail carries players across the Great Sea as they search for the pieces of the Triforce and battle Ganondorf.
What makes the King of Red Lions special is its personality and significance to the story. As one of the most memorable characters in Wind Waker, the boat represents freedom, exploration, and the bond between Link and his guide. The boat’s unique design, featuring a dragon figurehead and vibrant colors, made it an instant favorite among fans when the game first released.
LittleJem is a talented prop maker and costume designer known throughout the cosplay and gaming community for creating detailed video game replicas and cosplay work. With an established presence across social media platforms, LittleJem has built a reputation for tackling ambitious projects that bring virtual elements into the physical world.
Her YouTube channel and Instagram account showcase previous works demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. The King of Red Lions project, however, represents her most ambitious build to date, combining woodworking, engineering, and artistic design to create something that honors the original game while functioning as a real boat.
You can follow LittleJem’s work on her YouTube channel, Instagram, and Facebook page.
Creating a life-size, functional version of the King of Red Lions presented numerous challenges that required careful planning and execution. The boat needed to capture the distinctive visual elements from the game while also meeting the structural requirements for actual sailing on water.
The construction process involved extensive woodworking to create the boat’s hull, which features the characteristic red coloring and curved design seen in Wind Waker. The most distinctive element—the dragon figurehead—required detailed sculpting to match the game’s aesthetic while also being functional as part of the boat’s structure.
Throughout the build process, LittleJem documented her progress with behind-the-scenes content showing various stages of construction. The project required not only artistic skills but also engineering knowledge to ensure the boat would be balanced, stable, and seaworthy. Materials needed to be carefully selected to withstand water exposure while maintaining the visual fidelity to the game’s design.
The sail features the distinctive design elements from the game, capturing the cel-shaded aesthetic that made Wind Waker visually unique when it first released. Every detail, from the paint colors to the proportions, was carefully considered to create an authentic replica that would be immediately recognizable to Zelda fans.
The culmination of this ambitious project was the boat’s maiden voyage, captured in a video titled “I Built The Zelda Wind Waker Boat In Real Life (and Sailed It).” This moment was particularly significant because it proved that LittleJem hadn’t just created a static display piece but a fully functional vessel that could actually navigate water.
Seeing the King of Red Lions sailing on real water creates a powerful connection between the virtual world of Wind Waker and our reality. The boat performed admirably, handling well and looking remarkably similar to its digital counterpart. The video documentation shows the boat moving through water with the dragon figurehead cutting through the waves, bringing a childhood fantasy to life for thousands of Zelda fans.
This functional aspect of the build elevates it beyond typical prop making, demonstrating LittleJem’s exceptional skills and commitment to authenticity. The successful maiden voyage serves as proof that with enough dedication and craftsmanship, even the most fantastical elements from video games can become real, functional objects.
The gaming community’s response to LittleJem’s King of Red Lions replica has been overwhelmingly positive across social media platforms. Reddit’s gaming and Zelda subreddits saw thousands of upvotes and hundreds of comments expressing amazement at the build’s quality and functionality.
Fans shared personal connections to Wind Waker, with many expressing how the project brought back memories of playing the game as children. The emotional impact of seeing a beloved game element brought to life resonated strongly with the community, creating a shared experience of nostalgia and appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship.
Other prop makers and cosplay creators reached out with technical questions about materials and construction methods, highlighting how the project inspires others in the DIY community. The build has become a celebrated example of what dedicated fans can accomplish when combining their passion with practical skills.
For those interested in following LittleJem’s work, she maintains active presences on several platforms where she shares her projects and behind-the-scenes content. Her YouTube channel features detailed videos of her creation process, while Instagram offers more frequent updates and progress photos.
The success of the King of Red Lions project has many wondering what LittleJem might tackle next. Given her demonstrated ability to bring video game elements to life, fans are hoping to see more Zelda-themed builds or perhaps replicas from other beloved Nintendo franchises. Whatever she chooses to create next, the gaming community will be watching eagerly.
This remarkable project stands as a testament to the creativity and dedication within the gaming community, showing how the worlds we explore in games can inspire real-world achievements that bring joy to fellow fans. LittleJem’s King of Red Lions replica isn’t just a prop—it’s a vessel carrying the dreams of Zelda fans into reality.
The King of Red Lions was a talking sailboat in The Wind Waker who served as Link’s companion and guide throughout the game, helping him navigate the Great Sea on his quest.
Yes, LittleJem’s King of Red Lions replica is fully functional and has been successfully sailed on open water, as documented in her YouTube video showing the boat’s maiden voyage.
The boat was constructed primarily using wood for the hull and structure, with careful selection of materials to ensure seaworthiness while maintaining the visual appearance from the game.
You can see the boat through LittleJem’s social media channels, including her YouTube video “I Built The Zelda Wind Waker Boat In Real Life (and Sailed It)” and her Instagram posts showing the build process.
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