Koji Kondo
Koji Kondo | |
|---|---|
Gần đằng hạo trị | |
 Kondo in 2015 | |
| Born | August 13, 1961 |
| Alma mater | Osaka University of Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Employer | Nintendo |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Piano |
Koji Kondo(Japanese:Gần đằng hạo trị,Hepburn:Kondō Kōji,August 13, 1961)is a Japanesecomposerandpianistat thevideo gamecompanyNintendo.He is best known for his contributions for theSuper MarioandThe Legend of Zeldaseries, with hisSuper Mario Bros.themebeing the first piece of music from a video game included in the AmericanNational Recording Registry.Kondo was hired by Nintendo in 1984 as their first dedicated composer and is currently a senior executive within theirEntertainment Planning & Development division.
Early life
[edit]Kondo was born inNagoya,Japan, on August 13, 1961.[1]Kondo began taking Yamaha Music classes from kindergarten, where he learned to play theelectronic organfrom the age of five. Kondo also played themarimbasin his elementary school band. He later improved his skills with the electronic organ in acover bandthat playedjazzandrock music.[2][3]Kondo studied at the Art Planning Department ofOsaka University of Arts,[4]but was never classically trained or academically dedicated to music.
With a love ofarcade video gamessuch asSpace Invadersand the earlyDonkey Kongseries, he said video games were the only place where he could find the kind of sound creation that he was looking for. He gained experience in composing, arranging pieces and computer programming through using the piano, and a computer to program music into theFamicomusingFamicom BASIC.
Career
[edit]Kondo applied for a music composition and sound programming job atNintendoas a senior in 1984.[2]He recalls, "I found my way to Nintendo by looking at the school's job placement board. You're supposed to apply to many different companies, but I saw the Nintendo ad, and had a love of making synthesizers, and loved games, and thought – that's the place for me. I interviewed with one company, Nintendo, and that's where I've been ever since."[5]Kondo was the third person hired by Nintendo to create music and sound effects for its games, joiningHirokazu Tanakaand Yukio Kaneoka. However, he was the first at Nintendo to actually specialize in musical composition.[6]
His first work at Nintendo was the audio design for the 1984 arcade gamePunch-Out!!.[6]As theFamicomhad become popular in Japan by then, Kondo was assigned to compose music for the console's subsequent games at Nintendo's new development division,Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development(EAD). His second work at Nintendo was an instruction manual on how to program Japanesepopular musicinto the Famicom using the peripheralFamily BASIC.[5]To conclude his first year at Nintendo, he created some of the music ofDevil World,alongside Akito Nakatsuka.[2]In 1985, Nintendo started marketing the Famicom abroad as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to capitalize on the1983 video game crashthat had devastatedAtari, Inc.and other companies.[2]Super Mario Bros.was Kondo's first major score. The game's melodies were created with the intention that short segments of music could be endlessly repeated during the same gameplay without causing boredom.The main themeis iconic in popular culture and has been featured in more than 50 concerts,[2]been a best-selling ringtone,[7]and been remixed orsampledby various musicians.[2]
Kondo's work onThe Legend of Zeldascores has also become highly recognized. He produced four main pieces of background music for the first installment of the series; the overworld theme has become comparable in popularity with theSuper Mario Bros.main theme. After the success ofThe Legend of Zelda,he provided the score for two Japanese-exclusive games,The Mysterious Murasame Castle(1986) andShin Onigashima(1987). He created the soundtrack toYume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic(1987),[2]which was later rebranded outside Japan asSuper Mario Bros. 2in 1988.[8][9]
Kondo returned to theSuper Marioseries to produce the scores toSuper Mario Bros. 3(1988) and theSNESlaunch titleSuper Mario World(1990).Koichi Sugiyamadirected a jazz arrangement album ofSuper Mario World'smusic and oversaw its performance at the first Orchestral Game Musical Concert in 1991. After finishing the soundtrack toSuper Mario World,Kondo was in charge of the sound programming forPilotwings(1990), while also composing the "Helicopter Theme" for it, and created the sound effects forStar Fox(1993). In 1995, he composed for the sequel toSuper Mario World,Yoshi's Island.[2]Until the early 2000s, Kondo would usually write all compositions by himself on a project, withThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'sbeing the last one Kondo worked on alone.[10]Since then, he has been collaborating with other staff members at Nintendo, advising and supervising music created by others, as well as providing additional compositions for games, includingSuper Mario Galaxy,The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks,The Legend of Zelda: Skyward SwordandSuper Mario 3D World.[11][12][13]He also served as the sound director and lead composer ofSuper Mario Makerand its sequel,Super Mario Maker 2.[14][15][16]He has also worked alongsideBrian Tylerto compose forThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.[17]
Concerts
[edit]Kondo attended the world premiere ofPlay! A Video Game Symphonyat theRosemont TheaterinRosemont, Illinoisin May 2006, where his music from theSuper Mario Bros.andThe Legend of Zeldaseries was performed by a full symphony orchestra.[18]He also attended and performed in a series of three concerts celebrating the 25th anniversary ofThe Legend of Zeldaseries in late 2011. He performed piano with the American rock bandImagine Dragonslive atThe Game Awards 2014ceremony in December 2014.[19]
Musical style and influences
[edit]Kondo's music forSuper Mario Bros.was designed around the feeling of motion that mirrors the player's physical experience.[20]This followed the philosophy of series creator and designer,Shigeru Miyamoto,who demanded that audio for the game be made "with substance" and are synchronized with elements of the game.[21][22]As a result, Kondo based a number of the score around genres that are primarily used for dancing, such asLatin musicand thewaltz.[23][24][25][26]
In the firstThe Legend of Zelda,Kondo juxtaposes the game's overworld theme with the theme that plays in dungeons. Kondo remarked on the importance of projecting distinct characters through music, so that players know almost immediately where they are within the game.[27]Kondo used this contrast in other games, such asSuper Mario Bros.[28]
Kondo citedDeep Purple,Yes,Emerson, Lake & Palmer,Herbie Hancock,Chick CoreaandCasiopeaas influences.[29][5]
Works
[edit]Music and sound design
[edit]| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Punch-Out!! | Music, sound effects[30] |
| Golf | Sound effects | |
| Devil World | Music withAkito Nakatsuka | |
| 1985 | Soccer | Music, sound effects |
| Arm Wrestling | Music, sound effects | |
| Kung Fu | Sound effects[31] | |
| Super Mario Bros. | Music, sound effects | |
| 1986 | The Legend of Zelda | Music, sound effects |
| The Mysterious Murasame Castle | Music, sound effects | |
| Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | Music, sound effects | |
| Volleyball | Music, sound effects | |
| 1987 | Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic | Music, sound effects |
| Shin Onigashima | Music, sound effects | |
| 1988 | Super Mario Bros. 2 | Music, sound effects |
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | Music, sound effects | |
| 1990 | Super Mario World | Music, sound effects |
| Pilotwings | Sound programmer; composed "Helicopter Theme"[32][33] | |
| 1991 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Music, sound effects |
| 1993 | Star Fox | Sound effects |
| 1995 | Yoshi's Island | Music, sound effects |
| 1996 | Super Mario 64 | Music |
| 1997 | Star Fox 64 | Music with Hajime Wakai |
| 1998 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Music |
| 2000 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | Music withToru Minegishi |
| 2002 | Super Mario Sunshine | Music with Shinobu Tanaka |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Music with Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, and Toru Minegishi | |
| 2004 | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | Music with Asuka Hayazaki |
| 2006 | New Super Mario Bros. | Sound director, composed "Overworld Theme" |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Music with Toru Minegishi and Asuka Hayazaki | |
| 2007 | Super Mario Galaxy | Music withMahito Yokota |
| 2008 | Super Smash Bros. Brawl | "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros.) " |
| 2009 | The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | "Ending Theme" |
| 2010 | Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Music with Mahito Yokota and Ryo Nagamatsu |
| 2011 | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | "Prologue" |
| 2013 | Super Mario 3D World | Music with Mahito Yokota, Toru Minegishi, and Yasuaki Iwata |
| 2014 | Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U | "Super Mario Bros. Medley" |
| 2015 | Super Mario Maker | Music with Naoto Kubo and Asuka Hayazaki |
| 2017 | Super Mario Odyssey | Music with Shiho Fujii and Naoto Kubo |
| 2018 | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | "King Bowser (Super Mario Bros. 3) " |
| 2019 | Super Mario Maker 2 | Music with Atsuko Asahi, Toru Minegishi, and Sayoko Doi |
| 2023 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Music with Shiho Fujii, Sayako Doi, and Chisaki Shimazu[34] |
Executive and supporting roles
[edit]All works listed below credit Kondo in an executive or supporting role, such as a sound director or supervisor.
Awards
[edit]| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Super Mario Galaxy 2 | British Academy Games Awards(Best Original Music)[35] | Nominated |
| 2014 | Super Mario 3D World | British Academy Games Awards (Best Original Music)[36] | Nominated |
| Video Game Music Online (Best Soundtrack – Retro / Remixed)[37] | Nominated |
Kondo was inducted into theAcademy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame in 2024.[38]
References
[edit]- ^"THE LEGEND OF ZELDA -OCARINA OF TIME- / Re-Arranged Album p.3".VGMdb.Archivedfrom the original on November 29, 2014.RetrievedMay 22,2014.
- ^abcdefghChris Greening (December 30, 2012)."Koji Kondo Profile".Video Game Music Online.Archivedfrom the original on September 25, 2014.RetrievedJune 20,2014.
- ^"Koji Kondo – 2001 Composer Interview - shmuplations".December 31, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 8,2023.
- ^"Mario and Zelda composer Koji Kondo shares all at GDC '07".Music4Games.January 19, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon November 10, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 18,2009.
- ^abcKondo, Koji(March 11, 2007)."VGL: Koji Kondo".Wired(Interview). Interviewed by Chris Kohler.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2019.RetrievedJuly 25,2019.
- ^abOtero, Jose."A Music Trivia Tour with Nintendo's Koji Kondo".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2014.RetrievedDecember 18,2014.
- ^Pearce, James Quintana (January 4, 2007)."Top Selling Ringtones In US For 2006".mocoNews. Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 21,2009.
- ^McLaughlin, Rus (November 8, 2007)."IGN Presents The History of Super Mario Bros".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on February 17, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 21,2009.
- ^"Super Mario Bros. 2 Tech Info".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 21,2009.
- ^Kohler, Chris (March 15, 2007)."Behind the Mario Maestro's Music".Wired.Condé Nast Digital.Archived fromthe originalon June 29, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 13,2011.
- ^Super Mario Galaxy Original Sound Track Platinum Version(Media notes).Nintendo.2008.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 13,2011.
- ^Gifford, Kevin (February 24, 2010)."How Mario Music Gets Made".1UP.UGO Entertainment, Inc.Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2015.RetrievedDecember 28,2010.
- ^Napolitano, Jayson (June 21, 2011)."Koji Kondo Talks Ocarina of Time, Gives Details on Skyward Sword".Original Sound Version.Archived fromthe originalon June 26, 2011.RetrievedJune 22,2011.
- ^Otero, Jose (December 8, 2014)."How Mario Maker Mixes Music With Level Creation".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2014.RetrievedDecember 18,2014.
- ^"Nintendo Minute -- Chatting with Koji Kondo".YouTube.Nintendo.Archivedfrom the original on January 26, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 10,2015.
- ^Bankhurst, Adam (May 15, 2019)."Super Mario Maker 2 Features Story Mode, Online Multiplayer, Co-Op Creation Mode".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on May 16, 2019.RetrievedMay 16,2019.
- ^"The Super Mario Bros. Movie Teaser Trailer Is Finally Here".Nintendo Life.October 6, 2022.RetrievedOctober 8,2022.
- ^"PLAY! A Video Game Symphony — Rosemont Theatre, Chicago (05/27/06)".music4games.net.Music4Games, Inc.June 5, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon January 1, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 4,2009.
- ^Mackey, Bob (December 11, 2014)."Super Mario's Maestro: A Q&A With Nintendo's Koji Kondo".USGamer.Gamer Network.RetrievedDecember 16,2021.
- ^Schartmann, Andrew (2015).Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack.New York: Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 59–61.ISBN978-1-62892-853-2.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2018.RetrievedNovember 19,2018.
- ^Schartmann, Andrew (2015).Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack.New York: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 22.ISBN978-1-62892-853-2.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2018.RetrievedNovember 19,2018.
- ^Schartmann, Andrew (2015).Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack.New York: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 114.ISBN978-1-62892-853-2.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2018.RetrievedNovember 19,2018.
- ^Masahiro Sakurai(January 23, 2008)."Super Mario Bros.: Ground Theme".Smash Bros. Dojo!!.Nintendo,HAL Laboratory, Inc.Archivedfrom the original on August 2, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 12,2010.
- ^Brophy-Warren, Jamin (October 24, 2008)."A New Game for Super Mario's maestro".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 13,2009.
- ^Laroche, Guillaume (2012)."Analyzing MusicalMario-Media: Variations in the Music ofSuper MarioVideo Games. "ArchivedNovember 7, 2018, at theWayback MachineOrder No. MR84768, McGill University (Canada), p. 58.
- ^"Inside Zelda Part 4: Natural Rhythms of Hyrule".Nintendo Power.No. 195.Nintendo of America, Inc.September 2005. Archived fromthe originalon August 11, 2014.
- ^Schartmann, Andrew (2015).Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack.New York: Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 64–66.ISBN978-1-62892-853-2.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2018.RetrievedNovember 19,2018.
- ^Schartmann, Andrew (2015).Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack.New York: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 66.ISBN978-1-62892-853-2.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2018.RetrievedNovember 19,2018.
- ^"Weirdness: Legendary Composer Koji Kondo Drew Inspiration From '70s Rock Bands".Nintendo Life.January 31, 2015.RetrievedOctober 18,2021.
- ^"Video Games Daily | Nintendo Interview: Koji Kondo, May 2007".Archive.videogamesdaily. May 10, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon October 7, 2013.RetrievedAugust 17,2013.
- ^"Iwata Asks".Iwataasks.nintendo.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2015.RetrievedAugust 17,2013.
- ^Greening, Chris; Harris, Dave (March 28, 2011)."Soyo Oka Interview: The Comeback of Super Mario Kart's Composer".Video Game Music Online.Archivedfrom the original on February 13, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 12,2015.
- ^Otero, Jose (December 10, 2014)."A Music Trivia Tour with Nintendo's Koji Kondo".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 13,2015.
- ^"Ask the Developer Vol. 11, Super Mario Bros. Wonder—Part 1".
- ^"2011 Winners & Nominees".bafta.org.February 15, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on July 18, 2019.RetrievedDecember 8,2016.
- ^"Games in 2014".bafta.org.Archivedfrom the original on March 4, 2014.RetrievedDecember 8,2016.
- ^Greening, Chris (April 4, 2014)."Annual Game Music Awards 2013 Nominations".Video Game Music Online.Archivedfrom the original on April 3, 2015.RetrievedJuly 13,2015.
- ^Cripe, Michael (January 24, 2024)."Koji Kondo to be Inducted Into the DICE Hall of Fame".IGN.RetrievedJanuary 25,2024.
External links
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- 1961 births
- 20th-century Japanese composers
- 20th-century Japanese male musicians
- 20th-century Japanese pianists
- 21st-century Japanese composers
- 21st-century Japanese male musicians
- 21st-century Japanese pianists
- Chiptune and tracker musicians
- Japanese male composers
- Japanese male pianists
- Japanese pianists
- Japanese sound designers
- Japanese video game composers
- Living people
- Mario (franchise) music
- Musicians from Nagoya
- Nintendo people
- Osaka University of Arts alumni