:Koji Kondo

Kondo was born in Nagoya, Japan, on August 13, 1961.{{cite web |url=http://vgmdb.net/db/covers.php?do=view&cover=14994 |title=THE LEGEND OF ZELDA -OCARINA OF TIME- / Re-Arranged Album p.3 |publisher=VGMdb |access-date=May 22, 2014 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129040549/http://vgmdb.net/db/covers.php?do=view&cover=14994 |url-status=live }} Kondo began taking Yamaha Music classes from kindergarten, where he learned to play the electronic organ from the age of five. Kondo also played the marimbas in his elementary school band. He later improved his skills with the electronic organ in a cover band that played jazz and rock music.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-31 |title=Koji Kondo – 2001 Composer Interview - shmuplations.com |url=https://shmuplations.com/kojikondo/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |language=en-US}} Kondo studied at the Art Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts,{{cite web |url=http://www.music4games.net/News_Display.aspx?id=506 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110004822/http://www.music4games.net/News_Display.aspx?id=506 |archive-date=November 10, 2007 |title=Mario and Zelda composer Koji Kondo shares all at GDC '07 |publisher=Music4Games |date=January 19, 2007 |access-date=September 18, 2009}} but was never classically trained or academically dedicated to music.

With a love of arcade video games such as Space Invaders and the early Donkey Kong series, 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 the Famicom using Famicom BASIC.

Kondo applied for a music composition and sound programming job at Nintendo as a senior in 1984.{{cite web |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/kojikondo/ |title=Koji Kondo Profile |publisher=Video Game Music Online |author=Chris Greening |date=December 30, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2014 |archive-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925002150/http://www.vgmonline.net/kojikondo/ |url-status=live }} 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."{{cite interview |last=Kondo |first=Koji |subject-link=Koji Kondo |interviewer=Chris Kohler |title=VGL: Koji Kondo |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/03/vgl-koji-kondo-/ |access-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822111622/https://www.wired.com/2007/03/vgl-koji-kondo-/ |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |url-status=live |work=Wired |date=March 11, 2007}} Kondo was the third person hired by Nintendo to create music and sound effects for its games, joining Hirokazu Tanaka and Yukio Kaneoka. However, he was the first at Nintendo to actually specialize in musical composition.{{cite web |last1=Otero |first1=Jose |title=A Music Trivia Tour with Nintendo's Koji Kondo |url=http://www.ign.com/uarticles/2014/12/10/a-music-trivia-tour-with-nintendos-koji-kondo |publisher=IGN |access-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-date=December 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210204914/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/10/a-music-trivia-tour-with-nintendos-koji-kondo |url-status=live }}

His first work at Nintendo was the audio design for the 1984 arcade game Punch-Out!!. As the Famicom had 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 Japanese popular music into the Famicom using the peripheral Family BASIC. To conclude his first year at Nintendo, he created some of the music of Devil World, alongside Akito Nakatsuka. In 1985, Nintendo started marketing the Famicom abroad as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to capitalize on the 1983 video game crash that had devastated Atari, Inc. and other companies. 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 theme is iconic in popular culture and has been featured in more than 50 concerts, been a best-selling ringtone,{{cite web |url=http://moconews.net/article/top-selling-ringtones-in-us-for-2006/ |title=Top Selling Ringtones In US For 2006 |publisher=mocoNews |first=James Quintana |last=Pearce |date=January 4, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008100415/http://moconews.net/article/top-selling-ringtones-in-us-for-2006/ |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }} and been remixed or sampled by various musicians.

File:Koji kondo.jpg

Kondo's work on The Legend of Zelda scores 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 the Super Mario Bros. main theme. After the success of The Legend of Zelda, he provided the score for two Japanese-exclusive games, The Mysterious Murasame Castle (1986) and Shin Onigashima (1987). He created the soundtrack to Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987), which was later rebranded outside Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1988.{{cite web |url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/833/833615p2.html |title=IGN Presents The History of Super Mario Bros. |publisher=IGN |first=Rus |last=McLaughlin |date=November 8, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2009 |archive-date=February 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217164813/http://retro.ign.com/articles/833/833615p2.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/super-mario-bros-2/techinfo |title=Super Mario Bros. 2 Tech Info |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=September 21, 2009 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107040606/https://www.gamespot.com/games/super-mario-bros-2/ |url-status=live }}

Kondo returned to the Super Mario series to produce the scores to Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) and the SNES launch title Super Mario World (1990). Koichi Sugiyama directed a jazz arrangement album of Super Mario World{{'s}} music and oversaw its performance at the first Orchestral Game Musical Concert in 1991. After finishing the soundtrack to Super Mario World, Kondo was in charge of the sound programming for Pilotwings (1990), while also composing the "Helicopter Theme" for it, and created the sound effects for Star Fox (1993). In 1995, he composed for the sequel to Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island. Until the early 2000s, Kondo would usually write all compositions by himself on a project, with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time{{'s}} being the last one Kondo worked on alone.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/03/72971 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629021327/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/03/72971 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |title=Behind the Mario Maestro's Music |date=March 15, 2007 |author=Kohler, Chris |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast Digital |access-date=February 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} 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, including Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Super Mario 3D World.{{cite AV media notes |title=Super Mario Galaxy Original Sound Track Platinum Version |url=http://vgmdb.net/album/5411 |year=2008 |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=February 13, 2011 |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922005835/http://vgmdb.net/album/5411 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/mario-music |title=How Mario Music Gets Made |author=Gifford, Kevin |date=February 24, 2010 |work=1UP.com |publisher=UGO Entertainment, Inc. |access-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929062439/http://www.1up.com/news/mario-music |archive-date=September 29, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/koji-kondo-talks-ocarina-of-time-gives-details-on-skyward-sword/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626195356/http://www.originalsoundversion.com/koji-kondo-talks-ocarina-of-time-gives-details-on-skyward-sword/ |archive-date=June 26, 2011 |title=Koji Kondo Talks Ocarina of Time, Gives Details on Skyward Sword |date=June 21, 2011 |author=Napolitano, Jayson |work=Original Sound Version |access-date=June 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He also served as the sound director and lead composer of Super Mario Maker and its sequel, Super Mario Maker 2.{{cite web |last1=Otero |first1=Jose |title=How Mario Maker Mixes Music With Level Creation |date=December 8, 2014 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/08/how-mario-maker-mixes-music-with-level-creation |publisher=IGN |access-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-date=December 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208235020/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/08/how-mario-maker-mixes-music-with-level-creation |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Nintendo Minute -- Chatting with Koji Kondo |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WsP4lnFq9w&t=3m25s |website=YouTube |publisher=Nintendo |access-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126182915/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WsP4lnFq9w&t=3m25s |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Bankhurst |first1=Adam |title=Super Mario Maker 2 Features Story Mode, Online Multiplayer, Co-Op Creation Mode |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/15/mario-maker-2-features-story-mode-and-co-op-creation-mode |website=IGN |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=16 May 2019 |archive-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516002448/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/15/mario-maker-2-features-story-mode-and-co-op-creation-mode |url-status=live }} He has also worked alongside Brian Tyler to compose for The Super Mario Bros. Movie.{{cite news |title=The Super Mario Bros. Movie Teaser Trailer Is Finally Here |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/10/the-super-mario-bros-movie-teaser-trailer-is-finally-here |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=Nintendo Life |date=October 6, 2022}}

Kondo attended the world premiere of Play! A Video Game Symphony at the Rosemont Theater in Rosemont, Illinois in May 2006, where his music from the Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda series was performed by a full symphony orchestra.{{cite news|url=http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=95|title=PLAY! A Video Game Symphony — Rosemont Theatre, Chicago (05/27/06)|date=June 5, 2006|website=music4games.net|access-date=September 4, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101081317/http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=95|archive-date=January 1, 2009|publisher=Music4Games, Inc}} He also attended and performed in a series of three concerts celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda series in late 2011. He performed piano with the American rock band Imagine Dragons live at The Game Awards 2014 ceremony in December 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/koji-kondo-interview-nintendo|title=Super Mario's Maestro: A Q&A With Nintendo's Koji Kondo|date=December 11, 2014|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=USGamer|publisher=Gamer Network|last=Mackey|first=Bob}}

Kondo's music for Super Mario Bros. was designed around the feeling of motion that mirrors the player's physical experience.{{Cite book|url=https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|title=Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack|last=Schartmann|first=Andrew|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|year=2015|isbn=978-1-62892-853-2|location=New York|pages=59–61|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214515/https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|url-status=live}} This followed the philosophy of series creator and designer Shigeru Miyamoto, who demanded that audio for the game be made "with substance" and synchronized with elements of the game.{{Cite book|url=https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|title=Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack|last=Schartmann|first=Andrew|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|year=2015|isbn=978-1-62892-853-2|location=New York|pages=22|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214515/https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|title=Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack|last=Schartmann|first=Andrew|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|year=2015|isbn=978-1-62892-853-2|location=New York|pages=114|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214515/https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|url-status=live}} As a result, Kondo based most of the score around genres that are primarily used for dancing, such as Latin music and the waltz.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music21.html |title=Super Mario Bros.: Ground Theme |author=Masahiro Sakurai |date=2008-01-23 |work=Smash Bros. Dojo!! |publisher=Nintendo, HAL Laboratory, Inc. |access-date=2010-09-12 |author-link=Masahiro Sakurai |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802094630/https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music21.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=A New Game for Super Mario's maestro |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122481778316565825?mod=googlenews_wsj |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2009-02-13 |date=2008-10-24 |first=Jamin |last=Brophy-Warren |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161358/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122481778316565825?mod=googlenews_wsj |url-status=live }}Laroche, Guillaume (2012). [https://www.proquest.com/docview/1251652155 "Analyzing Musical Mario-Media: Variations in the Music of Super Mario Video Games."] Order No. MR84768, McGill University (Canada), p. 58.{{cite magazine|date=September 2005|title=Inside Zelda Part 4: Natural Rhythms of Hyrule|url=http://www.zelda.com/universe/game/twilightprincess/inside04.jsp|url-status=dead|magazine=Nintendo Power|publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc.|issue=195|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811172047/http://www.zelda.com/universe/game/twilightprincess/inside04.jsp|archive-date=August 11, 2014}}

In the first The 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.{{Cite book|url=https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|title=Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack|last=Schartmann|first=Andrew|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|year=2015|isbn=978-1-62892-853-2|location=New York|pages=64–66|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214515/https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|url-status=live}} Kondo used this contrast in other games, such as Super Mario Bros.{{Cite book|url=https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|title=Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack|last=Schartmann|first=Andrew|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|year=2015|isbn=978-1-62892-853-2|location=New York|pages=66|access-date=November 19, 2018|archive-date=November 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214515/https://www.bloomsburypopularmusic.com/monograph?docid=b-9781501305139|url-status=live}}

Kondo has cited Deep Purple, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Casiopea as influences.{{cite web|date=31 January 2015|title=Weirdness: Legendary Composer Koji Kondo Drew Inspiration From '70s Rock Bands|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/01/weirdness_legendary_composer_koji_kondo_drew_inspiration_from_70s_rock_bands|access-date=18 October 2021|website=Nintendo Life|language=en-GB}}

All works listed below credit Kondo in an executive or supporting role, such as a sound director or supervisor.

{{awards table}}

|-

! 2011

| Super Mario Galaxy 2

| British Academy Games Awards (Best Original Music){{cite web |title=2011 Winners & Nominees |url=http://www.bafta.org/games/awards/2011-winners-nominees#jump8 |website=bafta.org |date=February 15, 2011 |access-date=December 8, 2016 |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190718102925/http://www.bafta.org/games/awards/2011-winners-nominees#jump8 |url-status=live }}

| {{nom}}

|-

! rowspan="2" | 2014

| rowspan="2" | Super Mario 3D World

| British Academy Games Awards (Best Original Music){{cite web |title=Games in 2014 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2014/games |website=bafta.org |access-date=December 8, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304201209/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2014/games |url-status=live }}

| {{nom}}

|-

| Video Game Music Online (Best Soundtrack – Retro / Remixed){{cite web |last1=Greening |first1=Chris |title=Annual Game Music Awards 2013 Nominations |date=April 4, 2014 |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/nominations2013/ |publisher=Video Game Music Online |access-date=July 13, 2015 |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403104500/http://www.vgmonline.net/nominations2013/ |url-status=live }}

| {{nom}}

|}

Kondo's work has been cited for allowing game music to transition from simple melodies to more complex orchestrations.{{cite web | last=Hsu | first=Hua | title=How Video Games Changed Popular Music | website=The New Yorker | date=2015-06-30 | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227150426/http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/how-video-games-changed-popular-music| access-date=2023-05-26}}{{cite web | last=O’Kane | first=Josh | title=Review: Andrew Schartmann explores the enduring legacy of Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack | website=The Globe and Mail | date=2015-08-07 | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/review-andrew-shartmann-explores-the-enduring-legacy-of-koji-kondos-super-mario-bros-soundtrack/article25877355/ | access-date=2025-04-09}} He was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame in 2024.{{cite web |last1=Cripe |first1=Michael |title=Koji Kondo to be Inducted Into the DICE Hall of Fame |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/koji-kondo-to-be-inducted-into-the-dice-hall-of-fame |website=IGN |date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=25 January 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0464848}}

{{Nintendo}}

{{Mario franchise|state=collapsed}}

{{The Legend of Zelda|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kondo, Koji}}

Category:1961 births

Category:20th-century Japanese composers

Category:20th-century Japanese male musicians

Category:20th-century Japanese pianists

Category:21st-century Japanese composers

Category:21st-century Japanese male musicians

Category:21st-century Japanese pianists

Category:Chiptune and tracker musicians

Category:Japanese male composers

Category:Japanese male pianists

Category:Japanese pianists

Category:Japanese sound designers

Category:Japanese video game composers

Category:Living people

Category:Mario (franchise) music

Category:Musicians from Nagoya

Category:Nintendo people

Category:Osaka University of Arts alumni