Benimaru Itoh

"Ashura" Benimaru Itoh is a manga artist, 3D designer and musician who has done various kind of design works for Nintendo through his carrer. Initially he drew Star Fox and Super Metroid comics which were published by Nintendo Power, as well as a Mother 2 manga book published in Japan.

In 1999, Itoh joined Creatures Inc., where he became the main 3D modeling director for various Pokémon games. He left in 2002 and became an advisor for HAL Laboratory, mainly supervising various Kirby games. He was also the host for the Mario & Zelda Big Band Live concert held in Japan in 2003.

Game Works

 * Pocket Monsters Stadium (1998) - Chief Modeler
 * Hey You, Pikachu! (1998) - Pokémon Modeling
 * Pokémon Trading Card Game (1998) - Card Illustrator
 * Super Smash Bros. (1999) - Original Game Staff ("Pokémon Stadium" Source Modeling Chief)
 * Pokémon Snap (1999) - Chief Designer
 * Pokémon Stadium (1999) - Pokémon Modeling Director
 * Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) - 3D Pokémon Director
 * Pokémon Card GB2: Team Great Rocket is Here! (2001) - Card Illustrator
 * Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) - Supervisor (Creatures Staff Management)
 * Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (2002) - Supervisor
 * Kirby Air Ride (2003) - Design Concept
 * Pokémon Channel (2003) - Graphic Director (Meowth's Party)
 * Kirby Super Star Ultra (2008) - Design Advisor
 * Picross 3D (2009) - Art Director
 * Kirby's Return to Dream Land (2011) - Design Adviser
 * Kirby: Triple Deluxe (2014) - Design Adviser
 * Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (2015) - Visual Adviser
 * Picross 3D: Round 2 (2015) - Art Director
 * Star Fox Zero – The Battle Begins (2016) - Concept Art

Special Thanks

 * EarthBound (1994)
 * Star Fox 64 (1997)
 * Pokémon Puzzle League (2000)
 * Kirby Canvas Curse (2005)
 * Fire Emblem Awakening (2012)