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Hirokazu Tanaka(JP), also known by his alias Hip Tanaka, is one of the most prolific sound engineers and composers who has worked at Nintendo. Currently he serves as the president of Creatures Inc.
History
Hirokazu Tanaka joined Nintendo in 1980 after graduating with a degree in electronic engineering, where he soon would be in charge of sound effect design from some early arcade games. Starting with Donkey Kong 3, he would also provide music.
Working at Gunpei Yokoi's R&D1 department, Tanaka was put in charge of music composition for all of the games that R&D1 would release for the Famicom, including some of his most famous scores such as Metroid, Kid Icarus and Mother. He also helped design the sound hardware of the Game Boy, and later was the main developer behind the Game Boy Camera peripheral.
Tsunekazu Ishihara, president of Creatures, who worked alongside Tanaka on EarthBound, asked him to compose music for the Pokémon anime series; however, since Nintendo didn't allow employees to work for other companies, he was forced to resign from the company in 1999. He then joined Creatures, where he would be the composer of several songs heard in the Pokémon series.
In 2001, he succeeded Ishihara as president of Creatures, since he founded The Pokémon Company. Tanaka's current job consists on supervision of Pokémon products and, ocassionally, composing some more songs on the anime (although the amount of new songs has been decreasing over the years). He has also performed on Japanese dance clubs under the name "Chip Tanaka", and has provided guest arrangements on the Super Smash Bros. series.
Production History
- Space Firebird (1980) - Sound Effects
- HeliFire (1980) - Sound Effects
- Radar Scope (1980) - Sound Effects
- Donkey Kong (Arcade Version) (1981) - Sound Effects
- Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade Version) (1982) - Sound Effects
- Donkey Kong Jr. (Game & Watch) (1982) - Sound Effects
- Mickey & Donald (1982) - Sound Effects
- Donkey Kong II (1983) - Sound Effects
- Mario's Cement Factory (1983) - Sound Effects
- Mario Bros. (Arcade Version) (1983) - Sound Effects
- Snoopy (1983) - Sound Effects
- Popeye (Game & Watch) (1983) - Sound Effects
- Donkey Kong 3 (Arcade Version) (1983) - Music, Sound Effects
- Mario's Bombs Away (1983) - Sound Effects
- Pinball (Game & Watch) (1983) - Sound Effects
- Spitball Sparky (1984) - Sound Effects
- Wild Gunman (1984) - Sound Composer
- Duck Hunt (1984) - Sound Composer
- Hogan's Alley (1984) - Sound Composer
- Donkey Kong 3 (NES Version) (1984) - Sound Composer
- Urban Champion (1984) - Sound Composer
- Balloon Fight (1984) - Sound Composer
- Wrecking Crew (1985) - Sound Composer
- Stack-Up (1985) - Sound Composer
- Gyromite (1985) - Sound Composer
- Gumshoe (1986) - Sound Composer
- Metroid (1986) - Music (as Hip Tanaka)
- Kid Icarus (1986) - Sound (Music) (as Hip Tanaka)
- Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School (1987) - Staff
- Ginga no Sannin (1987) - Music Supervision [Note: uncredited]
- Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Kōkeisha (1988) - Sound Director (as Kenji Tanaka)
- Famicom Wars (1988) - Sound (Music) (as Hip Tanaka)
- Super Mario Land (1989) - Sound (Music)
- Yakuman (1989) - Sound Composer
- Tetris (Game Boy) (1989) - Sound Composer
- Mother (1989) - Musical Effects (Music)
- Golf (Game Boy) (1989) - Sound Program / Sound Effects
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990) - Music [Note: supervision only]
- Knight Move (1990) - Sound Composer
- Dr. Mario (1990) - Sound Composer
- Balloon Kid (1990) - Music
- Fire Emblem Gaiden (1992) - Supervisor
- Hello Kitty World (1992) - Sound Programmer
- X (1992) - Music [Note: only sound effects and sound program]
- Mario Paint (1992) - Sound Staff (Music)
- EarthBound (1994) - Music, Sound Director, Sound Programmer
- Donkey Kong Country (1994) - Support
- Tetris & Dr. Mario (1994) - Music Supervisor
- Snoopy Concert (1995) - Sound Staff [Note: sound effects, some music and sound program]
- Teleroboxer (1995) - Virtual Boy Staff
- Game & Watch Gallery (1997) - Adviser
- Wrecking Crew '98 (1998) - Music Supervisor
- Game Boy Camera (1998) - Director, Graphic Designer, Sound Composer [Note: sound program and music]
- Game Boy Printer (1998) - Sound Composer
- Super Smash Bros. (1999) - Original Game Staff ("Metroid" Original Sound Composing)
- Balloon Fight GB (2000) - Music
- Chee-Chai Alien (2001) - Planning, Director, Some Music
- Dr. Mario 64 (2001) - Original Sound Composer
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) - Original Game Staff (Music Composition: Metroid)
- Balloon Fight-e (2001) - Sound Composition
- Machop At Work (2001) - Director
- Kingler's Day (2001) - Director
- Mother 1+2 (2003) - Music
- Pokémon Channel (2003) - Supervisor
- Nonono Puzzle Chairian (2005) - Producer, Game Design
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) - Music Arrangement (as Hirokazu Tanaka. ex), Senior Supervisor
- PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure (2009) - Producer
- PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond (2010) - Producer
- Pokédex 3D (2011) - Producer
- Pokémon Dream Radar (2012) - Producer
- Pokédex 3D Pro (2012) - Producer
- Pokémon Art Academy (2014) - Pokémon Trading Card Development
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U (2014) - Music Arrangement (as Hirokazu Tanaka. ex), Senior Supervisor
- Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo (2016) - Producer
- Detective Pikachu (2018) - Producer
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) - Music Arrangement (as Hirokazu Tanaka. ex), Original Game Supervisor
Special Thanks
- Mario & Wario (1993)
- Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (1994)
- Mario's Tennis (1995)
- Metroid: Zero Mission (2004)
- Pokémon Ranger (2006)
- Mother 3 (2006)
- Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (2008)
- Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (2010)
- Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012)
- Pokémon X and Y (2013)
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014)
- Pokémon Sun and Moon (2016)
- Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017)
- Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (2018)
Song Credits
Wild Gunman
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game A Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Jingle -- Composition & Arrangement
- Foul!! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Fire!! -- Composition & Arrangement
- You Won -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game B Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game C Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- You Lose -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
Duck Hunt
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game A / B Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Miss -- Composition & Arrangement
- Duck Get! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Perfect -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game C Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
Hogan's Alley
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Demo Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game A Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Miss -- Composition & Arrangement
- Success -- Composition & Arrangement
- (Super) Sharp Shooter! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game B Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Scene Change -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game C Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
Donkey Kong 3 (NES)
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Theme A -- Composition & Arrangement
- Potted Plant Pinch Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Clear Theme A -- Composition & Arrangement
- Theme B -- Composition & Arrangement
- Super Spray -- Composition & Arrangement
- Clear Theme B -- Composition & Arrangement
- Danger! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Miss -- Composition & Arrangement
Urban Champion
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Start A -- Composition & Arrangement
- Theme A -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Start B -- Composition & Arrangement
- Theme B -- Composition & Arrangement
- Theme C -- Composition & Arrangement
- Winner! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Title Theme B -- Composition & Arrangement
Balloon Fight
- Game Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Dropping Enemy Sound -- Composition & Arrangement
- Eaten Sound -- Composition & Arrangement
- Restart -- Composition & Arrangement
- Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Perfect -- Composition & Arrangement
- Balloon Trip -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
Wrecking Crew
- Game Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Theme A -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Bonus Stage -- Composition & Arrangement
- Power-Up Music -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
Stack-Up
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Test Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Direct Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Memory Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Memory Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Bingo Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Hurry Up! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Time Up -- Composition & Arrangement
Gyromite
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Test Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Direct Mode -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game A Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game A Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Hurry Up! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game A Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game B Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game B Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
Gumshoe
- Title -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 1 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Dead -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- Black Panther -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 2 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Phone Call -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 3 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 4 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Ending -- Composition & Arrangement
Metroid
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Samus Appearance Jingle -- Composition & Arrangement
- Brinstar (Rock Stage) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Mini Boss Room (I) ~ Kraid -- Composition & Arrangement
- Norfair (Flame Stage) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Mini Boss Room (II) ~ Ridley -- Composition & Arrangement
- Silence -- Composition & Arrangement
- Item Acquisition Jingle -- Composition & Arrangement
- Tourian (Base Stage) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Zebetite -- Composition & Arrangement
- Escape -- Composition & Arrangement
- Ending -- Composition & Arrangement
Kid Icarus
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 1 (Underworld) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 2 (Overworld) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 3 (Skyworld) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Labyrinth -- Composition & Arrangement
- Boss -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 4 (Palace in the Sky) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Last Boss -- Composition & Arrangement
- Reaper's Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- Ending -- Composition & Arrangement
Super Mario Land
- Ground Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Muda Kingdom Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Underground Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Chai Kingdom Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Coin Room -- Composition & Arrangement
- Invincibility Theme -- Arrangement
- Level Complete -- Composition & Arrangement
- Bonus Chance -- Composition & Arrangement
- Get Bonus -- Composition & Arrangement
- Shooting Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- In Front of the Enemy -- Composition & Arrangement
- Enemy Transformation Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Lost a Life -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- Tatanga's Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Princess Daisy's Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Credits -- Composition & Arrangement
Yakuman
- Title -- Composition & Arrangement
- Options -- Composition & Arrangement
- Mahjong Play -- Composition & Arrangement
- Yakuman -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
Tetris (Game Boy)
- Title -- Composition & Arrangement
- Type A (Initial Version) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Type A -- Arrangement
- Type B -- Composition & Arrangement
- Type C -- Arrangement
- Stage Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- Level 9 Ending -- Arrangement
- Ending -- Composition & Arrangement
- High Score -- Composition & Arrangement
- Multiplayer (Danger!) -- Arrangement
- Multiplayer Round Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Multiplayer Results -- Composition & Arrangement
Mother
- Mother Earth -- Composition & Arrangement[1]
- Humoresque of a Little Dog -- Composition & Arrangement[1]
- Magicant -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Twinkle Elementary School -- Composition & Arrangement[1]
- Snowman -- Composition & Arrangement[1]
- Fallin' Love, and... -- Composition & Arrangement[2]
- Eight Melodies -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement (w/Keiichi Suzuki)[2]
Knight Move
- Options -- Composition & Arrangement
- Start -- Composition & Arrangement
- Train -- Composition & Arrangement
- Horse Man -- Composition & Arrangement
- Umasakuraba -- Composition & Arrangement
- Ranking -- Composition & Arrangement
- Champion Score -- Composition & Arrangement
- Congratulations! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Multiplayer Victory -- Composition & Arrangement
Dr. Mario
- Title Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Select -- Composition & Arrangement
- Fever -- Composition & Arrangement
- Fever Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- VS Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- Chill -- Composition & Arrangement
- Chill Clear -- Composition & Arrangement
- Level 20 HI Clear (UFO) -- Composition & Arrangement
- Ending -- Composition & Arrangement
Balloon Kid
- Title -- Composition & Arrangement
- Intro -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stages 1 & 5 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Bonus Stage -- Composition & Arrangement
- Perfect! -- Composition & Arrangement
- Invincibility Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage Cleared -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stage 2 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Approaching the Boss -- Composition & Arrangement
- Boss Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Boss Defeated -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stages 3 & 6 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Stages 4 & 7 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Boss Theme 2 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Bonus Failed -- Composition & Arrangement
- Boss Theme 3 -- Composition & Arrangement
- Final Stage -- Composition & Arrangement
- Final Boss Theme -- Composition & Arrangement
- Final Boss Defeated -- Composition & Arrangement
- Jim Rescued -- Composition & Arrangement
- Ending -- Composition & Arrangement
- Game Over -- Composition & Arrangement
- Balloon Trip -- Composition & Arrangement
- Pause -- Composition & Arrangement
- End of Trip -- Composition & Arrangement
EarthBound
- Gyigas Strike Back -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- This is no Time to Be Sleeping -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Lucky Nice Blues -- Composition & Arrangement[1]
- Hotel (Pearl Necklace) -- Composition & Arrangement[1]
- Super Dry Dance (Dusty Dunes Desert Theme) -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Boris' Cocktail -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Moonside Swing (Moonside Theme) -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Megaton Walk -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Enjoy the Dungeon (Dungeon Man Theme) -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Yellowish Submarine -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Eight Melodies (From the Bottom of the Memories) -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement[3]
- Welcome, Me (Magicant Theme) -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Labyrinth of a Dream -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Sea of Eden -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Power -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Crossing Time and Space -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Becoming Robots -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Space Tunnel -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- The Place -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Please Disappear (Final Battle Theme) -- Composition & Arrangement[3]
- Light of Life -- Composition & Arrangement[1]
- Good Friends / Bad Friends -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement (w/Keiichi Suzuki)[3]
- Smiles and Tears (Ending Theme) -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement (w/Keiichi Suzuki)[3]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
- Chill (Dr. Mario) Ver. 2 -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- Balloon Trip (Balloon Fight) -- Composition & Arrangement[5]
- PAC-MAN (Club Mix) -- Arrangement[5]
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Interviews
External links
- Composer profile at OverClocked ReMix
- Sporadic Vacuum (Hirokazu Tanaka's official website; only in Japanese)
- Hirokazu Tanaka page on Wikipedia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 https://vgmdb.net/album/798
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://vgmdb.net/album/796
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 https://vgmdb.net/album/800
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U sound test
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test