Hirokazu Tanaka

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Hirokazu Tanaka [Edit] [Talk]

Hirokazu Tanaka (born December 13, 1957) ^{(JPJapanese: 田中宏和)}, also known by his alias Hip Tanaka, is one of the most prolific sound engineers and composers who has worked at Nintendo. Later on, he served 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 most of the games that R&D1 released for the Famicom and Game Boy, including scores such as Metroid, Kid Icarus, Super Mario Land, Dr. Mario, Gumshoe, and many other titles. He also helped design the sound hardware of the Game Boy, and also was the main developer behind the Game Boy Camera peripheral. Tanaka also collaborated with composer and songwriter Keiichi Suzuki on the music of the first two entries of the Mother series, being eventually released in English as EarthBound Beginnings and EarthBound.

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 decided 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, Nintendo, Game Freak and Creatures formed The Pokémon Company and Ishihara left Creatures to lead the new company. Tanaka then succeeded Ishihara as president of Creatures. Tanaka's current job consists on supervision of Pokémon products and, occasionally, composing some more songs on the anime. Tanaka has also released various original works and albums under the alias "Chip Tanaka", and has also provided guest arrangements on the Super Smash Bros. series.

On May 2023, Tanaka stepped down as Executive Director of Creatures, instead taking on the position of Creative Fellow at the company.^{^[1]}

Game Works[]

Space Firebird (1980) - Sound Effects
Heli Fire (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 and 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)
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022)
Detective Pikachu Returns (2023)
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (2024)

Song Credits[]

As sole composer[]

Hirokazu Tanaka is known to have composed the entire soundtracks for the following titles:

Donkey Kong 3
Wild Gunman
Duck Hunt
Hogan's Alley
Urban Champion
Balloon Fight
Wrecking Crew
Stack-Up
Gyromite
Gumshoe
Metroid
Kid Icarus
Super Mario Land
Yakuman
Tetris (Game Boy)
Knight Move
Dr. Mario
Balloon Kid
Pokémon the Series (Original series - XY)

Mother[]

Mother Earth -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Poltergeist -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Basement -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Battle Theme 1 -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Battle Theme 2 -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Battle Theme 3 -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Humoresque of a Little Dog -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
South Cemetery -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Choucream Zoo -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Cave 1 -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Magicant -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Twinkle Elementary School -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Factory -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Snowman -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement (w/Keiichi Suzuki)^{^[2]}
Advent Desert -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Airplane -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Tank -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Easter -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement (w/Keiichi Suzuki)^{^[2]}
Live House -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Cave 2 -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Holy Loly Mountain -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Fallin' Love, and... -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Eight Melodies -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement (w/Keiichi Suzuki)^{^[2]}
Giegue -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[2]}
Ending -- Composition (w/Keiichi Suzuki), Arrangement (w/Keiichi Suzuki)^{^[2]}

EarthBound[]

Gyigas Strike Back -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[3]}
This is no Time to Be Sleeping -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[3]}
Lucky Nice Blues -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[4]}
Hotel (Pearl Necklace) -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[4]}
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^{^[4]}
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[]

Donkey Kong -- Arrangement^{^[5]}
Squeak Squad Theme (Kirby: Squeak Squad) -- Arrangement^{^[5]}

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U[]

Chill (Dr. Mario) Ver. 2 -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[6]}
Balloon Trip (Balloon Fight) -- Composition & Arrangement^{^[6]}
PAC-MAN (Club Mix) -- Arrangement^{^[6]}

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]

Sand Ocean (F-ZERO) -- Arrangement^{^[7]}
Seaskape (Splatoon) -- Arrangement^{^[7]}

Interviews[]

External links[]

Composer profile at OverClocked ReMix
Sporadic Vacuum (Hirokazu Tanaka's official website; only in Japanese)
Hirokazu Tanaka at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SoundCloud account

Trivia[]

After Hiroshi Yamauchi passed away, Tanaka released tribute arrangements of Super Mario Land and Metroid on his SoundCloud account. Likewise, he also released a Balloon Fight tribute arrangement after Satoru Iwata's passing.

References[]

↑ https://www.creatures.co.jp/change_officer_2023/
↑ ^2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 ^2.13 ^2.14 ^2.15 ^2.16 ^2.17 ^2.18 ^2.19 ^2.20 ^2.21 ^2.22 ^2.23 ^2.24 https://vgmdb.net/album/106653
↑ ^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 ^4.2 https://vgmdb.net/album/798
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U sound test
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test

[1] ttps://www.creatures.co.jp/change_officer_2023/

[:0-2] 2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 ^2.13 ^2.14 ^2.15 ^2.16 ^2.17 ^2.18 ^2.19 ^2.20 ^2.21 ^2.22 ^2.23 ^2.24 https://vgmdb.net/album/106653

[:2-3] 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

[:1-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 https://vgmdb.net/album/798

[:3-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test

[:4-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U sound test

[:5-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test

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