# Takashi Tezuka

Takashi Tezuka (手塚 卓志, Tezuka Takashi, born November 17, 1960; also known as "TENTEN" (てんてん)) is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He is a senior officer in Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development division and is an Executive Officer at Nintendo itself. Tezuka was the right-hand man to Shigeru Miyamoto and co-director of the early Mario and Zelda games.

## Career

Upon graduating from the Design Department of Osaka University of Arts, he joined Nintendo in April 1984 and became a co-designer of some of the most critically acclaimed Nintendo series, including Mario and The Legend of Zelda. Tezuka is fond of fantasy novels such as J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and wrote the story and script for The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Tezuka co-designed Yoshi, who debuted in Super Mario World after Shigeru Miyamoto had originally wanted Mario to ride a dinosaur since Super Mario Bros. 3.
   I have never consciously separated casual users and hardcore gamers when I design a game. For the past 20 years, I have always been trying to make games so that anyone—as many people as possible—can enjoy them... I cannot help but say that I love my job of making games from the bottom of my heart.

## Works

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1984 | Devil World | Game designer |
| 1985 | Super Mario Bros. | Assistant director, game designer |
| 1986 | Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | Director, game designer |
| 1986 | The Legend of Zelda | Director, game designer, writer |
| 1987 | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | Writer |
| 1988 | Super Mario Bros. 3 | Director, game designer |
| 1990 | Super Mario World | Director |
| 1991 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Director |
| 1993 | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | Director |
| 1993 | Super Mario All-Stars | Director |
| 1995 | Yoshi's Island | Director |
| 1996 | Super Mario 64 | Assistant director |
| 1997 | BS The Legend of Zelda: Inishie no Sekiban | Supervisor |
| 1997 | Star Fox 64 | Supervisor |
| 1997 | Yoshi's Story | Producer |
| 1998 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Supervisor |
| 1999 | Mario Golf | Supervisor |
| 2000 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | Supervisor |
| 2000 | Mario Tennis | Supervisor |
| 2000 | Paper Mario | Supervisor |
| 2001 | The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages | Supervisor |
| 2001 | Luigi's Mansion | Producer |
| 2001 | Pikmin | Progress manager |
| 2001 | Animal Crossing | Producer |
| 2002 | Super Mario Sunshine | Producer |
| 2002 | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Producer |
| 2003 | Mario Kart: Double Dash | Producer |
| 2004 | The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | Supervisor |
| 2004 | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures | Supervisor |
| 2004 | Pikmin 2 | Producer |
| 2004 | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | Supervisor |
| 2005 | Yoshi Touch & Go | Producer |
| 2005 | Big Brain Academy | General producer |
| 2005 | Animal Crossing: Wild World | General producer |
| 2006 | New Super Mario Bros. | General producer |
| 2006 | Yoshi's Island DS | Senior producer |
| 2006 | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Supervisor |
| 2007 |
| 2007 | Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree | General producer |
| 2007 | Mario Party 8 | Supervisor |
| 2007 | The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass | Supervisor |
| 2007 | Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | Supervisor |
| 2007 | Mario Party DS | Supervisor |
| 2007 | Link's Crossbow Training | Producer |
| 2008 | Wii Music | Producer |
| 2008 | Animal Crossing: City Folk | General producer |
| 2009 | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story | Senior producer |
| 2009 | New Super Mario Bros. Wii | Producer |
| 2009 | The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks | Supervisor |
| 2010 | Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Producer |
| 2011 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D | Senior producer |
| 2011 | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition | Senior producer |
| 2011 | Super Mario 3D Land | General producer |
| 2011 | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | Supervisor |
| 2011 | Fortune Street | Supervisor |
| 2012 | New Super Mario Bros. 2 | Producer |
| 2012 | New Super Mario Bros. U | Producer |
| 2012 | Animal Crossing: New Leaf | General producer |
| 2013 | Mario & Luigi: Dream Team | Supervisor |
| 2013 | Super Mario 3D World | General producer |
| 2013 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | Supervisor |
| 2014 | Yoshi's New Island | Producer |
| 2015 | Yoshi's Woolly World | Producer |
| 2015 | Super Mario Maker | Producer |
| 2015 | The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes | Supervisor |
| 2015 | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam | Supervisor |
| 2016 | Tank Troopers | Supervisor |
| 2016 | Paper Mario: Color Splash | Supervisor |
| 2016 | Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | Producer |
| 2016 | Super Mario Run | Producer |
| 2017 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Supervisor |
| 2017 | Arms | Production manager |
| 2017 | Hey! Pikmin | Producer |
| 2017 | Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions | Supervisor |
| 2018 | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey | Supervisor |
| 2019 | New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Producer |
| 2019 | Yoshi's Crafted World | Producer |
| 2019 | Super Mario Maker 2 | Producer |
| 2020 | Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics | Producer |
| 2020 | Pikmin 3 Deluxe | Producer |
| 2023 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Creative executive |
| 2023 | Pikmin 4 | Producer |
| 2023 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Producer |
| 2023 | Super Mario RPG | Supervisor |
| 2024 | Princess Peach: Showtime! | Senior supervisor |
| 2024 | Mario & Luigi: Brothership | Senior supervisor |