ACE

ACE is a music group consisting of TOMOri Kudo and CHiCO. They have composed, arranged, and performed music for the series and other game and film soundtracks, as well as producing original music for themselves and others.
==Biography==
===TOMOri Kudo===
Tomori Kudo (stylised as 'TOMOri Kudo') was brought up listening to pop music on Japanese radio and television, and later on, metal, blues and jazz bands.2010 interview with Chris Greening via squareenixmusic.com He initially learnt to play piano and electronic organ in primary school, and later learnt guitar in high school. He joined a pop music band and took on various music projects, including the video game Minna de Tamagotchi, a 1997 game for the Nintendo 64 by BandaiIwata Asks: Xenoblade Chronicles, vol. 1: Sound, part 2: 'Towards a Common Goal' which he worked on alongside CHiCO.
===CHiCO===
CHiCO, born Hiroyo Yamanaka, grew up making music in a classically-trained household; she played violin and piano, and wrote short pieces based upon her mood. CHiCO's first job was working as an actress and assistant choreographer, which entailed selecting appropriate music for performances. She started composing at this time, writing the music for such performances herself. CHiCO followed this career by transitioning to one more music-oriented: she participated in bands, including one with TOMOri Kudo (where the two met). Minna de Tamagotchi, which she worked on with Kudo, was her first video game music project.
The pair's first work together under the name ACE was in 2009 with their single . They first worked with the Xeno series on the music of Xenoblade Chronicles in 2010, and have composed music for all releases in the series besides Xenoblade Chronicles X. The two have continued to work together until present.
==ACE+==
When ACE works with Kenji Hiramatsu, the resulting trio is known as ACE+. Besides making compositions of his own, Hiramatsu's contributions to the group entail 'tapping into his vast store of knowledge' about video games, and finding the significance of subtle details about a game's story to approach music-making from beyond a basic acoustic perspective. ACE+ worked together on the music of Xenoblade Chronicles, and all of the tracks composed by any of the three are credited under the name 'ACE+'.
==Relevance to the Xeno series==
ACE compose music for the numbered games. Their contributions are varied; their music is frequently used as cutscene themes, area themes, and/or battle themes.
===Xenoblade Chronicles===
Both members:Contributions for which both Kudo and CHiCO worked together, or for which it is unknown which of the two played specific roles.
* Composer
** The Monado Awakens
** Crisis
** Urgency
** Riki the Legendary Heropon
** Riki's Kindness
** The Battle is Upon Us
** Thoughts Enshrined
** The God-Slaying Sword
** Majesty
** Once We Part Ways
** 
** Gaur Plain (Night)
** An Obstacle in Our Path
** 
** Valak Mountain (Night)
** Zanza's World
* Contributing composer
** Engage the Enemy
** Hostile Gazes
** Enemies Closing In
** Visions of the Future
** You Will Know Our Names
** 
** 
** Agniratha, Mechonis Capital
** Agniratha (Night)
** 
** Irregular Bound
** The End Lies Ahead
* Arranger
** Shulk and Fiora
** Hometown (Night)
** Colony 9 (Night)
** Colony 6 - Silence
** Alcamoth (Night)
** Colony 6 - Hope
** Colony 6 - Future
* Music programmer
TOMOri Kudo:
* Musician: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
CHiCO:
* Musician: Vocals
===Xenoblade Chronicles 2===
Both members:
* Composer
** 
** Argentum/Night
** A Ship in a Stormy Sea
** Exploration
** Incoming!
** 
** Gormott/Night
** 
** Torigoth/Night
** Wanted Nia
** A Nopon's Life
** 
** 
** Death Match With Torna
** Those Who Stand Against Our Path
** The Beginning of Darkness
** Drifting Soul
** Desolation
** Contrition
** Driver Vs
** 
** Alba Cavanich/Night
** Running
** 
** Bringer of Chaos! Ultimate
** 
** Leftherian Archipelago/Night
** 
** Gramps/Night
** The Impending Crisis
** 
** 
** Tantal/Night
** The Past Revealed
** Drifting Soul (Violin Version)
** 
** With People and Darkness
** Walking with You
** 
** Sea of Clouds
** Disappearing World
** Battle in the Skies Above
** Blade Chosen
** Affinity Chart Complete
** Hunting Succeeded
** Quest Clear
** Gormott (Piano Arrange)
* Arranger (With People and Darkness)
* Recording coordinator
TOMOri Kudo:
* Musician: Acoustic & Electric Guitar
CHiCO:
* Musician
** Vocals (Leftherian Archipelago/Night)
** Whistling & Whistle & Percussion
===Torna ~ The Golden Country===
Both members:
* Composer
** Four-limbed Titan/Gormott
** 
** Kingdom of Torna/Night
* Recording coordinator
TOMOri Kudo:
* Musician: Guitar
===Future Connected===
Both members:
* Composer
** 
** Bionis' Shoulder (Night)
** Fogbeasts
** Roar from Beyond
===Xenoblade Chronicles 3===
Both members:Both members of ACE are credited without additional clarification on the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Original Soundtrack. However, only one of the two was credited in the JASRAC copyright data. The extent to which this reflects the composition being by one or the other is unknown. Which composer was specified can be seen on the individual tracks' pages.
* Composer and arranger
** 
** Yzana Plains/Night
** Immediate Threat
** Moebius Battle
** A Formidable Enemy
** 
** Dannagh Desert/Night
** 
** Rae-Bel Tableland/Night
** 
** Maktha Wildwood/Night
** 
** Agnus Colony/Night
** Agnus Battle
** 
** Sailing the Seas
** 
** Erythia Sea/Night
** 
** Moebius Battle/M
** 
** Agnus Castle/Night
** 
** Saffronia Village
** The Great Sea Stirs
** Kaleidoscopic Core
** Nia - Toward the Heavens
** 
** Cent-Omnia Region/Night
===Non-mainline games===
========
Both members:
* Musicians (clapping, vocals)
TOMOri Kudo:
* Copyist
==Other media==
==Gallery==
ACE ???.jpg|ACE in their natural habitat, wearing appropriate attire.
Ace plus kiyota.jpg|Left to right: Manami Kiyota, CHiCO, TOMOri Kudo, Kenji Hiramatsu. The latter three form the group ACE+.
==Notes==
==External links==
* Official website
* VGMdb page (ACE+)
* VGMdb page (ACE)
* Twitter (TOMOri Kudo)
* Twitter (CHiCO)
* XCDE promotional crossfade video highlighting ACE's compositions
* XC2 promotional crossfade video highlighting ACE's compositions
* XC3 promotional crossfade video highlighting ACE's compositions
==References==
Category:People