Mario and Zelda Composer Koji Kondo is Receiving Major Industry Award

Highlights

• Koji Kondo, legendary Nintendo composer, will be inducted into the D.I.C.E Awards Hall of Fame for his iconic music production in The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. franchises.
• Kondo’s induction into the Hall of Fame highlights the rising recognition of video game music in various circles, following the creation of a VGM category at the Grammy Awards last year.
• Fans show support for VGM creators and soundtracks, recognizing the significant role music plays in the success of video games, particularly in popular franchises like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda.

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has announced that legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo will be inducted into the 27th Annual D.I.C.E Awards Hall of Fame on February 15. Kondo rose to icon status with his music production for The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. franchises and will receive a major honor for his beloved work.

Koji Kondo joined Nintendo in 1984 and was the first dedicated music composer for the company’s video games. While he may be best known for his work on the Super Mario Bros. level themes and the title song for The Legend of Zelda, his first credit came with the original arcade cabinet version of Punch Out!!! Kondo continues to work on music for Nintendo to this day, and his induction into the D.I.C.E Awards Hall of Fame will see him join a number of familiar faces.

First revealed by the AIAS, Koji Kondo will be inducted into the 27th Annual D.I.C.E Awards during a live ceremony on Thursday, February 15. The D.I.C.E Awards are a yearly celebration that recognizes various achievements in the video game industry. Many consider the D.I.C.E Awards to be the video game equivalent of the film industry’s Academy Awards, making an induction into the ceremony’s Hall of Fame a distinguished honor. Koji Kondo will be joining the likes of Hideo Kojima, Todd Howard, and fellow Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto. The highly recognizable Super Mario Bros. Ground Theme was the first video game song to be added to the United States Library of Congress last year, highlighting the significance of Koji Kondo’s work. This song and his other great creations contributed to his Hall of Fame induction, which many fans are considering an overdue payoff for his beloved work.

Video Game Music Continues to Receive New Recognition

Koji Kondo’s upcoming induction will mark the first ever inclusion of a video game music composer into the D.I.C.E Awards Hall of Fame. This follows a growing trend of rising recognition for video game music (VGM) in various circles. Just last year, the Grammy Awards created a brand-new VGM category for Best Score Soundtrack For Video Games And Other Interactive Media. The move marked the first time in Hollywood awards show history that VGM was formally recognized by a major ceremony. Kondo’s scheduled Hall of Fame induction marks another major step forward for VGM soundtracks and composers. With a massive library of iconic Nintendo music on his discography, it should come as no surprise that Koji Kondo is receiving a major honor for his legendary songs.

Video games continue to grow in popularity, and music can play a major role in the success of a game. As more ceremonies elect to give honors to VGM creators and soundtracks, fans continue to show support for the various team members behind their favorite games. With the Super Mario Bros. franchise and The Legend of Zelda series continuing to receive praise, Koji Kondo remains a core contributor to the popularity of Nintendo classics and video game music as a whole.